hafknits

2012-02-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

Finished Sockhead hat. A week of carry along knitting. Love it. About to start another one with more STR Lightweight.

2012-02-01T12:57:00.002-05:00

Moving right along -- I have been working hard, hard, hard, to regularize the bewildering complexity of my knitting life. Spent all of "sewing day" - monthly meet up with friends who mostly quilt - getting the downloads from 5 sources (2 desktop files, 2 doc with many subs files, dropbox) into an organized dropbox. then longer going through queue and faves on Ravelry. Still have the Circus Ponies notebook (c. 2008) to plow through. Also re-sorting yarn and getting it all on Ravelry stash, have done lace, fingering and sport, on to dk, worsted and beyond! Then WIPs and UFOs. One interesting disovery was that I have one more skein of tosh that I was using for palindrome, so that may become something else.
Sock hat is doing very nicely, about 4 inches to go. I think it will look neat. This is perfect on the go, on tv, etc knitting. able to do continental cuz it's circ needles.
Have been intrigued by sweet tomato socks. but no, no , not now!

2012-01-27T12:22:00.002-05:00

So, I found some patterns, including one for a hat: Sockhead Hat; Prismatic Scarf; Min-mania scarf,
seven circle. Time to do what I keep meaning to do: set up a running circular needle swatching device.
Also found a neat pattern for a braided necklace/bracelet/headband thing that I must try. Maybe simple things and ananke. Boomeretee is coming along nicely!

2012-01-26T14:02:00.001-05:00

Decided on a knitting program for this year: it's even got a catchy name:

"Simple Scarf/Shawl Stash Buster". I have a drawerful of sock yarn - fingering and sport that is appropriate for one skein scarves and shawls I have more socks than I need and have so much trouble getting hand knit socks to fit that (at least for now) I have no desire to pursue sock knitting.
I am collecting simple scarves and shawls made for one skein on Ravelry and will work my way through the sock yarn drawer. If anyone likes something, I will happily gift it to them.
So far, a couple of potato chip (ruffled) boas out of a mohairy yarn -- one if which i will keep; and I'm working on "Boomerette" from Ursa Major with a gorgeous skein of Blue Heron in greens and browns, actually that one may stay with me too. But there a year or two of skeins from the BMF sock club that are in colors that aren't mine; those will be fun to experiment with and pass on.

2012-01-18T16:05:00.002-05:00

Let's see, it's been a while, again. Working on Margot from Knitty Fall 2009 in tan alpaca sportweight. Got far along when I had to pull it off the needles to frog back to an error and realized that the gauge was way off. Note to self: a swatch in the flat with the yarn pulled around the back does not equate to a swatch in the round! Back on track on larger needles. Tons of other WIP's, as usual. Have Simple City shawlette going; a couple of sweaters (still ) for Emily; Travelling sweater from Blue Moon Fibers; a couple of shawl/scarf/wrap things from fancy stash yarns; a couple of socks to frog I think; the cardigan from our cross country trip probably to also frog and reknit as the cardi from the person who designed Margot; another Favorite Scarf ever (half done, should I do mitts first and then see how much is left for the second "half'). I know there is more. I do love starting things. Oh, and Headgear from Catherine Lowe. I just tried it on and it'll be great. But slow going.

Catch up

2011-02-07T17:10:00.002-05:00

Today is Monday, February 7. Love the new car: Sue B. Ruby.

Knitwise, I finished Joy's prayer shawl, just need to trim the fringes and bring it over to SPC. With the remaining yarn I cast on and almost finished a kitty Snuggle (Snuggles project) for the Animal Rescue League. I began and finished a Wurm hat out of a lovely alpaca/angora mix that either came from Westminster, Alice, or the Sisters. Still have a ball of it, which would make wonderfully cuddly gloves. Great pattern, could be just about any size and fit and look really good, just different. Got buttons for Seedling, lost them, found them. Still have to put them on.

Using up stash, am about to start a prayer shawl in Homespun, will do Feather and Fan for excitement.

For Jan. 28

2011-01-29T00:23:00.001-05:00

Purchased new car today, delivery Monday. Yay! Before the next snow (sigh!). Had planned to do much knitting while listening to the guy try to sell me stuff I don't want on the car, but he didn't and I didn't. Did finish acrylic scarf that began life as Emily's bag, though, and did a bit on the new 22.5 degree scarf.

2011-01-27T20:04:00.001-05:00

So, today I ripped out a stole in Briar rose Grace that I began in an attempt to crochet something. Didn't like the way it looked. Am moving forward in effort to reduce WIP's.

2011-01-26T11:00:00.002-05:00

For today: Put buttons on seedling. Find a yarn for either a replacement 22.5 degrees or another hitchhiker.

Hours later - no change on seedling, but I did cast on (many times before I gave up and wrote down the row count even though it is three perfectly self-explanatory rows) a 22.5 degrees in a Blue Moon lightweight sock yarn that came from the Rockin sock club with a pattern that (like most) I'd never make. It's bright reds, greens, yellows, with pretty short repeats, hopefully it will look ok.

For January 24

2011-01-26T10:57:00.003-05:00

Am seriously considering frogging 22.5 degrees. I like the pattern and I love the yarn but really, not best use of yarn. It so wants to be lace.

I can do 22.5 degrees in some other of the sock yarn in my stash.

After fussing with it during the State of the Union, I pulled out a scarf kind of thing that Emily began with pretty acrylic maybe as a bag or bag lining. Just garter stitch. Will finish for tv knitting, just for the sake of finishing!

Enjoyed wearing my Justice scarf for the first time, but it is an awkward size, I may have to block it.

For January 23

2011-01-26T10:52:00.002-05:00

Moving right along with UFO's. Pulled out the quiviut rugby that stalled years ago because the pattern was messed up for the color work on the neck insert. Began to finish sewing it up and thinking about what to do with raglan insert. Carry around scarf messes up and drops stitches and I rip. Maybe not best use of lovely yarn.

For January 22

2011-01-26T10:48:00.002-05:00

Finished and am wearing the Philosophers' wool garden cardi I began for Emily probably 10 years ago! Thought it would look like a monster's garment (beautiful but huge) on me until I actually put it on. It's big, but very warm (useful here these days) and looks great. An ancient UFO off the list!!

For January 15

2011-01-16T16:37:00.003-05:00

Almost finished with Seedling. Just a few ends and buttons. Love the way it turned out, way better use of Dune than in stockinette.

Began swatching for Ballerina.

Got red envelope with hearts on it for packing Catie's blanket. Now need to get pix. Tried with small calendar but it was too shaky.

Leafed through Cookie A sock book, interesting but way too complex. I do like her swatching idea, make circular piece and try on toes, ankles, legs, etc. Duh!!!

Enjoying Knitmore Girls podcasts that I am catching up on.

2011-01-14T10:30:00.001-05:00

Goal for today is to mail Catie's blanket after getting pix up on ravelry and here; to finish Seedling (or at least finish the yarn I have and see if I have anything for trim); maybe to swatch ballerina.

2011-01-13T19:36:00.002-05:00

Working along on Seedling with Dune yarn. Lookin' good.

Trying to get pix of Catie's blanket on Ravelry so I can send it to her.

July 30,2009

2009-07-31T08:34:00.001-04:00

Today's knitting: Green Gables - almost finished lace at neck. knit at dr. office and town concert.

July 28, 2009

2009-07-31T08:27:00.002-04:00

Today's knitting: Too hot for all wool cape which is getting long and heavy!
Began Green Gables tee in nice light cotton/linen blend: cast on and messed up several times.

2009-07-26T19:18:00.002-04:00

Today's knitting/stitching: green cape: 1 inch
rose needlepoint: about 1.1 sq. inches

catching up

2009-04-18T17:58:00.003-04:00

can't believe it's almost a year. A lot of the momentum has clearly gone to Ravelry!. What's on my needles, in front of the queue:
short and sassy scarf in cyclone from hub mills. lovely colors, slightly muted peaches, greens, lavenders. took a number of tries to get needle size and had to go buy wooden size 19s, but as the woman in the store said 'you have them for life". Should be a twenty four hour knit. Finished stole for Miranda, but need to graft and block (ugh) it. Car knitting is the second of the three green pillows, though the third is about 70% done. Working on the Landscape shawl and on Jenna's scarf, but the push (as soon as I finish the cyclone) needs to be on Emily's sweater prior to graduation in three (!) weeks. Must keep myself to these and the faithful church needlepoint.

2008-05-20T12:24:00.001-04:00

done with back of green fisherlad gansey. yay. stash busting is good.

2008-05-15T23:35:00.002-04:00

Got to the good part of Fisherlad Gansey -- on the back. Racing to get this one done, mostly as stash buster, won't wear it for months...
Just found my learn to knit afghan, have six squares done and forgot how much fun it is.
Just need to bust that stash -- get it down to a manageable number of containers so I can get the sewing room in good order...

Lotus shawl

2008-01-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

Friday, just blocked the lotus shawl -- it looks great. so the three are cat bordhi socks. emily cable sweater, sock yarn pillow (car knitting.)

One down, one to be blocked

2008-01-03T23:20:00.000-05:00

Finished Emily's Shawl. Yay!!!
Also finished lotus shawl, but needs blocking badly.

so many knits

2008-01-03T01:28:00.000-05:00

Following a suggestion on Ravelry group of same name. pick three projects, hide everything else.
ok: emily's spiral stole
cat bordhi socks
my lotus stole.
don't do anything else till one is done.
ok. I can do this.
I will report back.

Mermaids!

2007-05-10T09:09:00.000-04:00

Having finished the Celtic cross cross stitch, I was ready to go on Carol and Karen's mermaid piece. I pulled it out and got settled in and -- feeling incredibly dumb -- could not figure out the chart. So after a couple of weeks hiatus because I wasn't available to drive half an hour to get to the store I made it to the counted cross stitch store, yes, we do have such a thing around here, and found out I had the wrong kind of cloth and needed to be working over two stitches instead of one, so now the first row of waves is almost done! Meanwhile, I am almost done with the angel needlepoint except that I am running out of blue yarn for the background. I need a new column "waiting for others" to put that on while I get in touch with the store in Florida and see if I can score more the same color. Also got the xocks back on track. If they are short then the fact that they are kinda skinny will be ok. I have substantial calves and very small ankles. We'll see how this goes.

2007-04-25T17:25:00.000-04:00

Onward

2007-04-22T20:44:00.000-04:00

So, I finished the celtic cross stitch cross, for my office eventually. Now I need to figure out how to mount it, because I really can't afford to have it "framed" for $100. I found a book at New England Mobile which will hopefully help me learn how to do this kind of processing of finished needlework. Also finally took a good look at how much I had done on the "shapely tee" from White Lies Designs. I began a "draft" of the short row shaping in yarn I would never wear, just to see how it worked out. And it had gotten to the point where I could see how it would work without any further (fruitless!) knitting. So tonight I pulled out the stitch holder and had a look and a fitting. I think it's a great shape, and will certainly look for yarn I like to make it up. In the meantime, it can now come off my "UFO" list. Yay!

Taxes Done!

2007-04-18T12:16:00.000-04:00

This was taxing, the computer ate a critical file and to get back on track I needed new anti-virus for the PC, which took forever to load, but got done with 20 mintues to spare.
Also finished this part of Jenn's quilt, now I need to get the Superquilter set up to quilt it and other tops in the file/pile.
And just finished knitting the blanket for Jacki's new baby, need to sew off the ends and then call her to visit and deliver. Yay!
On to finish the tiger needlepoint and celtic cross cross-stitch, my next up projects.

Saturday

2007-04-14T22:22:00.000-04:00

Saturday, April 14. Finished blue tote bag yesterday, way more work than I'd ever thought, but I really like it. Am working on getting Jenn's quilt together and ready to consider quitling, but not quite there yet. Baby blanket will be done in one more skein which means it's 75% done. And I'm contemplating what to do with the fabric scraps and stash fabric. Coming along, coming along.... Just need to keep from starting anything new...

Easter Monday!

2007-04-09T13:26:00.000-04:00

Definitely a day of rest! Woke up at 11. It really does feel like a new season, a new time, new hope, new possibility. Finished projects! Didn't get the Celtic cross done by Easter, oh well, hope to have it ready to hang in my new office, whenever the job actually begins. Dragged out the quiviuk sweater (going for many years and stuck because the directions for front color work were wrong). Have concluded that I needed to rip out a lot of the front and redesign what was left to make it work, but first would cheer myself and get the fit right by sewing the rest of the sweater together. That's happy work, even though I hate finishing. Getting that project done will be immense, I think.

Also opened the box for a portable machine quilting frame I bought a number of years ago, just before lot of life changes. Now I'd like to set it up so I can finish the collection of quilt tops waiting for assembly and quitling. Unfortunately, I peeled open the end of the box when I received it, and pulled out the instructions, which of course I cannot find and don't remember seeing, ever..... Luckily, the pieces I have have one branded label on them, so if -- after a final search -- I don't find the missing instructions, I can contact Super Quilter and see if they can help me! But things are really moving along...

2007-04-07T13:27:00.001-04:00

Snow in April and a great haircut

2007-04-05T12:39:00.001-04:00

The title says it all. thank you Michael and Stephani. You guys really rock!!!!
Ok. So a lot has gotten finished up, and I've gone through and pulled out what I think is all the projects stashed away in my sewing room closet and supply drawers. It feels good to have it all out in front (I think it's all, or almost...)

Froggy froggy

2007-03-31T15:56:00.000-04:00

Ok, pulled out one sweater in process -- Eliz Lavold silky wool green -- lovely sweater, would look awful on me and I'm sort of stuck anyway. So, not brave enough to frog without a safety net, I went to Lucy Lee's today and found another use for the lovely yarn, and just have frogged the sweater except for the celtic knots at the bottom which might become a hat if there's enough yarn left. So, add to stash, reduce UFO's. Very good. Meanwhile, I'm working along on a quick afghan in Encore for Jacki's baby who I plan to see after Easter. And I'm off to do writing alternating with Celtic cross cross stitch.

Is it spring yet?

2007-03-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

Just keeping up with what's done knit-wise. Now I've finished blue, white and pink scarves, swing coat, Prism sweater except for shoulder pads and buttons (which I seem to have lost). Wigwam shawl is on the blocking board, it's so big I have to block it by haves and I'm very curious how it will drape when it's done. I also got the E Zimmerman workshop tapes from the library o-- watched tape 1 and made a cute hat either for Afghanastan or for me -- but the knit in design was easy as was the decreasing, so now I can finally make a hat. I'm back to the learn to knit afghan and need to get more yarn for it. And i bought yarn at Wild and Wooly yesterday for a sweet baby afghan Jacki's baby. Will probably do the same in a different color for Amy's this summer. I want to get the shapely tee back OTN so I can work on it while I watch movies at Newbury this afternoon. Still haven't figured out how to get photos up on the site.....

Emily's Home!

2007-03-22T12:14:00.000-04:00

Emily is home for a few days for spring break. Great to have her here! She loves the afghan. I love that I actually got it finished. We have to take it over to show Lisa at Creative Warehouse today. Also finished one Guatemala sock except for the kitchener toes. Used the Hobo bag yesterday -- the lady in the diner loved it.

Real Progress!

2007-03-17T18:26:00.000-04:00

Well, this procrastinators' craftalong is proving to be a great inspiration for me to finish things, and more to the point, not to start new ones. So..... let's see, I've finished (and worn) the blue scarf from Lavish Lace, and the pink and gray horseshoe lace scarf, very very soft, but strange to have a right and wrong side in a scarf. And the cashmere "cat's paw" lace scarf is sitting waiting for soaking and blocking. It feels great to have these three more lace pieces done. The cashmere has been OTN for several years (since '04, I think). It's very interesting that the fabric made with the same yarn, pattern and needles, is much looser in the portion I've done now. Alice points out it's all about learning to make (and be comfortable with) lace.

This has been an opportunity to see how fickle I really am, and how much more I am a "starter" than a "finisher". I must have not started 10 projects in this couple of weeks -- knit, crochet and fabric. So, I've gotten a ton of books out of the library on all of these subjects! And that's been fun. Also found a Kaffe Fasset video which was neat -- of course made me want to try intarsia....

So it's on to the two pairs of started socks. One pair has been OTN for a while, the others (pink mixture) I began in Guatemala and that's what I'm working on now.

March 5

2007-03-06T14:52:00.000-05:00

Busy day yesterday on the computer front. I upgraded to the new Blogger, which has let me put lists on the blog, and hopefully I'll figure out how to get buttons (KAL's, etc.) on too. Also found craft site with a great "craftalong" for procrastinators to publish and finish ufo's. It's 63 pages long (the thread that is). So I took a deep breath and confessed my sins (which added up to the 30 UFO's I could remember while I was sitting there) and published it. When I surfed the site later, I realized this was the longest list on the blog. Do people REALLY only have 5 or 6 UFO's??? What world do they live in? What world do I live in? Oh, well...It felt good to get them out there.

Today I should finish the crocheted hobo bag (with yarn Alice re-gifted me, it was her Knit-Out doorprize last fall) -- LIFO (once a bookkeeper, always a bookkeeper, I guess). I'm thinking it would benefit from some kind of binding around the edge of the straps, so I'll try a knit on I-cord, and see if I can make that work.

And I'm wearing the Cherry Hill swing jacket which in fact only needed to have a thread cut (though blocking would be good). I'll try to get a picture up tonight.

So, maybe two down and 28+ to go.

March already

2007-03-05T12:36:00.000-05:00

Haven't been on for a while. I went to Guatemala in early February with CCIMT -- a medical mission group from my area. It's something I've wanted to do for years and really glad to be able to go. I am now trained to do rural medicine exams for eyeglasses (mostly reading). It was great to help people see again -- 'was blind but now I see' -- hey, you can't beat that.

On the home front - massage school is done and now i've got to study for licensing exam. I'm thinking I'll look for a space to sublet in my area and try to develop a small practice with knitters, spinners, weavers, stitchers and musicians.

Vocationally, I am in serious conversation about a job that will be 15 hours a week until next winter, then full time to cover a sabbatical through the summer, then over but with a continuing relationship with the institution. that's perfect for me, and I hope it all works out It will start sometime between April and July.

In the meantime, I'm still doing the school job -- not teaching til fall but advising, counseling, doing some program work and running my charity knitting project.

All this means I have a little more free time -- and want to use it to get through projects underway and move forward with more freeform fiber work of various kinds. I started scrumbling yesterday and I see addiction on the horizon! Pictures soon.

2007-01-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've been busy making hats for kids chemo cap project at LYS. My latest:

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

2006-12-14T21:03:00.000-05:00

Semester has come and gone, need to get grades done in the next few days. Now I know what teacher friends have grumbled about for years... One of the best things about this semester was getting a small charity knitting group going at school. Want to do a lot more with it now that teaching is over for the academic year. It's amazing how quickly some of the students pick it up.

Cindy and I saw Pam in her new office today. Whooo Hooo.

OTN: Jacket in Cherry Hill glitz
Horseshoe lace scarf
Big Wool sweater for Noah
Thanksgiving shawl

UFOs (4th step)
Prism cardi
Philosopher's Wool cardi for Emily
Dune cardi (frog?)
Green Lavold sweater (stuck on the cables)
Red and black Norwegian pullover (begun at Stitches when they were in Cherry Hill)
Quiviut pullover (begun in mid-90s)

Recently FO's
first lace - beloved scarf in berry pattern
second lace - feather and fan shawl
lacy baby blanket for andrea's silent auction
Cam's hoodie
Girl from Aussie poncho sweater
Booga bag

September

2006-09-18T22:55:00.000-04:00

Back online. Largely because I promised Cindy and Laura I'd get back on and give them something to read. Since last posting, summer has come and almost gone (hot here today). Lots got finished: Girlfromauntie poncho sweater in heavy red boucle/chenille-y yarn (just needs a fancy button, but I can wear it); orange pullover; hat for Afghanistan; first piece of finshed lace -- scarf with yarn from Lowell; Emily's school quilt (hand quilted); 3 little bags out of bamboo; many washcloths for gifts (out of Mason Dixon knitting). Also largely through a second piece of lace - feather and fan shawl out of string like cotton I bought many years ago (first hand dyed I ever bought), I love the colors, but the yarn is pretty frail. Seems like there's more but I can't think of it now. Frogged an Einstein coat that never worked out, and another hand-dyed piece from Maine.

Meanwhile, it's back to school for massage and for teaching. Did some knitting with the kids for Sept. 11 and may start a weekly Afghans for Afghans knitting group at school.

OTN: the above lace; Lavish lace scarf; little sweater probably for charity ("Rosemary's little sweater" from Green Mountain Spinnery book) -- nice pattern; Lavold green that's been on for a while; and red jacket from Stitches two years ago. Planned: brown lace pullover; clapotis with artyarn gifted to me; Arctic Lace knitalong with leftover quiviuk.

Labels etc.

2006-06-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

First day of the rest of my life -- again. yesterday was "graduation" from MTI, in quotes because I still have to redo a course I dropped (got too far behind) but I think I can get licensed to Boston, so I should be able to start working this summer in a small way. hip hip hooray!

As I was doing the business plan for the business course at school, I came across a reference to a book about organizing self and stuff that's really helped. It has the premise that we carry too many little pieces of concern and need-to-get-done in our brains and need to have a relliable way to get them out of our brain and somewhere we know we can find them when we need them. It involves a label-maker -- the world's greatest toy. If you want details, emal me. Anyway, that's helping me get a handle on lots of things, including stash and projects.

2006-06-24T18:37:00.000-04:00

Here's the kitty blanket from stash acrylic for Basil and Abner's Critter Charity Drive 2006. First attempt to get picture on blog, photo and technical consulting by EAO.

Well, school is over (both MTI and Newbury), and sabbatical coverage job is also over, so it's time to sort things out in my office/sewing room/knitting supply room. Huge pile of UFO's to go through and consign to "finish" or be frogged for scarves.

Almost finished with burnt orange top down raglan pullover (no seams, what a joy!) which will then get felted. It does seem big enough to be able to survive felting, which I was worried about. I look forward to reported on stash movement.

Yesterday I found another possible addiction at http://theiff.org/oexhibits/05b.html -- called extreme kntting by some clueless reporter but actually crocheting -- hyperbolic shapes. amazing cool stuff. gotta try it.

2006-06-24T00:53:00.000-04:00

This is Cindy's plant picture: Her name is Petrocosmea - the symmetry is a foretaste of things to come.....

Now it's June/busting out....

2006-06-13T19:48:00.000-04:00

I'm still alive and well. School is almost over - a few more days this semester and then one course in the fall. And church jobs are at the moment just Sunday morning supply gigs. This gives me time to organize my life and to finish UFO's and organize my stash and figure out where to go from here. It does not give me any money to buy yarn! So I commit to the universe (via cyberspace) that I really am on a yarn diet. OTN: Cabin Fever sweater for felting (that's the exciting part) in Black Abbey worsted; cable socks (still); Prism evening sweater from a kit from Stitches a couple of years ago. When I finish the first I'll begin a lace shawl project. Maybe with the gorgeous magical Helen's Lace I bought with a gift certificate from my massage buddies Pam and Cindy; maybe a trial run with other lace yarn (of which there's a lot in my stash for someone who's never made lace). Next major major challenge is getting photos (1) on the digital camera; (2) from the camera to the computer; (3) from the computer to the blog. Before that there are a couple of papers and a ton of paperwork.

2006-05-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

For those who may be following this: I am still alive and well. I got stalled back in December because I couldn't figure out how to get photos onto my computer, never mind on to a blog. However, Emily is home from college, so there is hope...

Trying to get through my stash, in the midst of lots of other activities. Knitwise, since December I've finished and gotten a lot of wear out of Hanna Falkenberg Pagode in black, gray, orange, blue and natural colorway; one or two gargantuan but very simple shawls -- no lace yet; a mobius scarf and two other mobius drapes of some kind; an Einstein coat (Olympic knitting); the poncho sweater from girlfromaussie.com in a wonderful hand dyed coral chenille thick and thin; at least one pair of socks; and a Booga bag that's waiting for its straps and to be felted. That's actually pretty impressive given that I have two part time jobs and am in school half-time. On the other hand, housekeeping is not my forte! I'm working on a short jacket/sweater in Dune from a Trendsetter pattern -- nice sweater but terrible instructions. How do they get away with it?

Just broke down and bought the second mobius book. Someone at work fell down the rabbithole of mobius baskets and I'm about to follow her. I figure it's a good use of stash. Also find my mind going often to the Stahlman book on Faroese shawls and my collection of natural fingering yarn. maybe i'll investigate tonight.

OTN: Dune sweater
first scarf from Lavish Lace
socks with mini cable

2005-12-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

Day after big surprise snowstorm. A good day to not have to go out into the world and I didn't. Did some work via email, mostly spent time in my sewing/knitting/needlepoint/office etc room sorting fabric, of which I have almost as much as yarn. Now I have the various collections of stuff I love, bought with specific projects or dreams in mind or just because I loved it and -- separately -- the stuff I don't love but can cut up to make 'comfort quilts' for charity. Felt great to do the sorting and to re-visit what-all I have. Next step is the yarn -- though that's in much better shape, organized by (a) projects under way; (b) intended projects; (c) enough yarn to make something, but I don't know what; (d) sock and shawl yarn; (e) baskets and baskets of scrap yarn pretty much sorted by color. Just need to visit it all again.

December 4

2005-12-04T16:26:00.000-05:00

Sunday afternoon, snow on the ground for the first time, nice music, dog sleeping peacefully, husband playing a gig. Began a quick lacy scarf/shawl (2 balls worth so it's pretty big) with white and gold Gossamer. Did a black and silver one several years ago and had bought the yarn for a white one as well. At the time I didn't love the black and silver one, so I let it go, but I pulled it out yesterday to wear to a black and silver occasion and it was wonderful, so I'm having a go with the white one. I bought lovely wooden size 17's for the other one and managed to find them again. They are beautiful and a pleasure to handle, but certainly heavier and less sort of compliant than what I'm used to (bamboo and Denise). Anyway, I am finding I have to go very slowly, but it still comes up very fast and it's like growing a cloud -- appropriate just before Christmas.

I did a fair amount of research (in my books and on line) to come up with a decent way to do the short rows on the ruffle for the pink coat. Finally hit on http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2005/04/japanese_short_.html, a site with a great description of a really neat way to do short rows with a pin instead of wraps, looks and feels much much better than wraps. Makes me very happy.

Had a great time on Friday night sitting in front of the computer knitting and listening to knitcast podcasts and visiting the sites of folks she interviews. It's so amazing to be able to do this!

My next challenge will be to put a picture or two up. My daughter and I bought a card reader, so I should be able to do it, but it feels like a major leap in techno-knowledge.

2005-11-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

Back to real life, and the beginning of the liturgical year. Great vacation at home with daughter home from college. She desired, began and finished her felted earflap hat and wore it back to college. Looks great, but a little itchy for her, we'll have to try to do a lining over Christmas. I've almost finished the Hanne Falkenberg kimono jacket. As she says, the yarn does soften up really nicely when washed and blocked. I just have to sew down the pocket flaps and neckband. It'll be great to actually wear it.... Hopefully, a really useful garment.

Too much stash!!! I went looking for white mohair with gold thread through it that I bought on the Vineyard a couple of years ago to make a shawl for a civil union celebration I'm attending this weekend. I and couldn't find it, but boy I found a lot of other stuff I'd forgotten about. Another day's work. Today I have to do stuff for my quilt guild, we have a board meeting tonight.

On the knitting front, working on the ruffle for the ruffled jacket I hate everything I know about short rows. Looked in all my books and then on the net and found "Japanese" short rows, using a pin instead of a wrap. I'll have to try it, because these ruffles are yards of short rows and I do mean yards. I had hoped this sweater would be in the dark knitting, but no more.

Day after Thanksgiving

2005-11-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Scored in the stores today -- Local needlepoint store had not only the black thread I knew they had but also the gold which I thought I'd have to go into town for. So I finished, yes finished, the Chinese take out purse, next week I'll take it into town to get put together. Daughter finished felted hat, looks great. Also scored by finding a card reader that reads all of our digital camera cards -- we seem to have one of each in the family. And daughter promised to show me how to get pictures on the net, so I can put up pictures of purse and hat. What a day.

Thanksgiving

2005-11-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

Great day, much to be thankful for, starting with good friends ("family") who made dinner -- my job was appetizers, let's hear it for Costco. Daughters home from college, and other family members, a great meal and a GKO (good knitting opportunity) since hostess knits and no one in this crowd notices anymore. Got the ruffled coat to the point where I need to go back to the store and beg them to let me copy the part of the instructions I spilled coffee on and now cannot read. Almost finished the Chinese takeout purse needlepoint, at 10 pm I ran out of black thread and and 11 I ran out of gold cord, so it's off to the needlepoint store tomorrow morning. Together this means a great day tomorrow, sleep in, daughter home, needlepoint store, knitting store. As my friend Pam says, wheeewho!

2005-11-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

November 23, 2005

Well, I've been meaning to try this for a while and here goes. With what seems like a million projects, mostly knitting but also needlepoint, quilting, cross stitch, etc., I hope this will help me keep track, keep on track and let my friends track what I'm doing. Right now I'm working on the first scarf from Lavish Lace, I've been lace-impaired for as long as I been knitting (a pretty long time, but I was only 7 when I learned) and it's actually working! Very exciting and I'm realizing that lace requires a different approach to knitting. I knit like I type, fast and not always accurate, but hey I can make corrections. So I knit and correct at the movies, in the car, etc. Figured out you can't do that with lace. Got to watch the hands and what you're doing. Hmmm. Also finishing a Hanne Falkenburg kimono I started 6 or 7 years ago, a ruffled coat from Elite's new book that is using up a batch of Inca I've had for even longer, a philosopher's wool fair isle for my daughter -- it's ready to cut the steeks, but I'm not, but she's home from college so it's a good time to do it, I guess. Also a Chinese red wild stuff cardigan that was a birthday present and I'd really like to get done for Christmas. that's the major knitting in process, not to mention the UFO's. Just finished my first venture into felting -- great great great fun. Can't wait to do more. Also, the above-mentioned daughter is finally coming to her senses and getting more serious about knittting (so great about college kids....all her friends knitjust like we did!) so she's working on a soon-to-be-felted hat with earflaps from the Interweave hat book. Ok, that's the knitting in the house.

Also, there's sewing and quilting and applique. And needlepoint, I'm trying to finish a Chinese take out purse also in time for Christmas, though I'm sure they can't put it together that fast. And I'm on my way to Hooks and Needles, a cross stitch store in Walpole MA, to see if I can figure out a cross stitch piece to celebrate the civil union of two good friends in CT next month, with mermaids, which they collect.