WEEK 39!

Another Sunday morning.  It is a gorgeous spring day here with the sun shining and a nice gentle breeze blowing.  Hopefully I will get time to sit on the porch and do a bit of knitting there this afternoon.  But before we get into my 'personal life', let's take a look at my 'crafting life' for the past week.

First up.........................FO's!!!!!!!!

Hubby's socks got completed this week.  I really like them.  They are just a plain vanilla sock but the self striping yarn really makes them POP.  This is the first sock pattern I ever did and I have probably done 5-6 pair with this pattern.  

The Midnight Sunset Shawl got completed also.  Sorry for the cruddy photo.  It was late in the evening and I wanted a photo of it before it went to the prayer shawl group.  I did not do the prescribed bind off.  I started it and it was not working at all.  Not the patterns fault but the yarn's issue.  This is a super soft acrylic yarn and it does not have the ability to be blocked.  The edging was a picot and the little picots where going every which way.  Not attractive at all.  The next one I do in this pattern will be with a 'stiffer' yarn and then the picots will behave much nicer.

So.......my needles were empty.  (Do not think of those WIP's languishing in the project closet)  So I needed a new project or two.

Boxy Dishcloth.  I like dishclothes with a bit of texture to them.  Nothing wrong with the smooth ones but...............I use them for cleaning my granite counter tops and like a bit of scrubbing power.

Both of these are being knit with Lion Brand Cotton Ease.  I have never used it before and had 2 skeins given to me by a friend.  So, why not give it a try?  I do like it.  It is a little splitty but I am enjoying the feel of the yarn.

Doing them two at a time is fun too.  I am going to make another pair as soon as these are finished.  They will be left behind in the AirBnB's we are staying at next month.  I think it is fun to gift people that I do not know.  I wish I was still making soap as I would add a bar of that to the package.  Oh well..................the clothes will have to do.

Then, this happened.

Wednesday, I asked a question on my blog update, if anyone had used 9 inch circular needles to knit socks.  Only 4 people responded....................all said 'no' but wondered how they would be.  Thanks for the responses.  I went online and looked at reviews and watched videos on how to use them.  I figured................what the heck.  I ordered the ChaigoGoo needles.  The only reason I went for them is............their tips are 2 inches long and I figured that would give me a bit more to hold onto.  Most other small circular's tips are 1.5 to 1.75 inches long.

Once I get going on this sock, I will decided if I want to order another needle.  I very much like doing my socks consecutively.  I am very curious about the gauge I am getting though.  I ordered the needle size I normally use but feel like I am knitting looser than I do with DPN's.  I do know, I knit looser with Magic Loop.  I won't know until I get to the leg though.

Oh.......before I forget.  The yarn being used for the sock is Wendy Happy Yarn.  It is a discontinued yarn and makes me very sad when I think about that.  This was one of my all time favorite yarns to make socks with.  I still have 5 more skeins of this yarn and am making sure I savor it.  

That is all for the crafting this week...................let's talk about life.

This was a week I finally came to terms with the fact, I own too much yarn.  Yup......you heard me.  My yarn cubbies were spilling over with all the yarn I owned.  (And I have LOTS of yarn cubbies)  I decided to pull it ALL out and take a hard long look at all of it and make the decision whether or not I would ever knit or crochet with it.  I now have 2 kitchen garbage bags FULL of yarn in all weights to donate to the prayer shawl ministry group.  It has really made me feel so much better knowing I only have stash I will use.  When I want to do a project, I no longer need to go through tons of yarn that does not speak to my heart.

In other news.................hubby is leaving today for Las Vegas to see his mom.  My cousin is tagging along for the enjoyment of Vegas.  While hubby is away, I plan on doing some deep cleaning.  It is so much easier to do that when he is away. Some of the deep cleaning will be some of his stuff.  I have done this several times before and he has never missed anything I have gotten rid of LOL.  

Also, this is Holy Week for us.  Starting Thursday evening, we will be quite busy with church activities until late Saturday night.  I love this week.  But, this year is the first year I will not get that Easter phone call from my mom with the phrase "He is Risen" and my reply of "He is Risen indeed".  I always heard all the 'firsts' are hard.  Now I know what is meant by that. Also, with mom's final road trip just a week away, I am having quite a hard time imagining leaving her at her final resting place.  

Today I leave you with a photo of my best friend, Enrique.  Enrique is always right beside me.  He sleeps next to me, stays outside the bathroom door when I am taking a shower, follows me throughout the house when I am doing laundry or cooking or moving around, stays in my craftroom with me while I am sewing or working on a project and reminds me when it is dinner time for him and his sister, Luna.  He is smaller than Luna but has a huge heart and a large bark. He is not fond of strangers.......especially men.  He has save me many times from the diabolical postal worker that comes to our mailbox.  Enrique is sure the postal worker is a serial killer as are all the children who walk to and from school every day.  He even guards our backyard from the evil UPS delivery trucks.  He is one of the most stubborn animals I have ever owned..........just like me.  It is probably why we are so attached to each other.

Until next time.........................Happy Crafting!!!!!