Well, It's About Time!!!!!

Man have I been bad about blogging lately! I have had an insanely busy schedule these past few weeks, and I don't see signs of it easing up any time soon.
I am trying to earn some extra cash, and so I have been picking up shifts left and right at the Cafe...and I intend to keep it up for the entire summer, or else when I drop of sheer exhaustion.
But I like being busy. I am trying really hard right now to make positive decisions in my life, and it feels really good!!! But more on that later.......

With all that I have been doing, I have managed a bit of knitting. I know I am not going to reach my goals for this month...but I put on one hell of a show didn't I? Besides, there is always June..and July..and so on...

First, an FO Fresh of the presses:

Have you seen this pattern? Have you made it? It was SO much fun to knit! And fast! I can't wait to see Sophia with this on, although it may be too big for her right now...I made the hat in the medium size because I wanted it to fit her next Winter. She lives in Southern California so I don't think they will get much wear this Summer...but she is going to be one styling baby come October!

Next, we have the Round 6 Sock Madness socks. I just finished the heel on the second sock.

Which one are you liking better? Me, I think I like the one on the right more. I really want to get these done by Thursday so I can meet my Sock A Month goal.

And, I cast on another sock. Can you guess which one it is? Go ahead, it's not that hard..just check the side bar. ;)

Oh yeah, and the Forest Path Stole? Well, I have made some progress on it...but not much. I have just been too tired lately to sit with it. It's not that it's complicated to knit, it's just that my mind imagines it is...I have Friday off, I hope to get some time with it then.

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend and enjoying the start of summer..It's been beautiful up here!

It ain't much, but it's somethn'.

Remember this picture?

That would be my progress on the Forest Path Stole as of 2 weeks ago. But now..look at this!


Big difference don't you think?

What? You can't see it? Here is a close-up shot of all the progress I have made:

That would be 2 full rectangles, A triangle and a partial rectangle in action.
I know you are gob-smacked.
At this rate I should have this done in time for my 40th birthday...And 10 years might be pushing it.
So, remember about a week ago when I said I had a plan for my WIP's? Well the plan go's something like this...concentrate on one big project, and one small one, before moving on to another project..Amazing concept don't you think?
But anyone that knows me knows that I can't do it. But I am going to try.
How about this..for every three projects I finish (as of now), I get to cast on a new project. I still must do my UFO per month, and a Sweater per Month..but that will be added into the afore-mention plan.
The only exclusion to this rule is Sock Madness, and store samples.
I think that is do-able.
I shall now go organize my sidebar into priority of projects.
I'm weird, I know. You don't have to tell me, I am well aware of that fact. =)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

I don't know who said that, but whoever it is must have been a crafter. Because who else could understand that quote better then us?
About a week ago I said that I took the Forest Path Stole out of time out, and then left you at that. But this week I feel I have enough progress to justify some pictures. I do love the pictures people, even if I am not the greatest at it... like some people.

So first we have a full view shot being modeled a la couch..

Yes, I finally got through those darn blasted triangles that were giving me so much grief..and I even got one each of the lace panels done.

Here we have the Birch Leaf lace:

I noticed another mistake in the chart for the birch leaves. The final right side row should be a slip 1 with yarn forward, k9, sl1 k2tog pass sl st over, k6, k2tog, k1 and then ssk last stitch of row with the 1st st of unit (if you have this pattern that should make sense.) This is for the odd numbered tiers..the even will probably be a little different.

And here is the Lily of the Valley:

Yes, this is the pattern that has the nupps that so many knitters dread. But in all honesty, I think they are fun. The trick is to do the yo and ktbl part very loosely, and then when you come back on the wrong side it is a lot easier to do the purl 5 tog (just make sure you got 5 loops..and not the yo's that are on either side of the nupp.) Again, if you are doing the pattern, that should make sense.


And finally, here we have the Fern lace pattern:

This pattern is super easy. I really don't have much to say about this one.

(The hands in the pictures are B's..is it just me that thinks it is kind of sexy to see masculine hands with the delicate lace?) OK, maybe I am weird.. I'll shut up about that. =)

So what do I think about this pattern now that I have picked it back up?

I LOVE IT!

I have to admit the mistakes in the pattern still have me a little peeved..(I forgot to mention the k3tog symbol that never made it into the chart key..it's in the charts, just not in the key..where is Sherlock when you need him?)..but now I think all the mistakes have been found and dealt with..and I have to say I am enjoying myself.

I like that each lace section is 20 stitches (more or less) and 40 rows. They get done pretty quickly, and then you move on to something different..it breaks up the monotony a bit.

Keep in mind that I am not even finished with tier 1 yet, check back when I am on tier 18 (there are 23 tiers in all..and 103 lace panels..jeesh!)

But right now, I am addicted to my FPS. I wish I could work on it solely, but I have been trying to finish other projects (FO Tomorrow!)..and guess what is starting Saturday?

Sock Madness!

Tinkin' the day away..

Yeah, you heard me.

After finishing Wicked..(oh yeah she's done..and I love her! There will be pictures as soon as B gets home to take them. =) ). Where was I? Yeah. So after finishing Wicked, my sanity has been restored. I gained the courage to pick up the Forest Path Stole and rip out the triangle that went bad.
I am happy to report that FPS is now out of time out. After e-mailing with the designer, I have now got clear instructions on how to continue in the pattern. There is nothing to see as of yet. I have only tinked out the mistakes. It feels good to know that she is ready for action though!

But that is not the only thing that needs tinking. As listed on my sidebar I have been working on the Mystery Shawl (a Group from Goddess Knits.) Basically every week you get a new clue..totalling 5 clues. I got in on the action late..and so I am only starting clue 3, even though all the clues are out and many people have finished. So it's not really a mystery anymore..but I digress.
Anyway..I have been wanting to get some progress done on this because the new Mystery will be starting soon..and of course I am going to join..but I feel that I should have this one done before starting a new one.
So last night I got busy finishing the 2ND clue, and moved on to the 3rd, and quickly realized that I was 3 stitches short. I guess having 2 beers did not help matters any.
So I have tinked back 2 rows..and I am still coming up 1 short. I think I missed a yarn over somewhere..so that means tinking 2 more rows. Don't worry, I am OK. Believe it or not, all this tinking has been therapeutic.
Think about it, how often in life can you tink back a mistake you made? Never. You just have to learn from it and move on. Hopefully.
Wow. I'm like smart and stuff.

So here is the sum up of things. The mystery shawl is getting tinked. The FPS is back in action. Wicked is done. The Pirate hat is getting some love. And I started a pair of Jaywalkers. What? Did I forget to mention that?

And the one thing I am itching to work on? My Faina scarf..but I feel I need to finish up a few things first.

Oh crud..and March is a day away...that means new goals! And Sock Madness starts March 10Th.

Thank goodness I took the night off from work!

(Stay tuned..there will hopefully be a post on Wicked sometime this evening.)

P.S. Have you ever seen the word "tinked" used this much in one post? LOL!

Endings and Beginnings

Well, look at this..

That would be a finished Peapod folks. I need to steam it once more..but it's done. I'm pretty pleased with it. This was my first time doing mattress stitch, and I think I did a decent job of it. It's not perfect, but it's not horrid like I thought it would be.

It's hard to tell (click for big) but the buttons are white with little frosted flowers on them. Fitting don't you think?

And now that I have shown you something finished..I guess it's OK to show you some of my beginning's.

Here is the start of my Forest Path Shawl. 20 rows of moss stitch on size 2 needles takes longer then you think it would! I think I'm about 14 rows in.

The yarn is called Emerald (I'm about 90% sure on that) and I got it from Handpainted Yarns. It is beautiful, and nice to work with. This was my first purchase from them, and I am very pleased with the price and the quality of stuff.

I love the needles as well..I want to say they are INOX??? They have a great bend in the join, and the tips are wonderfully pointy..and they are not slippery like the Options, or as clingy as the bamboos. Working with nice stuff makes all the difference in a project, don't you think?

And finally, here is the start of my Wicked, I just got through one repeat of the collar, but it seems like it's going to be an addicting knit.

The yarn is Patons SWS..I really like it. It's SO soft, and each of the color ways is more beautiful then the last. I chose the green/pink blend because they are my favorite colors, and they are very "Springy".

Hope you all enjoyed the Superbowl..and got to watch it in your PJ's! Yeah Colts!