Finally Socks That Rock

Kelly's Christmas socks in the "County Clare" colorway. I picked that color because she spent some time in County Clare two years ago and I thought she'd like that. Knit with two balls of yarn at the same time... never again. Just a pain. I say let 'em pool from now on.

I started another pair of socks in superwash worsted weight for my son. I usually don't knit for him because he's famous for losing things but I broke down this year. I should knit some computer chip into them for tracking purposes. I know I'm going to regret this. But, he is in the middle of remodeling one of our bedrooms for Colin when he stays so he deserves another chance. I hate to paint and he volunteered to do it as well as repair the walls and strip and stain some of the woodwork. The least I can do is knit the kid a pair of socks.

This will be my last Christmas project and then I intend to dig into the lace shawl. Or Colin's hat. Or another Clapotis. Or socks for Colin.

I need to quit work.

Friendship

Such an interesting thing, friendship. When you think of your friends, you realize that your friends came into your life in so many different ways. Some were co-workers, some you have brought with you from childhood. Some friendships are formed as a result of having kids in the same school or dance class. I have a few very dear friends who were my kid's teachers. But no matter what, the people who you consider your true friends have earned that distinction in one way or another over time. If they have stood the test of time, they are worthy of being called good friends. You know who your friends are.

At least you think you do. I always thought I did.

When someone who you thought was a good friend does something that proves they weren't such a good friend, the disappointment that you feel is so incredibly intense that it's like someone just stabbed you in the heart. You can't imagine that your friends would use you. Not your good friends. I've had a friend use me before. But she wasn't such a good friend. I knew that going in. I wasn't so surprised. That one made me mad. Furious even. But this good friend thing that happened today makes me sad. Mad is bad. But sad is worse.

I guess when you can sit and think ..wow, I can't believe she did that me, I would have never, ever done that to her.. you know it's a friend worth losing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well it seems like yesterday I posted a photo of a turkey on my blog for Thanksgiving. Really... like YESTERDAY. And here we are again. So soon. Crazy.

I like Thanksgiving. I'm not such a huge fan of Easter. But I like Thanksgiving. Maybe because I don't do the cooking. I'll bake pies, and bake corn, and buy the wine. But I don't do the hard stuff. My daughter, for some reason, likes to cook. She has taken ownership of this meal. God bless her.

I was just sitting here thinking of all the things I have to be thankful for. There are many.

I'm thankful I got those kids back from Delaware just in time to allow me to spoil my first born grandchild.

I'm thankful I have good kids.

I'm thankful I still have my parents.

I'm thankful my family is close and there is no hostility. A lot of families deal with that.

I'm thankful I like my job.

I'm thankful I have good friends who don't knit and good friends who do.

I'm thankful my sister began to knit again this year. It gives us a reason to spend more time together.

I'm thankful for yarn. :-)

Holy Busy!

I've been working 12 hour days and totally crashing after walking in the door at night. No knitting lately at all. I did manage to finish these before the real craziness began. They look a little deformed in the photo but they actually look OK in reality.
















I even managed to put a few rows on Colin's hand spun hat a few weeks ago. I think I may put this thing in a frame and hang it on the wall when I'm finished with it. (just kidding) I'll really have a great feeling of accomplishment when it is finished though.

















Crazy weather lately. I forget what day it was last week that had a few hours of every season in the year wrapped up into one day... but I got this shot outside my front door that day.

















We had torrential downpours, snow flurries, sunshine and a rainbow. Weird.

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving and Holiday time again. Time is just flying. I think it's true that the older you get, the faster it goes. I wish it would slow the heck down!

I'm Still Alive!!!

Ok. I admit it. I've been a bad blogger. And a bad knitter. On the other hand, I've been a great realtor. This Howard Hanna thing has really taken off. It's keeping me too busy to knit, too busy to cook, too busy to clean... but how can you complain about success? On the knitting bright side, I am getting together tonight with my sister and a friend to knit. I have managed to finish the hunting socks and I have half of the second STR sock completed. So I have been knitting a little here and there. When I get the second sock finished, I'll work on Colin's hat to match the brown sweater. Then the lace... I can't wait to get my hands on that again. I miss it. Who would have thought??

I am also still spinning the wool with the drop spindle for Colin's other hat. What a slow process. And I'm almost out of wool. So, Shelly, if you're reading this, I'm going to need more!!!

Thanks to Jackie for the sock help. I will be making some little worsted weight socks for Colin. What's better for babies little feet than heavy, thick socks? I'm such a GRANDMOTHER!

single socks...

I have two socks finished for Christmas. Not a pair mind you, just two socks. I guess I'm suffering from the single sock syndrome. This is the hunting sock made with Kraemer superwash worsted. I'm tempted to keep these for myself. I won't, but I might just make myself a pair with this yarn to keep my feet warm in my barn of a house. They feel awesome. Actually the second one is almost finished. They whip up fast as I said earlier. I'd like to make Colin a few pair with this yarn but I've never seen baby socks made from worsted weight. If anyone has seen a pattern, let me know.

Lousy, yucky weather here today. Good knitting weather. I should have stayed home. I think I feel a headache coming on.... Yeah, right.

Nemacolin

I'm still trying to figure out what made me think I'd have time to knit. No knitting was accomplished. They kept us busy and entertained. I feel like I packed an entire week into three days. I'd love to go back to this place in the summer. It's awesome.

I did finish one of the hunting socks yesterday at an open house. If you haven't tried the Kraemer Yarns 100% wool superwash worsted weight yet, check it out. These socks are going to be so warm and comfy. And washable! And knitting socks with worsted weight is really instant gratification. So speedy. Photo tomorrow... hopefully.

We did a whirlwind trip to Grove City and Butler on Saturday to visit Cate. Now that she's a working girl she doesn't get home much so we have to go to her. The outlets in Grove City were NUTS. Let the Christmas shopping season begin I guess. We had to drive around to find a parking space and there must be a gazillion of them. We did get a few good gifts though so it was worth the madness.

Tomorrow is knitting night. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't had any real quality knitting time in a while.

Captive Knitting

Tomorrow I'm going to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort for three days. I will have meetings. I will also have free time. I will not be with close friends which translates into lots of "me" time. And, of course, we all know that "me" time is "knitting" time.

It just makes sense that I should take the project that NEEDS to get finished ASAP. Like either of the two pairs of Christmas socks or the scarf for Kelly made from Shelly's yarn. If you take only what needs to be done, you have no choice but to work on it. Right?

But right now, oddly, I'm all about the lace. It's summery. It's light. It's so June/July/August.
I just want to knit the lace. I'm finally enjoying the process. At the end of every row, I have the correct amount of stitches. It's a freaking miracle. I want to take the lace.

What will Holly do?

Finally! A sock!

I've been working on this sock forever. It's the Socks That Rock medium weight in the County Clare colorway. It's knit with two balls to prevent pooling which didn't happen. It still pooled. And I hated working with two balls of yarn so it's going to kill me to cast on for the second sock. Such is life.

We have Colin this weekend. My husband took the day off to watch him today and I'm sure he's counting the minutes until I get home from work. Babysitting is tiring work at this age!

Oh, the little orange poncho from Ladie's Home Journal.... It was from Gymboree. The nice people at LHJ did answer my email about it. So, no pattern. :-(

Happy Halloween everyone... from me and the Caterpillar.

Blogger is totally whacked out today. It won't print the font correctly no matter what I do. Makes me crazy.

Knitting Stuff

Ok... enough real estate for one day. Let's talk about knitting.
















This is Scarf Style's Misty Garden pattern done with Shelley's yarn. Very pretty and about half finished. It has very subtle sparkly stuff spun in but you really can't see it in these photos.


















Are you sitting down? Check out my lace! I'm stunned that I've gotten this far. There IS hope for me yet.

Next week, I get to spend a few days at Nemacolin Woodland Resort. It's for work. I'll have lots of time to knit... I think. I'm hoping to put a big dent in the Christmas knitting while I'm there.

Nemacolin AND knitting. Does life get any better?

They Know Not What They Did

In this issue of Ladies' Home Journal.....















They had this
















along with a little inspirational message on the last page.
It had nothing to do with knitting or children's fashion.
No mention of the clothing.
How many inquiries do you think they'll get about that pattern?
Other than mine, of course. I'd make that in a heartbeat and then
hope to find someone to give it to. Adorable.

I'm half way finished with the scarf from Shelley's yarn. It is turning out very nicely.
I'm stalled on the lace but only because I have too many other projects on needles. I may not get around to picking that back up until after the holidays. It's hard to get too serious about lace when it's 35 degrees out.

I still have the gift certificate to Kathy's Kreations in Ligonier. I'm wondering when I will find the time to go over there. It is taunting me every time I walk by my china cabinet and look at it. I think I know what I want though. Some noro for another Lady Eleanor shawl. Entrelac is on my mind again.

Vogue Knitting - Holiday Issue

I've never been a fan of bell sleeves. But there is something about this jacket sweater that I just love. I'd knit this. And if it didn't have bell sleeves, I'd probably be starting it tonight. The only thing about it that concerns me is the fact that it only closes with the belt. I'd really like it more if it buttoned. But isn't it gorgeous?




















This, too, is awesome (below). I wouldn't knit it though. I'd get in the middle of it and quit because it took so long. I know myself too well. Anyone want to make it for me? Probably not. Just a thought.

Lastly, I'm also crazy about this one. I'd attempt this. It's very similar to one they had in their holiday issue about two or three years ago. I bet if I did some research, I'd find it's by the same designer. I came close to starting that one but never actually got around to it. I think it was a turtleneck.

I think I'm seeing a pattern here. A cable -y pattern. What is it with me and cables???

project runway

JEFFREY????????????

Nooooooooooooooo..............

ugh.

Happy Birthday to my Dad

Here is great grandpap and great grandma and Colin at dinner to celebrate my Dad's 79th birthday. The two of them look pretty darn good for what they are going through.

I have been knitting... but nothing is worthy of photography. The lace is coming along, believe it or not. I'm stalled on the socks because I had to start a scarf with Shelley's yarn so the socks went on the back burner.

The new Vogue Knitting is out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the scarf on the cover. I don't want to make it, but I'd love to have it. Talk about tedious knitting. You also have to wonder how that scarf would wear. I think before too long it would stretch into a thin strand. Something tells me that braid wouldn't stay all fluffy. There is also a cabled jacket in there with a belt that I'd love to have. I'd make that. Actually there are a few nice things in that issue. Check it out.

Off now to real estate hell. Yesterday wasn't good. I have a feeling today won't be much better.
When it's good it's really good. When it's bad, it's terrible.

Lacey Setback

Lifelines really are great. I had to rip back to the lifeline and I was so thankful I put one in. The only thing is, it's difficult to pick those stitches back up off of the lifeline. First of all, the dental floss is the perfect thing but I had trouble seeing the yarn on the floss. I think they do make green dental floss and I'll have to get some. Secondly, the yarn is so fine that it's just difficult to pick it up from the floss. Hopefully I won't have to do it too often.

Yesterday was the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival. Shelley was selling her yarn and of course I had to take advantage of that situation. I'll make another Misty Garden scarf with this. (yeah, I really needed to start another project) I love green! Check out Shelley's yarns.
Rose Garden Fibers
















I have two open houses today so plenty of time to knit. My only decision will be what to work on. Lace? Either of the two pairs of socks? Scarf? Colin's hat? There was a time not long ago I was down to one project. And I vowed not to do this again. Oh well. Good thing my commitment issues only apply to knitting.

Got Lace??

I do!!































Third time's a charm. That's how many times I started this. I finally got it. It's Estonia Garden... I think by Fiber Trends. I don't have it with me but I think it's a F.T. pattern. I love the look of it but I have to tell you the truth. I'm not really enjoying the process. It's slow knitting for me. Requires a LOT of concentration because I'm always forgetting the yarn overs. And the yarn is so thin it doesn't "hold" the needles like I'm used to. So you really have to concentrate on holding the needles tightly so you don't drop stitches. I don't know. Maybe it will grow on me and maybe I'll eventually enjoy it. But for now, I don't see a passion or future for lace knitting. I did learn through the process though that dental floss makes a great life line. I tried yarn and that wasn't so great. The pattern is an eight row repeat so I'm putting in the life line every 8th row. In reality, I shouldn't have started this now. I have too much Christmas knitting to do. But I'm afraid to stop since I'm on a roll.

Work is crazy. Crazy good. The Howard Hanna thing has already had an impact. I got two nice listings yesterday. I may get these kids through college yet.

Photos - Sea Island, Georgia

Trellis and Vine

If you click on the photos, you can see the detail.






























Trellis and Vine
Pattern by: Sauniell Connally for Magknits (www.magknits.com)
Yarn: 6 balls - Jaeger Matchmaker 100% merino wool DK (washable!)
note: Although 6 balls had the yardage that the pattern called for, it was not enough. I stopped at what seemed to be an appropriate place in the chart and added the last 8 border rows. The finished wrap is three inches shorter than it should be.
Needles: Denise circulars - size 5
Time to complete: 7 weeks
Comments: Easy pattern but I biffed up the lace insert about 3 times. This wrap really was the perfect traveling accessory for the air conditioning in the airports and the airplane. I love it. It will be great with jeans.

On to socks!

Trellis and Vine is finally finished! In true Holly fashion, I ran out of yarn to complete it as written. So it's 3 inches shorter than it should be. And I bought more yarn than the pattern called for. What is it about shawl patterns? The amount of yarn called for in the Clapotis pattern is not enough either. It is blocking on Cate's bedroom floor... so don't come home for a few days Cate! I went in there this morning and the dog followed me in and plopped right down on the middle of it. So, yes, the door will remain closed for a few days. I used the blocking wires for the first time. They are nice, but I noticed that they are difficult to pin in place. First of all, my pins are not the sturdy pins that you should use, and secondly, pinning things into carpeting isn't really the ideal situation either. And to complicate it even more, I think I stretched it a little more than it should have been stretched. But after I had half of it finished, I didn't want to start over. I hope it turns out ok.

I have two pairs of socks on needles so I will complete them, do a small pair for Colin, and then settle into some lace knitting which I have been itching to do for a long time. Must. Knit. Lace.

No Knitting... STILL!

No knitting... how about a cute baby photo?

On to TV commentary. Project Runway this week... I thought Jeffrey was finally going to go. Imagine my disappointment. For the first time I thought Michael really blew it too. I was worried for him. I liked Uli's dress for the first time. Loved Laura's. (as usual) Wouldn't wear it of course, but loved it. So they all get to go to Fashion Week or whatever it is. Of the four of them, I would only be upset if Jeffrey ended up winning the whole thing. I just abhor his personality.

Grey's Anatomy. So addicted. LOVE IT. Just keeps getting better all the time. After that, I watched Six Degrees. Now I don't know whether it was the gin and tonic I drank (and deserved) on an empty stomach after a 13 hour work day or if I'm just slow, but I could not follow it. I really do want to give it another chance next week without the mind altering fluid rushing through my veins. We'll see. Truly, I just sat there completely mind boggled.

Have a great weekend!