The Good, The Bad, and The UGH!

It has been a while since we have had any real knitting content on this blog hasn't it? Whatever happened to those January goals? And where the heck were Februarys? Yeah, I know, BAD BLOGGER! (Or is that bloger? The first spelling looks better, whatev.)
Well today, I plan to show you actual FO"S, a good knit gone bad, and finally fess up to how the January goals went.
(By the way..pictures suck as usual. Can you believe these were taken outside in the middle the day? We even have sun today, but my yard is completely in shade and I did not feel like taking pictures in the middle of the street in my pajamas and slippers...yeah, I know, but they are so comfy!)
Alrighty then, here we go.

The good:

Marlene socks by Cookie A. Knit with All Things Heather in Raspberry on 000 needles. Start to finish was about a week.

The pattern was a lot of fun, easier then Pomatomus I would say. The yarn looked so good I wanted to eat it! It was not the softest to work with but after soaking it softened right up. It did bleed a lot in its blocking bath, but it did not take away from the color at all.

Next, (these were so hard to get a picture of!).

Primavera socks knit with The Sanguin Gryphon in Hatched on Size 00 needles.

LOVE the pattern, LOVE the yarn! I highly reccomend both. Alas, these little lovelies are not destined for my feet. They were very, very hard to give up. But I liked the pattern so much I think I will cast on another pair for myself, as soon as I can put it in my knit schedule.

And now the Bad. This next photo is not for the faint of heart. You may want to skip this..

FELTED!!!! These are the Through the Loop Mystery socks knit in Panda Silk (which said hand wash only and I was well aware of it, even alerted Adam to watch out for them in the hamper). They were lovely and soft and fit on my feet perfectly. I think I wore them three times. My sweetie put them in the washer, and he felt horrible about it..but they came out fine. The reason for their sad state is my fault. I did not pay attention when I was doing the wash, and threw these babies right into the dryer. OOPS!

And as if it could not get any worse after that...

The UGH!

All Hand knits waiting for finishing work. They have sat in this state for about a month now. Now that I have posted this here I hope I have shamed myself into getting them done.

You know, this post has become way to long already. I think I will save the next post to talk about the monthly goals...I promise you wont have to wait another month to find out. =)

Gettin' My Groove Back

Sorry y'all. I know it has been a long time.
You probably have given up on me, and I can't say I don't blame you.

There has been some changes going on in my life...some more difficult to adapt to then others. But I am here, and I am going to try and make it up to you. =)

I have not been doing much knitting at all until lately.

However, I did manage to finish up my Dulaan items..but I did not get them mailed in time. Oh well, I am sure they will be appreciated for next year. I will post pics of them soon.

In other knitting news, I have WAY to much on the needles. My goals are shot all to hell. But I am OK with that. Hopefully I will get some things on the FO list soon. You know how it is, I know I am not the only one.

I too succumbed to the lure of the Mystery Stole, and after a crazy hunt for a small enough crochet hook to get the beads on, I have begun. I am half way through the first clue..and I am addicted. Again, pics soon...promise.

Also I started Fifi with The Sexy Knitters Club. I am not that far into it, but I am loving the yarn (Rowan Calmer) and the pattern.

And of course, there are socks. I have the Twisted Flower Socks,(going very slowly), the Victorian Lace Socks (from the 6 socks KAL), a pair of Sidewinders, and some plain socks in Austermann Step on the needles.

And if that was not enough? I got my invite to Ravelry...I am not even going there yet...I know once I do it will be all over for me.

So how are YOU doing?

My "Little" Secret

Woohoo! I finally had a day off. And I still have a few hours to go!
It was lovely. I sat on my butt and worked on my tunic, and lo and behold:

I finished the knitting and the pieces are blocking.

I have high hopes for this project. I am a little concerned about the gauge. (As always). I knitted to gauge, even a little smaller, but the stitches still seemed a little "loose". And I really had to stretch the hell out of it to meet the blocking measurements.

I am sure it will be fine. At least, I hope so. If nothing else, I will just need to wear a dark garment underneath.

All that needs to be done now is a little seaming..and a little shopping for some ribbon to thread through the eyelets. Yeehaw!

So now, I Must get back to that store sample I should have finished weeks ago. Woops.

I took it with me last night to Ya-Yo (Yarn Yoga), which is the knitting group at the storefor which the sample is being made. (Wow, now that's a sentance!)I dutifully worked on it..even though I really wanted to finish up the tunic back. I felt bad that it was not finished yet, but the yarn manager did not give me any flack about it. She just complimented me on my work thus far...so, it's all good.

I just better have it done before the next Ya-Yo..or I am going to lose some serious face! =) (I have nothing to feel bad about, I always get stuff made for them lickety split..and B is working on a store sample as well....and he is much more in the dog house then I am. But then again, he is making a blanket out of a furry yarn all in seed stitch..the poor man!)

So that is next up on the knitting agenda. As well as Sock Madness round 5..pattern release is this Friday. I am working that day, so I will get the pattern late..oh well. I am also still working on the mystery shawl..I am now on clue four (I will post on this soon!).

Then I hope to resume work on the Forest Path Stole, and hopefully whip out the Argosy scarf, the 2nd Jaywalker, and the My So Called Scarf that has been languishing in my bag.

I am really trying to truck through these WIP's. There is a whole lot more where these came from! But I am also trying to get my projects done for Dulaan, as well as bust out a few baby hats for Sophia. Oh, and lets not forget all the KAL's I have joined...or all the patterns waiting in line to be cast on....

Wait. Stop. Chill! Does anyone else do this?

Well, if you are still with me after all this rambling on, I guess I will reward you.

Many inquiring minds have asked where my new job is at. Until now, I have not revealed this little tid bit because I wanted to have permission first. And now, I have it.

I work at Little Knits. Have you shopped there? If not, you should. Check out those prices! And why yes! We do ship internationally.

So what are you waiting for? You know you want to browse the site, possibly even pick up a thing or two while you are there. And hey, if you do place an order..tell them Melanie sent you, k? Make me look good people! =) Who knows, maybe I will be the one to pack your order!

Ketch Up and UFO's

That's how I have felt all week..like I am just trying to catch up with things.

Between my mother visiting and getting sick...my knitting progress has been shot to hell.

I did manage a few things though.

I am almost done with Peapod..just got to sew in a sleeve and add the buttons. Tune in tomorrow for finished pics!

I swatched for Wicked..not only did I do the 4" square..but I also washed it! Maybe I can be taught after all! I got stitch gauge but my row gauge is off..I think I am going to forge ahead and see what happens...

I tried to start the Pirate Hat..I tried to make one previously and it was WAY TOO BIG. So I bought lighter weight yarn this time..not sure if that was the best idea..and now I got to decide if smaller needles (like 0's) or different yarn is the best choice..hmmmm.

I started the Forest Path Stole, I am halfway through the seed stitch border. I am loving the yarn, needles, gauge and pattern thus far...woohoo!

I found the Mystery Shawl Yahoo Group...and joined. LOL. I started late so I am behind, but I am having fun so far. It's a round shawl and I have never done that before. I am learning a lot.

I tought/ am teaching my mother how to knit toe-up socks. I think she's liking it.

On the UFO front:

January UFO:
I have worked steadily on the mitered blankie..not a lot to show yet..but I have done about 6 squares this month. hey, it's something! My plan is to try and do a square a day..and maybe allow a bit of time on Sundays for it.


Horrible pictures as usual, that's what happens around here when you take your pictures at night with horrible lighting. (Seems that's how all my pics get taken. Sorry)

February UFO:

Monkey socks from Knitty using Lorna's Laces in Mine Shaft. I hope to have these done by the end of the month. One, so I can gift them to my niece before she moves to Alberta, Canada (sob!). And Two, I want to finish them for the Sock a Month KAL I joined..(oh yeah..did I forget to mention I joined that as well?)

I think that's enought to keep me busy for a while. I am still working on the baby blanket as well...although I have ignored it the past few days. It's very close to being done, but it just makes me sick to look at it...maybe tomorrow I can face it again.