I have a good excuse for not posting, not that I am a regular poster by any means. Yet I feel guilty for it, I shouldn't. Anywho. So the good excuse is we bought a house!!! We close and start moving tomorrow. Christmas is going to be a crazy time, ripping out cabinets painting and unpacking, oh wait did I say I was on call as well for work. Sounds like fun huh?

I have finished some things, like a Charlotte's Web Shawl and a Cobblestone for Mark. Another Hemlock for Mark's parents for Christmas too. But per usual I am short on pictures. I have been knitting, even feeling a bit guilty about how many items are on the needles I can't just buy more needles forever can I?

Hopefully the next post is full of a terracotta colored kitchen, a blue bedroom and who knows what else.

Happy Holidays!!!

Finished!

I have a few things that have been finished up lately, for a while actually but didn't have pictures or forgot or whatever. So I present you Tangled Yoke, love this sweater, want to block it again though to even it up in front. Fits great, fun knit!!

I also finished up a big project, a lace shawl that I love the colors love the patterns, turned out wonderful. Bee Fields was fun.

For the last one, I started this last winter and knit up a few of these just never got around to finishing mine up, all it needs is a light felting now and it will be done!

Now don't think I haven't cast on for just as many as I have finished. I cast on for Oblique as well as Cobblestone. Cobblestone has been fast, the sleeves are done now it is time to do the body and then let the yoking begin. Of course I don't have pictures of either of this.

There are a couple things I have started thought that do have pictures, the Haruha Scarf is whipping up nicely in Red Rocks Fiber Arts Seacell. I started the Jay Walker scarf, then ripped it out, I need to make it wider break up the colors a bit more or something like that.

I am off for a week on the road, the best kind of road trip, where I am not expected to do any of the driving, and can knit all day!! I am trying to limit myself to the below projects:

Cobblestone
Hemlock Ring 2
Oblique
Cashmere Stolish
Honeycomb

I snuck a couple more in that I wasn't planning to take, ahh well. Have a wonderful Turkey day!!

I do not know what it is that keeps me from blogging. I think about it often, I write blog entries in my head, but getting the pictures taken and the words typed out is not always as easy. Half the time by the time I do get around to it the pictures are way out of date and so on. It is sort of like losing weight or working out for me, I always have an excuse to put it off.

But today you get a blog post with out of date pictures, aren't you excited.

I have decided I must always have one sweater on the needles that I love to knit, I am motivated to knit. At that point I thought, well why am I knitting anything that I don't love to knit, but we all have those projects for others, projects we love the outcome of but maybe not the knit. I love the Roam pattern, it is beautiful. I thought I had the best yarn for it, then it wasn't enough so I had to switch to another yarn I have had for a while. I started and it was looking very Rainbow bright, I trudged forward and it got better not so Rainboweske but I still didn't love it. Then I realized I am never going to use this yarn on anything else, I should do the seed stitch where the Rainbow is not so bad. They I screwed up the pattern increases and had to rip back, and there it sits. It even has a crappy blurry picture, how fitting. I do think I will go forward with this mainly because I can not think of anything else to do with this really nice Mountain Colors Mountain Goat yarn. I bet I do love it in the end.

Once I ripped out I needed something I wanted to knit on, so I grabbed more yarn in the stash wondering, just wondering if it would work for the Knitting Nature Honeycomb sweater. And guess what? It works beautifully, I am loving this knit and how it looks and how it even seems to grow quickly on size 1's. This is Classic Elite's classic silk which I seem to be addicted too. See the picture even turns out better when I like the projects.

I have also started a 2nd Hemlock blanket for a Christmas present, it is moving along nicely the second one is not near as fun though. I am on an Afghan fix, I am also making the Prairie blanket like Michelle made and Stacey is also working on. It is a fast knit, and since it is a Christmas surprise I can only work on it part of every week so I think the little break each week helps out. I have almost 2 of the strips down and I would love to make it larger as Michelle did.

I also started a new project out of some super soft super beautiful yarn that Mary Kay of Red Rocks Fiber Works this is some amazing Cashmere she dyed up for me. So soft, I wonder if I can felt it by just touching it. I do sort of recall that cashmere I don't think will felt, of course I am not really going to test that theory out. I put some stitch patterns together for this, little bigger than a scarf but not quite stole material either. It is very soft though.

I have some other odds and ends I am working on, little by little my niece's Starsky, the Vintage velvet I started last winter. Also another scarf out of some Rio de la Platta yarn I fell in love with. This one I am having a harder time finding a patter I like, not too boring but also it is hard to see a lot of pattern in this yarn. Well for a girl who likes to look at pictures in blogs I sure have been wordy today. Happy November!

Untangling the Tangled

Tangled Yoke is getting there, I tangled, didn't like it, untangled and then re-tangled. Painful yes, but I do like the 2nd go round results much better. I am now working on the top collary thing. So very close!!

My other obsession of late has been the Hemlock blanket, it is finished and I haven't even blogged about it yet. Granted I do not blog on a very regular basis, so that may have some part of it.

Such a fast fun knit. I am thinking Christmas presents!! the one here was for my Dad's birthday!

I am itching to start Roam which I love. But I am not sure I have enough of any yarn to start the project. I wanted to copy The Knitty Professor but like her I don't have enough Plain and Fancy to make the sweater all in the same color, which I tend to like to do. I had a color I was so excited to use for this. So now what to do next? Or shall I search for some yarn for Roam? Hmmmm.

Vacation knitting.

Ok on to what I knit on my vacation.....

I started Starsky Jr. for my niece, 2 sleeves and tad more were completed on this, it has not been touched since, don't tell my niece.

I spent the majority of my time on the Bee Fields Shawl, I would get up and enjoy the early morning quiet time by working lace on the deck, so relaxing. I got through the next section and have one more to do. I love how this is coming together, I so wish I could quit my job and knit full time. I have so much I want to do now and just can't find enough time for each one.

The green Boat Neck did not see the light of Canada, but was thought of fondly. Only sleeves to go!

My goal was to finish Tangled Yoke, now that goal was revised pretty early on to lets finish up the bottom half of Tangled Yoke right before you start the sleeves. This I did. And since then I have finished the sleeves and am YOKING!!! A few more inches and I can Tangle. Exciting. I am excited to finish this up, even if I do think the sleeves will be a bit tight and give me the sausage arm look.

All in all a great vacation and quite a bit of knitting was done. I even taught or shall we say refreshed Mark's Mom on how to knit. She knit years ago and it came back quickly.

Bliss.

I went on one of the best vacations ever!!! See, quiet, tranquil, beautiful!!! Even came with a warm CU welcome. See that huge deck off the cabin, that is where I knit to my hearts content!!

With that view of the water... So pretty.

It really was wonderful, beautiful sunsets, tons of knitting and relaxing, no internet, no cell phones complete vacation from work, family and what not.

Occasionally there was some non-knitting to keep the boy happy. The knitting that happened will be in a post to come.

bzzzz

I have been buzzing along on the Bee Fields Shawl, or I should say I was. Until the Ik Fall came out then it I went back to yoking happiness. I spent the bulk of the time at Camp Wannaknitknit working on the Bee Fields shawl, all weekend I said if I can just get to the next section, that took longer than I took, but I kept going and going. I am now half way done with the next section. I am loving this and have lofty goals of taking it with me on vacation and finishing it!!!

When the IK showed up last week I had to start the Tangled Yoke, had too I say. I was about to venture on a whirl wind tour of a few states what better way to pass the time than knit. I knit on hardly anything else all last weekend. I love how this cardigan is constructed, I really really am thinking I must knit all sweaters either in the round or by the yoking method. I love it. Could be that efficient side of me (maybe slightly too efficient sometimes, which is not always good).

I leave later this week for vacation, I am so excited to not work for a week!!! And of course the knitting to do list is growing exponentially. Come on I can take 3 sweaters and a lace project and think I will finish them all right? Granted one of them is for a child, one of the sweaters only needs sleeves, the lace project is already half done and the 3rd sweater is moving along. I hope to make progress on all of them.

I did finish the front and back of the boat neck sweater and I am excited to finish it, but this damn tangled yoke is getting in the way!!!

I have had pictures for a new post for a while now, I take new pictures, I put pictures on Flickr for Ravelry yet I don't blog. I have pictures now though.....

I started a new project I couldn't resist, Bee Fields I love that their are different sections and it is going quite well so far. I can't stop knitting it, I want to see what the next section will look like, hopefully soon!

I have been working on some other things here and there, I finally finished the front of the Cabled Boat neck, only sleeves to go!!! Before I started the Bee I was still working on Tilly's Garden, feeling the need to wrap up some of my lace. I also botched a pair if slippers, they fit me they were supposed to fit a men's 14? A little too much felting. I am off for a weekend of knitting with all the local girls I am so excited!!! Knit, eat, knit eat.

Knitting Nightmare.

What is the absolute worst thing you can think of to happen to a knitter, a knitter with a large stash? Yep water, a flood (well a shower running for hours and hours covering every floor in your single story home). I was out of town for 4th of July and while I was out this is what happened to my place:

There was carpet on that floor, all gone. Luckily most of my yarn was not on the soaked now removed carpet. There was a small amount on the floor that will hopefully dry out in time, one skien is part 2 of my Mystery Stole 3, please dry, please!!!

Just a few hours before finding out about this lovely remodel of my home, I did take some very fun pictures of current projects, here is a small taste of something optimistic to end with. Estonian Stole I have been working on.

I said I was not going to go nuts on Mystery Stole 3, Friday morning I didn't even know the first clue had come out, had not thought much about it other than signing up for it. Last year I went a little crazy, obsessed, or as I like to say efficient with it. 3-4 days of each week last year was spent on Mystery Stole knitting, taking away from other knitting. I had not even thought about yarn or swatched. But I present you..... This is attempt 2, the first one I had to rip out from row 65 or so. Otherwise it would have been done Saturday. So much for not being overly efficient with Mystery Stole 3.

The yarn is Rio de La Plata sock yarn, in a maroon bison color, I just happened to purchase this at Colorful Yarns Friday evening. How convenient. Huh?

I am in a mini funk.... I think. Last night I didn't want to knit this doesn't happen, I rarely ever watch TV without knitting at the same time. I saw whole commercials that I had only heard before and never totally seen. Who knew.

I did knit a few rows of the Madli at lunch though and hope to knit some tonight as well. I am hoping it is more about the projects I am working on Madli is to a point where you do the same 10 rows 31 times. I am about a 3rd done with that piece and all but.... Also cutaway is to the boring knit straight stockinette until it measures 11.5 inches. I don't even have far to go to the get to the 11.5. Any who I am sure I am in alarm for no real reason and all will come storming back.

It may a general funk, I need a serious break from work, I am burnt out. I am counting down days until this weekend, a 4 day weekend. A possible day off on the 7Th and then another 4 day weekend on the 14Th. I can make it until Friday, right?

The picture of cutaway is even boring. It may be my doom that I tend to like clean simple patterns to the busy aran's and ones with ton's of cables.

I am hoping to slowly catching up on pictures of my knits. Since the last post was heavy on links and light on pictures.

The 2 projects getting most of my attention are the Estonian Lace Stole, and the Tahki Boat Neck Sweater. I ripped out the stole over the weekend and started over so there isn't much to take a picture of. So I present the front/back of the Boatneck:

The yarn is Classic Silk, by Classic Elite and I love this stuff, this is my second sweater in the yarn so far, and I already have more for a 3rd sweater.

Next up hopefully a more completed picture of the stole!

I have been knitting, I promise. I have no project pictures, things have left the house before pictures could be taken. Other things are moving quite slowly, and quite honestly I would usually rather knit than take the time to take pictures and then, post (isn't that a silly idea).

But I do have one picture of the yarn I bought at Estes, I bought enough of each yarn to make a sweater.

The 2 on the outside are Plain and Fancy, and the middle one is Broosk Farm, it is a heavier weight of the viscose yarn they had last year (meaning I won't need 000 to knit it). The Brooks is even superwash, very handy.

I have started many new projects, all pictureless:

Estonian Garden

Twisted Flower socks

Boat Neck Sweater

A few other as well I am sure.

Short and sweet until I have picturs that is.

Those of you that know me, know I used to have very few WIP it drives me nuts to not have things finished. I have to admit that list of WIP has grown exponentially lately. So I am trying out a new little process with new knits. No new, big projects like sweaters, shawls ect until an old project comes off the needles. So here is the story of the first progression of Project Free the Needles....

I finished this, I have to admit I like the yoking look, less seaming I am all for it:

Particulars: Summer Set Rib Yoke Cardigan, in Summer Time Knits from Classic Elite

Yarn: Classic Silk, in Paris green, ~10 balls

Needles: Size 2 and 3's

March 04, 2007 - April 6, 2007

This was a quick easy knit.

Once this was complete I had more Classic Silk burning a whole in my knitting bag. I had a pattern in mind. But this is where Project Free the needles held me up temporarily. I had to choose something on the needles to free before I could start my new sweater. So I finished up Mystery Stole (it was the item with the least amount of work to be finished, this sucker is long, long.

Specifics: Mystery Stole 2: Scheherazade Stole

Yarn: Handpainted lace weight, doubled

Needles: 4's (should have gone smaller)

Started July 2006, finished April 2007

With this done I could finally start the new sweater.

This is the Cabled Boatneck from Tahki Stacy, using Classic Silk again. Progress is a bit slow since Mother's day is near, and I am busy making 5 sets of washrags for the Mom's I know. Hopefully I won't have to take a sick day again this year to get them all done in time. And because I post so infrequently we will add pictures of such washrags here as well.

I have also finished Seraphim for my Grandma, I am happy to admit she loves it. She even made my mother take it home so no one at the hospital would steal it. Of course no one would take it but if it makes her happy and rest easier she can enjoy it at home, which I am happy to report she is now doing.

Pattern: Seraphim Shawl

Yarn: VAlley Yarns, from WEbs, in Denim Blue (sort of purplish), 7 skeins, about 2 yards left over

Needles: Size 3

Mods: I didn't do all the repeats of stockenette before the charts began.

Started March 23rd, mailed out to Grandma April 2nd.

I have the time to blog, I just don't. I think about it, then realize the pictures I would take won't be all that different than the last ones I posted. So I get lazy, and knit instead.

I am to the point of yoking on the cardigan, I have never done a yoked item before sort of fun, or it makes you seem like you have made far more progress than you really have early on. Also it makes it difficult to take pictures as well. I really love this yarn, wonderful to work with as well. I have done about 8 rows after getting it all setup for yoking. Hopefully this part will go fast.

I am also on a race to finish a new project, how quickly do you all think I can finish Seraphim? My grandmother is in the hospital and everyone else is sending flowers and such to cheer her up, but I wanted to do something else, and she is complaining to be cold a lot. So I started a shawl for her, and want to get it done soon!! I am using a 50% alpaca/50% Wool blend I picked up at WEBS last year, so it is pretty warm, I should have thought this through a little bit before starting, this would be a great fall/winter shawl for her and being it is spring I probably should have started something a bit lighter, which I have something in mind to make her a second one. But I already started this one, and don't really have a nice, not to silky yarn to make the second one just yet. I am one ball in, and really liking the look and feel of this yarn, just worried it will be to warm by the time it is done.

The second one I am thinking might be out of this stuff Socks that Rock, Seduction, oh so pretty. I have one hank now and love it, not enough for the shawl though, expensive but my Grandma is worth it. I might have to make another STR order soon, anyone else in?

I have been stuck in a quick knit, no focus stage for some time now. I don't feel like I have accomplished much since Starsky was finished. Looking back I think I was just not really excited to be working on anything, new or old. But I have new motivation, new yarn to me at least and a fun pattern. This was all by accident, I was at the store over this past weekend, working on a scarf Friday and a sock (I never knit socks) on Saturday. Then a certain someone was looking at the new Classic Elite books and yarns at said store. I was casually looking over her shoulder, then I started telling her to go back a page, forward a page, before you know it I am buying yummy yarn to make a sweater. Wanna see!!! It is called the Summer Set Rib Yoke Cardigan of course I couldn't follow the pattern completely so I am using the Classic Silk in colorway Paris Green (the light green in the middle). I am loving this yarn and this pattern, I am finished with the back, well up to where I do all the yokey stuff. Wanna really see?

I have also been working on a Socks that Rock sock (in Roctoberfest), Monkey from the last knitty, trying to do it toe up and see if the pattern looks ok from that angle. Also working on my Vintage Velvet Scarf, I really love this scarf and wish it would just knit itself.

Not much else going on around here, working at home, trying to not turn into a hermit. I will say working at home helps me workout a ton more, I am going to finish the Runagogo challenge of a 100 miles before 4-1. So it will then be time to work on a new goal a more challenging goal.

I took pictures, last week, possibly even the week before. Yes it was the week before. I have yet to post about these pictures, the reason for taking the pictures is to post. I should take new pictures before I post, but well it isn't sunny, it is dark, no pictures. Hell it might be interesting to just see what I took pictures of.

I have a new office, I love it, it is convenient, quiet, comes with a small gym, cafeteria, nap area you name it. Seconds away from my bed, how can I not love it!

I have been working from home a lot, 4 days this week, and 4 days every week going forward, until they tell us to stop or decide we are unruly, who knows. I even occasionally get some knitting snuck in, but for the most part I think I work harder, longer hours. But the perk of being at home doing it makes me not mind so much. So why I mention and gloat about my new office space is that I tend to blog at work. I blog when I am bored at work because when I blog at home I eat up precious knitting time, so this is why I am not being a good blogger!

OK on to knitting content since we all know how happy I am about work now, really I am loving my job. I have been knitting, I don't seem to have a lot of knitting mojo though. I am liking quick easy projects, instant gratification projects, so hats. Hats for all 5 of my niece's and nephew's. But I don't think I have any pictures of that of course. That would be silly. Apparently the one item I do have pictures of is Wicked who is getting neglected. But very soft and pretty so far.

I have also started a scarf, it is pretty, it is soft I like it, yet it moves slowly, very slowly. This is braided Mischief from Scarf style, I really like how it is turning out, lets see if I can finish it before next winter!