It's a Blocking Party!

Yes, that's right, I'm having a blocking party this weekend. I'm blocking 2 lace bookmarks and my Nutcraker Scarf. Well, ok, I haven't actually blocked the scarf yet, but I'm planning on getting it done before the day is over!

Also, I have FINALLY finished knitting the draft stopper for my oldest DS. He looked at it and told me that now, he wanted it as a scarf! So I'm weaving in all the ends (still!) just in case. But secretly, I'm hoping he will change his mind cause I was SO looking forward to felting it! If he does change his mind (today I hope), I'm dropping in the washing machine right away so he can't change his mind! And besides, I just bought a skein of Noro Silk Garden to make a scarf for him. I think I'm gonna have to go buy more of it though, cause when he saw it, he liked it so much that he asked for a hat and mittens to match! I guess that should be flattering that he thinks so highly of my knitting. :D

I've still got the kids toys on hold, so clearly, I won't have them finished by the end of January. I think I've just needed a break from them. But since they've been on hold, I've finished knitting a scarf, 2 bookmarks, the draft stopper, and started on a pair of spiral rib wrist warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I've noticed my hands have been really cold this week while trying to knit that even the babies have complained about it! So they seemed like the perfect thing. I'm knitting them on DPNs (my second time using them) using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Navy. Although not my favorite color, they are turning out pretty. Seems like everyone was out of the yarn in the color I wanted, so I make just have to make another pair in some sort of green when they get stock back in.

I also bought myself a skein of Noro Silk Garden to maybe make a pair of wrist warmers in. I'm not sure. It is just one skein, and I'd really like to do something that shows off the gorgeous colors of the yarn. Maybe I'll go back and buy some more of this colorway and try an entrelac scarf or something. At least that way, I'd get to try yet another new technique! :D

I think I'm becoming knitting obsessed! It IS rather addictive. I think I'm just trying to get as much done as I can while DH is home. I know he will be working weekends for awhile here shortly since it's one of his busy seasons. In fact, I'm enjoying him giving me so much time for ME this weekend, that I haven't done any of the things I'm supposed to, like going to the grocery store and laundry and what not. Oops! I just can't seem to tear myself away from knitting (or writing about knitting) for long. This has been a fantastic ME weekend! And it all started with a blocking party! :D

Happy Crafting!

Leftovers from the 80's

This weekend I decided to try to rework the office and reclaim my space! So I bought some shelving units and fabric boxes to help me organize all my craft stuff. There is actually another one of these to the right.

As I began to unpack boxes, I found my missing yarn stash. I knew I had more yarn than what I've recently bought, I just couldn't find it. And as a bonus, I found a lot of yarn I didn't remember (even buying) from the 80's! I don't know if I'll ever use some of them, but it brought back some good memories and more than a few chuckles. Right now, 7 of these lovely blue fabric boxes are filled with yarn. And I know I have enough yarn elsewhere to fill at least another 3.

I also found some projects that have been hibernating for a while (my family is notorious for not finishing projects). And I took the opportunity to take some photos of these projects and a few others. First, my Mom's afghan.

This was my very first major crochet project. It really was the reason I asked my Great Aunt to teach me to crochet. My mom had seen this pattern on the back cover of a book and fell in love with it. So I told her to pick out the colors, and I asked my Great Aunt to teach me to crochet so I could make it for her. Since I was 8 or so at the time, it took me quite a while to finish it. In fact, being so young, working on such a large project (5' x 5'), I got distracted and it sat on hold. I finally finished it for her when I was in college! But she loved it all the same and used it all the time. Now that she has passed, I have it again displayed proudly on a quilt rack that I also inherited from her. Maybe one day I'll pass it on to my daughter. And maybe one day she'll even want to learn to crochet. I just hope she won't be as bad about finishing projects as the rest of the family.

Then there is the train baby blanket. I started this one while pregnant with my first, but never was able to finish it. I had turned my attention to a different blanket for him, which I did finish and will get photos of soon. But now, I have another son and perhaps I'll finish it for him. But first I have to find the book with the pattern.

That's next on my list.....sorting all my craft books to add to my new shelves (or wherever I can fit them). I also have to add all my other crafty baubles to my shelves.

I shall have my craft room back!!!!! She laughed maniacally. :D

Happy Crafting!

I think I'm a candidate for Adult ADD!

Seriously! It's not enough that I'm still working on 4 projects from Christmas and 1 from pregnancy, now I've added a new one. And I have a list of about 12 others I'm wanting to start soon! And that's just in the needleworks! That's not counting my projects in other crafty genres.

Oh, and I finally got around to taking a pic of my first knitting project (after garter stitch coasters)....a stockinette purse.

Sad thing is, it's still not finished. I've been looking for the right fabric for lining it. I think I've found one I like and so now I just need to sew it in. But I was pretty proud of it. I even designed a crocheted sunflower pin to embellish it. Although, I'm thinking of re-doing the sunflower. I haven't felted yet (still working on the draft stopper), but I think that the petals would look much better felted. So there is yet another project to add to the list!

And even though I'm still not finished with the Christmas knitting (update later), I just couldn't wait to start on a new project for ME! I really love the Moda Dea Dream and have been looking for a pattern to use it on. Well, when the yarn came up on sale at 50% off, I HAD to get it. So, I found a project (that was actually already on my list to do) that I really liked. So I cast on for my Nutcracker Scarf by MJ Saunders.

This is my first lace project. It is also the first time I will do a provisional cast-on and a picot bind-off. I'm looking forward to learning new techniques. But I think I've already messed something up AND only 5 rows into the project. Of course, that's not counting the 50 or so times I tried the provisional cast-on before I felt like it was good enough to continue. Hopefully, MJ will be able to help me figure out what I did wrong. I'm loving it so far. It's like petting the yarn while working with it! I LOVE it! :D

Knitting Project Updates

OK, I finally took a moment to update some photos. If you saw this when originally posted yesterday, sorry for the lack of pics. I still haven't figured out how to get Flickr pics to post, but I did figure out how to get them on another way. So, here we go....

The turtle really could have been completed in time for Christmas. However, since I was making one toy for each kid, I didn't want to only give one to one kid. So, I decided o put him aside and wait to work on the others. That way, I can give all 3 of them their toys the same day.



The monkey has only had his body stuffed. His head is ready to stuff and I still need to knit 6 hand/feet parts. And of course seam and stuff and assemble. But my main focus of late has been on the princess, since she was so much farther behind.



The princess now has a dress, mostly done. I learned new techniques on the dress! I got to finally use circulars for the first time and DPNs as well. The DPNs were difficult and I had to frog that part of it at least once, but I got through it and managed to finish. I think I didn't do too badly. Now, I've just got to seam the bodice, add the sleeves and trim and finish the crochet edging. I'm debating about whether or not to add the "petals" that are in the pattern. Maybe I'll knit a few up to look at on the dress and see. I've also still got to figure out how to seam up the arms and attach to body, stuff the body, add hair and facial features. Then of course, there's the socks and shoes and a crown. So, there is still a LOT of work to be done on her, but I'm feeling much better about it. The big stuff is finished. And the skirt took a lot longer to do than I had anticipated. But then again, I don't get to work on this stuff very often.



And in between all of these, I've also been working on the draft stopper for my oldest son's window.



In case that's not enough to be doing for now, I just bought some Moda Dea Dream to make a "Nutcracker Scarf" for myself. As soon as I can find where the kiddies put one of my US11 needles, I'll cast on for that as well.

I'm telling you, I have the attention span of spam! I just cannot work on one project and one project alone until it is finished. I always have to have about 40 things going on at the same time. I guess that's just because there is so much I want to do, and so little time! LOL

Anyway, a big thanks to my friends on Ravelry for helping me with these knitted toys. I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without them! :D

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my 12th Wedding Anniversary!!! I can't believe it's been 12 years already! I'm a lucky girl....I got to marry the love of my life and have 12 wonderful years and 3 beautiful kids!

And, I've figured out how to add some photos!!! Hurray! Now I just need to get some more FO's to add so I can have a Finished Objects Gallery instead of WIPs. ;) So, hopefully, for our anniversary, DH will give me some time to myself so that I can work on some knitting! I know it's a silly thing to ask for for an anniversary, but, it's what I could really use right about now! Oh well, guess I'll get really romantic for our 15th anniversary! LOL

Crafty New Year!

What kind of crafty goodness does the new year hold for you?

For me, I plan to finish the kids Christmas gifts by the end of January. Yes, that's right, Christmas gifts from '07 finished by end of Jan '08. I don't think it will actually take me that much longer, but I added an extra time cushion in case anyone gets sick again. And since I only get the knit for about an hour every few days.....well, you see where I'm going. So thats one project (or technically 3). I also want to finish my first felting project....Lion Brand Yarn's Draft Stopper. Hopefully, it will be done before the cold weather goes away. I hate being behind! I also hope to get back to a project that I had to table a few years ago when I found out I was pregnant with twins. Maybe I'll be able to get it up and running by the end of this year. As for needle crafts, I think I would like to learn a new knitting technique.....lace. And maybe use that to make something for myself (what a novel idea! LOL). Maybe try a sweater (or 3) for the kids. Then I'd also like to go back to some crafts I haven't been able to do in years, like painting and polymer clay. I also have a few new techniques I'd like to try with cake decorating this year. Guess it's a good thing I have so many kids to "practice" on, huh? :D

There are many, many crafting books I'd like to add to my collection, but I should probably organize the ones I have (and inherited) first. So, I guess that gets added to my list......organize my new craft room (as soon as I get all the kids toys out of the room).

Oh yeah, and figure out how to post pics to the blog! I've seen some blogs that have a gallery of photos on the side, and I'd like to figure out how to do that. Still really new at the blog thing, but I think it's gonna be fun.

So, here's to a Crafty New Year! Let's get crafting! :D