We're on a roll here

Three posts in three days. Earthtonesgirl will be in shock now.

As mentioned yesterday, I plan on showing some of the other "gentle domestic arts" that I've been working on.

Today I have some pictures of a quilt that I'm working on for my Little Princess. It is the Heirloom Romance Quilt by Crabapple Hill Studio. It has eight stitched purses on it, with lots of crazy quilting and additional embroidery. I loved it and have set a goal of completing this by LP's 8th birthday for her baptism.

The quilt and embroidered purses will also be accented with beads once the quilt is completed. (I'm kind to the person who will do the quilting on this quilt, so that she won't have to work around the beads)- and No - I'm not going to quilt it myself - to quote Austin Powers - "that's not my kind of thing, baby!"

www.earthtonesgirl.com

Pieces of Me

I don't have any real knitting news to share today, but thought I'd show you all some of the other projects I've been working on over the next couple of days. Today, you can see the quilting side of me.

Here are pictures of some of the pieces that I've completed for a Foundation Paper Pieced Quilt called Autumn Splendor by Judy Neimeyer. I started it last fall and worked on it until Thanksgiving and then put it away. It's fall again and the colors of the leaves reminded me of this quilt, so it's back out and hopefully going to get some more progress done soon.

Rebecca

The name Rebecca has been on my mind recently:

1. My new project - Rebecca by Beth Anne Paustain of Black Purl Designs. I'm struggled on and off with my yarn choice, which is Organik by the Fibre Company. I struggled with deciding which needles were the right ones for gauge. I struggled with the cable, although such a basic cable. In fact, such an easy cable that I got cocky and screwed up way to early and discovered rather late. One visit to the frog pond, and we were on our way again. Now, just struggling with whether I really like the color on me or not. Will I wear it? Hopefully.

These pics were right before I ripped it out for the first and second times.

2. One of my daughters middle names is Rebekah (okay, a different spelling, the same name basically). She started piano and ballet this fall and has been really having a fun time. Her name has especially been on my mind as I was filling out passport forms, because we booked our tickets to England for the holidays. (excited, would be an understatement).

3. I'm incredibly homesick for a visit to England and booking the tickets seems to have made it worse. Three months seems so close, yet so far away. To ease the craving for England, I've been watching all things British with my netflix account. I have been on quite the run of English movies. I watched a biography on the very famous Daphne Du Maurier who wrote the wonderful book (which inspired the Hitchcock film) Rebecca. Then I rented the modern version of Rebecca (I didn't think that it did as good a job as Hitchcock, but I'm rather partial to his movies). Now, I think I need to reread the book.

Back from Falling Off the Face of the Earth

Wow! Those Ravelympic events can really take a toll on a Ravelympian. As I sat up until 4:30am the morning of the end of the Ravelympics, I could feel a monster headache coming on. By the next day, it was an all out mutant migraine. After taking a few days to recover (of course, family and life didn't provide me much of a rest, so it took longer than should be necessary to recuperate), I kept meaning to take pictures of the New Zealand Pullover, but to be honest, I was completely burned out with the project. I'd put on the back burner some family and back-to-school stuff that needed to be completed and it was the last week of summer vacation and the kids wanted and needed some attention.... So, excuses were not hard to find in delaying photo shoots and blogging about THE sweater.

Finally, tonight, after day two of kids in school, the 'cute guy' agreed to take a couple of pics of the sweater. I'm so wiped out still that I didn't bother to look in the mirror and make myself look presentable, so beware of the fairly scary modelling job. He In fact, that's why I'm scowling at him, as it took him five minutes to take a crappy photo. Next time, I'm having the three year old take pictures.

I love the sweater, but am still thinking about ripping out the bottom half of the arms and changing the decreases. They're a little too narrow. I like tighter arms, but I think these are too tight. I decreased every 5th round as the pattern suggests, but really should have gone with at least every 6th, seeing as I had adjusted the pattern to suit my gauge of 6.25 per inch.

What do I love about this sweater:

The short row detailed yoke.

The gussets.

The color

The yarn

That it's finished and that the Ravelympics are over.

Often when I've pulled out a big project I find that I'm at a loss for what to start next. I can't decide whether to start which of the following next:

Staghorn from a Fine Fleece

Drops Jacket in Eskimo 103-1

Rebecca by Black Purl Designs/Beth Anne Paustian

Linden from Twist Collective

Shalom Cardigan

Butterfly Vest from Schoolhouse

DB sweater for Little Princess

Too many choices. Maybe I should finish some of my UFO's.

Maybe I'll just cast them all on.

Interview with a Tween

Hubbub (not his real name for those wondering), was interested to hear about DH's interview the other day, and didn't want to be left out. Here's the view of my knitting world according to Hubbub.

ME: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
Hubbub: "The hats you knit me."
ME: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?HUBBUB:"Whenever we go somewhere you always have to stop at a yarn store."
ME: What is something I have knitted that you recall as good?
HUBBUB: "The scarves that you made us a while back"
ME: Do you think that knitters have an expensive hobby?
CUTE GUY: "No! There are other hobbies that cost a bit more. Like my model airplanes I like or flying lessons."
ME: "Do you have a stash of any kind?"
HUBBUB: "Of what?!!! A stash of change." mum thinks that he has a stash of dirty socks somewhere in his room or a black hole that sucks all dirty socks into them.
ME: Do you know what my favorite yarn to knit with is?"
HUBBUB: "Shetland?!" Okay. I'm pretty impressed that he knew what Shetland was. Still, it isn't my favorite, but am very impressed that he has paid attention to my yarn ramblings at some point in time. Unfortunately, he's never listened to my asking him to search out the missing dirty socks, or my constant nagging for him to stop watching the Science Channel and go out and play or make his bed.
ME: "Can you name another blog?"
HUBBUB: "No."
ME: "Do you read my blog?"
HUBBUB: "Yeah."
ME: "My knitting blog?"
HUBBUB: "Oh, do you mean like Ravelry?" I'm shocked that everybody in this house seems to know what ravelry is, but don't seem to know what "load the dishwasher" means.
ME: "Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?"
HUBBUB: "No, not really. I don't mind it that bad. It's just when you're in there for two and a half hours, when you said that you'd only be a few minutes; that makes me dislike it."
ME: "Have you ever left a comment on my blog?"
HUBBUB: "Mmmm. No."
ME: "Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?"
HUBBUB: "No!!!!! You have four kids. Well, maybe, but not that much. You're pretty anal."
ME: "Have I ever taught you how to knit?"
HUBBUB: "Once. I thought it was okay."
ME: "Do you still knit?"
HUBBUB: "No. I like doing other things. I pursue other hobbies."
ME: "Do you think that boys should knit?"
HUBBUB: smirks. "They can if they want, but it's a little weird."
ME: "How much money do you think I spend on yarn and knitting?"
HUBBUB: "$500, plus, and then some, or maybe a $1,000" (dad chirps up in the background - "more like thousands".
ME: "Do you think that Dad realizes how much I spend?"
HUBBUB: "Yeah. He lets you spend that much because he loves you." (DH was in the room, so Hubbub suggested that I ask him if he knew. He said that he didn't know exactly, and didn't want to know, that ignorance was bliss.)
ME: "Do you remember that for the longest time you were adamant that when you grew up you were going to work in a yarn store winding yarn?"
HUBBUB: "No."
note: it's true. he was convinced that "a yarn winder" was the perfect occupation. i explained that the pay wouldn't be so hot, so he decided he'd be a dentist and work with his day 3 days a week, so that it could support him and then he'd donate his time doing yarn winding.
ME: "How long do you think I could go without knitting.
HUBBUB: "Days."
CUTE GUY chirps up and says "Days??!! More like hours."

Revelations

I was reading Janet Szabo's blog today and came across her interview with her dh. So, I took advantage of the car ride to dinner this afternoon to pepper the "cute guy" with a few questions.

ME: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?

CUTE GUY: "You seem to really enjoy doing it."

ME: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?

CUTE GUY:"Being woken up at 3am by you knitting away in the chair in our room with your knitting light or on the closet floor."

ME: What is something I have knitted that you recall as good?

CUTE GUY: "It's all good! You knit so much, that I have no idea. You're always knitting something new. You don't usually show me when you've finished something. What do you do with it all?"

ME: I show you the items all the time, but you're usually absorbed in the Weather Channel watching the weather in some other state that we've never visited, or more than likely never will, or watching CNN. Thanks for listening. I also wear a lot of what I knit (when it's not summer) and give quite a few things as gifts.

CUTE GUY: Oh yeah, I remember one thing I really like. You always knit the hats for the kids and I in the winter, whatever style and color we like.

ME: Do you think that knitters have an expensive hobby?

CUTE GUY: "Yes! Oh wait, compared to what?" (He then smirks that cute mischievous smirk of his as he remembers his Hummer and all the extra skid plates and rocker panels he purchased so that he can go and climb rocks, and drive through mud lakes and rivers.) Well, how much does it cost, like $1,000 for a sweater.

ME: "No, it's averages somewhere between $50 to $100 a sweater."

CUTE GUY: "Oh, that's not so bad."

ME: "Do you have a stash of any kind?"

CUTE GUY: "Of what?!!!"

ME: "Well, how about all of those dental school books and magazines, or all of your Sports Illustrated and National Geographic magazines."

CUTE GUY: "I've been wondering why you don't just throw them away."

ME: thinking "Woo Hoo! Finally, I have approval to ditch some of his junk, which means more room for yarn stash."

ME: "Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?"

CUTE GUY: "No! What's embarrassing about knitting?"

ME: "What's the weirdest place I've knit?"

CUTE GUY: "3am in our closet."

ME: "Do you know what my favorite yarn to knit with is?"

CUTE GUY: "No, but I'm guessing it's the real expensive kind."

ME: "Can you name another blog?"

CUTE GUY: "No, I'm way to busy to mess around with blogs. By the way, what exactly is a blog?"

ME: "Argghh! You are sooooo computer challenged."

ME: "Do you read my blog?"

CUTE GUY: "No. Wait, is your blog that Ravelry thing you're always on?"

I then explain to Cute Guy the difference between my blog and Ravelry. He still looks confused, but quite frankly I can't be bothered to go into further detail. It would be like trying to explain to a three year old the Pythagorean Theorem.

ME: "Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?"

CUTE GUY: "No, I don't mind at all. Although, I do mind how long you spend in them."

ME: "Do you understand the importance of a swatch?"

CUTE GUY: "No... wait, I don't know what a swatch is. Oh yeah I do. Isn't it that a European watch? what does that have to do with knitting?"

ME: After laughing my arse off for a few minutes, explain to him what a swatch is. For his scientific mind, it not only immediately makes complete sense, but also surprises him that anyone would consider not doing accurate calculations and doing a gauge swatch. I stop laughing and look at him thinking, "you're not so cute, when you're being annoying and questioning why I wouldn't always knit a gauge swatch. I liked him more when he though I was talking about an 80's style plastic watch."

ME: "Have you ever left a comment on my blog?"

CUTE GUY: "No. What would I say?" After pausing a moment, he winks and says "Oh, I know, Go to bed. Turn off the light, stop knitting and go to bed."

ME: "Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?"

CUTE GUY: "mmm, No. Isn't that why we hired a maid?"

FOR THE RECORD: I hired a maid after I had EB (child #4) and I was sick, and he was very ill for a few months and in and out of the hospital and I couldn't keep up with the house and kids. Then things got better and I became attached to our maid and EB loves her like a granny. Although, to be honest, I often do knit while she's here, because she entertains EB and let's him help her clean and I entertain myself and don't clean by knitting. Perfect arrangement. Every knitter should have one. Go on girls, add it to your Christmas list.

ME: "Anything you'd like to add?"

CUTE GUY: "You're gorgeous!"

ME: "No silly, something about knitting, but thank you and your bias."

FOR THE RECORD: I smiled at that, after almost 17 years together, he still thinks I'm cute. Score 1 for me.

CUTE GUY: "It's a good hobby for you. It makes you happy when you get to knit, and when you're happy, we're all happy."


We had such a fun time doing this. I think I'm going to interview the kids too this weekend, I find it quite enlightening to hear what they think about my obsession.

In conclusion: Besides feeling greatful for such a cute guy, I'm excited that he doesn't think I spend too much on my hobby and when he compared it to his, I feel that I have plenty of spending room still available to me, so I'm working on my next yarn purchases to balance the scales a little.

Boredom Buster

Yesterday the weather was rather crummy and the wee ones were moping around, so I suggested a project to entertain them that I was sure the oldest two would love. It involved equipment - the digital camera and my laptop. They eagerly hopped on board and started photographing and stashing on Ravelry my yarn. There is still plenty to do (okay, they got as far as the tip of the icebery), but it was a good start and they are hooked. They've already asked if they can finish up the rest.

We all know yarn stashes are a wonderful thing, but who'd of thought that they could save the lives of two of my kids, because I was getting close to using a circular needle on either them or me if they didn't find some way to entertain themself. Instead, they discovered how wonderful my yarn stash is.

Yarn, Knitting, Stash .... it's a wonderful thing.

The Race So Far

I haven't posted any pics until now of the progress on the New Zealand Pullover for my Ravelympics Event, seeing as well it was just the body in nothing but stocking stitch. It's not that exciting to photograph. Now, I've completed the gussets, completed the short rows for the angle on the yoke and started the garter stitch yoke.

I know I had my problems with the look of the stitches when swatching before. I'm thinking it was really needle size, I was getting the correct gauge with the bigger needles, but was forcing it, the smaller needles made all the difference.

Loving the yarn! The color is exactly what I'd hoped for and I'm really looking forward to wearing this sweater. Deep red with flecks.

I had a couple of knitting blibs last night and this morning. I was too into watching the olympics last night and screwed up my short rows, so I ripped them out and went to bed. This morning I reknit the short rows and then started the yoke, I was watching the end of the movie Tess of D'urbervilles and screwed up the row where you knit up the wraps, so had to rip that out and reknit it. Now, I'm back on track, hopefully.

Problem Photo Shoot

Thank you for those who have commented or emailed me regarding my poorly constructed question regarding stitch ?orientation ?spacing - oh well, whatever you wish to call it.

I attempted to take a couple of pics today of the minuscule swatches that still remain on the needles. They really don't show the problem very well.

This one really shows the v's upside down because of the gappy stitches.

Rosekimknits asked to see the back of the piece (the extra strings are because I'm knitting the swatch "cheating" in the round.)

I'm letting the pictures do the explaining because I was really in the back of the line when technical writing skills were handed out (pointless waffling - I obviously fought my way to the front of that line).

I'm sure I'm over thinking and over analyzing this, but still... it's bugging me.

I have a Question!

Quick Question:

When you look at a swatch of stockinette knitting and see that the V's, although looking very pretty and producing a nice fabric, look upside down (because the space between the "n" loops is bigger than usual) do you:

a) go up a needle size
b) go down a needle size
c) don't worry about it, it will block out
d) after numerous attempts to fix said stitch origin looking problem, use needles to stab yourself in the neck (like the girl does on The Happening with her hair stick)
e) although you don't drink at all, consider that this is as good a time as any to get drunk
f) whine to your husband about it and become so desperate you seek non-knitting husband's advice on what the problem is. Listening attentively as his scientific mind attempts to make a mathematical problem/equation of your dilemma.
g) seek kind sympathetic, yet experienced, advice from your favorite knitting blog readers.
h) wish that Meg Swansen would stop by unexpectedly for Teatime and to help you with any knitting problems.

Although I'd prefer h), I'm going with the much more realistic g).

Come on , knitters, shower me with your experience and advice.

A Knitters Souvenir

Some people buy postcards, t-shirts or bumper stickers as memento's of vacations past. I'm a knitter, so I always find a yarn store on our adventures and pick a yarn (usually a sock yarn) to remind me of our trip. I also always knit a sock while on vacation that reminds me of our trip.

When our family went earlier in July on vacation to Mackinac Island, I stopped at Mackinaw City and purchased some wonderful Casbah Hand Maiden sock yarn in beautiful blues and greens to knit a sock that reminded me of all the beautiful lakes, skies and trees that we admired on our trip. I'm running out of yarn so I'm trying to locate another ball though, so hopefully that will get finished just as soon as I locate another skein.

This time, when we went on a trip to Drummond Island (also located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) for a Hummer Invasion weekend to Turtle Ridge Off-Road Park, I grabbed yarn, Araucania Ranco Multi from the stash to knit a Coriolis sock that would remind me of our trip. I stayed up until 3am on Sunday when we returned so that I could finish the sock. I like them, don't necessarily love them, but will definitely wear them.

It was a wonderful little get away and we enjoyed all our toy has to offer us. She's definitely not a "Pavement Princess", yet she was comfortable enough that I could quite happily knit away on the sock as we went along some of the less bouncy trails.

I lied!

So, I lied on yesterday's post, here are a couple of pics of projects worked on this week.

It's all curled up on the edge (I haven't put the ribbing on the bottom yet) but this is the body of the sweater.

An unblocked Bartholomew's Tantalizing Sock. The linen stitch gives the yarn a stained glass effect.

It is a perfect souvenir sock for our Mackinac Island vacation. I'm starting on the second sock, but am pretty convinced I'm going to run out and will need to order more yarn.

quick post, no pics

I doubt I'll have time to snap a couple of pics in the morning, but you never know. In the meantime, here's a quick post before we head out to vacation to Drummond Island for a family Hummer Adventure weekend. We're so excited, don't worry, you're not required to be.

I've been knitting away, when I've had a chance, on the Henley Fair Isle yoke sweater and have the body completed. I've just cast on for the sleeves and have the cuffs done, hopefully I'll be able to get the sleeves done this weekend while driving up and back (although I wouldn't hold my breath).

I finished one of the Bartholmew's Tantalizing Socks in the Hand Maiden Casbah that I bought on our last vacation to Mackinac Island and realized that I'm going to need another skein. That's easier said than done as everybody seems to be sold out of the Nova Scotia colorway. But, I remain optimistic. The sock is gorgeous and my family is tired of my requesting that they watch me put it on and rattling on about what a knitting genius Cat Bordhi is. Again, pictures, would have been good here, but I'm sure you can imagine how beautiful they are.

I'm also waiting to hear if my yarn has come in for the New Zealand Sweater for the Ravelympics. I'm looking for 14 skeins of Jamieson's Spindrift in #187 Sunrise and can't seem to find them all in one colorway. I have other choices and back up plans, but again, hope springs eternal. (what exactly does that saying mean?)

More to follow on Monday, hopefully with lots of wonderful knitting to show you.

Team Knitting Camp - Knitting Athletes Required

All fellow Knitting Camp attendees. I've set up a Team on the Ravelympics for the Team Knitting Camp that start on August 8th and end August 24th. Please sign up, if your interested. I'm encouraging (not forcing, as Meg always says "Knitter's Choice") team mates to knit something inspired by camp, EZ, Meg, Joyce or Amy. Even better if we're authentic and use Schoolhouse products, but certainly not a requirement.

If the yarn comes in, Shetland Spindrift in Sunrise that I've ordered (it's annoyingly backordered right now) then I'm going to knit the New Zealand Sweater as my Ravelympic event, but haven't decided on a backup if that falls through. Although, the compass point sweater is calling me and tempting me to start yet another project, naughty thing.

Go to the groups tab on Ravelry and look for the Ravelympics 2008 group and sign on up. There is a thread that I've started for our team. Come, join one, join all and let's Knit Onward.

This one time at Knitting Camp ....

Meg showed us the wonderful new design for the 35th Anniversary of camp that is going to be in the next Wool Gathering. I want it. Bad.

Lots of gorgeous lace shawls were modeled for Show and Tell. ThereseS is here modeling hers. (I think she said that this was her first lace shawl that she knit. Her lacework is beautiful). I had the pleasure of driving ThereseS to camp from Wausau as she was in town visiting her daughter. She is lovely and was a delight to have in the car.
Meg modeled one of the designs coming in the new book published by Schoolhouse Press on Double Knitting. AHHHH! Sorry, I can appreciate the project, but I think I'd rather have a root canal without gas than double knit.

We watched campers model items they had made or wanted to. Now, I want to make them... ALL.

We acted a little goofy. AmyKnitsOn is wearing a hat made by a camper.

We shopped, and shopped, and shopped, and shopped, and thought about shopping, and shopped some more. Here is one of Earthtonesgirl's piles of purchases for consideration.

Meg cooed and ahhed in all the right places about our Show and Tells. Earthtonesgirl modeled her G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. Aran Coat knit in Malabrigo.

Did I mention we shopped?? Here is a picture of the Henley Neck Fair Isle from Knitting Around that I fell in love with. I kept putting it on and didn't want to take it off. After a few tries I came up with a different color scheme that I wanted to do and cast on.

The Clique had their picture taken with Meg. (left to right: me (notice this is the only picture I got with the February Lady Sweater on, RoseKimKnits, Meg and Earthtonesgirl.

I had to overcome my fear of the Knitted Gimp masks that were scattered around the room, that remind me of Pulp Fiction. So, how do I overcome that fear, by modeling them with Earthtonesgirl (for the record: RoseKimKnits drew the line with sticking a funky gimp mask on her head that probably numerous campers have worn.) Note: I was so sleep deprived at this time that I actually smiled behind the mask while posing for the picture. Ditsy or what?

Amy D. and I pose a shot together. The queen of all things purple!

Jessica and I mime our dinner at Royal Tokyo Restaurant, when we forgot that we shouldn't talk about politics in public. Jessica is channeling Rosemary's Baby or Satan Reincarnated and I'm ... well, I'm in need of a diaper change.

The girls. Nuff said. xx

Chat with Meg

Me (calling Schoolhouse Press): Hello, this is Kim DeMille and I just returned from Camp 2 and, in reviewing my knitting bag contents, discovered that I had a couple of items that I had purchased that were not on my Brown Book Invoice and I wanted to make sure that I paid for them.

Meg Swansen: Hello Kim. This is Meg Swansen. Weren't you the camper with the February Lady Sweater?

Me: Yes, that was me (note: I'm sure that I was supposed to say, That was I, but I was a little shocked that it was Meg on the phone).


Meg and I then discuss the items that I needed to add to my purchase. Then ...


Meg: Oh, Kim, I heard all about you from Amy D. and Michelle that you were doing the most wonderful impressions of accents from the British Isles. Apparently you had them rolling on the floor. I was so disappointed that I missed it. It won't be the same over the phone. If you ever come to Camp again please make sure that I get to hear you.

We finish the call with some chit chat about how she thinks that I do a wonderful American accent now, but that sometimes I sound Canadian.

I hang up the phone, and mumble to myself that I'm so glad that she remembers me for the funny accents and not for how RoseKimKnits, Earthtonegirl and I goofed around in the knitted GIMP masks or how we got into a heated conversation at the local restaurant while at dinner with Amy and her daughter-in-law Michelle.

No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye!

I'm just about to leave to pick up earthtonesgirl from the airport and meet Therese (another camper) and head to Marshfield for Knitting Camp. I'm ridiculously excited and don't feel as prepared as I'd like to be. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well, I'm sure I'll survive.

I'll seriously miss the little munchkins, but from past experience I recall that their was practically no free time to miss anyone.

Will report when I return.

Meme from Marji

What was I doing ten years ago? I was on bed rest with my second son and attempting to keep up with my job in Human Resources for Sears at their corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates. I was fiesty and tired of Chicago's notorious power outages when it gets too hot and having to go and stay in a hotel to cool down. DH was in dental school at Northwestern University.
2. What are five things on my to-do list today? Finish sleeve on Lady Sweater, Take DS#2 to ortho appointment, Arrange service for DH's hummer, Meet friends daugther at airport, and attend golf lesson.
3. Snacks I enjoy. Chocolate (english candy bars are, of course, my favorite). Twix is my all time favorite candy bar. Cereal (I could eat it 24-7, of course, only once it's been nuked for one minute in the microwave) Honey Smacks and Special K are my favorites. Oatmeal, but I like that served cold. Licorice Allsorts. Pear Drops. Hum Bugs and Chocolate limess.

4. Things I would do if I were a billioniare? Okay, I'm with Marji on this one ... I'd buy a house in the UP (Northern Michigan Peninsula). Buy homes for my parents in both AZ and WI so that they could visit both kids and get them checked out and health taken care of by REAL (non-national health uk drs) doctors and provide them with all the medical care they would need. Buy a lot of land suitable for lots of off-road vehicle driving for DH to play with his hummer and his new fleet of hummers. Set up trust funds for kids, nephews and nieces. Donate to my church. Donate money to find a cure for Celiac Disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia. Get the parts of my body put back in the same place they were before having four children. Enjoy treating friends and helping them fulfill their dreams. Build a new home.

5. Places I have lived? Torquay, Devon, England; Las Vegas, NV (2 different addresses); Salt Lake City, UT (four different addresses); Buffalo Grove, IL; Schaumburg, IL; Wausau, WI (2 different addresses).

6. Peeps I want to know more about. Is there anyone anywhere that hasn’t already done this? Denise, Jessica, Charity, Sue, ??

Summer Knitting Goals

One of the blogs I read, Skeins Her Way, is having a Summer Knitting Goals Contest and although I've been training myself to overcome some of "join-itis" problem, this was one that was in line with what I wanted to do this summer.



Here goes.... 2008 Summer Knitting Goals

1. Knit February Lady Sweater in Cascade 220 Paints. CO 6/12/08


2. Finish Oblique Cardigan in Kathmandu Aran. All pieces have been knit, but I still need to pick up the front bands, and do the neck and sew together.


3. Finish Riihivilla Rosebud Mittens. All that's left to do is graft the fingertips and block. ?? May need to rip and reknit one, as it appears i knit it on smaller needles.


4. Finish Maddie's Kimono. Pick up neck and front bands and sew together.


5. Sew side seams on Vivian Hoxbro's Rainbow Jacket in fall colors.


6. Cast on Moroccan Days in Woolen Rabbit Laceweight (kit). Try to get halfway completed.


7. Knit at least one pair of socks.
8. Knit (already cast on, but only about 5 inches knit) on Lupine Cardigan in Canadian Regal.
9. Knit Butterfly Jacket by EZ in Inca Alpaca.
10. Knit "LP" a Debbie Bliss Cardigan (can't remember name) in DB Baby Cashmerino.
11. Finish Mimbres Vest in Québécoise.

There's definitely more that I want to work on (and probably will at least cast on) this summer, but this initial list will do.

I'd really like to get a good chunk of it completed before I head to Knitting Camp next month. After all, who needs sleep. It's completely over rated.

I caught the Fever

The Lady Sweater Fever, that is!

I loved this pattern and immediately cast on in Cascade 220 Paints and have been thoroughly enjoying it. That was until I reached the one point on the pattern for yoke length. I'm knitting the size XXS, which although seems a little silly, according to the numbers it should make sense. I'm a size 4 and have a size 34 (okay, I'll be honest, the ever shrinking bustline is now a 32). I've been following the directions and hit a point that I'm not sure what to do. The pattern tells you to keep knitting until the front and back almost meet underneath the armpit. I'm knitting to gauge, but according to others on the KAL, considering the stretch of the garter they've been knitting to around 6 1/2" in length and then starting the body. Mine's not there.

I'm over thinking this. I know it. But i need to decide what to do, before I get discouraged and throw it on the pile of UFO's.

Any thoughts?!

Isn't knitting sweet?!

My friend forwarded this to me. She knows how much I love both knitting and all things sweet (especially cupcakes).


Good Enough to Eat!!!!

Red Carpet Time

Okay, I couldn't be bothered to grab the red carpet from the Mud Room for them to stand on, but here is our Little Princess and Cool Dude ready to leave for their Spring Concert at Elementary School.


To get the ready for the event, Cool Dude had asked me if I could rent him a Tuxedo. Sucker that I am, went in search of one, but didn't feel like shelling out $80 for one night. So, he decided to go with his suit and act out the GQ part in that. Apparently, he was a hit with the girls. (The player in Cool Dude really worries me sometimes - those eyes can make anyone melt).

Little Princess on the other hand, knew exactly what dress in her closet she wanted to wear, but did ask for her hair to just be put in a pony tail. Mum refused, so the Big Curling Event took place. LP has such long hair, and so very much of it, that it takes almost an hour to curl her hair.Here's a picture of LP smiling, because we're almost done. Her legs were going numb. Mommy had inhaled too many fumes from hair spray and they both had a fit of the giggles somewhere during the process.Look how beautiful her hair looks all curled. She has such pretty hair with so many natural shades and highlights of blond. Grandma DeMille once asked me if I colored her hair (I think she was about 2 at the time) :) and others have asked where her pretty blond hair comes from and if she's adopted. People shock me sometimes. For those wondering out there, Steve had blond hair when he was younger, which has now been replaced with many gray hairs and in some places an absence of hair, all of which having me for a wife and four kids have been the cause. We all think he's gorgeous. Also, I don't know if this counts, I have plenty of blond moments myself and am not sure that having a ditz for a mum somehow contributed to her stunning blond locks.
The Finished Product!

No apologies, No regrets, Just busy with life!

I haven't posted for a while. I'm not going to apologize because life has gotten in the way. It is what it is. I'm attending Camp 2 at Schoolhouse Press this year again and have been mulling over what I would like to attempt for my show and tell. Voila! Look what just appeared (okay, I bought it, but will deny it if the stash police are watching) on my doorstep. The Moroccan Days Kit from Woolen Rabbit. Isn't it pretty. I need to order 5,000 (yes, that's right - I did type in correctly five thousand) beads for it and then I can get cracking on it. I know it's entirely possible that I won't get it completed in the next three months, but who knows, I work well under pressure and deadlines... and this would definitely be a lot of pressure. I could have gone with the Moroccan Days Little Sister, but I wanted a nice meaty challenge. Do you think I got one?

BTW, don't you think that spring is interesting?! Interesting isn't exactly the word I used when I looked out of my window on Friday and saw this!!!!

And I was on such a role..

I actually posted three or four times in November. Then a couple of times in December, and then two months later. I'm finally getting a post going. I've been knitting... reading peoples blogs... commenting on peoples blogs.... thinking about blogging.... just not actually blogging. I am the perfect example of procrastination. (my knitting stash of nearly finished ufo's would attest to that). I kept waiting for the perfect time of day to take some photos, but would then become distracted or think that I'd get to it tomorrow. So, today, I'm finally posting (without photos as we really had icky grey weather today) just so that you don't all think I dropped off the face of the knitting world.

Okay, so let's catch up. My parents came to visit. I had the worse case of Strep I've ever had (horribly painful). Little EB became sick with the flu, became dehydrated, when to ER, and was bouncing around later that evening as though nothing had happened. I think there was a brief week where no one was sick, but I wouldn't bet on it. Madison got Strep. Ethan got Strep. Caleb tested positive for Influenza Type A. Kim tested positive for Influenza Type A. Yes, I personally am funding the local medical community, or so it would seem. Forget being on a first name basis at the Pharmacy, I think they're going to give me my own personal parking space. ;)

During all of this, I have been busily reading and knitting (well, and of course, doing 8-10 loads of laundry a week not including the extra loads when kids were sick). So far this year I've knit EB a earflap hat out of Chunky Baby Alpaca, it's gorgeous - I definitely need to get a picture of that one posted. To be honest, it wasn't actually for EB. I was lazy and cast on (guessed incorrectly at a needle size and didn't check gauge) while watching a movie with the family in the dark. It was supposed to fit Caleb, but fortunately we have a large number of head sizes to work with in this house, and EB grabbed it before Maddie got hold of it.

I have finished the Rosebud Mittens with the exception of the thumbs. So, I guess you'd say that they're not really finished. Maybe they're going to be thumbless mittens?? I loved this kit, even though I had a hard time with my gauge (not the pattern or yarns fault - it was my own). I'm pretty sure that any tension problems will block out. I still have two other of Leena's kits to knit up. I'm trying to show some restraint and not order some of her new mitten kits that she just posted. Take a peak.

I knit a couple of large squares for Beth at the Black Purl, who is going to have an exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts.

I started Oblique in January. I love the yarn (queensland aran) and the pattern. I highly recommend this pattern. I'm on the second sleeve and hope to have it finished by the end of the month. I promise pictures will follow.

I also cast on a toe-up sock (I'm normally a cuff-down sock knitter) using Ann Budd's basic toe-up sock chart from Interweave Knits. I'm using some wonderful Socks That Rock yarn in the Gibson colorway from Denise. I love this yarn. As I'm knitting with this yarn, I keep thinking of Denise and remembering Knitting Camp (which fingers crossed I get into this year). When I'm gifted yarn I always think of the person who gave it to me as I knit, it's like they're in the room with me as I knit.

I've been busy with some other projects and as usual there are plenty of kid activities that keep me busy.

Hopefully, I'll get some pictures posted in the next couple of days of some of these projects (I know marina, you've heard that before - I promise to include a photo of Chinatown - I think I've been promising that for the last few months).