Hermione socks

I don't know why I struggle with socks--but I do!!!!  These socks are for the ESK Yarnathon Sock KAL and Fill Your Boots badge.

The link gives all of the information about the pattern.

I was hoping to have finished more of the projects for Yarnathon.  I can't wait to see what Eat Sleep Knit has in store for us next year.

Thanksgiving Chaos

Another couple of weeks where I have been preoccupied with family, houseguests, Thanksgiving  and various interruptions!!!  We had two Thanksgiving feasts.  One was the Saturday before official turkey day.  All of my cherubs(4) and their spouses/sweeties(4), two lively puppies, and three grandchildren, of which two are very, very active were all home to celebrate.  Thanksgiving Day was more low key with just three of us.  But the cooking was just as involved.  I won't be wanting turkey for awhile.  I wasn't able to touch my knitting or quilting for the better part of the week.  But I did manage to work on a puzzle with a few darlings.  We had fun working on it together.

I have an unfortunate habit of over-extending myself.  I am going to work on it and set more realistic goals.  I am not rushing the New Year but I love the idea of a fresh slate.

Today the Big Guy asked when I was going to start baking Christmas cookies!!!!  I am still trying to recover from Thanksgiving(s)!!!!

Design Wall Monday

I was a little under the weather this week and didn't accomplish what I hoped I would.  But I tried something new--machine applique.

Just goes to show you are never to old to learn something new!!  Last week our guild had a Sue Pelland workshop taught by Linda, a certified Sue Pelland instructor.  It was a fun day but today was the first day I was able to return to the project.

These are two of the borders that I need to buttonhole stitch around. 

On and off the Needles

I sometimes am disappointed that I don't work on just one project until it is finished.
My Celtic Cowl is finished but needs a little blocking.  This is the first time I attempted an I-cord attached finish.  The yarn is Trendsetter Duchess.  It has a touch of cashmere and feels so nice against your skin.

 

 

I am trying to catch up on our BOM Aran Afghan.  This is August's block.  It is about 1/2 done.

 



I have always wanted to learn magic loop for socks.  Our LYS was offering a class and I decided to sign up.  I am a little behind.  We are going to learn how to start the heel tonight.  I will just be watching.  And I will probably sign up to take the class again. 

I am still working on the Mitered Square afghan.  Progress is very slow.  It looks about the same since I posted this picture last August.

 

Now off to visit Judy's blog for some inspiration.

More Yarn, More Projects

While at drop in at my LYS, I saw the most adorable giraffe hat kit that I couldn't resist!!  Yes I added an 100 yards of yarn to my stash.  And yes, another project!  But how could I resist.

Little Mr. C's mom called earlier this week to let know he needs a new winter hat.  I found Huck's Earflap hat.  I know I will make it as soon as I find the right yarn for the project.  In the meantime,  I will make up the giraffe.

October Goals (aka Wish List)

Nothing finished in September.  So why do I have such an extensive list for October????  There are a few good reasons.  First, I was in Italy for 2 weeks.  For all practical purposes I lost the month of September for accomplishing much.  Getting ready for the trip and recovering from jet lag took up a fair amount of time.
For October I wanted to list some of my Yarnathon projects for Eat Sleep Knit. 
I definitely over extended myself--again.

September

1. Celtic Cowl for class--almost
2. Guernsey Triangle Shawl--almost
3. Hermoine socks--casted on ( I am trying to learn magic loop)
4. Halloween quilt block (2)--need to be embellished
5. Keep working on Mitered Square Blanket

October

1. Celtic Cowl for Class
2. Guernsey Triangle Shawl
3. Sue's Simple Socks
4. Hermoine socks (2)
5. Erinn's Quilt
6. Metro Rings Quilt
7. Tiny Owl
8. Black and White String Quilt
9. Embroidery Quilt BOM
10. Great American Aran Afghan
11. Nimue Wrap
12. Cables and Columns Scarf
13. 30 Hexipuffs for Beekeepers Quilt
14. Project bags for knitting
15. Pouches for Circular Knitting Needles
16. Joy of Life BOM

On the Needles Friday

A finish!!!  Finally!!  I feel as though I have been working on my Guernsey Triangle shawl forever.  The yarn is Squoosh Fiberarts Ultra Sock and the color is fig preserves.  It just needs blocking.  Off to visit Judy's blog to see what others are knitting.

Yarn Report

Hmmm.  I haven't been all that accountable with my yarn purchases.  My goal this year was to purchase yarn for specific projects.  Well, I almost kinda, sorta did that!!!  Our LYS had not one but two trunk shows.  Trunk shows do me in.  I see a sample and know that I want to make it.

Could you resist these lovely Alpaca yarns.  Obviously, I couldn't.

 

Yarn in the week:  4825 yards

Yarn out this week:  300 yards I finished a pair of socks.

In YTD:  23,007 yards

Out YTD: 2666 yards

 

I would say I have a little catching up to do.

On (and off) the needles Friday

Yeah!!!  Socks are finally finished!!!  They are bright and you will see these toes coming from a mile away.  But I love them.

 

I haven't made too much progress on my Celtic Cowl but I do hope to finish it this week.

I am going over to Judy's to see what others are working on.

Fabric Report Week 34 2015

Even though I have spent some lovely afternoons in my sewing room, I don't have much--yet--to show for it.  I did do a good job adding to my stash!  Some of the fabrics are earmarked for borders, backings and binding.  The other yardage is just because.

Fabric in this week:  23.25 yards
Fabric out this week:  0 yards
In YTD:  86.75
Out YTD:  60.5

On the Needles Friday

It took a little longer than I thought to recover from this GI virus.  But now it is time to fess up.  I took inventory of what I am doing.  I couldn't understand why I wasn't finishing anything.  Now I know!!

We have a knitting group that meets twice a week.  Tues is for drop in knitting and Thurs is for the Great American Aran Afghan (GAAA) BOM or sock club.

I cast on block 8 for my GAAA.  This group meets the 3rd Thurs. of the month.

When the GAAA isn't meeting we have sock club.  this seems to be the only time I work on socks.  I just have the heels left to finish and then I can cast on another pair.

The shop owner of my LYS asked me to teach a Celtic Cowl class.  I think I have finally finished the details of the pattern and I have started knitting it.  The yarn has cashmere in it and is lovely to work with.

The mitered square blanket is my Tues. drop in project.  No counting is involved and I can be part of the many conversations that are going on around the table.

I put the Guernsey Triangle away for a little while.  I can work on it once I catch up with those other projects.



 

 

 

I definitely need to focus and finish!!!  I am off to visit Judy's blog to get a few more ideas.

On the Needles (Friday) Sunday

Better late than never!!  Freedom Trail is blocked and delivered to my LYS.

My mitered blanket doesn't seem to be making progress.  I think I will notice more when I change colors.

This picture looks very blue.  It looks more dark green.  I will have to work on a better picture.

I have made a little progress on my Guernsey Triangle.  I love everything about this project.

I am off to link up with Judy--not sure if the link is still open.

Design Wall Monday

I started this strip quilt two years ago.  Everything is cut.  Only 24 more blocks to finish the top. 

I am off to visit Judy's blog and get inspired.

Bag Lady

I have been trying to catch up on organizing tasks and getting things in order.  I tend to do this when I feel stressed.

I wanted to post a few things on Ravelry for my Eat Sleep Knit projects.  One of the badges to earn is called Bag Lady.  Just have to show that I have at least (cough) 6 project bags.

Here are 7 projects in various stages of being started.  (I don't think that sentence makes much sense.  The front left floral bag is my sock knitting bag.  The bag behind it is for my mitered square afghan.  Center front bad is Sandbar Shawl, and there are two bags behind both with Custom Fit sweaters.  The front right bag is my Guernsey shawl.  Behind the shawl is the start of an owl blanket and lastly is a big chunky cowl.

I only wish I could knit and quilt at the same time.

On the needles Friday

I finished Block #6 for my Great American Aran Afghan.

 

Progress on my ESK Mitered Square KAL is slow and steady.  I will start a white skein after this green skein of yarn.  I hope I finish by the Dec 31 deadline!

 

 

My last project on the needles is a sample for my LYS. I don't often knit a lace pattern and this one is not that difficult even though I had to cast on 9 times!!!!!  Never have so few stitches (20) given me so much trouble but I am well on my way.

 

I am off to visit Judy's site to see what others are knitting, crocheting, spinning.

 

OOPS  Forgot my last picture: 





Stash Report

  Happy Fourth of July!!!!

I had a lovely visit with my sister this week.  I talked until all hours of the night.  I miss her already.

So I thought I would catch up.

Fran and I went to a quilt shop and a few yarn shops.  I did find some background fabric that I wanted to add to my stash.  I have a few machine embroidery quilts in mind and wanted to be prepared with some choices.

Fabric in this week:  14.5 yards
Fabric out this week:  6.5 yards. Backing and binding for two quilts
Fabric in YTD:  63.5 yards
Fabric Out YTD:  60.5 yards

Eat Sleep Knit Challenges 2015

This will not be the first time I have mentioned my love affair with Eat Sleep Knit (ESK) and their Yarnathon.  I am a proud member of the Cowlette Team and I have completed several of the KAL.  You can see these projects and others on my Ravelry page.


I haven't told the Big Guy yet but I want to plan a trip to Georgia so I can visit the shop!  I will  let you know how that works out.  But for now I am very happy with shopping on line.

I just received my latest box of loveliness.

In the back row is some fun multi colored yarn to make an Owl quilt for the crochet badge.  The two skeins on the front row, left side are for socks.  The middle two are for a scarf for someone for Christmas and the last 3 are for a shawl.

Another finish for the 2015 Finish Along challenge. 

I will have some significant yardage to report later this week.  The first time in a very long time

A Finish!!!

 

 

I have been on a roll!  Our guild had a little challenge and I just finished binding it.  I have been participating in the 2015 Finish A Long with the hopes I would finish stuff.  In case you didn't guess I love bright colors.  I need to get this ready for Wednesday's link up.

 

 

On the Needles Friday on Saturday

I finished my Aran block for June. I am having a problem getting a consistent size on my blocks.  It will be a challenge to put this project together.

I added a few more rows on my mitered square blanket.  Progress is very slow but I am plugging along.





Yarn report

I seem to have been on a yarn buying frenzy.  I had promised myself that I could only but yarn for a specific project.  But I have gotten a little caught up helping my ESK team the Cowlettes.

Yarn in this week:  5223 yards
Yards out this week:  0 week ( I am knitting but haven't finished anything!)
Yarn in YTD:   18182 yards
Yarn out YTD:  2366 yards

The skeins below I picked up at my LYS.  The are Mrs. Crosby's Hat Box and Train Case.  I am going to make shawls from both these color ways.  I have a need to make sure my LYS stays in business and I feel duty bound to help.

 

 The yarn in the back row is for a darling crochet owl blanket.  I am not much of a crochet person but I want to take one for the team.

The yarn in the front row from left to right:
  2 skeins of sock yarn because I really like it and I go to sock club on Thurs.
  2 skeins of pashmina for a scarf
  3 skeins for a shawl.
I really need to get knitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

On the Needles Friday

Contrary to a previous post I have more than one project on the needles!  I am now officially one of "those" knitters and I am loving it.  Both of the following projects are for the ESK Yarnathon.

The metered square blanket is a mindless knit that is perfect for the car or when I need to concentrate of program.  I started with 600 stitches and will work my way down to 2 stitches.

The next project is a Guernsey Triangle for the Shawl KAL.

I love the pattern but need to really concentrate on the pattern.  The yarn is Squoosh Fiberarts ultra sock in Fig Preserves.  I am off to visit Judy's place to see what others are working on--always lots of inspiration.

Design Wall Monday

My design wall doesn't seem to change from month to month let alone week to week.
I have been having fun with the  Sew Kind of Wonderful Quick Curve Ruler.

 

This is my version of Metro Rings.   I am off to visit Judy's blog to see what others are working on.

My journey with Weight Watcher's Program

Hmm.  I was so excited to weigh in yesterday.  I thought I was down 1/2 lb.  But I was up .2.  I couldn't believe how crestfallen disappointed I was.  Good thing this week's topic was activity.  If only knitting and quilting were considered aerobic activity!!

I will confess that I did a poor job tracking.  Here's hoping for a more successful week.

On the needles Friday

You know the saying a day later and a dollar short--that has become my motto and I am working very hard to change that. 
I have two projects on the needle.  One I work on when I don't have to concentrate to hard.  This for an ESK challenge that I will post about later.  You knit every row and decrease 2 stitches every other row. 

 

The other project requires a little more concentration.  My LYS is having a BOM KAL for the Great American Aran Afghan.  I had to re-do Block 2 but I will now be caught up before we get together Thursday evening.

Loopy Acdemy Semester 2

I finished Loopy Academy Semester 2 with a few days to spare!!!  The three projects for this semester were:

 

1. Striping - knit a project that has stripes somewhere in the design. (Not self-striping yarn.)  I chose Asaka in Navy and White for Little Mr. C.  I love the little pocket.  he is coming for a visit this week.  We haven't seen him since Christmas.

Felting/Fulling - knit and felt/full a project.  This is only my second attempt at Felting. I like how these mittens turned out.  My thumbs need a little more work.  the yarn is Cascade 220 in Iris.

 

Slipped Stitches - knit a project that includes slipped stitches in the pattern.  Honey Cowl has been on my to-do list for a long time.  The yarn is Shibui Baby Alpaca.  It is do soft and lovely to  knit.  I can't wait to use it in another project.

Fabric Report Week 20

I seem to be in the middle of several projects.  A few are waiting for labels and binding.  I haven't purchased much fabric this year.  My goal was to use what is in my stash.  And I have been doing a fairly good job of sticking with that goal.  But I just happened to need a little something.  And low and behold 25.5 yards happened to jump into my car and make its way to my sewing area.

Fabric in this week:  25.5 yards of loveliness
Fabric out this week:  0
Fabric in YTD:  42.5 yards
Fabric out YTD:  54

All in all I would say not too shabby.

Yarn Report Week 18

A yarny box of loveliness arrived today from Eat Sleep Knit.

I have mentioned in other posts about ESK's Yarnathon. And since I reached to 10 Kilometer mark I received some extra goodies.  (I am doing my part for my team, the Cowlettes.  Since January I have purchased 6.2 miles of yarn or put another way 10936 yards).  In this box you will find 5280 yards of yarn.  One of my SIL is a die hard Eagles fan.  And for the Mitered Project KAL I will be knitting him the Mitered Afghan in Green and Off White.

Yarn in this week:  5280 yards
Yarn out this week:  936 yards
Yarn in YTD:  12959 yards
Yarn out YTD:  2146 yards

On the Needles Friday

 

Just finished my first Honey Cowl.  The yarn is Shibui Baby Alpaca.   I am submitting this for Loopy Academy Semester 2.  I am going to cast on another Loopy Academy Project--felted mittens.

 

 

 

On and off the Needles Friday

Have you ever had days when you just can't get out of your own way!!!  Enough whining.   I finished my first project of Loopy Academy Semester 2.  This will be my entry for the striping project.  The pattern is Asaka and the yarn is Cascade 220 sport in navy and white for Little Mr. C.

In a previous post I mentioned that I knit samples for my LYS.  I use the recommended needle size and knit various stitch patterns.  The red yarn is Panda Silk from Crystal Palace Yarns in a bamboo, superwash merino wool and silk blend.  This sample is being worked on size 2 needles.

 

 The grey sampler is Linea Pura from Lana Grossa.  It is a ribbon type cotton silk blend.  It needs a little blocking.

Finish A Long Quarter 2

Setting realistic quilting and knitting goals has not always been easy for me.  I tend to bite off more than I  can chew.  I finished 2 out of 4 projects last quarter but that won't stop me from adding a few more this time.
These are the projects I would like to finish.
Fantastic Flowers:  a BOM from our machine embroidery club. 

This is the yarn for Loopy Academy Semester 2.  The purple in the back row, left side is for a felting project, the white and 2 navy skeins are for a striped project--probably a summer sweater for little Mr. C. and the 2 blue skeins on the bottom row are for a slipped stitch cowl.  All projects subject to change but are due May 31.  Hmmm.  I think I should start one of these today!!!

This is a little scrappy challenge from Pat Sloan.  The top is done but needs quilting, binding and a label.

And last but not least is the project from last quarter.  I need to finish the quilting, binding and label.

I think there is hope.