Back and Forth I Go

It's been one hectic month in my non-knitting life. Hence it being so long since an update.

I've been on a dishcloth spree. Off the top of my head I can remember making 5 and 2 more in progress. I'm planning on making a bunch more for Christmas gifts. They'll also have Tribbles with them too.

I'm working on the afghan. Dad has decided he doesn't want it 8' long anymore. It's long enough where it is he said! YAY! thing is now i have to even the working edge off and fill in a few holes. THat's ok. I can deal with that. It also frees me up to start on other Christmas gifts. Eventually I'll get back to my sweater. Pics coming by the end of the week of afghan and dishcloths.

Tibbles & Dishcloths

I've crossed over to the other side. In other words, I've started making Tribbles. I'll tell you it's so much fun. Watch out though. It's addictive. They multiply so fast too. I'm also on a dishcloth spree too. Good thing they're intended for christmas gifts. The tribbles too. THat is the ones that I don't decide to keep or send to the shop.

While I was making them I realized that they would be really handy down at my landlady's store. She's the one with the paint your own pottery and stained glass studio. In order to keep the pottery molds from pitting and/or getting a fuzz on them between pourings if they aren't going to be used right away, the excess clay has to be cleaned off the mold. I realized that the Tribbles would be good for just this purpose. They'd also be good for getting glaze off the wall (don't ask). I gave her one today and I'm going to have a couple more on back up.

The afghan is 4' from being done. Everything else has gone into a temporary hibernation. I just need a little break from them.

Projects

Hmmm....so how are the projects going????

The aran sweater is still hibernating. I really want to work on it, yet the heat has not broken. I can tell this is going to be a winter only project

Dad's afghan is 7 feet by 4 feet as of right now. Where is t goin tobe when it's done? 6 feet by 8 feet. So it's a foot soo wide right now and 4 feet too short. My Dad did say approximatley when I finally pinned him down on a size. So I'd say I'm doing pretty good on it.

Garterlac Dishcloth, I just started today and considering I've never done entrelac before, I'm doing quite well.

Cat's Paw Lace, I'm 8 or so repeats in. Abot 1/2 way.

Mom's Socks. Don't ask.

Ravelry and project update

I'm so addicted to Ravelry it's not even funny. Ok . . . actually, yes it is. It's become my homepage and I'm photographing my knitting so much more. Nevermind all the things I've got in my queue.

As for my projects: Aran sweater: hibernating.
Afghan: Gatting added to daily
Mom's Socks: Slowly getting worked on *New Project*
Cat's Paw Lace Scarf: 3 repeats in

P.S. I'm KnittingCliona over on Ravelry

ITE 4 project.....done
Afghan..... camping out on living room floor and still getting added to. I'v gotten to the point that I've tired of taking it up all the time so it's staying there on the floor until I have to take it up.
Sweater.... no motivation to work on it. It's too danged hot.
Mom's socks...Missing in action

Also I've gotten on to Ravelry! Yay! I'm so excited. I've been living there practically it seems. Over there I'm KnittingCliona.

Afghan, Socks, Sweater, and whatnot

Dad's afghan is growing. Slowly but surely.
Mom's socks....a new project as of tonight....are going to be her christmas present.
The sweater is on halt as I'm not working on a sweater when it's 90 + degrees out.
MY ITE 4 project is going along smoothly (knock on wood) too.

That's it for knitting projects right now. My sanitys is on a fine line this week with so much going on. That's why I am wondering why the crazy idea to knit an orange scarf of unknown length (but extremely long) has hit and stuck. It's purpose would be to attract people to an informational fair next March (that's how long it would be). See what I mean by my sanity is on a fine line this week.

Wool Crisis

Thanks to Cliona . My Irish Fishermans Sweater (bought in Ireland) ended up getting the following treatment Yesterday: .

What did Cliona Do? Wel, because she didn't like the cat litter I bought her, she peed on it. Grrrrrr. BAD KITTY! It took me 2 hours to get it rinsed, thoroughly wet (hence the weighing it down as indicated above), soaked in vinegar (bye bye cat pee smell), free of the vinegar, washed by hand, rinsed, squeezed, toweled, and blocked. Needless to say Cliona heard about it for quite a while.

Weekly Stashalong Update

Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (2 projects).
Red = Done (8 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Yet again stalled.
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- Almost done, on to the cuffs.
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be -- DONE
6.) Shawl for my Mom -- DONE
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Working on. The knitting version of a crazy quilt. I've determined the width.
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- DONE
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- DONE and sent off

Let's see...how are things going!

Socks....6-7 more rounds and the gussets are done and on the the heels. Yay. It seems like the gussets have taken forever.

Afghan....plugging away on it. It's my mindless project. Definitley being a glutton for punishment with all the blocks to sew on. By the way it's 6 1/2 feet wide and it will be 8 feet long.

Sweater...we won't go there.

International Tote Exchange ... yarn and pattern picked, will be casting on this week.

International Scarf Exchange... will be going in the mail by friday.

SP 10... final package will be getting mailed by friday also.

Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (3 projects).
Red = Done (7 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Trying to do a minimum of 2 rows a night.
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- Halfway through gussets.
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be -- DONE
6.) Shawl for my Mom -- DONE
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Working on. The knitting version of a crazy quilt. I've determined the width. I'd say About 15% done.
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- DONE
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- DONE

Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (3 projects).
Red = Done (7 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Trying to do a minimum of 2 rows a night.
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- Started to gussets.
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be -- DONE
6.) Shawl for my Mom -- DONE>
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Working on again. Being done in random sized blocks
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- DONE
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- DONE

It's Done

Yes, it took 7 months (several of them laying dormant) yet it's done. I finished it yesterday (saturday) while at SnB. It's 37 repeats long. I was going to do 40 repeats, but if I went to 40 the scarf would have been too long for dad to wear to work. This way he can wear it to work and not worry about it getting messed up. I also needed to save a little bit of the yarn for the afghan I'm working on. There's 2 pics below. 1 up close detail and the other a distance shot.

I Finished The Irish Hiking Scarf!!

Yay! Seven months after starting it I finished the Irish Hiking Scarf yesterday at SnB. I'm quite excited about it. It came out at the perfect length too. I did 37 repeats as it is for a man. I was going to do 40, but I needed to save a little of the yarn for another project. Being a man's scarf I was able to go a little sharter. IF it was any longer it would get in my dad's way at work anyways.

Stashalong Update

Green = Sitting there feeling neglected (1 Project).
Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (3 projects).
Red = Done (6 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Doing a minimum of 2 rows a night.
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- Almost to the gusset increases, about 20 rows away.
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 (yarns unknown) -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 (using 1 partially used ball wool yarn and 1 partially used skien red heart) -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be (using lilly sugar and cream) -- DONE
6.) Shawl for my Mom (Homespun) -- DONE
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Stalled
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- 32 repeats in, about 12 to go before reaching the hoped for length
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- DONE

Halfway on Counts list. Inventory count Met!!!

Green = Sitting there feeling neglected (2 Projects).
Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (2 projects).
Red = Done (6 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Still there
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- You would have had a good laugh Saturday
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 (yarns unknown) -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 (using 1 partially used ball wool yarn and 1 partially used skien red heart) -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be (using lilly sugar and cream) -- DONE
6.) Shawl for my Mom (Homespun) -- DONE
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Stalled
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- On a roll with it. Even remembered the pattern without any help after several months
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- DONE

Irish Hiking Scarf

So I finally got a pic of the progress on my Irish Hiking Scarf since I started it last year. I've gotten alittle over 20 repeats in. I always have multiple projects going. Out of thse projects I designate 2 my main projects. This is one of thise 2. This is my "at home" one as it's less compact than socks. Of course it will go out in public with me. Just not on days that I carry a lot. By having the "At home" designation it meant that it will be the one to concentrate on while at home.

Got A Lot Done This Week

In both the knitting and non-knitting worlds of my life. In the knitting world of my life I was able to:
1.) Get going again on my Irish Hiking Scarf. It's been sitting there on the needles for about 5 months. I've had other projects that were demanding my time with deadlines that were more pressing. Ok it was originally going to be a Christmas present last year for my Dad, but when I realized it wasn't going to be done in time for Christmas last year or his birthday this year, I decided to make it one of his Christmas presents this year. I'd have more than enough time then. Now with the other projects out of the way, I have time for it now.

2.) I've nearly finished the scarf for my ISE 4 pal. It will actually be done by tomorrow night. Blocking and all. That will give me plenty of fime to get it ready to go out.

3.) I got a couple more rounds done on my lovely socks. Oh, what an adventure they were today. I went to work on them, went the twong way for half a round, had to undo that bit and get them onto smaller needles. Then back onto the correct needles for fear I was going to break the bamboo needles they were on for those weren't my needles. BY the time i got that accomplished I should have known to take a breather. I didn't though. By the time I got going it was 45 minutes later. What took me 45 minutes? I couldn't figure out what direction to go in and which needles to use. Ok if you go in 1 direction and that's the wrong way then you need to go the other way right?! But the 2 tips of 2 circs had me stumped for some reason till I remembered I had my book with me to help me out. Definitley needed more caffiene to wake up. At least I provided humor for the others in my SnB group.
4.) Did some destashing.

In the Non-Knitting world of my life:
1.) Got back in touch with another family member
2.) Had my usual group and appointement
3.) Attended the monthly Community Advisory Board meeting
4.) Ran the Advocacy Committee Meeting (I chair the committee) that meets every other month.
5.) Attended the AdHoc committee where we chose award recipients (if you know me no I will not tell you who's getting the awards. I'm not allowed to till the Annual Dinner next month)
6.) Some heavy duty spring cleaning and rearranging.
7.) Spun and set the twist of about 37 yards of wool.

Stashalong Udate

Green = Sitting there feeling neglected (2 Projects).
Yellow = I'm plugging away on it. (3 projects).
Red = Done (5 projects).

1.) Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino) -- Sitting there feeling neglected. Must pay attention to it soon.
2.) My First Pair of Socks (Regia 6 ply Crazy Color ) -- Toes done...somewhere on the foot. Only got to do 1 row this week
3.) A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 (yarns unknown) -- DONE
4.) A scarf for same raffle on March 1 (using 1 partially used ball wool yarn and 1 partially used skien red heart) -- DONE.
5.) A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be (using lilly sugar and cream) -- DONE the family won't get to use the blanket for the baby as the baby died 3 days before the due date.
6.) Shawl for my Mom (Homespun) -- DONE
7.) Afghan for Dad (Yarn will be a mix) -- Slowly working on. It's my mindless project.
8.) Irish Hiking Scarf -- Working on it again got a pattern repear or 2 done this week.
9.) Gifted Mittens -- DONE
10.) ISE 4 scarf (Lopi) -- less than a foot to go. To be finished this weekend.

The yarn count is down to 81 after going through it and pulling out a bit to give to my 10 year old "niece" (daughter of a family friend that looks to me as an aunt) who will be learning to use the Knifty Knitter, and donating other yarn.

Favorite and Least Favorite Yarns (SP10)

Favorite Yarn

My favorite yarn is The Irish Ewe's Irish Aran yarn. Part of my love for this yarn is because it comes from County Kerry Ireland. My ancestors are from Country Kerry and I have been there. I absolutely love Ireland too.

More about this yarn though. It's 100% wool from organically grown sheep grown in County Kerry, Ireland. It hasn't been processed much so there's still a lot of lanolin in it. Sometimes I've even come across organic bits in the yarn. It's even got the sheep smell too. It's all things I love. I think it's also handspun, don't quote me on that though. The yarn is extremely even in width. You get 200 grams or 350 yards in a hank.

I've only had the luxury of making an Irish hiking scarf with it yet it was one of my favorite experiences. I wish I could work with it more.

Least Favorite Yarn

Looking back over the yarns I have used I'd have to say my least favorite yarn that I used would be Lion Suede. I had one heck of a time trying to get guage never succeeding. I decided to use another yarn on that project and make something else out of that yarn. It was to no avail. No matter what I try the yarn and I do not mix well and it keeps breaking. Other people have no problem with the skien. I've tried just to see if it was the skien others skiens and the yarn and I just don't mix. It's the one yarn that I had to give up trying to use and it still sits in my stash to remind me why I don't buy it again. I thankfully bought only one skien.

Joined Stashalong

I've Joined Stashalong. Right now I'll be doing option 3. That is until I get to sit down and inventory my yarn onto the computer. Then I'll (if it's allowed) add in option 2. My projects are:

An Irish Aran Sweater (using Patons Classic Merino)
Knitty's Chaos note: need to finish it really soon baby is due on 4/15 (using some red heart baby yarn for body and another for the arms)
A scarf and hat set for a raffle on March 1 (yarns unknown)
A scarf for same raffle on March 1 (using 1 partially used ball wool yarn and 1 partially used skien red heart)
A cotton hooded bath blanket for the baby to be (using lilly sugar and cream)
A second hooded bath blanket for another baby to be (using unknown cotton yarn in stash)
Triangle Shawl for Mom (Yarn not picked yet)
Afghan for Dad (Yarn not picked yet)
"Screaming Stash"
"Screaming Stash"
So that's my project list for Option 3