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Showing posts from August, 2006

Socks Flummoxed

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Every effort will be made to entertain you, reader, with sock posts that are a little, well, skewed. There will be sox on the rocks, socks in many a box, socks with flox, socks with flocks, socks near clocks, socks near stocks, socks with a fox, socks with Fort Knox, (someone needs to help me with that one. Any volunteers?) socks with ham hocks socks with crock pots, and so on and so on and so on. Want to join me? Post your own flummoxed socks! Let us pledge to end the average sock shot. This was, need I say it? Socks on the rocks.... . Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

This Crazy Woman

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Irisheyeslynn gave me some Mountain Colors Crazy Woman for a gift. Whaddami? Crazy? Why did I wait so long to knit with it. ? It is so soft. It is so lovely. It is going to be a SOCK for me. I finished My husband's big socks in Big Mexico. They are going to look great in a pair of hiking boots. I want to knit more socks at this gauge: 6 sts/inch. What do you all recommend? Can you recommend something that has free or nearly free shipping? Oh, Al used Katmandu For her great sweater. I forwarded each comment to her, thanks. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Finished for School

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Al's finished with Interweave's Breezy cables in time to start school. This sweater took her a little over a month to knit. She's decided the turtle button isn't needed. I have no doubt she'll find another place for him soon. I asked her if she had advice to someone else who wants to this, and she said: Yes. Learn to cable without a cable needle or you'll go crazy. It fits her great. I'm delighted to show her off to you. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

A Bad day to be Pluto and other knitting thoughts

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Random thoughts while knitting today: Why do I love making socks? Is the mail here yet and is there anything I've ordered arriving? (no, there wasn't) I have to get Elizabeth's birthday gift in the mail tomorrow. I'll be the only auntie who is late this year.... I should have knit her something. I'm no Mason-Dixon woman, but I did manage to clean a counter today and throw a garbage bags' worth of true junk out. (I hope husband sees this productive act for what it is....an interruption in my knitting time) How come the school bus never came on time the first week for MY kids? It is coming right as rain already for the little ones and it is only day 2. What do I want to give my folks for their 53rd wedding anniversary next week? Knitted Dishcloths, that's the gift for 53 right? I should really find a guest blogger soon. Hmmmmmm, I wish they had brought my knitting to the Lincoln Memorial in Springfield, Abe would be a wonderful guest blogger. Al and Tro

If I were a dye man

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The choice: Big Mexico washable wool. Knitting up at 4sts/inch on 7's. The feeling: fantastic. Making this sock is akin to buying the cake mix instead of making it by scratch. Told my husband this pair is for him. (I'm subconsciously justifying my knitting again). He said, and I quote, "hmmmm". What I heard in his head was, "Forget the socks. This house is a disaster and if the fire dept has to come over for some reason, and all my friends see the state of it.....I'll be talked about for years...." The house could be in a worse state. Afterall, he tries to keep it in shape. Oh, its LIVED in, I say! He's going to love his socks. ...he better. Now, if I were a dye man, (sung to Fiddler on the Roof tunes) I would name a yarn I dyed: black walnut. We are taking down our black walnut tree. Isn't the brown inside marvelous? The yarn would be creamy and well, black walnut brown. If I start dyeing yarns.....there will be more than a Hmmmm

Permission granted

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I thank you all for your encouragement and permission to pick up something other than the Swing Coat for a bit. I'm counting on the support to keep going on it as well. Phew, it is so nice to get permission.... As for the yarn, its : RIVER by sweetgeorgiayarns. I bought it for Al. The blues and browns are delightful to me. The will make a unique pair of socks. Very good service at sweetgeorgia. Will order from them again. I would love to find some Christmas colors in a colorway. I know that Lorna's Laces used to have a great white/red/green colorway in sock yarn. I know because irisheyes Lynn bought it up at a Market past and made her family great matching socks for Christmas.....now I want to do the same thing. Anyone seen anything of the kind out there in your LYS?

The Tortoise Button

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This was "the" button Al most wanted at Stitches Midwest Market. I think he is a great tortoise. Al's plan for him, is to bask in his glory along the banks of her cabled sweater. Maybe catch a bug or two as she walks along the lakefront. Some buttons are just delights. Do you have a favorite button? As for my Swing Coat, I'm weary of it. I've been knitting it, exclusively, for over a month now and it is probably half way done. I will press on... I fear stopping and not restarting... But, I am bored......I want to start some socks........ Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

New Purse Guilt

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The flowers are just for some blog beauty. Not my garden, but the Chicago Botanic Gardens again. I want to make a sweater in those great colors. All of them. I didn't knit my new purse. I bought it. There is an odd feeling I have about this. I had the new yarn for the fall purse and the pattern, but..somehow...I ran into this purse and decided it would be great to have. I guess that leaves me less time crunched. So why does it feel strange to have a not knit my new purse? Have a great summer friday. Hi Jillian. We all miss you. You'll be okay. College takes times... Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Chart reading Class Report

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When exactly do you shut down when you take a new class? I lasted more than 2/3 of the class at Stitches before Al leaned over and whispered, "You are shutting down, Mom. C'mon you aren't even trying anymore." This was after the Stitches post it I passed to her that said, "are you getting all of this?" (Al will dispute this post. She will say I shut down 1/3 of the way through. That is not correct. Don't believe her....) I think perhaps Yarn Store classes suit me better in this arena. I am not good at a 3 hour class. I am intimidated when the newest knitter in the group wears an FBI shirt and is catching on enough to be asking questions that make sense. Some of those classes need (for me) to have descriptions that are simple: Not for the easily confused. OR This is meant for spacial folks, the rest of you wordy folk will only hold the group back. Since I was sitting next to Al who a)already reads charts just fine and stated her class goal as lear

Birthday Light up Needle Candles

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I had a wonderful birthday. The cake is a Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, my favorite. The candles are my new light up tip needles. My review of them: WOW they are bright. No rip off here. I had seen some needles at Stitches which are different. The entire shaft lights up. I thought I may have preferred them. After seeing how much light the needle tip style gives off, I am glad the family got me this brand. Radar, our deaf cat, seemed to think the light from the needles was a laser pen and was all worked up as I knit. Thankfully he chases the beam and not the source. That would have been a disaster. I am enamored with Cabin Fever patterns now that I am completing my Swing Coat. Al gave me another pattern that I had my eye on at Stitches as well. It is a braided cardigan. Next post: Charting class at Stitches, or How my Daughter had to tell me to behave in class. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Guest Blogger refusal....

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This is a long story, but I'll abbreviate. There was a photo shoot going on one day and I asked if the model would hold the yarn for the blog. His sister was the photographer and she said okay later, but the model said no...... so, I put my knitting down and honored the model's refusal. ..... this was the first official refusual.... don't worry, it didn't really discourage me. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Noro Swing Jacket

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On vacation last month I started the Cabin Fever Swing Jacket in Noro. This was at the early stages. The pattern is so impeccably written it has been a joy to knit. I am having, gasp, camera issues, so I have to post some older photos. Good thing I am such a shutter bug, I have lots to blog with in the event of a repair...delay.... Today we go to Stitches Midwest. Al and I are taking the charting class. Remember that I choose this one over another because the teacher said it WILL be fun. Then we will meet great knit friends and ....shop shop shop. It feels a bit like Christmas... Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Continental .....you kiss while you dance...or knit

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Today's post is my entry to jerrysmenagerie.blogspot.com contest. Jerry has a theory that needs testing. You are asked to take send a shot of your hands first, then your hands knitting continental second. Well, since Fred Astaire danced the Continental for 17 minutes in the Gay Divorcee, I thought I'd go for the creative entry. Apparently the Continental was billed as "you kiss while you dance" . Now if I was really creative my action shot would have been me dancing the Continental, knitting Continental and kissing my dance partner. My husband, although very cooperative in most instances, would not have agreed to this......would yours? Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

jerrysmenagerie.blogspot.com entry

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Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Al's Knitting Nature Droplet Hat

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Al whipped up this darling hat as soon as she got her KNITTING NATURE book. Now that it is less humid, she's willing to model it. Thanks Al. I knitted a summery belt today. Couldn't work on anything too demanding; So I took 2 leftover yarns and added some wonderful yarn gifted to me from my BLUE partner Mo and I'll show it to you soon. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

We have a winner on the 500th Post

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Monica of Works For Yarn at worksforyarn.blogspot.com wins the 500 yards of pretty mohair wool blend to celebrate this, my 500th post. Congratulations Monica. It was a supervised drawing; I supervised, Al drew the winner. I had a request from irisheyes Lynn to include Huck in the 500th post. He is beautifully and gently holding some big wooden needles against the backdrop of about 500 black-eyed-susan flowers. I want to thank every one who likes to read Irisheyes and comment. Lurkers too. Blogging is a fun creative outlet for me. I have found such sincere and kind knitters by the blog. I plan to continue the Guest Bloggers b/c they are so fun for you and me! I also plan to learn how to post others' buttons thanks to Karen. I have to take a little quiet time and focus on her step by steps that she kindly sent. Monica, please email me your snail mail so I can put that mohair in the mail! You can reach me at Harpnut@gmail.com . Please leave me your email or blog so I can

The Happy Meal TOY?

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Did you want the McBarbie Doll or the McYarn? Today's guest blogger is from my local McDonald's. There was a long line behind me, so he quickly complied. The yarn is a lovely purple green mohair from Al's July swap partner Mo. She is also a jewelery designer. I need to post her blog name for you all. She sent Al some lovely bracelets. I'm trying for the big 500 tomorrow. Thanks to all who have entered the contest. JILL, Al's buddy, I'm waiting for you, you lurker you. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Cool yarns for Hot Days

Here are some cool yarns to check out on this hot day: Yarndex Adriafil's Ice Cream Cascade Ice Knit one Crochet Too's Italian Ice Handspun merino "lemonade" knitspin.etsy.com and Handspun merino "mellow sherbert" also knitspin.etsy.com Relief is predicted for Chicago tomorrow. Perhaps I can sit out on the screenporch and knit for more than a half and hour at a time. I am still working on my NORO wool jacket. Today I had to take a break and work on a simple belt in cottons. My LYS has the light up needles and I am just figuring out which size I'll use most. I wonder if I'll attract lightening bugs.......