Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Year - in knitting

I have kept a written record of my FO's this year. Looking back on it, I now know why my house looks the way it does. In 2007 I resolve to knit only projects that test my ability and that I will learn from (with the exception of socks, which will always and forever be on my needles).

Finished 2006 items:

Brown Cashmere Socks
Valentine's Day Socks
Steeler Scarf
Large cable purse for Erin's friend
Wool Clapotis
Corie's intarsia sweater
2 prs of baby socks for Giorgio
2 prs of baby socks for Colin
Kepler Sweater
Charlotte's socks
2 baby hats for charity
Trekking multi color socks
Colin's hospital hat
Hand spun neck warmer
Emu Socks
Erin Bag for Kelly - navy
Koigu socks
Erin Bag for Erin - navy
Lady Eleanor entrelac shawl
Koigu baby socks
STR socks for me
Christina's Erin Bag
Meghan's mini Erin Bag
STR baby socks for secretary's baby
Multi color baby sweater for cousin's baby
Cascade 220 felted make-up bag
Colin's Highland socks
sister's birthday scarf
Boss's hunting socks
Colin's brown sweater
Colin's hat to match above
Kelly's STR socks
Trellis Wrap
Vanessa's skinny scarf
Vanessa's Erin bag
Michael's socks

I think that's it.

EDITED
Scarf from Shelley's Yarn (finished the day after Christmas)
Fingerless Mitts. (on New Year's Eve!)

New Techniques Learned: (and I'm proud of this....)

Entrelac
Intarsia
3 needle bind-off
Hand spinning yarn with a drop spindle
Mattress Stitch finishing
I-Cord

In 2007 I resolve to do more with lace and intricate cables. I will knit less easy and more difficult. Hopefully I will knit less altogether and try to complete some home fix-up projects. But at the end of a long day, isn't it just easier to get out the knitting and not the paint brushes and drop cloths?

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Have you seen these???

Too freaking cute for words... and I collect corks!


Elliphantom Knits: Finished: Korknisse Ornaments

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Be Safe and Have a....

MERRY CHRISTMAS
ONE AND ALL

Friday, December 22, 2006

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Rose... www.knightlyknitter.blogspot.com.... to post 6 weird things about myself. Choosing only 6 things is going to be very difficult in my case. But here goes:

1. I can't sleep without socks on. Ever.
2. I love everything that is watermelon flavored. I just hate watermelon.
3. I've been to lots of vacation spots far and wide, but I've never seen Niagara Falls. (which is only 5 hours away)
4. I can only eat (and enjoy) raw onion on a hot dog with ketchup. I can't eat raw onion any other way. I like hot dogs with mustard too, but I couldn't eat the raw onion on that. How strange is that???
5. I can't stand the feel of chenille or corduroy. It's like fingernails on a blackboard to me.
6. I can't stand to watch people being embarrassed. The movie "Meet the Fockers" was torture for me. My son is the same way.

But really, in every other way, I'm perfectly normal. :-)

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Finally! Thank you Blogger!






























Colin's Hat

Well, I hate Blogger. It's official. I use Blogger for this knitting blog and for my family blog. This morning, I posted a photo on my family blog.. no problem. Now, on this site, it's telling me that I must create a google account to post a photo, even though I have chosen NOT to switch to the new blogger. Why is it letting me do what I want on one site and not the other? So, ok, I go ahead and create a google account, with log on and password, and it still won't work. I can't post a photo on here. I think it's time I look for another blog host. And with my limited computer skills, this is just one big pain in the neck!

And, I gotta tell ya, that hat is CUTE!!!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

On the home stretch....

I'm almost ready for Christmas...















I've been away taking another class but I've been knitting too! Here are Vanessa's skinny scarf and Erin Bag. Turned out really nice in a wool/alpaca aran weight. Handles from the "rip off" company, of course. (way too expensive, but DARN, they're nice)

And below we have STR baby socks for Colin with yarn left over from his mother's socks. I think each sock took about an hour to knit. I should make him more of these. (they're just tied together with the yarn. They're not little bows)


And, lastly, I did decide to make the hat to match Colin's sweater. It's been bothering me that I didn't do this because it was my intention all along. I think I can have it finished.

















And now a mystery..... I knit this hat a few years ago using Shelly's hand spun. It's the Coronet pattern from knitty.com if anyone is interested. Anyhow, it disappeared out of my closet for a long time. I really can't remember the last time I saw it. On Monday morning, when I got in my car, it was on the front seat. (yes, I did leave the doors to my car unlocked accidently) I have no idea who had it. I have no idea why they just stuck it in the door of my car. I know that I didn't leave it anywhere because I never wore it. While I love the look of it, it looks terrible on me. Very strange.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Way Too Cute



Here's Giorgio in my version of Knitty.com's Trellis.

I knit this for him before he was born.

There was no way I could have ever known how adorable he'd

make that sweater look. He is way too cute.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Let's Try This Again...

This is the skinny scarf from the book One Skein. It is knitting up super quickly in an Aran weight alpaca/wool blend. I wrote an Erin Bag pattern to match the cable and rib pattern in the scarf and all I can do is pray that I get them finished in time for Christmas. These will be perfect for my son's girlfriend. Yeah, I know. I said one pair of socks and then I'm finished for Christmas. But what would Christmas be without a little nail biting, last minute knitting?































I'm off to State College for a few days for a real estate class. Tune in on Thursday for knitting progress. I wonder how the guy would feel if I sat in that class and knit. Nah...

Trying to squeek in a few more gifts...

Blogger.. not cooperating. Check in later in the week. Ugh.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Still knitting....















Michael's socks. These things are speedy. I love using worsted weight and big needles. And the warm factor is the best part. They look a little boring, I know, but he likes things plain and simple.

Things are slowing down for me. Thank goodness. It's feast or famine in this business and while feast is good, it's also extremely stressful. So I'm back to breathing and knitting again. I will hopefully be catching up on all the knitting blogs I haven't had time to visit lately and see what everyone's been up to.

Just got my mom out of the hospital again. She was there for 4 days this time. Pneumonia. She seems much better. My Dad is visiting his oncologist in Pittsburgh today. My mom jokes about what a team they are lately. At least they are keeping their sense of humor.