next!

Bordello done

Super easy pattern. The Sea Wool is a joy to work with and I will use it again. Maybe for a wrap? If your LYS does not carry it you can find it here. I have not ordered from Little Knits, but they have my attention. Another online shop that carries Fleece Artsit is Loopy Ewe. I really like Loopy Ewe. They are out of the Sea Wool right now but promise to have more in any day now.

I need to finish Oldest Daughters shawl before I start another non-sock project. It is hard to see in the picture, but it is a simple triangle with a picot edge and beads. Very teenage girl.

It does not need to be done until September, but I can not handle the UFO sitting in the corner. Yes, I only have one.

It is time to purchase yarn for my next non-sock project. I have decided on the Faux Russian Stole from Gathering Lace.

The pattern calls for Jamison & Smith jumper weight yarn. I am thinking about using a solid color from Louet, either Pewter or Crabapple. Or my new love Sea Wool in Rainforest. Or a yarn I have not tried SeaCoast in Kelp.

Suggestions?

dare ya

double dare ya

just say no

Tan asked how I am decreasing my stress level. Pharmaceuticals are not involved.

I am a volunteer. This time last year I was putting in 20 hours a week, easy, at 4 different jobs. Now I am not the kind of person with 20 extra hours a week just laying around. I am also not the kind of person who says yes to things because they can not say no. I only say yes to things I really want to do. But 20 hours a week? It was a snowball from hell.

Last fall I let people know that as things came to an end I would not be continuing. As of the first Monday in June I will be down to one job. Knowing I am a few short weeks away from freedom has changed my whole outlook. The one job I am keeping? Day Camp Director. I LOVE day camp, and while it is a lot of work, the work is not a constant daily grind.

I did not finish the Bordello socks yesterday. We had a bit of sunshine in the afternoon and I got outside to pull weeds and plant some deck pots. Boy are the backs of my legs sore this morning. I did not get out in the yard one single time last year. (See workload above.) Now the porch planters are all trimmed, weeded and sporting some new flowers. I also yanked all the weeds out of the cracks on the stairs leading up to the front porch. Also replaced weeds with flowers along the side of the stairs. Just that little bit makes the walk up to the front door so much nicer.

Because our house color is a bit, um, atypical, it draws a lot of attention. When the yard is neglected it screams pothead. When everything is tidy is says artist.

More tea or a nap? The eternal question.

zzzzzzz

I am trying not to go back to sleep. Most days Husband gets on the bus a few blocks from our house, at an almost reasonable 6AM. Sometimes I get up when he leaves, sometimes not. When he is busy and has deadlines looming he needs to take the 4:45 bus which is a few miles to the east. That means I am up and driving at 4:30AM. When I get home I am awake. I have breakfast, read the paper, check mail, knit, listen to the birds waking up, its all good. But at about 7:30 I am ready to go back to sleep. 7:30 is not a good time to be going to sleep, it is almost time for the rest of the house to be up. So I make more tea and hope my body adjusts sooner rather than later. Husband tells me it will be ugly until the middle of May.

The heel flap has just been started on the second Bordello. I should mention that I have been working very hard at knitting loose. Even with my new found looseness I needed to alter the pattern. 60 stitches was too tight while trying the sock on over my heel and instep. I increased to 68 stitches. How? The pattern has a number of straight stitches in between increases and decreases. There are 8 of these sections. I added one extra stitch per section. They are perfect.

My stress level reached its peak a couple of weeks ago and I am now on the downside. 6 more weeks and I am home free! I am actually looking forward to playing in the yard this summer. Something I was not able to do at all last year, I was just too busy.

I am feeling so optimistic that I may decide to plan a party for the end of May. I love parties!

sunday is wool day

Sunday is wool washing day around here. Most weeks it dries in the laundry room while hanging from its toes. Sometimes it gets to come outside for a breath of fresh air.

I just love looking outside and seeing lots of socks all lined up.

Makes me want to make more.

Here is the first finished Sea Wool sock. I used the Bordello pattern from the band. Quick to knit up. Oh so lovely to work with. The colors are subtle and gorgeous. The feel is soft and luxurious. I think this is the stuff I will use for the Grandmas Hanukkah socks this year.

cockamamie

When I made the choice not to attend Sock Camp it was easy. This was too much money to spend. Now I am not so sure. They are having so much fun. Check out tapmouse and Stephanie. Those chickens! It is all I can do to keep myself from jumping on a ferry and crashing the party.

i really am a knitter

A couple of post past I made a comment about not being a real knitter because I do not have a stash. Well, I take it all back. Last night I was surfing the blogs and realized that I could spot a Jaywalker at 100 paces. Same for Cookie A's designs or a Koigu or STR colorway. There is no way a non-knitter could do such a thing. I am a Knitter, capital K.

Here is the first Dashing. The second is almost done. It should be finished by the end of the day.

If I were to make them again I would make the arm shorter and use smaller needles. They will be perfect for keeping score at Oldest Son's baseball games.

This weekend I will cast on Sea Wool. Yum!

I would also like to get another wrap on needles. I have 2 wraps, one cashmere, one raw silk and they are used quite a bit. They are the perfect thing to bring out onto the deck. I would like to have a few more so that I can offer them to guests. There is a Faux Russian Stole in A Gathering of Lace that I really like. Any other suggestions out there? Something warm and pretty?