Linen Leaf Lace Shawl

Between family, work, family, work, family, more work, more family - and knitting (of course). I have not had any time to blog. I've been to Seattle probably 3 times since the last update. We also went to Ashville to go along with Janeen to summer camp since I couldn't bear to send her away by her self at age eight. We had a good time, and my sister and I even managed to find a new knit shop (Yarn Paradise) curtosy of her GPS system. My score there was 2 skeins of Jitterbug (a sock yarn I've wanted to try), and 2 lace yarns. One of them is 2 seins of Malabigo. It is soo soft and wonderful. I am trying to find the perfect project to use it's soft goodness on.




And despite starting many more WIPs than I have finshed, I have finally completed the Linen Leaf Lace Shawl. I didn't really enjoy working with the linen, it's rough on the hands to knit with. But the end result is lovely and much warmer than I thought. I was completing it last night and trying to position it on my chilly legs to keep me warm. It's larger than I thought it would be too. Here is a picture of it being blocked. And a picture of the stiches close up. The Pattern is from the book "Knitted Shawls, Toles & Scarves" The pattern is technically called "Lavender Leaf Lace Shawl". It is very easy (and fast) to memorize and do. I have 2 more on the needles in a laceweight yarn - one in Jaggerspun and one in Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace yarn.

1 down, 1 to go....

And I finished my first Jaywalker. I like this pattern - it's a great next step if you are as bored with straight knitted socks as I was. This one is in pink Fleece Artist yummy yarn. I love them. I think these may not make it to the gift sock pile.....

More socks......

I finished a pair of socks my friend Trouble, yes, that's my name for her Trouble has asked for. Before I was half way done. I guess I'll have to make them her Christmas present. I've got 3 pairs of socks done as Christmas gifts!

These are a DK weight Merino yarn, by Sunshine Yarns on Etsy. It's nice and soft and a huge skein, I probably have enough for another pair. I like the fall colors. Warm and cheery.

I made up a patter with a after-thought heel and toe both done in 4 corners. They fit sort of baggy and comfy.

Two little crazy kids

This was a fun day when we got out the face paints and had some fun. That's crafty right?

OK - now I am just bragging

Jaywalkers

I have two jaywalkers on the needles. I now know why these socks inspire such rave reviews, they are very easy but so fun. I made one following the pattern and one with a fore-thought heel. An idea I got out of the Sensational Knitted Socks: by Charlene Schurch (get yourself a copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Sensational-Knitted-Socks-Charlene-Schurch/dp/1564775704). I like the heel - I need to knit a bit more to see if it fits as well as the after-thought, but theoretically it should.

The pink socks are made with Fleece Artist yarn, and the blue are made with Koigu. It's one of the wildest Koigu color's I've seen. More stripy than I expected, but fun.

I'm rockin and rollin on these, so hopefully I'll have one each very soon.

Running through the wildflowers socks.....

I finished my socks using the Wildflowers colorway from Sunshine Yarns (purchased on www.etsy.com). I love, love these socks. She also has a new tighter spun yarn in the same colorway that would probably make even more durable socks. But these are soft and yummy. It started pooling in a weird way on the 2nd sock and I didn't stop it. So that sock looks a tad weird - but I love them anyway. I am going to make a matching scarf of of the extra yarn I have left over.

I used my own pattern - plain ole' knit stitch - with a standard heel and a 4 corners (janet's no-grafting) toe. They fit me perfectly - and that's good because they are mine!!! I've taken a break from gift socks to enjoy a pair or two :).

In the picture one looks way bigger than the other. It's an optical illusion folks. The are the same size! Blame the photographer - me :)

Koigu socks are finished

I finally finished my green koigu socks. First of all - I love, love, love green!! And secondly I love, love, love koigu. So - you know I love, love, love these socks!

I 3 needled bound off the toe and foot because I have lost patience and confidence in my abilities to graft effectively.

The top of the sock is a garter rib pattern - the heel is an after-thought heel. The toe and heel yarn is Fearless fibers - Midnight Blue. I'm making another pair of socks with the rest of this hank.

Finally- I finish a pair of socks - now on to the other lonely 1 completed socks I have in my WIP bin.

Jason's glasses

Poor Jason has eye's like his mommy and needs glasses. The standing close to the TV and holding his DS close to his face were our main clues. The kid's styles are a lot nicer than when I started wearing glasses, but I was hoping my kids wouldn't have my eye weakness. This blog item has nothing to do with knitting, crochet or crafts. But I was just sharing.

2 sock yarn scarf

I have been admiring scarves on the internet made with 2 contrasting sock yarns. So of course despite my many, many WIPs I had to start one!! The difference in yarns is a bit more subtle than I would have wanted, but I like it. Lots and lots of colors.

Jada in her sling

I just had to get a picture of Jada in the sling her Auntie made her. She loves it, and it quiets her down when I have to get some things done or walk around.

Jada's Teddy

I have been wanting to make a teddy bear for Jada. Soft and cute, that she could cherish as made by her mommy. Well - I hadn't got around to it. And my sister found what I thought would be a great color for a knitted bear. But I hate working with chenille and it was a huge cone. Much larger than needed for a bear. So - after trying to get over my chenille adversion, I realized I would never use it and gave it to her. This is her suprise bear for Jada, isn't it cute?? Jada loves it!!

Gift socks

I completed these two gift socks a while ago and hadn't got around to posting them. Actually - I was posting them and my internet went out. The first was made with Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Big sock yarn that I had. I like working with the yarn -it's super fast on size 5 needles. The second sock I made with Toasty toes yarn. What a lovely, soft yarn to work with and the colors remind me of rugby for some reason. I like both socks and can't wait to give them to the right person.

A Sock Tragedy

My favorite socks, made out of my favorite yarn (koigu) experienced a tragic, catastrophic injury. Somehow, when I put them on this week I noticed a HUGE hole in the bottom of the sock. I had foolishly ignored the labelling and was washing them in the washing machine. I had dried them flat, but the washing machine (even thought it as a front loader) and the constant wearing exacted it's toll. My poor socks.

Doreen had a good idea to buy some suede and put suede bottoms on them. I think I may have to do that. But for now, I mourn my socks. It's made me add more energy to completing the koigu socks I have been working on for a while. So I can have another pair for my tired little toes to wear.

I had time to make bread....

Wow - that seems so long ago....
So nice......

I want to have an hour to make bread.......

Back to Work

My blogging has taken a huge break because I am back to work. Being a mom of 3, employee (that travels), wife, homemaker, and lots of other things I can't name right now is a balancing act that is getting the best of me right now. I just can't get into a groove.

Through it all knitting still has the ability to calm me down. It give me something to do with the nervous energy when sitting in phone meetings and trying to concentrate, instead of trying to do one of the other tasks that I'm often tempted to do! LIke answer email. When did email move from being a tool to a task master. This never ending stream of conversation that you have to respond to. You can't unplug it or not turn it on like a phone. It just keeps piling up, never ending.

Well - you get my mood. Perhaps next update I'll share some happier thoughts like I am back to sock making in a big way. And my 3 little ones can still make me smile. Both Jason and Janeen came home with the coolest art work this week. I have to get it scanned in because I'm so proud. And little Jada is discovering more of the world every day. Now if their crazy momma could just get everything else to slow down, we might just find more time in the day to enjoy these special moments that will never come again.

More bread pics

Mom came over and made a lovely loaf with the Food Processor. We had a few more problems than with my first batch. It kept bunching up in the FP and eventually it made a weird smell. I think the motor was a bit strained. But it was just as fast and pretty. :) I'll try it again and try to figure out how to not get that "nub" in the future.



And afterward I had to make some junk muffins. These are Colin's favorite, and I like that I can sneak in veggies (carrots and if I can get my hands on some zuchini sp? that too). It's also full of fruit - what ever I have on hand and of course raisins. This time I soaked the raisins to make them nice and full. But the muffins are healty and yummy. This time I also put in some whole wheat in the four mix which didn't make it too heavy or not rise. Next time I'll up the WW ratio in the mix!!

And lastly - I finally got a Kitchen Aid Mixer. Wow - what a difference it makes. I used it today for meatloaf and MacNCheese. I'm not sure what I love most - it or my FP!! Cooking is fun again :)

Jada socks

First of all - yes my baby girl is learning to play. We were given this little play mat that was similar to what my first 2 had. She is getting more intersted daily. Janeen is the perfect baby sister and will play with her while she is on the mat. It's such a joy this time around watching it all over again, as they learn new things every day.

As for knitting - These little baby socks are addictive! I fished 2 more pairs. The first with Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Girly Stripe. Yummy, Yummy, very soft yarn.

The second pair was in Marks and Kittans Clown Sock yarn - a cotton/wool blend. This yarn has an interesting story. It was marked on clearance at Ben Franklin Craft's. I picked up a bunch for the clearance price, but the sales clerk asked me if it was for 2/$1. I said I didn't see that posted, but she thought it was. So she gave it to me for that price. Now - you don't feed a yarn-o-holic like me with 50 cent yarn!! She's lucky I didn't go back and clean the place out!! But I restrained myself. I did go back and get some for my sister however.

Anyway, lucky me - it was nicer to work with than I expected and made a great pair of socks. And I know have LOTS for other projects in the future.

Inspiration Bread

Inspired by my sister (www.mom2rays.blogspot.com) I decided to make bread to. I had a food processor I had purchased and embarassingly enough never used. Guess what - it makes great bread!! So easy to. Not sure what took me so long.

I used the bread recipe for the processor, for whole wheat bread. It's OK, but I want to use my own recipe next time. This time I wanted to see How to make bread in it. Basically put in all dry ingredients, process for 20 secs. Then slowly pour in the wet ingredients - until it forms a ball. Then let it process (knead) for 60 secs). Voila. It's done!!

It rises....punch it. Shape the bread into a ball and Let it rise again. Then bake. I guessed on the baking time since the recipe was for loaves. Must of guessed right, because they were great!! I also brushed it w/ butter since I like my bread shiny, don't know why. I just do.

Next time I'm replacing 1/2 of the water with beer, it is supposed to make the whole grains more "nutty and flavorful". Let's see.....

More socks for Jada

And more socks for Jada - while I take a break from my socks and make the 2nd sock on all 3 pairs. The pink and purple sock is made with Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Girly Stripe. I really like this yarn, very soft and I like the think stripes. I have to make Jada's mommy a matching pair.

And the 2nd sock is made with an odd ball of sock yarn I got at a local LYS. The name of the yarn escapes me at the moment. It's not as soft and nice as the Lorna's. But the colors are more baby-like I guess. If you buy into baby colors. Not me - I like brights for babies. But I would never use this color for myself. So here they are for Jada.