My SP Is The Best

I got my reveal package yesterday. If I wasn't so tired I would have posted about it yesterday. It's been a busy week and I am very sorry that I didn't post. My pal (Amy) sent me A knit cotton Discloth with a 4 leaf clover knit into it, 2 skiens of Yarn Treehouse Lace weight Merino Yarn (So soft and pretty), Treats and toys for Cliona (Many purrs from Cliona I must add), CHOCOLATE (Cadburys Irish Cream filled bar), A Knitting with fabric Kit (can't wait to get to it), An Irish Angel pin, A Yankee Candle Car Jar (Lavender), an Angel ornament, And A Stitch Counter Bracelet (with celtic knot beads). Amy You are the best!!!

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.

Pals are Happy

Well both my ISE4 and SP10 pals have received their packages and are happy with what I've sent them. Great news to get today. I had a wool crisis on my hands. Still a bit jumpy over it so I'll post about it tomorrow along with a picture. Don't worry though no winged creatures are involved.

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

Various Pics Starting w/ SP10

-- My SP 10 Package

-- A close-up of the tin. Stitchmarkers are inside.
-- The Nailpolish in My Package -- Yarn I dyed with food coloring.

-- The Afghan In Progress

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.

ISE 4 Scarf Completely Several Photos

I finished and blocked the scarf I've been working on for my downstream ISE 4 pal today. Below are photos of the finished scarf whole blocking and then afterwards. So this scarf will be making it's way to it's recipient over the next couple weeks with a couple little gifts in it. I will post yarn and pattern information after my scarf pal gets the scarf.

You'll notice that it took 2 surfaces to block. In my little corner of the world, you use whatever you have at hand. For the method I used to block I didn't want to chance ruining the carpet so it meant taking up the kitchen and use the kitchen table and ironing board. Plus guard it from Cliona.

Scarf while blocking (please pardon the ugly litterbox and messy bakers rack).


Post blocking, sitting on the ironing board.


Close-up detail of the cables

Distance shot of the scarf after blocking.

By the way, Cliona loves it and I will be paying for it with her when makes it way in the mail. I think I'm going to make something for her with a little of the yarn left over to keep Cliona from loosing it with me. She's been a bit tempermental lately.

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.

Life Is Grand

Ups finally delivered my 19lbs of Wool, Alpaca, and Silk that my firend sent me. Yes, 19lbs. Took a few phone calls to UPS to get it here. Apparently in their world I do not live here at my address and the house is not numbered. Heck, I've been living here since May and the house is numbered. Heck, the UPS driver knows our porch like the back of his hand the way he's here. Oh well. Here's some pics of what she sent. Only things that are missing from the pics are my huge smile, a shuttle, and a smaller drop spindle (for silk). There's also a cpuple pics of Cliona being cute.

Progress is slowly being made on my Aran Sweater. The ribbing has been finished and I have moved on th the pattern itself. It may have taken me about a week but I have finally completed 1 pattern repeat. The pattern uses the following stitches: seed, regular cable, wishbone cable, and blackberry.

My spinning is going along. Slowly getting the hang of it. I've spun all of the black wool that I was sent ith the spindle and am making a good dent in the white wool. The package from my friend was supposed to arrive today, but it didn't. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

I'm also working on putting the final parts of my SP's package together. With any luck it'll go ut in a week.

Friends Rock and new frontiers

I ordered my first drop spindle today. My kit cost $10.00 and it comes with the spindle, instructions, and some fiber. I have a friend that I've known for years. She has moved out of state now, but when she lived out here she had sheep (along with other animals). Well, she has discovered that she has a stash of wool, alpaca, and silk. Even better is that she is giving it away! For free and all to one person! Guess who? Yep, Me! Yehaa. Like I said my friends rock.

Thank You SP

I got ADDI TURBOS today!! I am participating in SP9 and I got my package today. In it was a set of 5, size 3 dpn s that are Addi Turbos. I also got: A pair of earrings that she made, a felted bowl that she also made, 2 skiens of 100% natural colored virgin wool from Wilde yarns (Peach and Clover),a package of dyed hemp twine for beading, gold bagler cord, glass stones with sayings, butter bar soap, tea, birthday confetti, a tinkerbell pen that lights up, a card telling me about herself, a hank of Koigu KPPPM 100% merino wool yarn, a christmas ornament, marshmallow snowmen and trees, a little photo album, a magnetic notepad (she must know I have a horrible memory), a little wooden basket with Savannah Bees Company's Minj Juliep Body Wash and Lotion, an issue of VOgue's Knit Simple Magazine, and Sandpiper Soap Company's Whipped Body Butter (apricot). My SP rocks. I'll provide pics as soon as I find my camera I'll post pics. THANK YOU

Inventory

Brand, Line, Amount (Yards, Meters, Grams or Ounces), Color, Quantity
1.) Sockotta, 414yds, 362, 1
2.) Meilenweit, Mega boot stretch, 400m, 703, 1
3.) Lion Brand, Homespun, 185, Edwardian, 4
4.) Knit Picks, Gloss, 220, Burgundy, 1,
5.) Patons, Classic Wool, 223, Winter White, 8
6.) Boquet, Floss, 25g, 6060, 4
7.) Phildar, Pronostic, 175, Blanc, 1
8.) Geisha, 175m, Gray, 6
9.) Boquet, Chunky Spun, 50g, 8863, 3
10.) LeChat, 2oz, Plum, 5
11.) Lion Brand, Jiffy, 135, Navy, 1
12.) Schachenmayr, Arabesque, 50g, F111, 4
13.) Schachenmayr, Arabesque, 50g, F110, 4
14.) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Lavender, 1
15.) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Pale Yellow, 1
16.) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Royal, 2
17) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Frosty Green, 1
18.) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Light Raspberry, 1
19.) Red Heart, Super Saver, 364, Lt Blue, 2
20.) Knit Picks, Wool Of The Andes, 110, Chocolate, 1
21.) Knit Picks, Wool Of The Andes, 110, Chestnut, 1
22.) Berocco, Optik, 87, 4928, 1
23.) InterMezzo, Chunky, 124, 9, 4
24.) Lopi, Partial, Green, 1
25.) Grand Duchess, 46m, 2057, 2
26.) Kogiu, KPPPM, 1
27.) Phildar, Phildouce 3 1/2, 40g, 42b, 1
28.) Phildar, Whisper 287, 50g, 73, 3
29.) Lion Brand, Magic Stripes, 1
30.) Red Heart, Super Saver, Partial, Green, 1
31.) Red Heart, Super Saver, Partial, White, 1
32.) Red Heart, Super Saver, Partial, Med Blue, 1
33.) Red Heart, Super Saver, Partial, Green, 1
34.) Handspun, Llama, unk, brn & white, 1
35.) Handspun, unk, unk, brn, 1
36.) laceweight, unk, blue, 2
37.) unk, multi, 1
38.) unk, aran, 4
39.) unk, ppl, 2
40.) laceweight, unk, peach, 1
41.) laceweight, unk, lt blue, 1