Almost a year ago!

Well it's almost been a year since I last posted what's been going on in my knitting world. But have no fear I have been knitting and quilting a lot just haven't thought about blogging.

As the year comes to a close I have been reevaluating all that has been going on. My knitting has progressed enough that I am super excited to start the TKGA Knitting levels. There are four levels of them. I am starting after the first of the year with several friends who I refer to the Sweater club. We've all been knitting the Dark and Stormy Sweater which can be found on Ravelry. We all met through a knitting group in our local area. More about them later.

So I have organized and reorganized and messed things up and organized my craft room numerous times this year. Got to love OCD! I would love to say that I am in the state of organized but I would be lying. Currently my craft room is too cold to really be out in. So piles are building around the room. I really need to get off my butt and go get a space heater. Which that in its self is a completely different story and there just is not enough time to explain.

So here I am late at night thinking about knitting.

On my needles in close proximity to me

1) A Christmas gift called Kansas Wallaby which is going to be late. Go figure. Really like the pattern called "Wonderful Wallaby" it's a pattern for a hoodie with all sizes in the family. Great simple project. I've learned a lot with making it. I started it in the beginning of December 2012 my goal is to have it in the mail before New Years. I think it will be close

2) My other project which is most important to me is the Dark and Stormy Sweater. I am knitting this sweater with about a dozen of local women, with the guidance of a Master Knitter. What an experience it has been. I've tapped into an area of my knitting that I had no idea I could ever get to. Forget shawls, beanies, and that stuff were knitting with determination. Making a sweater to fit me. Making a sweater that I can not wait to knit. I don't think I've ever kept any of the duff I've knitted. I always give it away to friends and family. But this time I'm keeping this project. I only have the sleeves and the collar and the bottom ribbing to do. Simple easy breezy.

I will post more soon of my knitting adventures and the life of my crazy world soon.

When at first to succeed - ORGANIZE!

So as I came back to my knitting addiction I had to first organize.  I have now successfully organized all my yarn into one location in the house.  I have sorted through and set aside many stashed projects.  At first I frogged about 8 items and have organized all my UFO's.

Next step was the yarn.  I have them organized by color but now I have to say I have gone back through to pet all the pretty fibers and to sort out items of interest.

So far the fiber takes up a large part of my craft room.  I am please to announce that this endeavor only took a week.

Under my cutting table are all my UFO's and next it is a storage drawers of fiber.

This is the small portion of my one skein wonders.  All organized by color.  I have large buckets of yarn for the colors I truly am addicted to: Pink, Red, Black and Multi colorways along with a bucket of Noro and a bucket of Cascade 220.  I will even admit to having several buckets of Acrylic yarn but those are hidden.

Stay tuned for more adventures with my fiber addiction.

Back to the Sticks and String Addiction

Well here we are in the year 2012.  What's new in my life? Lot's but there is not enough time to tell you all what has been going on in my life since 2007.  So I will just tell you that I am BACK!

I started to knit again after a Christmas Gathering.  A friend of a friend got me back into knitting.  I don't know what I have done with out knitting.  I have come back as usual in my feverish fascination with all the fibers.

I down sized my stash several years ago by 3/4.  I'm now kicking myself for doing that.  What was I thinking?

I look forward to sharing more about my knitting adventures as they occur.  All previous posts are just as they are.  All photos are no longer available but I am sure to have many more as time will show.

Stay Tuned for More Knitting Adventures.

When is a Change not A Change?

I had a fun filled day with my parents. David and I started off at Farmers Market at 8am with my parents. In the photo above you see my Dad who is absolutely having a blast and my Mom and Me enjoying a morning out at the local Farmers Market. It's mid June and still the weather is comfortable. We know that the heat is only a few days away but how nice was it to be out and not be baking in the 100 degree weather that is usually at this time of the year. We found the antique rose my mother had wanted so we got that and then we also got lots of fresh veggies including Armenian Cucumbers my favorite. After Farmers Market in Bakersfield, CA we went to breakfast and had a blast. Soon after that we were off to handle their new Fountain.

The Story of the Fountain:

20 years ago my parents bought a Fountain and had it in their front yard for years. As with anything the fountain started to deteriorate with the Hot Summers of Bakersfield and the Cold Freeze of the winters so my parents decided to go and look and replace their fountain. They finally found one... The exact same fountain that was already there but this was a NEW fountain... I have to say that it does look very nice but that's my folks changing but not really changing. So the plan was to have my boys help them get the fountain and set it up. But that plan was quickly changed since one boy was up in Oregan helping a friend move and my other son was helping with his Fiance' family yard sale. So that left me to rangle up so help. Yeap! David was a given but then I roped Brently into it. We first moved the old fountain out and over to my house becuase really it was not a bad fountain just a tad bit weathered. We/They moved it from my folks house over to my house and set it all up. It looks gorgous! I luv it. Then to go and pick up the new fountain and set it up over at my parents... this is where it gets funny! The guys did not know what type of fountain they were getting. Until we got to the Fountain Store and there it was the exact fountain that they had just moved just not so weathered... LOL We joked that it was just a practice run moving the other fountain to my home. The base even fit into the previous base/rock area. the Perfect fit. My parents could not be happier. It looks great. It really was a nice day being with my folks and everything.



Afterwords David and I went over to my house and David cooked a fantastic dinner. I could really get use to that. I will do the dishes any day when someone else wants to cook. Brently, David and I enjoyed a nice dinner. After that then my oldest and his fiance came over and just kicked back and chit chatted.

It was an all around fantastic Day and now I am off to knit! Who could ask for anything more! What a great ending to a fantastic day! Oh by the way while I sit and knit tonight I get to listen to the fountain right out side my window.

Now all I have to do if find a pattern that I want to make into a dishcloth... I for see another Double Woven/ Darrel Waltrip Stitch again.

Red & White DW Stitch Dishcloth

Here is my lastest creation. I used Peaches & Cream (#191 Peppermint) with a US#7.

I had asked several individuals and groups about varigated yarn and what pattern to use. I looked at all the great links that I was told about and the best that I had found was KnittingKnonsense. I had attempted to make several different patterns with this yarn but just was not happy with how it was turning out until I had asked the groups. I tried a total of 4 different patterns prior to this, frogging all of them. I finally gave the links that I was told about a good look and I ended up doing The "Infamous" Darrell Waltrip Cloth by Rhonda K. White rather then the "Lacy Round Cloth" . The pattern made the yarn stand out fantastic. I like the way that the diamonds appeared in the pattern as the rows were worked.

If you have done this pattern try it you will like it. I loved it!
Enjoy!

Carnivale Season 1 & 2

 

Houston we have a problem. I have discovered a new series that everyone must watch. For those of you who were "Twin Peak" fans then you must watch "Carnivale". I just finished mid season 2 with only 6 more episodes left and I can only say that I want to watch them all over again. You have to see it.

Breast Cancer Symbol Dishcloth v.1

Pattern: Knitwits-Heaven

Yarn: Bernat Cotton Tots (#90420 Pretty In Pink)

Needles: US#7 Straights


I started this dishcloth Wednesday evening. I was looking for something simple and quick to knit while waiting during my mothers surgery so I decided on a dishcloth. As I was looking for something I went to a group that I had just recently joined and asked for a pattern. I was so over whelmed with all the great patterns I was sent or told about. I would like to thank everyone for over at http://monthlydishclothkal.blogspot.com/ for letting me join your KAL and giving me the great links to all the wonderful Breast Cancer Symbol Dishcloths.


This is the first time that I have made a dishcloth out of Cotton Tots and I have to say I really like the feel of it. The only think that I might have done differently is use a smaller needle. I did not like my transitions between knit/purl visa versa. I am not sure if it was the yarn or the knitting but I will make this one again. The border on this cloth is in seed stitch which is one of my least favorite stitches ((Uptil Now)) made such a nice edging.
Enjoy and Stay tuned to more knitting adventures.