Just like I promised

Wow, a month has passed since I last posted.  It doesn't seem like that long but dates on blogs don't lie.  Do they?

I do have some crafts that I have been working on fast and furiously.  First up...............a lovely shawl for a friend.

She had tried to do this herself and after row two wanted to throw it in the trash.  So we exchanged.  I gave her a cross stitch that I loved and I took the shawl to do.  This has been on my hook for about 2-3 weeks.  It has traveled many places with me including to Las Vegas where most of the work was done on it during the car ride.

Remember that sweater class I was taking.  Well here is where I am at on the sweater.

I have the cap sleeves finished, the neck is finished even thought it is kind of rolling.  I have been promised that once it is blocked that will stop.  So now it is a matter of straight stockinette knitting for the rest of the body until I am ready to put the lace pattern from the sleeves onto the bottom.

I also too that cuff down magic loop sock class.  I have been doing toe up magic loop since I first started making socks.  So I was excited to do the cuff down.  I finished the first sock and it fits my hubby just fine.  So not wanted to be one of those knitters with second sock syndrome.................

Here is the second sock.  Today is the day I am going to work on that and hopefully will be able to get the rest of the foot done and maybe even get to the end of it and close it up.  Then I will be back on the sweater again.

Since the ravelry group that I have been in for the past 11 months has decided to do their Year of Projects for another year...........................I now have to come up with a list of projects that is reasonable/feasible for me to complete in a years time.  It starts on July 1st and is an absolute blast to do.  We have knitters, crocheters and even some sewers in there.  It is great fun to see what everyone does.  I especially love reading all the blogs from all over the world.  I have learned some totally new 'sayings' from it.

Not much else on the crafting front.

Personal life..................................just about the same as always.......................exercise,work, eat, knit/crochet, sleep.

Happy Crafting!

Wait for it

I promise that I am still alive but extremely busy for the past month.

I truly do expect to make a crafting post this weekend and I promise that it will contain WIP's and FO's.  So please wait for it.

YoP finally

I know, I know, I have been slacking in the YoP posting department.  Just didn't seem like I had a lot to post about for it.  Today though, I do have some photos of what I am working on at the present time.  I also have looked at my list of projects that I 'thought' would be done by the end of June and realized there is no way all of that is going to get done.  So I have revised my list to what I think will truly get done by the end of this first year.

So let's get started!

 You all know I am taking a sock class to learn the magic loop cuff down method.  I have been doing toe up magic loop for years but wanted to learn the other way.  I just completed my second lesson and this is where I am at.  The yarn is Bernat Sock yarn.  It calls for a #3 US needle but because of the number of stitches we cast on in class I wish I had used a #2US.

 Pardon the cruddy photos, but I was trying to get a good photo of the colorway of the sock.  It is really not a color I would wear but I think my hubby might so will let him have the option when I am finished.  I am liking the way this heel gets turned.  It totally freaked me out at first but now that it is turned I am all better.

I need to get the main part of the foot knitted by next Saturday so we can do the toe decreases and then Kitchener the toe.  Now, here is my problem.  I am not afraid of the Kitchener at all.  I have done it a few times and it seems kind of fun.  So here is the problem..........I am totally left handed but I knit right handed.  (Don't ask)  Because of that I would need to hold the darning needle in my right hand to do the stitch.  Isn't going to happen.  I can not even hold a fork in my right hand without feeling like a total klutz.  My instructor said he would shoe me how to do the draw closed toe.  Well, that does not make me happy as that makes for a pointed toe and I like a rounded toe.  Hopefully we can figure something out next week.

 Here are the toe up socks I am working on.  They are Peace Socks by Wendy Johnson.  Again forgive the cruddy photos.  This is done in Panda cotton which is a wonderful yarn but splits pretty bad while being worked on.  Especially if you have a pattern that calls for knitting stitches together and doing pass over stitches.

 It is a pretty simple pattern but works up so nicely.  I am able to watch TV and knit these without loosing my place at all.

I am doing the heel right now.  These feel like they might be too long for me which kind of makes me sad.  But if they are I know of someone that has a foot just about 1/2 inch longer than mine and she would love to have them.  I will know more by the end of the heel if they are mine or someone elses.

Here is how my list looks now.

3  pairs of socks (Have the yarn)

17 dishcloths (in progress) Knit for Christmas 2012

Vintage Shawl Crochet  A friend is giving me the materials and pattern to make this for her

 Here is the list of things that are finished:

****Finished******
Hat and Scarf (November gift)  Knitted (finished July 2011)

 Scarf for Jadin (by October 10th) Knitted  (finished October 2011)

Wedding Ring Afghan (finished in October 2011)

 Bed sock (Christmas) Crochet or knitted, haven't decided (Finished October 2011)                

 Hat for Josie (Finished October 2011)

wedding ring afghan (Christmas) Crochet (Finished in December 2011)

Bed sock(Christmas)  (Finished November 201

Scarf for Jenn (Finished December 23^rd!!  2011)

Scarf for Josie (Finished December 26^th 2011)

One man’s hat (Finished January 2012)

5 dishcloths (Finished February 2012)

1 log cabin block done (Finished February 2012)

Comfort Shawl (Finished March 2012)  Christmas 2012/ Crochet

1 dishcloth (finished March 2012)

Hat (finished March 2012)

As you can see my list has shortened dramatically.  There are some trips planned during the next few months.  I don't take large projects with me when traveling so socks and dishcloths are going to be the main goal.   Not to mention we have already hit over 100 degrees here and the larger projects are just not working for me during all the heat.  Once the heat abates (usually November) I will be happy to put the large projects back on my lap.

Oh, did you see that new item on the list?  The Vintage Shawl?  My daughter's friend from high school found a pattern and fell in love with it.  She did about 2 inches of the pattern and decided there was no way she was going to do it as it drove her crazy.  I offered to make it for her.  So in exchange she offered to do a craft for me.  I love this because, I can not longer do counted cross stitch because of my arthritis, yet I love the look of it.  So I have picked out a pattern for her to do and she is very excited.  From what I understand she is quite fast at it also.  I am thinking I like this 'barter' system.

Now on to a more personal front.  I am proud to tell all of you that I have evicted 21 pounds of fat from my body!!!!  EVICTED???????  Yes, because if you loose something don't you normally go and try to find it?  Well, I am not going to go and find those 21 pounds.  They have been evicted, the locks have been changed and a restraining order is out against all 21 of them!

Got a problem though...........................I am running out of clothes that fit.  Why is that a problem?  I still have 30 pounds to throw out and I really don't want to do any major clothes shopping until I am totally done.  So I think by the end of next month I am going to have to break down and buy at least a few pair of capris that fit right as well as maybe a couple of blouses.  I am taking a trip towards the end of next month and don't want to look like I am wearing my big sister's clothing.  (I don't even have a big sister!)

The end of June we are taking another trip and I have a feeling by then I am going to have to purchase a few more things as we are going to be gone for 10 days and I will need more than 2 pair of pants.  Lucky for me I got gift cards for Christmas to my favorite clothing store so it won't be too expensive of a trip.

So that is my news for the day/week.

Happy Crafting!

YoP

I am so sorry that I do not have any pictures for you to view.  But check back during the week as I normally do more posting during the week than on the weekends.

Any how.....................I did go to my cuff down sock class this past Saturday.  Loved it.  I have to have the sock ready for the heel flap by next Saturday.  I chose to do it in Bernat Sock with a size 3 needle.  I am not too happy with it.  They had me cast on 64 and I thought nothing of it until I got about 4 inches down on the leg.  The thing is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!  I have already decreased it to 56 and am thinking of going even lower than that.  This might just have to be a practice sock and I will frog it once we get it finished or I will just toss it away.  I love going cuff down at this point but will let you all know how much I like it after doing the heel and foot.

I have not progressed on my Peace Socks much since I am working like crazy to get to the heel on the class sock.  Nothing else has been finished or started since the last post last week (You can find it in the archives).

On a more personal level....................it has been a very trying week.  Hubby left Wednesday morning to go and visit his mom.  Wednesday night DD came over and did her taxes and I made a wonderful Thai dish for us.  It was sweet and spicy both and we loved it and were glad there was enough leftover for each of us to have another meal out of it.

Thursday I took my Mom to Best Buy to finish up her new computer order.  Her other one was 10 years old and she had really nursed that thing.  But it was so slow. 

Friday I hooked up Mom's new computer and it was fantastic.  Then my BFF and I went out to dinner.  We were going to do Souper Salad but no tables were available.  Then we headed to Sweet Tomato's...............same story there.  We ended up at a Mexican Food restaurant and I was surprised and glad to find out I could make my tacos into lettuce wraps with steamed veggies on the side! 

Saturday I had my sock class and of course I had to go shopping for some yummy yarn.  (I will get pictures up here this week, I promise)  Then I headed home and got my flannel sheets off the bed and got the cotton ones back on it.  Being 90 degrees in the day means the flannels are gone for another year.  I straightened up part of our 'back room' which is suppose to be the hubby's shop but seems to be more of a storage area than anything else.  Finally go to sit down and do a few rows on the sock class sock.  Had to run to the airport and pick up my son and his lovely family.  Got them home and hung out for about 20 minutes with them and then headed home remembering that I had not eaten yet.  Stopped at the store for salad and a Smart One meal.

The evening rounded out with my dear friend calling me to inform me her brother in law had taken his own life.  I was devastated.  She was so hurt and it is so hard for me know what to say at times like that.  So I just let her talk and cry and talk and cry.  I did promise prayers for the family though per her request.

Sunday I went to Mass and then out to lunch with some good friends.  Went to a new 'hole in the wall' place and it was really good food. I did manage to get two loads of laundry done too. In the afternoon Mom and I went to the Casino and spent several hours there having a blast.  We had dinner there too and I was able to be home around 6:30.  I emptied the dishwasher, got my food ready for Monday at the office, played with my dogs, put my feet up and realized I only had an hour for knitting, but knitting I did do!

So as you can see this morning I did a weight in and am so close.........................19 pounds evicted!  One more pound and I will be doing a happy dance and singing.  (Don't worry, I won't video it or anything crazy like that)

Happy Crafting

Just checking in

 Seems funny that I can check in throughout the week but have a horrible time doing my YoP update on Sundays.

Any who.........................I am working on my socks and must say I love the pattern I choose peace socks by Wendy Johnson.  The pattern is just enough to keep my attention but not so bad that I can not enjoy anything else.  I am almost to the heel and I think I am going to try the heel she has in the instructions.  I normally a couple of other heels my favorite being the Sweet Tomato Heel by Cat Borghi. It is easy and fool proof.

I still can not decide what sock yarn I want to take to class on Saturday.  I have some lovely yarn that I got to do a pair of socks for my hubby but I really don't want to 'practice' on it.  I do have lots of Panda Cotton but it splits so easily (I am using that stuff now).  I have some Noro but it seems so rough to the touch.  I will probably just take some of my comfort sock yarn and use that.  I have plenty of it and each skein is large enough to do a pair of crew socks.

On the food front....................I am back on tract as of yesterday.  The last weekend with Holy Week and Easter were a disaster for me.  We were so busy with Church that all I would do is grab the quickest and easiest thing there was to eat and stuff it in my mouth.  On Easter we ordered from a wonderful Italian restaurant and ate like kings. (fat kings mind you)  Monday was not much better as there was quite a bit of stress going on in my life and so I grabbed my go to for stress................chocolate........................and ate that until I thought I was going to be sick.  (Wish I would have)  So Tuesday I was back on track for the most part and Wednesday I was 100% back on.  I need that ticker to go down the slippery slope.  I have a couple of goals in mind and hopefully I will make them.

Goal one.................I need to be 7 pounds lighter by the first of May
Goal Two................I want to be solidly between 8 and 10 pounds lighter (than now) by the end of May.
Goal Three..............I want to be 10-15 pounds lighter (than now) by the end of June.

I don't think that is such a hard goal to achieve.  I just have to stick with it and look at the small goals instead of the BIG picture and my total goal.  I have lots of support around me so it should be ok.  I could actually do more than I have for my goal three but I don't want to push it.  I know there is going to be a plateau in there somewhere. 

I am finally into all of the clothes in my closet.  In fact I have had to get rid of a lot of clothing.  Fortunately for me my daughter is doing this too and she has been more than happy to take my too big clothes off my hands.  Hopefully before the end of June I will need to make a bit of a shopping trip to add to the dwindling wardrobe.  I already had to go out and buy smaller underwear (both upper and lower!)

I will try really hard to post this Sunday.  Hubby is out of town until Monday night so I should have time to take photos and post on the blog.

Happy Crafting!

Nothing big

I just thought I would check in with everyone on here.  I have been so busy with my personal life that I have really not done much crafting at all this past week.  I did finish DD dress and got her headband adorned also to match the dress.  I cut out a dress for me and have only sewn a couple of steps on it.  I am not in the mood to sew right now and not even really in the mood to knit/crochet.

WHAT????????????  I know, that is a shocking statement to me as it is to you.

Let me try and explain.................After finishing the main sewing for DD Easter dress I started working on my oldest Grand Daughters scarf to match her hat.  We all know how long it takes to make a scarf and how boring it can get even if it has a pattern to it.  So I worked on that for about 4 days and finally just had enough of it.  I put it away with the intentions of working on some other WIP.  Went to look at my WIP's and could not even get up any interest in any of them.  By that time it was the weekend and my weekend was booked full with Church doings.  I had an all day women's retreat on Saturday followed by Mass.  On Sunday DH and I facilitated RCIA until around noon.  Then I had to go to the grocery store to make sure there was healthy food in the house for the next week. As you can tell by my weight ticker I have not been eating the healthiest this past week.  By the time I was done at the grocery store it was time to make dinner.  After dinner I cut out a dress for me and then I was spent.  I was in bed by 9pm that evening.

Ok, so Monday comes and I really don't want to work on my dress.  I really, really, really have been jonesing to work on a pair of socks.  So off to the craftroom I go to find my sock yarn (like that is hard with over 30 skeins of the stuff) and a pair of needles to do the magic loop with.  SUCCESS!  I have it all together....................but it has been too long since I made my last pair so I have to bring out my notebook on how to do the cast on for toe up and how many stitches to use and how to increase and how..........................well you get the picture.

So I cast on a pair of socks last night and I am in heaven.  I have decided that my true love is knitting socks.  In fact I am taking another magic loop sock class this month.  I am going to learn how to do cuff down socks and I am so excited.  Now I won't have to invert the patterns for my socks!  I only hope I can do two at a time cuff down.  I guess I will find that out come the 14th of this month.

I do want to wish each of you a blessed Easter season and for my Jewish friends a Happy Pesach.

Happy crafting

Busy and productive

I have been busy and productive the past two weeks.  I didn't post last week as I spent most of the week with my brother, sister in law and her mother.  We had a wonderful visit and I was sorry to see them leave.  So knitting and all other craftiness got put on hold for the whole week.  But I made up for it this week.  Have a look.

This is one of the hats I made that will be given away at Christmas.  This is for my oldest Grand Daughter.  She is very petite so I had to go down a needle size to get the right measurements so this would fit her.  She lives in Kansas and I didn't want to see it blow off her head in their daily 35 MPH winds.

This is the same hat but I didn't like the way it looked on my iron.  (I really need to buy a head to display my hats on)  It is on my hand and I think it is really cute.

Here is the scarf that will go with the hat.  I am trying to decide if I want to do a full scarf or put a button on this and make it a cowl type thingy.  It is done in the faggot stitch and is so easy to do.  But it has big enough 'holes' in it that I could easily put a button on it and make it more of a cowl.  What do you all think?

But the majority of my time was taken up doing this:

This is my Daughter's Easter dress.  I really enjoyed sewing again but I forgot how much time it takes to do things the RIGHT way.  I want to show you a close up of the bottom.

My Daughter is not very tall (5'1") but this dress hit her above her knee.  She told me that she wanted it to be the middle or below the knee as she is no longer 6 years old (not by a looooong shot) so I told her to go and find some trim to put on the bottom.  She found both of these at Hobby Lobby.  We have enough of both to do her a headband also to match the dress if she so chooses.

I can not believe we are at the end of March and this blog a long will be ending in a few months.  I did ask the administrators if we could do it again for another year.  I have been so much better at blogging this past year and my projects are actually getting done.  They said that there didn't seem to any reason why we could not do another one next year too!  I hope they meant it.  I have met some very talented people on this group and have gotten inspired by many of you.  Your comments have helped me make some decisions that I otherwise would not have made.

Anyway, that being said, here is how my list looks now:

3 Log cabin squares (when ever) Knitted  (in progress)
Hexipuff (one a day for as long as it takes) Crochet (on hold for the moment)
Mittens for Jenn .  Knitted (have the yarn)
LaLas prayer shawl (when ever) Knitted ( in progress) For Christmas 2012
Cancer Ribbon Shawl (when ever) Crochet ( in progress)
Alpaca/Silk Prayer Shawl Crochet (in Progress for Christmas 2012)

4 blooming pillows (Have the yarn) Crochet for Christmas 2012

4 – 8 pairs of socks (Have the yarn) Knit for Christmas 2012

2 hats and 3 scarves for men.  (Have the Yarn) (one set in progress) Knit or Crochet for Christmas 2012

17 dishcloths (in progress) Knit for Christmas 2012

Mittens and Scarf (have the yarn and scarf in progress) Christmas 2012

 Here is the list of things that are finished:

****Finished******
Hat and Scarf (November gift)  Knitted (finished July 2011)

 Scarf for Jadin (by October 10th) Knitted  (finished October 2011)

Wedding Ring Afghan (finished in October 2011)

 Bedsock (Christmas) Crochet or knitted, haven't decided (Finished October 2011)                

 Hat for Josie (Finished October 2011)

wedding ring afghan (Christmas) Crochet (Finished in December 2011)

Bedsock(Christmas)  (Finished November 201

Scarf for Jenn (Finished December 23^rd!!  2011)

Scarf for Josie (Finished December 26^th 2011)

One man’s hat (Finished January 2012)

5 dishcloths (Finished February 2012)

1 log cabin block done (Finished February 2012)

Comfort Shawl (Finished March 2012)  Christmas 2012/ Crochet

1 dishcloth (finished March 2012)

Hat (finished March 2012)

Happy Crafting!