All Questions Answered

Today I decided to answer the questions that have been appearing in the comment section of my blog.  Blogger is not very considerate when it comes to replying to a comment.  Normally it does not notify you that a  reply has been made to the comment you left.  Wordpress does this and I so wish blogger would incorporate that into their program too.  So from now on, I will be doing posts periodically to answer questions.  So here we go!

I’m still staggered by the amount of yarn, is it all logged somewhere? (Liz)

Not really.  I never used Ravelry to log my stash.  However, that being said, I do have a craft room and all my yarn is visible at a glance.  

I have several of these type of storage units and the yarn is separated by weight.  It works well for me anyway.

I love that you've converted your yardage to miles...how far do you think that would take you? (Ruth)

It would take me round trip twice from my home in Arizona to Madrid Spain.  If only I could get there that way, huh!

We can be Boxy twinsies- (Kim)

Actually, the Boxy Sweater I am wanting to do is this one.

Although the one you are talking about is another one I would love to do.  I just need summer sweaters for the moment though.  Our winter doesn't last long enough here to warrant more than a cardigan or two.

And I'm curious if that Deborah Norville Everyday yarn is the color Aubergine? (Becki)

Yes it is.  I do believe it has been renamed Premier Yarn instead of Deborah Norville.  I love it's anti pilling properties.  I do not like 'shaving' my sweaters LOL.

 I see the blanket you are knitting is also blue. Same baby? (Mary-Ann)

Yes, it is for the same baby.  They live in New York City.  I know it gets pretty cold back there and figured a nice warm blanket would be welcomed.  

That is all of the questions that have popped up over the last couple of weeks.  There is one person who is interested in joining the YOP group.  She is amazed at how long our lists are.  HEEHEE.........Seldom are those lists completed.  At least mine aren't.  Not to mention, the items that get added in as we go along because we see a need for something during the course of the year.  The lists we make are just like a Christmas Wish List. Doesn't mean everything on the list will be under the tree.  Nope, not even close some years.

That is all for today.  I have red chili cooking in the crockpot and the beans are being cooked on the stove top as I type this.  If I am really feeling domestic, I may even make hubby some home made tortillas to go with it.  Normally, I only make this meal in the winter as it does heat up the house a bit.  But what the heck........I am feeling especially nice today LOL.  Hubby loves my Mexican cooking.  He should since his mom is the one that taught me almost everything I know in that area!  Nothing like learning from the master.

Until next time................happy crafting!

YOP 9/WEEK 2

Hello again!  So nice of you to drop by.  It was a busy week for this lady.  I was out of town last weekend and arrived back at my home Monday afternoon tired and just wanting to sleep in my own bed.  Not much knitting got done while I was away.  I was appointed navigator so the main idea was for me to keep my eyes on the road and help with directions.  Even though there were 4 days with little knitting going on, I still have things to show you.

First up................some FO's.  Yup plural!

The baby outfit is done and ready to be given to the expecting parents.  The gender was revealed, hence the blue buttons.  The hat is from the Little Boy Blue pattern but I deleted the cable pattern it asked for and substituted the cable pattern from the "Wee Sherlock" sweater.  I wanted the two pieces to tie into each other.  I made the size 3-6 months as I wanted the little guy to be able to wear it into the spring.  Even the booties are 3-6 months.  Speaking of the booties......I had to go up 2 needle sizes to get those things bigger than newborn.  The pattern was written for 3-6 months but I think someone has teeny tiny babies.  All the babies in our family have good sized feet when they come out LOL.  

This was such a fun knit and quick too.  The yarn is a 70% acrylic/30% alpaca combo called "Cozy Alpaca" and super duper soft.  It is washable but not to be put in a dryer.  The yarn is worsted weight which is one reason it knits up so fast.  This is the second time I have made this sweater and will do it again when it is needed.  The biggest plus to this sweater is the buttons going down the side.  If you wanted, you could use shank buttons and there would be no issue of the car seat seatbelts causing the buttons to dig into the baby.  Nor will the buttons dig into the baby if he/she is being held over your shoulder.  Win Win!

Once the outfit was completed, baby mode was still happening in my mind so:

A garter stitch baby blanket is in the making.  This is made with Bernat Pipsqueak yarn.  As you can see, it is squishy and very cuddly.  This is very hard for me to work on for long as it is quite warm on my lap.  I wish I could be making this in the winter but baby boy is arriving in the middle of November and will be living in New York.  He will need WARM stuff this winter.

For these projects I did need to purchase yarn for the outfit.  There was not one yard of cream colored worsted weight yarn in my stash!  Unfortunately, I over bought and now have almost 2 skeins of the yarn left.  I would have returned it but I already caked it up.  OOPS.  There is another baby being born in September (a boy again) so I might see if I have enough to make just the sweater for him.  There is a short sleeved version of the sweater and that might be an option for the remaining yarn.  The September baby will be living here in Arizona where the winters are mild.

OK.  Onwards to other items I am knitting.

I know this doesn't look like much............yet.  This is "It Really Fits" top down cardigan.  It is a pattern from Knit Picks and I am loving it.  I am using Debbie Norville Everyday Yarn.  This yarn has been in my stash for about 9 years!  It was on clearance at JoAnn's and I grabbed every skein that was in my local store.  I am sorry you are not able to see the rich eggplant color of the yarn.  I tried to capture the color but nothing seemed to help.  Now that the baby outfit is done and the blanket underway, I can give this a bit more attention.

And of course there is this:

A Rose City Roller sock.  This time I did the heel flap instead of the FLK heel.  I do my flap a little different than most people.  My first knit row is SL1 K1 and repeat across.  My second knit row is Sl1 *Sl1 K1 repeat from * across ending with 2 K1.  This gives the flap a diamond looking pattern and is just a tad more cushy than the normal Sl1, K1 each knit row.

The socks were my traveling project last weekend.  Now you know how little knitting got done!

Since we have been home we have been playing catch up with our daily routines.  There has been menu planning, grocery shopping, laundry, errand running, re potting of plants and lots of cooking and baking.  

I am still trying to find the perfect bread recipe for my bread machine.  I have 2 more to try this week.  I think the main issue is trying to keep it fresh for a few days.  There are bread bags ordered and will be delivered this week.  Hopefully they will help.  The fact they are reusable is a big plus too.  I have been using a Lock n Lock bread box but the bread drys out within a day no matter what I do.

Here is how my list looks now.

YOP 9 GOALS

Finish Boxy Sweater started in 2015

Finish Eva Shawl started in 2011

Finish Forrest Path Shawl started in 2018

Summer Top for me
  Spotting Clouds ( this time with fingering yarn )

Cardigan for me
  It Really Fits  Cardigan 7/1

Short Socks
  Rose City Roller 7/4
 
Regular Socks

Project bags/totes

Market bags

Produce Bags

Tissue Box Covers

Plastic Canvas Nativity bought in 2009

Bookmarks

Shawls for both Prayer Shawl and Personal

Blanket/Throw
  Polly Plum Squares
  Baby Blanket  7/12


Dishcloths
  DW Pattern (no longer available online!)

Doilies/Table Runners

Baby Items
Wee Sherlock  7/2>7/9
Little Boy Blue  7/10>7/10
Easy-Peasy No Sew, Stay On Baby Booties  7/11>7/12

Purchase of yarn is prohibited!!!!!  I have over 21,000 miles of yarn to play with this year.  (38,481,140 yards)

Any other project that falls into my lap.

Until Next Time.......................Happy Crafting!!!!!!

We interrupt this program............

This lady is not a follower.  Nope, I have my own drum and love beating it to my own rhythm.  For the past 4 years, my local Grand Daughter has been begging me to read Harry Potter.  I had no desire to read it or even watch the movies.  There were quite a few of my acquaintances reading, watching, knitting and crocheting everything HP.  I just didn't see the thrill in it and could not understand what all the hoopla was about.

A few weeks ago, the local Grand told me she found the HP book set in the "American" version.  It was reasonably priced too.  I bought it.  Don't get upset about me going for the 'American" version.  Reading UK books is not really an issue for me.  I have done it numerous times.  My line of thinking was..................if I am going to read 7 books in a series, I want to get through them quickly and be done with it.  (I know, poor attitude)

Well, wouldn't you know it.................I completed book 1 in just a couple of days (I only read at bedtime).  Book 2 has been started and I am completely hooked!  Hubby is now reading book 1 and seems to be enjoying it too.  I get it now!  Yup, a little bit of a 'late to the party' person but at least I made it.

Now, I am perusing google to find HP patterns for different things to make.  Not for me, but for the local Grand who is still loving all things HP.  Maybe a scarf or some mitts or a wall hanging................the possibilities are endless.

Until Next Time.............................happy crafting Muggles!

CHANGE OF PLANS

Just when I think I have all my ducks in a row, one of the little boogers decides to take a detour.  This happened this past weekend while we were on a little get away to Las Vegas.  After visiting my MIL and seeing what has been done so she can return to her home, we discovered not much had happened to make this possible.

Hubby was quite disappointed when he realized he is going to have to go back there to supervise the completion of the renovations needed to the house before she can return home.  This all should have been completed months ago.  Promises have been made everytime he goes up there.  "Yes, we will get right on it and get it completed".  It doesn't happen.  

So what does this mean?  It means hubby will be heading back up there yet this month for an extended stay to make sure things get done ASAP so she can return home.  After the renovations are completed the house still needs to be inspected by the state and a discharge from her doctor needs to be completed.  This all takes time and $$$$.

After taking all of this into consideration, we have decided our trip to Europe is going to be put on hold for this year.  It is not a huge disappointment.  Really, it isn't.  Making sure his mother is comfortable and back where she longs to be is much more important to us.  She is the last of our parents and we will do anything to make, what remains of her life, happy.  Remember she is 92 and a stroke patient.

We still have plans for a few short adventures but nothing that will take us away for 11 days and 5600 miles away.  We also have our own renovations on our house to complete as well.  

It is amazing at how both of us relaxed after making that decision.  We had both been thinking it for a few days but were a bit unsure of how the other one would feel about it.  You would think, after 44 years, we would know each other better than that.  LOL

Have any of you had to make big game plan changes before?  Rain, I know you did when looking for a new abode.  Anyone else?

OK, I need to get back to my knitting.  I have been having so much fun working on some new items these past couple of weeks.  To see what is being worked on, drop by on Sunday for my YOP update.

Until next time......................happy crafting!

YOP 9....LET'S GET IT!

 Happy New Year!  Once again we are starting a new Year of Projects.   If you would like to join in on the fun HERE IS THE LINK.  You can join anytime.  The idea is to have fun, meet other people with crafting skills and maybe even learn a new skill in the process.

This is my 9th year to participate in YOP.  Yes, I have been here since the beginning.   I had only been knitting for 2 years before joining.  I have learned so much from other members of this group.  Thank you all for inspiring me to push my skills to new levels.  The opportunity to continue advancing my skills as well as meeting other crafters is what make me continue year after year.  

This is the week we post our lists of what we 'plan' on doing over the next 52 weeks.   So, let's get on to the list I have made for the coming year.

YOP 9 GOALS

Finish Boxy Sweater started in 2015

Finish Eva Shawl started in 2011

Finish Forrest Path Shawl started in 2018

Summer Top for me
  Spotting Clouds ( this time with fingering yarn )

Cardigan for me
  It Really Fits  Cardigan 

Short Socks

Regular Socks

Project bags/totes

Market bags

Produce Bags

Tissue Box Covers

Plastic Canvas Nativity bought in 2009

Bookmarks

Shawls for both Prayer Shawl and Personal

Blanket/Throw
  Polly Plum Squares

Dishcloths
  DW Pattern (no longer available online!)

Doilies/Table Runners

Baby Items
Wee Sherlock
Little Boy Blue
Easy-Peasy No Sew, Stay On Baby Booties

Purchase of yarn is prohibited!!!!!  I have over 21,000 miles of yarn to play with this year.  (38,481,140 yards)

Any other project that falls into my lap.

As you can see, I have already picked patterns for some of these projects.  By the time you read this I will already be working on some of the projects since the "new year", for me, started July 1.  Next week I will start posting my progress photos.  

This weekend I am in Las Vegas with friends enjoying some down time.  I brought a project along for the road trip.  I am not driving this time so there will be quite a bit of progress made.  Tonight we are visiting my fellow knitter's home for a little peace and quiet.  There will be knitting and laughter for sure.

Once again I am asking for prayers for my son in the military.  He is having surgery tomorrow to repair his shoulder.   He has been through this with his other shoulder so knows it will take time and patience with lots of physical therapy for proper healing.

Until Next Time.................Happy Crafting!!!!!