I Make Progress When I Focus!

Nartian and I realized that we were working last Friday so I made my first trip to A Verb for Keeping Warm in Berkeley!  Adrienne was tending shop and Kristine was working in the dye area but popped in to visit and chat. So many beautiful fibers and yarn!

I purchased 2 oz. of Blue Faced Leicester in the Mermaid colorway and 2 oz. in Magic Bean.  LOVE these colors and decided I would spin and ply them together to us for Leethal's latest Knitty pattern, "Buttonhead".  And look what I got done!



I finished and gifted a cabled brimmed hat for my cousin and gave it to her a couple of weeks ago.  No finished pic, but here it is, 1/2 done...
where
Finally, I've made progress on KnitQuest's "A Little Something".  I think the length is just about done.




Just for fun?  Take a look at this...

I saw this piece of hair in the trash and wondered where such a long length of hair could have come from.  I called Lil Emp in and asked, "Did you cut your hair?"  Yes he did.  He had gotten some fake 'tar' in his hair; realizing it wasn't coming out, he cut this piece off!  He has a tuft about an inch long on the top of his head, but it blends in well with his long hair!  Amazing how he got through his younger years when self-delivered haircuts are not unusual only to do something like this at age 9!  He seemed a bit embarrassed by it.  I'm actually rather amused, but you can imagine how seeing this in the trash threw me for a loop a bit!

As an aside, it was a very strange day at work for Nartian and I.  During our usual Monday lunch knitting, there was a loud sound and screaming.  A co-worker had chosen to end his life at our work site by jumping off the top floor of our building into the atrium which it opens out to.  It was disturbing and unsettling to say the least.  My thoughts go out to his family and I am saddened by the hurt he must have been feeling to do such a drastic thing.  It just seems so strange and unreal.  I didn't add this part in to be a downer but at the same time it seemed like I couldn't ignore acknowledging that this happened today.  It was real and a real life is now gone.  I didn't ever work directly with him but after 20+ years of working at this same job, I'm sure I would recognize his face, though his name is not familiar to me.  But maybe not.  For now, I can only send out thoughts of healing and comfort to his family, friends and to my other co-workers who had to see or witness more than I and suffer from the horrors of what they observed.

And we have pictures!

Yes, camera issues still exist, but I managed these...proof that knitting had occurred!

In honor of the Blue Moon on New Year's Eve, Tina of Blue Moon Fiber Arts thought we should all cast on a project during that time.  My choice was easy-I had planned on making a February Lady Sweater to wear at the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth at Stitches West in February, so I had a project, I had purchased the yarn-and well, I had a DEADLINE!

I had first wanted to knit the FLS with "Fall on Tap" and purchased three skeins of Socks that Rock Heavyweight in that colorway.  LOVED it, but when I saw the special club colorway for December, I changed my pick to BLACKBIRD!  I love Blackbird and the way it turned out, but I actually mourn the two skeins I exchanged out for the Blackbird!  I think I may just have to buy more Fall on Tap and make a different sweater as a consolation after I get my tax returns back! ;) (ACK!  Was just going to link-up Fall on Tap and it has been 'rested'!  OH NO!  WHAT HAVE I DONE?!)

 

 I didn't like my finished FLS pic, so here is the button-pick photo I took.  I'll try and post a finished pic in the future, but as for buttons...I settled on the center ones-somewhat plain but interestingly shaped shell buttons with highlights of many of the same blackbird colors in it.

But look at the red buttons with the BRICK Blue Moon Fiber Arts Peru yarn!  I'm thinking that one of these red buttons will be perfect with this yarn for KnitQuest's "A Little Something".

I swatched it with two needle sizes, but because I fall between sizes, I need to decide whether to go with a larger gauge and knit the smaller size, or go down a needle size and do a larger size. 

 

I haven't had to decide yet, since I've yet to start "A Little Something".  Well...actually, I started casting-on, but then had to consult with Nartian.

 Then I got all focused on finally finishing Solly's sweater and other giftie projects.  But look-I finished it!  AND the Botanic hat I had mentioned in my earlier post!  The Botanic Hat is actually not the same Mainline Blueberry yarn-it is knit with Socks that Rock Heavyweight "In the Navy" together with "Carbon Dating", which was used for Solly's Baby Racer Sweater

And here is what I love so much about this hat...

It is reversible and I love how the slipped stitches form this awesome pattern on one side!

And then there was inspiration from Lara (Buried in Fiber) to make some "Plain Vanilla" socks.  Something I could just pull out and knit...and knit...and knit...!  But it came to a stop at Stitches West when I decided that since I was working the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth, I should knit ONLY Blue Moon Fiber Arts fibers! 

So I put my Plain Vanillas away to rest...but wouldn't you agree that the perfect pick for Plain Vanillas would be my Flat Feet that has sat in my stash, being ignored?...

 

And here is my Stitches West-Inspired (or more accurately-Cockeyed-Inspired...?) knit: 

Traveling Woman. 

 

After all, Cockeyed says all the cool kids are kntting it!

 

I thought this Rare Gem was too irresistable and though I would agree that this lace pattern may have been better knit with one of the more nearly-semi-solid Rare Gems I got at the Once in  Blue Moon Sale, I know I will still love this!

Off to work on a hat (with a brim, please!) for my cousin.  Yes, another quick project to focus on-and has taken my focus of the others...for now.  Luckily hats are quick knits (if I have the time, that is!-but of course, I will have to hunt down that needlepoint canvas for the brim!).  But yes, no pic of the hat...yet.

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words...

And since I've had some camera issues, I guess that is why I haven't blogged much these days.  Blog entries don't seem as interesting or fun without PICTURES.  We all want to see, don't we?

Though I haven't blogged much, I have been knitting!

Last week, I finished a pair of fingerless mitts for my cousin's daughter.  It was a cute Drops pattern, but I must admit I didn't enjoy having to figure it out for myself!  I can, somewhat, but the beauty of patterns is that you don't have to take the time to do that.  You just pick it up and GO!  Yes, I know...for experienced knitters who never learned to read patterns, what's the problem?  You just pick up your work and GO!  But for me, as much as I don't consider myself 'planny' or 'anal', I have my limitations of free form.

I also finished Solly's sweater right before Stitches West!  I purchased buttons while I was there but was disappointed in my spending $42 at a button booth where I was supposed to only purchase buttons for the baby sweater.  The purchase should not have been more than $6, but I'm pretty good at pushing up the budget!

Stitches West-Inspired Knits...

And while I was at Stitches West, an old camp buddy, Erica, was showing us her Botanic hat.  VERY CUTE!  So I had to make one to match Solly's new sweater.  Got the pattern and just finished the hat last night!

So while I am talking about Stitches West inspiration, while unwinding after the market, Cockeyed started up a Traveling Woman shawlette.  CUTE.  So she gets back from SW, and Tweets a photo of it.  Done!  Just like that.  And soooo pretty!

I had to start one, too!  I chose a Rare Gem medium STR that I purchased at the show.  It is a bit more variegated than is probably best for this lacy pattern, but I decided I'm ok with that.  I will be happy with a shawlette in these gorgeous pinks (from Hot Flash pink to Peek-a-boo pink) with splashes of Puck's Mischief green and other assorted lovely hues: golds, olives, burgundy...

And yet-no pictures to show you! 

I'm hoping I will get some up soon, but yes, I am still knitting.  I am still a knitter.  And I am hoping to have better camera options soon!

Seriously Good Fun!

I really can't offer much by way of a Stitches West report, since I was mostly hanging in the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth, helping out the lovely Sockateers, Cockeyed and EttaMae.  I so enjoy spending the time with them and IrishGirlieKnits, who was also working the booth.

Funny how working the BMFA booth will keep me out of OTHER trouble, but only enables the BMFA desires!  Also 'funny' is how on such limited time, I still manage to spend WAY more than I should!

I'm hoping to have time to get some pics taken of part of my goodies tomorrow, and I only got one pic while at Stitches West.  But it is the best pic of all...

SOCKATEER ROYALTY!

 Seriously.  Look how good and color-coordinated the Queen and Goddess are!

Progress in the New Year...

But first, I'll show you what I got from  the Blue Moon Fiber Arts sale!

My four skeins of Rare Gems-all medium weight...2 Earth, 1 Fire, 1 Water.

Even though I had UFO Smackdown plans, I could not resist the call of a new head cover.  It was quick and I finished it, so I feel justified in satisfying my desire for another slouchy beret!  Besides, that lovely Malabrigo worsted Nartian gifted me for Chirstmas was calling out...the softness, the smoothness, the loft that could easily be made into a hat in a short amount of time...so I made the Baroness Beret!

I loaded pics ahead of time, but since have almost completed to Baby Yours I have been working on.  The seams killed me.  I've taken a few knitting classes, each covering seaming, but when you really don't seam often and are a bit impatient to finish something, as I was, it really holds no pleasure.  And, of course, the results reflected this.  I'll share a finished object pic when I get a chance.  It is laying out, seamed and blocked, waiting for buttons.

 

And I might as well show you a not-so-recent acquisition...

  

I had ordered "Estuary" from Three Irish Girls back in August at Sock Summit and waited patiently for it, soon forgetting all about it!  When I contacted Sarah, she said it would be out in 2 weeks.  I again forgot about it and didn't get a chance to pursue it until last month.  Apparently she had been unable to contact me via email and once she got my address, sent it on it's way.  I LOVE this colorway!

My final UFO Smackdown of January was my second Kew that had been languishing for oh, maybe 3 years!  They started as a mini-KAL with Nartian; she was knitting hers with Nodding Violets and I, with one of the chicken colorways (Rooster Rock?).  Naturally, Socks that Rock!  Of course, Nartian zipped along and completed hers in a timely manner.  I chugged slowly along and completed one sock that sat forever.  I cast on for the second and it sat, 1 inch past its cuff for ages.  I decided to make it one of my first orders of business for January's UFO Smackdown, along with Solly's sweater and Baby Yours.  So far, still have to move on the Solly sweater which had its own set-back when I lost the sleeves!

Still working on my February Lady Sweater which I hope to complete in time for Stitches West!  So far, so good.  Just need to keep the focus mojo going!

Blue Moon NYE

It is a Blue Moon New Year's Eve and Blue Moon Fiber Arts is celebrating in many fun ways!  For one, they had a Rare Gem Mill Ends sale.  I guess I don't need to mention that I participated.  How could I not?

Another way is that we are all casting on Blue Moon Projects!  I am hoping that my Blackbird Heavy Weight STR has arrived when I get home, which mean I will cast-on for my February Lady Sweater.

For now, I have this on my needles:

A "Baby Yours" finally started!  In a MW mill end, nonetheless! I'm not normally much of a 'blue' person, but this colorway has enough grey in it to be right up my typical 'grayed-out' colorway preference alley!

You may notice that the beginnings of this Baby Yours is a bit loaded down with circular needle cord and yarn ends.  Well, it *is* a mill end, so I hadn't noticed a knot that needed to be worked around.  And the cord?  Yes, I'm using a 60" cord  because in all honesty, I really can't find my shorter 24" or 36" cords.  Probably since they are already being used on other projects!

"Other projects", you may ask?  Yes, shocking as it may seem, I have many more projects started than finished...Happily for me, NathaniaApple (Purls Beyond Price) of Purlescence Yarns has started a "UFO Smackdown".  Irishgirlieknits started a "Smackdown" on Twitter to get some of us moving more (so far, I've not participated but I am thinking January Smackdown may be the start for me) and now, a UFO Smackdown.  Definitely two areas I can use motivation to do better in!

The sad thing is that after looking through my Ravelry Projects to jog my memory, I now know that I have at least 39 UFO's-and that is the short list!  For now, I am only focusing on a mini-focus list of a few projects:  Solly's sweater (arms and seaming to go), Kew (second sock nearly to the toe), and Baby Yours. And soon, the February Lady Sweater, but really, the main "UFO" would be the Kew, since the others are more "WIPs".  But either way, if the WIPs become FO's soon, I'll be happy!

I'll have to post the few I'm focusing on.  To post more would be too crazy and would set your heads spinning.  Well, that and it would verify what an undisciplined knitter I am.  I like to think of it more as 'Inspired'.  So I shall endeavor to 'inspire' myself more towards the UFOs

May you all enjoy your accomplishments of this past year and have a happy, healthy and productive 2010!  That's my plan and my wish for you!

Thank heavens for cousins with cameras!

Otherwise, I probably would NOT be blogging right now since I've been a bit deficient in the picture arena. 

So I have a finished Juliet!   

I was a bit worried about the flare on the bottom half, but a couple of more repeats and a good blocking allowed it to lay nicely.

As for the "Baby Mine" sweaters I made for baby-to-be's...Here is Baby Jayla modeling her Saartje Booties

 And Baby Kayla modeling her Baby Mine knit in the Fairgrounds colorway...

Baby J got a Baby Mine, too, in the hand-dyed STR I dyed at camp

The knits always look so much cuter on the babies than alone!

One day, long ago...

There was a Sock Summit. The sock summit was a wonderful event filled with wonderful teachers, presentations, a competition to beat a World Record, yarn and other knitterly goodies--all related to SOCKS and SOCK KNITTING!

In attendance was the Ravelry gang which of course meant...a RAVELRY PARTY!!!

Yes, dear readers-THIS is the SS09 Ravelry Party update-months late! Don't worry, it'll be mostly pictures.

For that evening, a crew of us got to be "Team Rav"!

Me, Linda, Christine and Sarah of the Magic Loop fame

"We" hung banners...(Actually, the taller of the 'we' hung banners!  That would be Samro of KnitQuest)

 
Helped set up the PRIZE table!




And there were clever Rav fabric banners decorating the area...


  Jess and MaryHeather consulting on the game plan of the evening...

The party is starting up!-Purls Just Wanna Have Fun (Marisol), Deb, Linda, Susan, Alice and (name I can't remember but she's...) the Shaefer Yarn Rep

 

  Casey had brought quite a selection of brews.  An interesting fact:  you must have food at events involving liquor, so once you run out of food, the bar is closed down...We hoped the food would hold out!

 We guarded and distributed the Ravelry "Goodie Bags"...





HizKnits and HizGuy were there with Superstar Janie Sparkles (AK(in my mind)A: NOTBob!)  Yes, people, Bob IS a Boston Terrier (and I think, male...)  Janie Sparkles IS a French Bulldog (and I believe female...).  A bit of a difference, yet it was amazing how many times I would hear voices yelling, "IS THAT BOB?!" And not in a voice of disbelief that it coul d be him but more out of excitement that he should be present at the event!  And let's remember that this is a picture from far away...these people were exclaiming this as they stood in front of Janie AND this big Bob banner!
 
Purlescence Yarn presented with Mini Purl-Girl and Purl-Guy!   The Purl Girls were at another event.

And there was a drawing!  Lots of beautiful items from Lantern Moon, Buffalo Gold, Namaste and MORE...
Funny thing is that a LOT (and I'm talking a disproportionate number considering how many male knitters there are to female...) of men won!  Again, surprising only when you look at the statistics and I have no problem with more men winning.  But I do take exception to the one Vendor Dude who won some of that gorgeous Buffalo Gold-I suspect he is a non-Knitter; especially by the way he mockingly feined overenthusiasm and screachiness in running up to claim his prize.  I only hope that he knew a Knitter who understands the value of that fluffy gold carefully resting in the lovely box he was clutching.  Mock us NOT, non-knitting Vendor-Man!  We are your bread and butter!

And what was in this said goodie bag we all got?
A skein of Vintage Wood from Berocco, a pattern, reusable Namaste bag, silk-covered notepad, a pattern and other literature.  And, of course, the cute muslin bag!

And...bringing you up to date on current WIPs:

  Juliet is started and I am now into the lace portion!

Progress was temporarily interrupted this weekend by a quick hat for an ill cousin:

I like how my somewhat random striping pattern came out...and the top, though stitches are a bit uneven, turned out cool!

 Boy Hat pattern from Crystal Palace Merino 5 and other yarn, label of which has been misplaced!

And in my typical non-focused way, I started one of these gift sacks with the remaining Kureyon from my Clapotis...but I put it aside to focus on Juliet and the hat...

 

This is the sack pattern from this year's Interweave Knits Holiday Knitting edition

And this evening...back to Juliet!

 

 I'm hoping this will be completed by the end of this month!  If I continue my focus, it can easily happen.  Sixteen days to go...maybe I'll even get it done in time for Thanksgiving!

Six Weeks of a Knitter's Life...

So many times have I blogged in my mind-and yet, nothing appeared here! I finally log in and realize it has been six weeks since my last blog! No time to catch up with the final segments of Sock Summit '09!

What have I done over the past 6 weeks?

Besides the usual PTA meetings and activities, I was inspired to crochet a Amigurumi Fuzzy Panda as part of a Craft Magazine CAL.

The body parts were quick to crochet...

All panda-parts crocheted and ready to go!

And the idea is you crochet the body parts out of a single-ply bulky wool, then use a dog brush on it to create a 'fur'...

It is still not assembled as I await joint for the arms and legs...

Then there are my Lays (Cotty), Too that I put aside for a bit. But I had to take a progress photo.

I'm thinking I may actually start and finish a third gift pair before I finish this pair, but I know I will eventually get them completed!

I had a chance to enjoy my new mug from Jennie the Potter!

The mug and memories make my homemade latte even more enjoyable!

After careful conversation with Knittinggolfer about a particular yarn I recalled in my stash. I resurrected this...

I first told Knittinggolfer that this yarn was perhaps the perfect colorway for her, and that I would never be able to wear these colors...then I pulled out the two skeins and realized I still love the colorway afterall! So, Knittinggolfer and I will ponder the possibilities-gift to her, keep for me, or bff scarflets for us!

I got a chance to sneak over to Knit-One-One Studio for their monthly Crafts Sale and, after a long yarn-buying hiatus, caved and purchased some yarn from Snicklefritz.

Who could resist the feel of merino/cashmere (bottom) in the colorway "Matrix"?!

I turned around and saw Girl on the Rocks' stuff and had difficulty resisting this!

I tried to resist the call of this Squash Blossom colorway, but alas, it won out!

I brought Lil'Emp to the local community center to sign up for some art workshops and was surprised to see Urban Fauna Studios/Maryjane's Attic there with their spinning wheel, spindles and fleece!

Blas showed LE the ropes-literally-as he taught him to spin! And I got to spin away on a spindle they had brought!

The next Sunday was my bff trip to the Farmer's Market where my bff made me buy some of the most awesome miso dressing in the world!

Nago Miso dressings are deeee-lish! What to get? Wasabi, Original or Spicy? Ginger was a no-brainer: since I don't care for ginger, it was immediately eliminated. I went for the Spicy and Wasabi!

It was my first trip to this particular farmer's market and we then journeyed over to Urban Fauna Studios, as I had yet to step foot in the shop-and it had been open for over a year!

For such a little place, there is plenty to intrigue me and I couldn't walk away without this...

My last count has me up to over 13 spindles! But who could resist? The feel, the spin...! GORGEOUS!

After a loooong time, I was finally able to make a journey to Sunnyvale to pick up Cat's new book and to get a skein of Purl Up and Dye! Now I'm wishing I'd bought two! (more on this later...*) It was great seeing the Purl Girls and spending a bit of time knitting. I even got some great help on the Solly Sweater that is still in progress!

Sassyman's birthday fell in the month of October. I opted to make him a more diabetes-friendly cheesecake. I added mangos and bananas to the top of a classic NY style cheesecake and I must say it was pretty tasty-even with half the sugar subbed with Splenda!

Not-so-diabetes-friendly was the Cupcake Clash Sassyman and I attended with Lil' Emp in tow! It was put on by SF Food Wars. There were 22 mini-cupcake entries-I think I tried at least 18 of them. And, Murphy's Law being what it is, one of the few I did NOT taste, won First Place!

See that orange one in the upper-left with the stick? It was an Orange Creamsicle flavor! Tasted just like the real deal!

And a bit of reinforcement for my ever-wandering knitting hands-if I stick to one project, I really can get it done!

After seeing a woman with a long stole at the horseraces one weekend, I wondered why I never got around to making myself such warm wrap? I then became inspired-no, it became my quest!-to make myself a nice, long stole! I realized that I: 1) had never made a Clapotis, 2) could make a bigger Clapotis to be more wrap-sized, 3) had 11 skeins of Noro Kureyon in my closet, 4) had forgotten exactly WHAT I had purchased it for and 5) only knew that whatever it was supposed to be for, was probably not so good of a use for it anyway!

I started my first Clapotis and after about 50 yards, decided I could perhaps have a finished wrap by the end of October! With a few mild meanderings away from the Clapotis for an occasional knit on my "Carmen" and to start a sock KAL, I mostly remained faithful to my Clapotis. By October 30, look what I got to wear to work!

*So now I want to make a smaller, scarfier Clapotis! If only I had TWO skeins of one of my sock yarns-and that Purl up and Dye colorway would have been just the perfect choice!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HAPPY FALL! HAPPY KNITTER!!!