Can I have a Do Over?

Thanks to all that have sent me messages checking up on us. Here is what have been going on the past month and then some.

At the beginning of January James ended up sick. We believe that it was from taking him to the Cincinnati Museum Center. He had gotten family passes for Christmas and so we decided to take a trip there while Kevin still had time off from work. It came back to bite us in the butt. A few days later he came down with a head cold. Guess I am glad that I put off having his Birthday party until later in the month. That was a week plus that I had a toddler completely glued to my side. He refused to go to Kevin at all! I even had to take James to the bathroom with me.

Next came the chaos of trying to get down all the Christmas decor and to get everything together for James' party. He wanted Thomas the Train is year, so I had to go to the party store to get the stuff. No running to the big box stores for this one. Then he decided that he wanted a pinata. Of course the store that we were at were out of them so we had to go across town to get it. I have to admit that it is pretty cool. It was a pull string pinata. If you have never seen these essentially they are made for little kids where there are a bunch of ribbons attached to the bottom. The kids take turns pulling a ribbon in hopes that it will open. There is only one ribbon that will open the door on the bottom. So there was the making out of all the invites there was the cleaning of the house.

Cleaning seemed to take forever. It is amazing how you can get comfortable with all the stuff around you. Then when it is time to have a party you look around and realize that the house is trashed and it is going to take forever to get it all cleaned. Which it did take forever. I kept finding things that I wanted to do. The house did get clean in time and I am hoping to keep it that way.

The Birthday party was a big hit for James. He had a great time and got so much stuff. He had a pile of clothes up to the top of the arm of the chair! The poor child. ;) He of course got a nice selection of toys too. Sadly the MIL wasn't feeling well, but more on that later. So after the party was the next few days of clean up. Why is it that you find plates and cups days later no matter how hard you looked for them the days before?

Then on January 30th I went out to feed and watter the rabbits. The French doe was happily hopping in her cage. The English buck on the other hand had passed away some time that night. :(. He was fine the day before, so I don't know what happened. After reading on Ravelry and talking to some people there were many that died that day or within a few days. Kind of odd. I so miss him. He was so soft, cuddly and sweet. Yes they were in separate cages, so there was no foul play on the doe's part.

Remember when I said that my MIL wasn't feeling well at James' party? Yeah well she shouldn't have come because James started getting sick again a few days after the party. Now he has given it to me. It is some sort of upper respiratory thing. The cough is what is the killer. If the cough would just go away it would be so much better. So not only am I sick, achy, fever, cough, etc. so is James. That means he clings onto me so I can't even take a nice hot shower to hopefully feel better. Now Kevin is saying that he thinks that he is getting it now. I sure hope not. James is bad enough to deal with sick, Kevin is horrible! I hope that this goes away soon. I am exhausted and just want my life to be somewhat normal again.

Sorry for the unhappy post, but I wanted to let you all know where I have been. I have over 500 posts to read, so I will try and read them all, but I probably won't have the time to comment. Just know that I am reading and thinking of you all. Hopefully the next post will be soon and much happier.

Secret Scarf

Not only did I send something to my friend's son, I also sent something to her too.

I found this yarn of course at my NSLYS. Sadly when I took these pictures there was no sun out so there was no natural light. I had to settle for using the flash and it completely washed out the color. I know it looks completely blue, but I swear that there are purples, pinks and hints of grey in there too.





















The yarn is Wooly Feathers by Mountain Colors. The color is called Sweet Lavender. If you look at it on their web page it looks completely different than what I photographed.




















Details:

Needles: Sz. 13 Straights

Yarn: Mountain Colors Wooly Feathers Sweet Lavender (1 skein)

Pattern: Completely garter stitch

This was another quick knit and the only pictures that I got of it is what you see. Wish I would have gotten more pictures, but I was more concerned that I got it out in the mail and to the recipient before Christmas. I was so glad to hear that she liked it.

Do These Look Some What Familiar?? :)

Well here are the secret socks that I was making for a friend's son. I can show them now since we have revealed who had who in the ecxhange. They are made from the same Cascade Fixation that I made James' out of (different ball/dye lot).


I said that I loved this yarn and I wanted to make more of them. Well I was true to my word. :)
















I do have more of the Fixation in different variegated color ways and solids. I like the softness, stretch and cushieness of this yarn knitted up. Honestly I was a bit apprehensive at first, but once I tried it I was hooked. If you have never tried it get a ball or two and I think you will love it. It will take one ball for baby/toddler socks and two balls for adult socks. I know that my NSLYS sells it for $4.60 for the solid and $5.5o for the variegated. I think that is a really good price for sock yarn. Especially something that will be a good yarn for a child.















Here are the socks almost finished. All I need to do is the foot, the toe and then Kitchener it together. As quick as they went that part didn't take me long at all.















I really like how they look like some sort of weird zebra. Everyone that has seen them in person think that they are really cool too. Anja said that she loved them. So I am glad that they were liked and are appreciated.


On to the details:

Needles: Sz. 4 DP

Yarn: Cascade Fixation 1 ball (Black, Grey, White)

Pattern: Same as James' K1, P1 rib for cuff, plain stockinette for leg and foot, Round heel and classic toe

It is time to cast on some more of these in different sizes for James. I think that this might be my travel knitting. Small, compact and a quick knit.

I didn't get a picture of the second finished sock or a picture of it all cutely wrapped up in it's label. I was in such a hurry to get it out in the mail that I completely forgot.

Up next will be what I made for Anja and I think I will be pretty close to being up to date on my knitting.

Mom's Christmas Scarf

Still on the Christmas gift tangent here. As for 2007 knitting I have been working on pair of socks for Kevin. The man has a size 17 shoe! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I knit these. LOL

I made my Mom a scarf this year as one of her Christmas gifts. Of course with the weather being so warm lately I don't foresee her needing it if the weather keeps it up. I guess she will be ready for next year if this winter doesn't get any cooler.


















I used the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf Pattern. The pattern was so easy to memorize and it was a fun knit. It knit up fairly quickly as well. I am very happy with the pattern and the way it looked and I would love to make more of them. Maybe I will list a few on my Etsy store.

Here are a few close-ups of what the pattern looks like knit up. Cool hu?



























I can say that the above pictures are washed put quite a bit. The picture below shows the color more true to what it is. It is a nice deep red.


















Details:

Needles: Sz 8

Yarn: Yarn Source Sol 100% Wool Burgundy (this is my NSLYS's own line of yarn click the link below the picture on their web page to see all the colors and to order it on line, plus check out their own line of silk called Passion the prices are really good for both of them)

Pattern: Via Yarn Harlot

I am really ready to knit this pattern again. It was fun and pretty much a mindless knit. If you can count to 4 you can do this pattern.

So my question to you is from all the colors of the Sol which one is your favorite or top favorites?

Knee Warmers

No you didn't read the title wrong. These are not leg warmers. My mother-in-law is always saying that her knees are cold in the winter, especially at night. So my father-in-law gave me the idea to make her a pair of knee warmers for Christmas.

I think the hardest part of these were getting the measurements without her knowing it. My father-in-law said that she had tried some leg warmers and they fit, but after a little while they felt like they were cutting into her thy. So I asked him to look for them and I would just make them a little bigger. That was a no go. He searched high and low and couldn't find the dang things. I then saw that Cat Bordhi was looking for measurements of people's feet for a new book, I thought "ahhh haaaa! That's how I can get the measurements!" So I took all the measurements of her that I would need for socks and then some. She never questioned it. LOL So now I at least have her measurements if I want to make her a pair of socks. :)

I used a wool and soy blend that my NSLYS** had just recently got in. It is from Rowan and is called Tapestry. I used the Rustic colorway. I bought a bag of it since I had no clue how much one leg warmer would take. I only used just a little over 1 ball for each one. Of course with my mother-in-law leg measuring 15 1/2 inches at the largest part I didn't need much yarn. LOL So that added up to 2 and not even a half that I used. I really loved the colors of the yarn and I debated on taking back the rest, but I decided to keep it and make socks or something else. I bet it would make a lovely scarf as well.

I didn't get many pictures of them as they went along. I had so much knitting to get done that I didn't take the time out to take photos. Heck I thought that I took a picture of it with it's label and all, but I can't seem to find it, so I guess I thought about it and never did it.

Up Close and Personal













Beginning of Knee Warmer













First One Done













It's Twins













Another View


Details:

Needles: Sz 3 circulars

Yarn: Rowan Tapestry in Rustic (see above for link)

Pattern: Made it up on the fly. K2,P2 rib for cuff. Then changed to K1,P1 rib until the knee section. Knee section done in stockinette except for either side of the knee that has a few rows of 1x1 ribbing for more flexibility and hopefully won't bunch. The repeat the rib rows just the opposite as before.

My mother-in-law used them that night to sleep in and she said that she loved them. She said that they stayed up all night and didn't cut into her. She said that they were perfect. I am so glad that she likes them. I will knit for her again ;). Maybe I should make her a pair in alpaca. Oh that would be nice. Heck I could see her wearing both pair together. LOL

Thanks for all the sweet comments about the little hat in the last post. They will be off my list for sure. Come to find out my Mom went to visit them while they were still in the hospital. She had taken a gift for them and she said they didn't look in the bag to see what it was or say thanks. I am just dumbfounded. Needless to say the family is invited over to the new baby's grandparent's house today to see the baby. I had originally planned on going and of course I would have taken something for the baby, but not I am really thinking about not going. I am wondering if I should really waste my time with them. Maybe I will go to my NSLYS** and look at some yarn or something. At least there I feel welcome and appreciated.

Sara thanks for the info about the books. I swear I have the mitten book, but I don't see it on my list of books I have. I will have to look and see if I have it, if not I will have to see if Christina still has it.

Have a lovely day.

**NSLYS - Not So Local Yarn Store

Happy Holidays!!

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas or what ever it is that you celabrate this time of year.

We had a busy month. Every weekend this month we had either a family gathering for Christmases or Birthdays. In a way I am glad it is over, but on the other hand I really love the holiday season. In just a few weeks we will have another celebration. We will be having a birthday party for our James. He will be 2! I just can't believe it, I am still in denial. His actual birthday is on Jan. 1st, but we will have the party later on the weekend. After that I hope that things will calm down and I can get some things done, like knitting.

I do have some knitting things to show you. It will have to be later though. Hopefully I will get some time later tonight or tomorrow to download some pictures.

We had a wonderful Christmas. James got loads of stuff. He not only got toys, books, and such but he got an entire wardrobe of clothes! The poor child is so deprived isn't he. (*rolls eyes*)

Guess I will stop rambling now. Hopefully I will have some pictures to share with you soon.

SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!! SALE!!!

ETA: I will leave this post at the top of the blog until the sale is over. For new posts look below this one.

Yep you read it right. I am having my first sale at my Etsy store. It begins December 1 and will run until Christmas. So please stop buy and if you feel so inclined purchase a sweet little hat for that little one that could use it this winter. Most hats have been marked down at least $5.00!!!!

Just click on the link above or the picture in the sidebar or below to get there.



Thanks so much!


ETA: I will leave this post at the top of the blog until the sale is over. For new posts look below this one.

Socks!

First off we had a 3 for 1 Birthday party this past Sunday. It was for my Sister-in-Law, Brother-in-Law and Niece. It was the day that the rainbow socks were making their public arrival. I was keeping my fingers crossed that they would fit and most of all that she would like them.

The socks fit her perfectly! I was so happy. After opening all her gifts she put on the socks and wore them all night! I was so glad that she liked them. It is still exciting to me to have someone really like something that you put all the hard work into. She is such a sweet young woman and when we were leaving she thanked me for them and the other things. I can't believe that she is 15 now! Where has the time gone.

Here is a picture of the socks before they were wrapped in their festive birthday wrapping.



Here is my niece with her socks on. She looks sad because James refused to sit and take a picture with her. I think she was trying to guilt him into it, but he wasn't budging on his decision.




I finished one of the toddler socks last night and cast on for the next one. I am hoping to get it finished tonight. I am at the decreases for the gusset so I am going pretty good on it. I would really like to be able to have them out in the mail tomorrow and on their way.


I can't believe that it is almost Christmas. Only 1 week away and I still haven't wrapped any gifts. It might be a long night on Christmas Eve wrapping presents.