Do the Happy Dance

I got the job!!!!! I now work two perfect jobs - lots of travel time involved (means being away from Home longer during the day - too bad I can't knit and drive - but will have to get an IPod for books!!) but everything else is so perfect it is sinful!!
Will write more and update my knitting....I'm doing something new!
ttfn - and KNIT ON!!!

Look what else I found

So these were my favorites - Cherry Tree Hill - I've fixed the heel where they wore out - twice already - so this sock yarn will not go into socks again - it just doesn't hold up!!

Have taken the day off from work today - to go to a JOB INTERVIEW! Will keep you posted!!
ttfn - Knit on!

Look What I Found!!!

Help

Edited - I found it here!!

Some time ago I saw a 'trick' for the kitchner stitch - where it doesn't leave those little ears.....can't remember where now - If anyone has any ideas where it was - let me know. I'm almost finished with new mitten number one.
Would show a picture but blogger isn't letting me upload.....
ttfn

Foiled again

Is that how you spell foiled - as in my plans are shot?
I had planned on working outside today - week after next is free yard debris pick-up - so was going to get started.....but this is what I woke up to - Hate it when that happens! It's pretty wet and won't last long - but still won't be a gardening day.
So in the spirit of 'Let's get organized' I'm cleaning house - boring boring boring.

Luckily my knitting storage is organized - the dresser holds needles in one drawer - just in there, not organized - all single points and circulars. The circulars are in a plastiz zip lock - but I still have to get them out and measure them each time I want one! Most of them are from my mom's supply - old but very usuable.
The other drawers have ball ends of all my past projects - organized by type mostly. Sock yarn in one, worsted in a few etc. The baskets on top are not yet used stash - about enough for maybe 5 socks and some stuff I thought I'd use for scarves - odds and ends. I think the big basket has almost a skein of Manos left from my sisters vest - need to find a project for that - the colors are so great. Maybe I could use it for a felted bag with something else?
The selves have knitting books, patterns, junk, etc. I need to get some of those shelf magazine holders - it would be much more convenient.
I found a great basket the other day at Target - but unfortunately didn't buy it and when I went back of course it was gone - it was big, smooth sided and Red. I wanted it to put behind my chair with my sock stash - I thought it would be colorful.
Someday when I find the perfect bookcase for next to my chair - I want one shelf for the knitting books and one shelf for baskets of yarn and stuff. But that's not high on my spending list at the moment
I made a few beaded row counters last night - didn't do a lot of knitting. But looks like today there will be progress!!

This just jumped in my stash

OK - I'm supposed to be saving for a sweater...but had to go to town to drop things off at the Engineers and a LYS is next door - so went in just to peek and look what I found. Lorna's Laces in Iris - the two small balls are my leftovers from another project - will combine them and hope I have enough for fingerless mittens.

I'm not forgetting my standed color mittens - just think these are better for my Wyoming friend because she is also a bird watcher - so while she is walking and watching she can just pull the mitten tops off and adjust her binoculars as necessary!!

Since Blogger seems to be posting pictures again - here is my wonderful knitting bag...

I've only got three responses for Let's Get Organized!!! Come on lets get commenting!!

Lets Get Organized!!!

In my last post I talked about my organization attempts and what I use – notebooks, baskets, new bookshelf etc. I’ve gotten a few comments from others about what they do…

Plus there has been lots of info going back and forth about ‘Stash Busting” ….

So Let’s Get Organized!

Pass on your comments to me and the first week of April I’ll put them all together in a post – I’ll try to only put unique ideas – no repeats in other words. We should have quite a collection of great ideas!!

Where do you keep your stash?
What do you keep by your knitting spot?
How do you keep all your needles and notions organized so you can find them?
What about all your patterns and printed materials?
Magazines? Books? Sanity?
What do you do with all the end of project balls of yarn?
Do you keep a written journal of Finished Objects – other than your blog?
You get the idea.

Tell you what – many of you have seen my beaded row counters for circular or DPN projects – I’ll draw a name out of the respondents and make a row counter just for you!

Deadline will be April 1st (No April Foolin!)
Knit on!

Weekend Update 2

It was a productive weekend…..knitting wise anyway. Didn’t do much else but knit and watch movies – Harry Potter-The Goblet of Fire and Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed both, Pride and Prejudice was slow, but beautiful to see the English countryside.

I did restart my Nordic mittens – I like them much better. I was doing them with a size 1 needle – but they were too small and the fabric was too tight – it they weren’t stranded color it probably would have been OK – so switched to a 3 – and they work great. I am much happier with the results.

I also found a quick knit pattern for my Trekking socks – totally easy to remember so this is my ‘carry with me’ project. I’m really loving the colorway – wish it showed up better on this picture. Any ideas about taking photos? Flash or not – inside or out? Natural light is probably better. But there isn’t much of that late at night when I finally remember to take pictures!!

Julia commented recently about my “Knitting Notebooks”
– I have two three-ring binders that I keep all my info that I’ve printed off the Internet, single patterns, tips& tricks etc. I have one for socks and one for everything else. They have the clear plastic sleeves on the covers so I can put pictures or notes or anything in them. When I’m working on a sweater that I’ve figured out the sizing on – I put in the page I did the calculations on. (I’ll have to write about that someday – I have an Excel spreadsheet that does all the work for me based on gauge – based on the percentage system – works great). Now I’ve got a full 8x11 picture of my wish list Dale sweater in it – motivation to save the money!!

I really need to stay organized. I have a magazine rack next to my knitting chair that holds these binders and a few other things. Trouble is I am always pulling out other books or supplies – so my space gets overwhelmed at times. I need to find a small bookshelf to put there instead of the rack – then I could have most of my books and a basket of yarn. I actually have a basket under the end table that houses all my paraphernalia.

One of my favorite and best knitting organizers is my pencil box – I got it in the school supply section and it is double sided. It holds all my DPNS, markers, cable needles, crochet hooks, the works. It has divided compartments on one side and a full size compartment on the other. It’s small enough that if I’m traveling I can put the whole thing in my knitting bag.

Oh my knitting bag! – it is my favorite! Daughter M2 brought it back for me from Jackson Hole last summer. I’d been lusting after it for a long time. It is a Pendleton bag – made here in Oregon. (I've tried to upload a picture - but you know Blogger - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - so you'll have to wait. ) Pendelton Blankets are real collectors items - so this is really special since I can't collect blankets - more on that subject at another time - I do have a wonderful Trade Blanket that belonged to my Great Grandmother.......another time for that!

Centered

So how did all my posts get centered Text? All of a sudden they just appeared this way?
More to come tonight or tomorrow I promise to get busy writting - but I actually have work work to do!!
ttfn

What kind of Needle Am I?

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every eventuality covered and every opportunity just has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and every day is a new beginning. You are good at so many things, it's amazing, but you can easily lose your place and forget to show up. They have row counters for people like you!
Take this quiz!








Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Yep that's me - a Gemini - Interchangeable!!!

The Plague

You know how some knitting projects just plague you – well my mittens are turning out that way, as well as my Trekking socks. I decided that the mittens were not big enough around – of course I was doing the decreases for the hand by this time …so frogged the entire mitten. (This is practice?) Started them again with bigger DPN’s and now think I don’t like the result either – but another evening will tell. What do you do?

I started a pattern with the trekking yarn and don’t like it either – the color is too dark to see the pattern and it’s not worth the effort if you can’t see it….so back to the drawing board for them. At this rate I’m wearing out the yarn before I produce anything!!

I printed a 8x11 photo of the Dale Sweater that’s on my wish list – motivation! I’m thinking of going into my LYS and getting just one ball of the Tuir yarn to make sure it’s what I want before I get the entire kit. Can’t afford to not like it.

I’ve got so much yarn in my stash that I don’t know what to do with (Not as much as some I’ve noticed!) Not enough for anything but stripped scarves or short socks. Bought a skein of Lorna’s Laces to match leftovers from something else and then used those leftovers for yet another thing – so am still left with one skein of LL – now I have to buy something else to coordinate with it – a solid or something….will I ever learn – probably not. My stash if full of these things – a few colors here and a different one there….if I’d buy stash for sweaters that would be one thing – but I never have that kind of extra cash – so its sock yarn for me to stash.

Hopefully I can get to the LYS this weekend - I'd like to try to go to the SnB too - I've missed for months - Saturdays have just been too busy.
Knit on!!

P3tog?

I can't believe I've never done anything with a P3Tog - I now know why - I've been working on a new sock with my Trekking XXL that's been in my stash and the pattern has a P3Tog - I hate it!! I've ripped it out and am searching for something else. I've tried different needles - a better point and I still can't do it comfortably - what a pain!!!
Also worked on my mittens - they are coming along nicely - but I know that the second mitten will look much better than this first one - I will have got the stranding down much better....so these might be for me instead of my friend in Wyoming - I've got plenty of stash to do another pair - Julia - this is real practice!!
Quiet weekend here on the homefront. Girls have been out and about. Today is homework and hopefully a walk - but the snow keeps spitting occassionaly, so we'll see. Washing and knitting is in the cards for me.
ttfn

Felting Help

Or your could remove the "P" from the title and it would explain everything.
So I tried to get my new washer to fill with Hot water so I could felt my slippers - but that doesn't work - don't know why - all the hoses are hooked up correctly and I do have plenty of hot water......

Anyway so the slippers are sitting in a pot of hot water on the stove - how long is this going to take? It's just not working. They've been there (Stirred often) for over an hour and there is hardly any change - this is Brown Sheep yarn even - should felt easy. What happens if I pull them now and try again when I have a few more hours - it's almost 10:00 pm now and I can't stay up all night........
Help please!!!

Wednesday Update?

Obviously – since It’s the middle of the morning and I’m posting – must be bored at work – yup bored. Boss is gone, work is all caught up and then some. So here I am blogging away…….lots of discussion out there about stash projects – I spent some time on Sunday looking at all my stash and figuring out what I could do with it. I had bought some Brown Sheep to do a vest for M2 daughter – but she decided she’d never wear it – so it’s been hanging around for awhile – then on Sunday it turned into this and by tomorrow It’ll be much smaller I hope. My first felting project!
I also came across two balls of Trekking sock yarn – so will do these socks with one, which will probably get started tonight also.
Don’t worry I’m still working on the mittens – but they are slower going – a long term project since it’s not going to be mitten weather for long. These are for a friend who lives in Wyoming who does lots of weekly walking – so she won’t really need them for awhile.
These mittens will be an unexpected gift for a very appreciated friend. A way to say Thank you for going beyond! As I said, she lives in Wyoming and we visited this summer when we were in Jackson with M2 daughter. Then M2 went to visit them and she had a wonderful time. Lots of heart to heart talks were involved and it was very helpful to M2. She called the other night just to see how M2 was doing – so I really appreciate her friendship. They will be moving back to Oregon in a little over a year and I’m looking forward to having them closer.
It looks like winter is back again – we’ve got a dusting of snow here on the High Desert and they say there could be a foot or more in the mountains by tomorrow – so no gardening for me this weekend. I have so much debris to pick up. We have a Free garden debris pick up with the garbage service – it’s in April so have to get stacking!!
I’ve planned a secret “me only” trip early this summer to the Black Sheep Gathering – thought this would be great for stash enhancement and maybe a class or two just for fun. I’ll go at least for part of a day and then head to Portland to see my family. Have to plan ahead!
I worked last night at my other job – which I love – when I left and walked outside I heard the local great horned owl hooting – it was a perfect evening – stars bright and the owl. It sounds really neat bouncing off the canyon walls - I almost cried it was so perfect!
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Warning – you may see more changes on my blog design today – just fooling around!
Knit on!

Womens History Month-Purple Hats

The following was sent to me by a friend - In honor of Women's History Month and Purple Hats. I'm sure many of you got one too - but rather than e-mail it on - I thought I'd just post it....

"IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally."

Enjoy and Knit on!

It's Still Me

So I'm bored at work today - decided to learn how to change my blogs appearance - now if I can just get rid of that box at the top and move my banner so it fills the page - or move the profile section up...I'm set.

I figured it out - by chance - don't ask me to show you - what I did was change the banner graphic - it uploaded it differently this time and it worked! Yea

Dale of Norway

How about this sweater - wish I could see it better....
I found it here. I think I would alter the dropped shoulders a little - tends to look big on me if I don't. But it's my colors and looks fun.
Still working on my mittens - I'm considering ripping them out again and using bigger needles - it seems pretty tight to me. That's the deal with stranded colors - we tend to knit tighter I guess. I have been experimenting with dominate color - doesn't seem to matter which color I carry in which hand - maybe on a bigger piece it would be more noticeable.
I've really got to get out of this small project mode - I just love the instant gratification aspect....but I need a big project to work on.....keep searching.
Remember the washer - came late etc - well now it doesn't work....repair people are coming tomorrow...what's the deal here. Everything I bought new - washer and lamp - has broken in the first few days. What did I do to deserve this?
Knit on!