Is there such thing as too much knitting?

Of course, there isn't!

But, when Al got home from work today I told her that a lady's bag broke on the train,...... she thought I meant her knitted bag. Now, considering she just finished working Labor and Delivery, I know she was dog-tired from the graveyard shift, but still.....I found it very funny that she didn't think Water bag at all.

In some sad, circle of life news, there was a cardinal egg massacre last night. Only one egg is left in the nest, and I haven't seen the distraught parents anywhere today. The other 3 little eggs are broken on the ground and one little birdie corpse was still there. I cannot believe after breaking the shell, the hungry thing didn't even eat the birdie. So now, I may just have to bring that little egg in the house and have my own "ARE YOU MY MOTHER" story going. If anyone wants the picture for educational purposes, (birdsong?) you can clearly see the little birdie body. The eggs were a beautiful light light brown with blue speckles. I suspect a neighbors outdoor cat that has been much too interested in our bushes. I do believe that outdoor cats are killing the songbird population, as has long been known in Chicago. Now, I am more certain. Neighbors tell me, I kid you not, that the cats name is Lucifer. Really, of all things.

Anyhow, I love to follow nature's color combinations and the light brown and blue speckles were lovely together.

The purse in finished, as you can see. I don't know how long it will hold up. I'll let you know. I am hard on purses. It was a super sale yarn from my LYS, a Berroco cotton, called Pronto. I added the blue hearts to finish it off.

Happy Friday. Life goes on....and that lady on the train whose purse is just fine, will be bringing a new little one into the world tonight.



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Scissors keeper/Sanity keeper!

I got the little scissors keeper in my Easter basket and I love it. It is probably the single most useful gadget I have regarding knitting. So far, Al and I have left it firmly on my knit bag and each and everytime I need a scissors, it is there. Ah, the little things that can really make a difference. We were forever asking ourselves and the men in the house, where the scissors had run off to again. Do you have a gadget that really helps you stay organized/

The sock yarn behind the scissors holder is from Elizabeth my yellow/orange April Swapper. Al has yet to receive a pair of knitted socks from me. I had started a fun lace pattern, but ran out of the yarn; it has taken so long to get the order for another skein, I have lost interest in the pattern. So, when Al said she loved the yarn from Elizabeth, and then found the Broadripple pattern and printed it off for me, well......its up next on the sock needles for sure.

I borrowed some circular 6's from Irisheyes Lynn and am continuing the yellow shawl. I am hoping to finish it by Mother's Day and give it to my mom. Anyone else knitting for Mother's Day?

I spent so much time finishing the purse today. Finishing really takes me forever. I had the time to take it into the yarn shop and get Jen's handholding. She was sure I could do it myself; I wasn't so sure. Bit by bit, I did finish. It really helped to have Jen there to reexplain the details, and it came out really cute. I had been to my local resale shop in the morning and found a purse handle. Just an old vinyl strap. I covered it in a chain stitch of sorts and it is very sturdy. I'll take a photo outside tomorrow. The indoor lighting and flash tonight make the purse look this nasty orange color. Can't show you that now can I?

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Remind me that ruffles HURT

My left hand pointer finger is sore from that darn ruffle. I know that the process of creating the ruffle has to be a tight undertaking to make it work, but ouch! Now, I think I'll have to go into 3 Bags Full and have Jen guide me through the finishing and handle issues. For the blogpost, it is just kind of folded so and I hope you get the idea.

My son and I saved for a laptop a year or so ago. We have had some technical issues and I am hoping to have "BETTY" up and running again very soon. In the meantime, some of my favorite blogs are under the FAVORITES in that computer. I haven't been able to visit them since Betty's been down. Maybe this will teach me to have the same favorites in both computers......

Elizabeth, my Spectrum swap pal, has a wonderful cookbook on her site. She took knitters favorite recipes and compiled them into this great smart book. She's k1p1k2tog.typepad.com. It had to have taken her much time and effort. Take a look, you'll find some new knitbloggers, too.

Huck, my golden, has a fantasitc breeder who is now publishing her training methods. You can go to her site at: Linkerbooks.com and take a look. She has given me the best dog I could ever have asked for and I am very grateful to her.

Jan, my favorite knitting teacher, is reportedly in some pictures on her California knit shop's website: Yarn Lady in Laguna. I have to go and see her in cyberspace. Another lady I am so grateful to.

There is a cardinal's nest outside my kitchen window in the evergreens. There are four little eggs in it. It has been very chilly in Chicago, with nasty Lake winds, at night. I hope the pair is keeping the eggs very warm......I am hoping to hear the babies screaming for their food soon. I love how that papa cardinal is such a great parent and partner.




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I went to Obedience school for this?

In honor of National Poetry Month,
a knitting verse I decided to write,
I'll start with knitting a ruffle,
I know they're supposed to be tight,

That's the way that they work,
as your wrists start to jerk,
and the needles get into a fight.

Oh the purse will be cute I can see,
created by my friend Jen Mee,
it knits up in a flash,
you can even use STASH
then it would be practically free!

Now I'll move on to knitting a sock
I know this won't come as a shock
when I need to calm down
I just start a round,
and I can be still as a rock.

Do you knit to calm down?
Do you knit in all browns?
Are you stripe driven most?
Do you knit while you post?
Do you know every knit shop in town?

Are you likely to frog,
after knitting through smog,
are you desperate enough to post with
your dog?

If you are then, oh darn,
you're addicted to yarn,
it is not a bad habit
you may buy a rabbit,
and wind up buying a farm!

















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Today's Special: Grilled Purse

I'll show it to you when its......
well done!




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Melon purse in the Vinca

The colors of my ruffled purse designed by Jen at 3 Bags Full, are to be melon and sky blue. The yarn was sale yarn :). I hope to finish the body of the purse tomorrow. Then the flap. Then the ruffle. Then the hard part: the handles. Any tips? I have never knitted a purse and then added hardware handles. Sounds tricky.



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More Hungarian!

First, I am so thrilled that Clara from Georgia is making The Hungarian heirloom apron copied from my Grandma Olga's crocheting. Isn't this purple and white one great? Thanks Clara for your ongoing updates. I so enjoy them. She made it almost entirely in the car over the last 3 months during traffic jams. That's amazing to me.

More Hungarian notes: I was at a Classical Guitar Evening at Northwestern University last weekend, with Zach, who now uses his fingerless for cold tennis days, notsomuch for guitar playing. Who knew a Hungarian piece would be featured by Mertz? I wonder, I just wonder if my Grandmother Olga had a hand in that! I did not feel comfortable bringing my knitting. I think that is a first...we had 2nd row seats....

Thanks for all the comments on Al's shawl/scarf. The pattern was from Summer 2005 Interweave Knits, page 49 : lacy kerchief scarf, designed by Lisa Daehlin. Subtitled of article: Great Gifts.

Im in a phototaking mood, so I may post again today.


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Shawls and Porches

Al finished the shawl. I know others of you are also working on it. Who is doing it in Pink? Someone is; I cannot remember who? Erin? Pat K? Bev? Bernadette? Jane? Lynn? Update me please. I remember loving the pink color you chose. Was it Alyssa? Jen?

Some of you have spring cleaned your OUTDOOR knitting spots. Our spot is the back screened porch. It's not scrubbed yet. Every year I use good strong Mr. Clean or Pinesol and superscrub the siding on the porch. It is an awful drip down your biceps disgusting black job. I need a real kick to do it. Then the screens have to be scrubbed and the stained wood floor too. I use an old floor polisher from my in-laws to softly scrub the porch floor. About then its done. The laundering of the futon cover is already done. Troy's out there now taking the first nap of the new Year on the porch. (The cats beat him to it long ago) Al was photographed on the porch. You see it from all angles if you like to read this blog.

It is without doubt, my sanctuary in the warmer months. Where is your outdoor knitting spot? Or is it a window you sit by that opens and lets the breezes in?
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Kissing Fish

The Knitpicks Paperdoll colorway socks are finished. I'm really stuck on round toes.
The co-ordinating carbs are Starburst jelly beans. I recommend carbs for the home stretch with this yarn.

I felt sad for my blog buddies who were missed by the bunny this year. I can only wish for it to be made up to you by the Angora Bunny next year.

I hope the word verification process on Irisheyes doesn't feel like a sobriety test on some days. Lately the blogs I visit for inspiration, have had comment verficiation combinations that make my eyescross.

Al has circled her class interests for Stitches Midwest; it is my turn to circle now. I had a blast taking a class with her and Lynn and Maureen last year. The class was too long for me, however. I think it was a bit over my head, but then it was a Knit in the Round class and most of them are pullovers.....

I am signed up for a crochet flower class with Susie at Three Bags Full . I need to refresh my crochet skills. I hear Susie is a wonderful teacher and the crochet go-to person there. This means I will miss a May knit GROUP at Borders. Maybe Alyssa and Jen will take the class with me instead???? 40.00 for two evenings. Any takers?

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I give you Miss Bea's Cookie Sweater at Sunrise

Al is knitting up the Child's sweater Cookie. She happens to be knitting it up in a rather cookie colored yarn. I'd say, sugar cookie it is. The yarn is a cotton, unknown purchased at LYS yarn sale. It has a rather intimidating chart to the pattern that counts me out. Al, in her reckless youth takes these knitting dares with enthusiasm.

Hope everyone got a little something from the Bunny this weekend.

The bunny left me a Zecca zinger sciccors clip. Much needed. Perhaps our chorus of, "Have you seen the scissors?" has grown old to the men in this house. Or maybe the bunny just knew I'd love one. Did the bunny leave you anything you'd like to mention?



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A Personal Best

I served jury duty today in downtown Chicago. This allowed me to knit on the train, knit in the waiting room, knit at lunch and knit on the trainride home. I went through an entire skein of Koigu from Elizabeth my swap partner. 175 yards in a day. I know that's a record for me.

I wanted a summer shawl for chilly dining and cool mornings on the back porch. The bandanna scarf I had made in the past from Interweave's editors' scarf picks, was easy and is still a favorite of mine. I needed a jury duty jitters project:
something pretty foolproof. Something that wouldn't interfere with my mantra: Don't CALL NUMBER 49! Don't call NUMBER 49, oh please oh please oh please. So I am making the shawl size instead of the bandanna size of that pattern. It involves a shamefully easy border around stockinette stitch.

I knitted under the Picasso during the hour and a half lunch break. Hour and a half ......who knew lunch could be leisurely? An hour and a half is enough time for a wedding reception, let alone a little lunch. Do people downtown really take long lunches like that? I cannot imagine. Really do they?

At any rate, I have this craving for Bread and Butter corn on the cob after looking at the Koigu all day. That's an incredible compliment to the yarn color, coming from a gal in the Corn Belt. Too bad, I'll have to wait for the taste of it, the corn crop is just being planted this week. Ahhh, but it is worth the wait. I can taste it, so sweet no butter is even needed. But, what the heck........



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Colorswap with Elizabeth....a first for me

I simply had to show you the lovely box I got from Elizabeth my Yellow/orange swap pal from http://www.k1p1k2tog.typepad.com/my_favorite_things/

I have never swapped before....but I love Lynne's blog at I Was Knit Together in My Mother's Womb and she was organizing a swap. Just look at the Koigu!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the softest sweetest yellow/orange. I cannot wait to cast on with it. The sock yarns are soft and wonderful. Oh, there was candy too, but....well, ummm
I couldn't find it when I took the blogphoto.....

It was a little like having a birthday when you aren't! Elizabeth should be getting her little package in a few days. I focused on her current state of Grandmother Euphoria and sent some things in Orange and Yellow that one might use for a newborn grandson and a one year old grandson.

Little spring socks in Knitpicks babydoll are almost finished. I am pondering what is next on the needles....with the new koigu most likely.
Tomorrow is an excuse to knit alot day. I'll tell you all about it if I survive and get back home unscathed tomorrrow. Wish me luck.



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Not your average laundry on the line...

Once upon a time a certain young lady found some Brown Sheep cotton in a sweet little town, many miles away from her own. She loved the yarn so much that she knew she had to acquire it somehow. Being an underling, working long hours and stocking yarns in her local yarn store, while saving for a car, did not allow for such indulgences. Her mother was at hand, however, so she made the wish come true ......

The mother had forced the young lady to travel far away from her home and kitties to accompany her deep into the woods where big black flies would bite little chunks of her young white flesh everytime she left their cabin. The young ladies "ouch" would echo across Little Kitten lake throughout the day. She bore the burden with grace and was locked (well not really) in the cabin with the mother's darling dog who panted in close enough proximity to her, so that she would pat him on the head and say : "Huck , go away honey, your breath smells" every so often as she turned the pages of her beloved books to whilst away the long hours.

The mother and father and younger brother would leave her as they fished on Big Kitten lake and came home with stories of screaming beavers and fish that got away.

The mother wasn't mean, just a tad crazy, and she bought the yarn for the young girl without hesitation. But alas, the worried yarn shop lady who was a bit afraid of the tad crazy mother, had to order the yarn and the girl waited many weeks for her BROWN SHEEP COTTON to arrive.

When it finally arrived, the young lady, burdened with the task of scraping and painting the family garage, lept for joy as she left the rest of the task for her father to do.....his way. Then....she cast on.

Seven months later, the young lady had still not completed a fine knitted garment for herself with the lovely yarn. Until, one day in early April she came upon a fine knitting pattern by Ann E. Smith named: Lacy Cardigan. In no time she was knitting speedily while watching PRISON BREAK, and it seemed the yarn would finally become an adornment for her.

The kind of crazy mother hung it up on a clothesline at dusk on warm spring day and took a picture for her blog. The sunset cast a lovely light upon it and it seemed the cardigan would, indeed, be finished.

The kind of crazy mother would show the cyberworld the glorious creation for the first time that april night, and continued to hope her lovely daughter would indeed, someday, finish it, wear it and keep it for many years to come.

the end?


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A little garden on my labcoat

I was inspired by Macaronimonologues.blogspot.com. This is nothing like her work, yet it is whimsical. My work labcoat is getting old. I tie-dyed it awhile ago. The grey leaflessness around me must have motivated me. I think it could be much better if I stuck with it and added many more flowers. This little bit of crocheting and embroidery took several nights work. My fingers were poked too many times to count. I wanted to get back to my knitting so I called it finished.

So thanks to Macaroni I'm getting a bit more out of my labcoat, and I have some flowers around me .....literally! It was a fun use of leftover yarns. I think I like the yellow/black flowers best of all.....



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Play Ball! and wear your woolies

The Cub home opener is traditionally a day to wear wool. It is cold out there and the wind is blowing in. Off the Lake. Many years ago, my dad would take us out of school to attend the Cub opener. It was a day for blankets and thermos' full of hot chocolate. Today it is a day to wear my purple wool slippers in the house. A day to watch the game inside and believe that spring will come again.

It is a sell-out crowd. There is never any doubt about the fans. I recommend a day at Wrigley field in the summer if you've never been. It is all about the little park in the big City.

A life of being a Cub fan makes me a more patient knitter.
Always optimistic, knowing more likely than not, I will drop some stitches, even frog a few times. Knowing of course, there's always next project.


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Madelon's afgan for your pleasure

What? Madelon again? Whose blog is this anyway?

Aren't I lucky to have great friends who let me post their knitting? Madelon used Equinox Stripe by Nashua handknits. It runs around 19.00 a skein. Madelon used at least 8 for her great afgan. I think it looks so pretty on model Adrianna. Adrianna didn't skip a beat helping her customer while I draped the afgan around her and took some shots.

Does anyone know where NaiveKnitter's blog went?


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Madelon's son's hat

This is a great hat. My friend Madelon knit it for her son, Richard, who lives in Arizona while attending college. Richard plays in a band. Is this a musician's hat or what? It is so little and lightweight I wondered what Madelon could possibly be taking out of a little sandwich bag to show to me. I love the colorway. Madelon is a very precise and exact knitter. I hope to show you her afgan soon. It is on display at our LYS Three Bags Full.

Tomorrow LYS is having a spring yarn sale. I am really looking forward to going. I'm told there will be some Wool in the Woods WINK. I cannot seem to find this online to look at, but Al assures me it's a nice nice yarn.

I would love to find some yellows and oranges for my Swap Pal Elizabeth. It may be time to find myself a treat!

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April showers bring .....knitting pals

Last night as the storms approached our area north of Chicago, Rosalyn climbed on my lap. Radar snuggled next to me. There was barely room to knit! I actually love when they cuddle in, but I feel guilty getting up for anything.

The little Knitpicks Paper Doll sockyarn is so sweet as it knits up. I was really ready to leave the Earthtones of my ribbed shell.

I am inspired by Macaronimonologues.blogspot.com. Have I mentioned it before? The blogger is a fine needleworker. Her last post is rather disgusting to look at, however. She shows a tree from a Botanic garden that makes my skin crawl. When she shows her needlework, however, it is always whimsical.

I am working on a needlework/yarn project currently when I am not sock knitting. Macaroni gave me the idea! Hope to show you soon.

I seamed......my New years resolution done: 4/1

It is not an April fool's. I really did finish the sleeveless shell 4 months into the New year. I seamed the two little shoulder tops together. Guess what? I kind of liked it......

In the past, I have been closing the stitches up too quickly when seaming. If you leave the stitches float for a few rows up, and then give a good tug, the seaming is smooth. I first learned this Kitchenering but didn't apply it to mattress.

The thing I loved about this pattern that Jen and Al created by blending two other patterns carefully together and rewriting some of it entirely for me, (I am soooooo lucky to have them) is its simplicity.

It is knit in the round until you reach the sleeveless arm hole. . All the body shaping is created by a 4x1 rib. I will make this shell again. I am thinking of using a cotton blend in a coral color.

I used my birthday yarn purchased at STITCHES in 2004, yes two years ago, to make it. I used addi turbo circular 7 needles. Gauge: 4sts/inch and 6 1/2 rows to the inch in the ribbed pattern. I doubled the yarn throughout. I am not crazy about the bottom edge, I will do something else the next time.

I am not crazy about how the colors pooled in spots. I think it will look great under a blue jean blazer. The guitar? Well, I watched Walk the Line this week, what can I say?
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Second post of the sleeveless ribbed shell

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