Knitter in Progress

As I have stated before, yellow and orange aren't my bag, baby. BUT I started Magic Witch specifically for the yellow and orange around the candle. Would you believe that there are at least 6 shades of yellow around that candle? Maybe more(I'm afraid to count). I'm looking forward to a May of green(even though I'll be working on Turquoise--that counts as green right?) Maybe my grass will actually be green by the end of May--dare to dream :)

Well, there was no knitting here this week. BUT I did recommit myself to my Stashalong project beginning May 1. I have to give myself a little bit more free time ;)--I'm debating over whether to place a Knit Picks order or not, I really want to try some of that Main Line and I think I have the perfect summer project for it. I have actually only bought 6 balls of yarn since Stashalong ended(and two aren't even for my stash)--not too shabby, I say. Magic Witch--7600 stitches Now, there was stitching this week. I'm up to 7600 stitches(as of last night). Unfortunately, that is well below where I need to be in order to reach my goal by Sunday. I would have to stitch 1100 stitches per day in order to make it and that just isn't going to happen. I'm kind of bummed about it; I hate it when I set a goal I can't reach. I'm trying to take solace in the fact that I'm averaging about 292 stitches per day(which is a little over my usual capability of 200 per ...

Thanks for the idea Lolly :) Create your own Music List @ HotFreeLayouts!

I love it! A great big thanks needs to be given to Marina . Friday I received a package. It was unexpected and a very pleasant surprise. In it was a box of candy, some stitch markers(in Project Spectrum's April colors, no less), a very cool skein of yarn key chain, and a book(containing a pattern bearing Marina's name--I love it!) Thanks again! You didn't have to do that--it's a big enough treat for me to visit your blog and see all the gorgeous things that you work on. Your work is truly inspirational :) Everyone needs to stop by for visit!

Today's SBQ was suggested by Jenna (http://www.jennamagee.com/weblog/) and is: Do you do obligation or deadline-based stitching? Why or why not? If you do, do you tend to get in over your head and why? Obligation/deadline stitching--my nemesis! When my sister got engaged(1997), I decided to stitch L&Ls The Wedding for her. I actually finished it for her 5th anniversary! So obligation stitching and I don't play well together. I enjoy deadline based stitching to the extent that I like to challenge myself to get so much done in a set amount of time(like my Magic Witch Marathon this month), but as far as getting it done for a specific event--NO WAY, I refuse to put myself through that anymore. Booking Through Thursday This was suggested by Mary . Connect any six books in your library to each other by any way you want. One book will remind you of another because the author's name is similar, a fictional character shows up in someone else's book, another author is tal...

Not a lot of knitting going on here although when I was outside with the kiddos on Easter I turned the heel on my lacy socks(or as I call them, the funeral socks). I'm trying a short row heel--it looks okay, we'll see how it fits. I have a question for all of my knitting crew, why am I having so many problems with my straight versus circular knitting? I don't know if you can tell by the picture but the heel looks larger than the rest of the sock, gauge wise. I know that I tend to purl looser than I knit and I think that's the root of the problem. Anyone else have it? If so, what do you do to fix it? Lacy Funeral Sock Magic Witch is 20% done--sounds great unfortunately I'm behind on my goals for the month. By next Thursday I need to be at 10800 in order to meet my minimum goal--so that would require 550 stitches per day and as I am heading back into the dreaded "book" zone I just don't see that happening, I suppose I could cheat and start working...

Recent Acquisitions Recent Acquisitions: (1) Mason Dixon Knitting --Love it! I bought it for the Log Cabin Blanket pattern, but fell in love with everything in it! (2) Aran Sweater Design --I'm still going through this one, but it's autographed and it looks like it's a wealth of design information(something I've really been wanting to try--aim high I say). (3) Japanese Knitting Stitches -- Joanne turned me on to this book--I think it's the perfect companion for the Crossed in Translation book because it actually shows you how the symbols/stitches used in Japanese Patterns. (5) One Skein --I love this book there are quite a few things I would like to try. (6) Knitting Rules --I have only skimmed it so far, but you can never go wrong with Harlot :) My Easter Basket :) DH was actually off today--unbelievable for a Saturday and I got to go out sans children for a change. First stop was the cross stitch shop and lucky me all cross stitch fabric was 20% off. So I got...

Happy Easter!! Eggs dyed by Little Diva(writing by her Mommy)

I feel like it has been forever since I last posted! I have finally finished Little Rage's sweater. I wanted to go knit with my friends on Friday but I had told myself I couldn't knit until I finished the sweater, SO guess what I did during naptime on Friday: Little Rage's Sweater--finally finished Sweater specs: Pattern from Vogue Knitting on the Go Kids Knits(it's a pattern by Debbie Bliss), Yarn Encore Worsted. It was a fun knit with a ton of seaming. Next up on the knitting front is either the lacy socks or the top down raglan I'm working on. Magic Witch(4200 stitches) A week has passed--and what a week it has been. The books on the bottom corner--the *&^%$#@! books! I was doing great at my 400 stitches a day goal until I hit those *&^%$#@! books--I was up until 1-2am every night fighting my way through that section, last night I passed out at 10pm no stitching done. There are 90 colors in this piece and let me tell you I must have stitched all o...

Today's SBQ is: Do you stitch "on the go?" (On the commute to and from work, during your lunch break, waiting for the kids, etc.) If so, do you have a specific "travel" project or do you just grab whatever you happen to be working on and take it with you? No, I don't stitch on the go. I have such a process to get everything set up that it isn't really conducive to the car or out in public. Plus, I'm using stitching something large and complex. I save my knitting for an "on the go" project. That being said I'm thinking of taking Magic Witch to my knitting group tonight; we'll see if I can actually work on it though. Booking Through Thursday This week's questions were suggested by Kim . Do you have a favorite character(s)? I have four favorite characters at the moment: Richard Zeeman, Sirius Black, Acheron and Zarek. What book/author is he/she/it from? Anita Blake series/Laurell Hamilton, Harry Potter/JKRowling, and Dark Hunt...

April will be a stitching focus month for me. At the beginning of the year I set up a few goals for myself. Some of them dealt with cross stitch. One specifically was to pick a QS(quick stitch)from HAED and finish it. Well, I have finally found one that I want to do; it's Magic Witch . I'm not really sure what drew me to this piece. I like the subject matter and I think that I have witches on the brain(my Harry Potter addiction is responsible for that). In the spirit of Project Spectrum it's also a March/April transition piece. I'm not a fan of yellow and orange, but the candlelight in this picture will satisfy the yellow/orange of April. Watching everyone's progress and success with the Knitting Olympics really made me want to set a personal challenge for myself and originally my plan was to try and finish a QS in a month. This piece has 31,350 stitches in it--that's 1045 stitches per day! Now I am not saying it's not possible, BUT on a good day I ...

Tuesdays will henceforth be my WIP Wipe Out/Stashalong(the continuing journey) updates. I have quite a few started pieces that I would like to get finished so that I can start something else with no guilt. 7 WIPs Here's what needs to get done(in no particular order): 1. lacy socks(started on the whirlwind NY funeral trip) 2. top down raglan(March Project Spectrum piece) 3. hooded T shirt(started last year and very close to being finished) 4. Rogue Revisited(one sleeve done) 5. Beginner's Triangle(the first KAL I joined and it's still not done) 6. Little Diva's scarf(my longest WIP and now I'm not sure I even want to finish it at all) 7. Seaming Little Rage's sweater. Here's what's itching to get onto some needles: 1. Mim's shawls(Adamas, Mountain Peaks, Seraphim, and her as yet unpublished one in Summer's Interweave)--I have stash yarn for all. 2. My Albertville Olympic Sweater(which I have wanted to start since I started my blog)--agai...

Stephanie asked what the Stashalong Losers get. First, I wouldn't say anyone was a loser for leaving Stashalong--getting yarn is always a good thing. If you would like one of the buttons, take one(just note the dates you participated beneath it--after all you may not have finished but you did hang in there for a while!) Kim Here's how I finished up: Stashalong Start Stashalong Finish **Jaywalkers **Little Diva's Top Down Raglan **Little Rage's hooded sweater(which still needs to be seemed--I'm not knitting on anything until it is--enough is enough already) **garter stitch scarf **2 mini sweaters(for Christmas decorations) Yesterday's Purchases Amanda : got some KnitPicks yarn. Andrea Ann : during Stashalong she made a crocheted cat, 3 Mini Weasleys, Baby Cardigan, Postcards for swap, Itty Bitty Bear, Vinter Lue, Pot holder/hot mat, House Unity Hat, Womb, Another crocheted cat, Finished circular shawl. Cynthia : got some gift yarn(Brooks Farm no less) and g...

Congrats to all of us who have been able to resist the pull of yarn for the last 3 months--I had a GREAT time getting to know all of you! I'll be going around for a final check today and tomorrow BUT first I am going shopping! Have a great day and Happy April Fool's Day! Here are a few buttons you can use to proudly display your Stashalong Survivor success. I used Cool Text to make them and if I can do it(being the webtard that I am) any one can :) If you don't like one of these, feel free to design your own--display your Stashalong success proudly. You have earned it!! If anyone is interested in continuing(with a few changes of course), come join me at the Stashalong blog . Here are the new rules: (1) Choose a Stashalong time frame(1 month(minimum choice), 2 months, 3 months, etc). Personally, I would think about month to month--just in case :) Remember that during that time frame you will not buy any yarn(buying patterns, bags, and books are up to you). You can...