WIP, Reading and a Window Visitor

Look at all that! Looks like I've had a case of cast-on-itis. There sure is good choice to pick from for whatever knitting whimsy strikes.

I'm about 11% (what can I say...it is how Kindle tells you where you are) into this book. It's good. And it is the winter that we aren't getting this year. Shh, don't tell anyone but I kinda am missing our regular type winter.

And while I was taking pictures by the best light source this time of year (patio door), look who showed up.

The bold cheeky little critter. I got a couple mug shots of him.

Front view.

Side view.

And when the kitties discovered him he ran so fast I didn't even get the thought put together to take a picture much less press the shutter.

But the kitties knew what was up. Up a tree!

Something done and the next project up

Finished the socks to be worn as slippers since they are worsted weight and probably won't fit in any of my shoes! Pretty happy with them but sure wish I'd made the legs longer. Had lots of yarn left. Not in the mood to change them though...

What I am in the mood for is the next project. It might be slow moving since I've never done stranded mittens before but am excited to learn something new and if I can do a nice job I'll have some really special mittens!

The purple and off white (Berroco Ultra Alpaca) are the mittens and the red (blue sky alpaca Melange) is the lining. I washed the yarn with Cookie's helpful suggestions, (Thanks!) and it's a good thing I did. That red bled like crazy. I think I got it stopped now though!

Wish me luck on the knitting. :D

Better, I think. What do you think??

I found new buttons.

I think they are better.

Before.

And after. I like after better. What do you think?

Also....

here is Teddy, the sock model, showing off my finished Cartoon socks. They ended up kinda matchy, matchy.

How in the world did that happen?

I've been knitting...but opinions are needed.

My Basic Chic Hoodie is finished. Ravelry info here.

Buttons have been installed.

It's been soaked, blocked and even worn once.

It is like a warm hug when you have it on. So very soft and cozy.

But I need some opinions on those buttons. Are they too big? It seems like when I put it on, all I see are the buttons. I don't notice the lace or any other thing about it...just the buttons. Are they wrong somehow for this sweater? Should I go on another button hunt?

I made myself some fingerless mitts. They seem to be all the rage. And so I followed the herd. But I wonder at their practicality...especially for someone who has cold fingers and not so much cold hands or wrists!

But maybe they will be good at work this winter. They were fun to knit and quick as a bunny!

There is yet another Iceling in my future. Everyone seems to be having boys! This one will look like a double breasted navy blue blazer. And since the baby is due in December, I'll make the hat and I found patterns for thumbless mittens and booties and will make them also depending on leftover yarn amounts.

And these poor socks have been started once going toe up and they ended up just huge so I frogged and now they are the usual pattern and a size smaller needle. Now I'm afraid it might be a little small. Uff.

Anyway, let me know what you think about those buttons.

Interesting contruction

A few days ago I finally convinced DH to go through his sock drawer and get rid of the old ones. I could barely squeeze all of his socks that he owned into that drawer! No. They aren't hand knit ones. They are store-bought cotton ones.

Anyway, we came across these hand knit slippers made by DH's Gramma. We've had them for years and years but I'd never really looked at them very closely.

Side view.

Top view. They make me think of mukluks.

The interesting part to me is the seam down the bottom of the foot....

from the base of the toes....

to the heel and up the cuff. It looks maybe like it was knit flat and then seamed. The toe and heel construction are different than anything I've seen before, from my limited sock knitting knowledge.

But they are very special to us because they were knit by Gramma Stein who was an industrious little German from Russia with a big personality. She raised 7 girls and 2 boys and lived to have a 60th wedding anniversary with dear Granpa Stein.

Keepsakes.

Yes actually. I do knit. And sew a little.

Maybe it's time to quit talking so much about the weather and do a knitting update? I have more than one project on the needles right now. The first is a pair of worsted weight socks/slippers. See the second sock? It's still wound up so nicely into a ball! ;)













The second project is the Basic Chic Hoodie. (Ravelry link. Sorry non-Ravelers.) I'm doing it with the lace and will definitely make it longer than the pattern says!













And the third knitting project is the Sea of Dreams baby blanket. (Another Ravelry link.) I don't know who will get this blankey. Only time will tell! And since there isn't a rush on it, it is basically in time out for now.













Now on to a couple sewing projects. Both with time limits... This is going to be a Tinkerbell outfit for our oldest granddaughter who will be 6 on April 4th. She is so tall that she can't fit in the princess/fairy costumes they have at the "marts" and she does love to dress up. So I'm coming to the rescue with a birthday gift that hopefully will thrill.













And the second sewing project is giving me the nightmares. It's a prom dress for a great niece that needs to be shortened and taken in at the bodice. I foolhardedly said, "Oh sure! I can do that!". Not realizing how many layers and how much beading there is. Or that the side zipper will have to be partially taken out and replaced. Any suggestions on how to do any of this would be greatly appreciated. Nothing that says I need my head examined need be submitted. I already know that...

100th Comment Socks

Well Karen, I finished the socks! WooHoo! I won the yarn for being the 100th commenter on Karen's new blog. And fine yarn it is too. Soft and I love it's stripyness. For all the details on the socks go here to my Ravelry project page.

We actually have sunshine today! Perfect for indoor photos.

And, of course, Teddy is the best sock model out there. Since he was insistent on being in the picture I made use of him by turning him into a sock model.

And for once he cooperated! :)

A little knitting, a little weather and a big wish...

I'm advancing right along on the sock. I love all the stripeyness! :) Almost ready to start the toe.




















The weather is very...umm...wintery. The temperature is -6. The wind is 28 mph. And that adds up to a wind chill of -33. Brrr. And they are forecasting 2-4" of snow. So with that wind and the snow we'll have a blizzard. I sure hope no one is planning on traveling anywhere....
























I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! The best part of having a blog is meeting new people from far and near and making wonderful friends of them. I hope the new year is a healthy and satisfying year.

Who knew??

Who knew that this yarn would turn into.....

















stripey socks! How cool is that! :D
















And who knew that I'd be able to snap a picture fast enough to get these pictures of the cats that are okay enough to put on the Christmas card?



Claus




















Teddy















The two guys chillin'.

Actually, sometimes it's a bit of a power struggle to see who gets to lay on the top level of the cat tree. Once in awhile they agree to share!

I sure wish the last two pictures had better color quality...maybe I can find a way to edit them....

Got them done after all. ;)

Pansy Socks named for the yarn, Pansy Golightly, Dream In Color Smooshy.

I don't have pansies to pose them next to so Johnny Jump Ups will have to do. :)

They are finished! WooHoo!!

Next on the knitting list is Norwegian Woods Shawl, Traveling Woman, and Baby Jacket. These are all Ravelry links.

Not interested

I'm just not interested in knitting on these socks. I'm totally not into them. And the purple pair is sooo close. It's a little scary actually. I'm not really interested in knitting anything right now.

These guys are waiting to be planted but the weather needs to cooperate a bit first.....

and quit raining all the time!

I just know it's the grey weather that has me in the doldrums. Isn't it the 1st of June?? Were are the warm temps? Why are my spring flowers just getting blooming now?

Life is good, though, for one in our household....

The picture of contentment!