Knitter in Progress

Year in Review 2010 1. your best FO of the year: Based on the tenacity it took to master the pattern, I would say my Skew socks are my best FO of the year. 2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to: I have not really been reading as many blogs but there are plenty of FO on Ravelry that I have liked this year. 3. best yarn you tried: No new yarn for me this year--I stuck with my old stand bys. 4. best book/mag/pattern of 2010: Book: I have to say that, for me, Aran Knitting was my favorite release of 2010 in the knitting category. I also loved Amy Butler's Style Stitches so much that it motivated me to buy a sewing machine. Magazine: Oxygen is still my favorite magazine--I look forward to reading it every month. As for knitting, I have found myself buying Vogue knitting more and more and disliking Interweave Knits more and more. I am letting my Interweave subscription go when it's up this year which is bittersweet for me as I have subscribed to it since I started knitti...

Knitting: (1) Winter Lace--Lion Brand Thick and Quick--Free Lion Brand pattern (2) Baby Socks--Shibui Knits--personal pattern (3) Baby Hat--Colinette Jitterbug--Handle pattern (4) Baby Hat--Opal Harry Potter Tonks--Handle pattern (5) Rick socks--Red Rocks Fiber Works--Rick, Cookie A, Sock Innovation (6) Barn Raising Square--Red Rocks Fiber Works--Knitalong (7) Barn Raising Square--Collinette Jitterbug--Knitalong (8) Barn Raising Square--Pagewood Farms sock bites--Knitalong (9) Barn Raising Square--Pagewood Farms sock bites--Knitalong (10) Barn Raising Square--Pagewood Farms sock bites--Knitalong (11) Barn Raising Square--Pagewood Farms sock bites--Knitalong (12) Barn Raising Square--Shibui Knits sock--Knitalong (13) Barn Raising Square--Pagewood Farms sock bites--Knitalong (14) Dishcloth--Sugar and Cream Cotton--Mason Dixon Knitting (15) Dishcloth--Sugar and Cream Cotton--Mason Dixon Knitting (16) Dishcloth--Sugar and Cream Cotton--Mason Dixon Knitting (17) Dishcloth--Sugar and Cream C...

I made this pair of socks for my Grandmother to keep her toes warm this winter :) Stats: Needles--sz. 2, magic loop Yarn--Online sock Pattern--Classic Beginnings Socks for the Family I am almost 100% positive that this will be my last finish for 2010 unless I have a major knitting binge in the next few days. I am going to be making a blanket square with the leftovers--that "may" get done before the end of the year if I actually have time to sit and knit. And totally off topic but has anyone ever checked out this blog, And Then She Saved ? I saw a news feature on it a few days ago and I think it's a brilliant idea although I don't think I could go as spartan as she did.

. . . and to all a good night! Happy Holidays and Blessings for the New Year :)

October 16: I finished week one of Turbo Fire while simultaneously finishing my third week of my third phase of P90X Lean. My initial thoughts: **Music: I love the music. Music is so important to me when I workout; it really can push me to the next level. **The workouts: I have only done the first week's worth but from what I have seen so far they do not disappoint. The are definitely a step up from Turbo Jam but not as hard as Insanity. There are three types of cardio workouts: Fire, FireEZ, and HIIT. The HIIT workouts are on par with Insanity and the others are good steady state cardio workouts. I have also done the core workout and two stretch workouts. I'm anxious to try the toning workouts next week. **Diet: I am still reading through the diet materials. It looks to be along the lines of clean eating and I like that you can mix and match meals. I will definitely give it a go at some point in the next 20 weeks (yes, it is set up as a 20week program). I really look forward t...

From Left to Right: Diva's pumpkin "Moe", Rage's pumpkin "ghosts", Mommy's pumpkin "vampire with victim" Again this year Diva designed her own pumpkin. Rage picked his out of a pumpkin carving book--he scooped out the pumpkin and I carved. I decided I wanted to make a pumpkin this year (and I wanted more seeds) and I found my pattern in a book as well--I love it I wish it would last longer :)

Rest in Peace Dreamcatchers Kahlua (aka. Cracky) October 20, 1996-October 4, 2010 You sweet little bundle of energy. You were the most talkative, most high strung cat I have ever been around but you were so sweet. I will miss seeing your beautiful blue eyes, hearing your voice around the house, and hearing you purr when someone said your name(that's all it usually took). Letting you go is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My head understands why I had to but my heart didn't want to. I am glad that I was able to bring you home for one last weekend with your family, enjoying the sunny spots in the house, and soaking in all the love we could give you before your final journey. I love you so much and I will miss you every day. Good bye my sweet girl.

I am halfway through my third round of P90X. This is more of a hybrid version where I have been mixing up the cardio days with different programs--mostly Turbo Jam and Cathe . I have also been mixing up the ab workouts. I do not really like Ab Ripper--in fact, I call it hip flexor ripper because that's the only place I feel that workout. I have been subbing in Turbo Jam Abs, Insanity Abs, and Cathe's Ab Circuit and Core Max to get a more varied abdominal routine. In addition to those modifications I have been been adding an extra cardio workout after every workout every other week--did you follow that? Basically, I add an additional cardio daily on alternate weeks. I am looking into getting Turbo Fire from Beachbody . I really enjoy Turbo Jam--love the music. Turbo Fire is a big step up from Turbo Jam from what I've read. It incorporates HIIT training (high intensity interval training) as does Insanity but I think I like Chalene's music style more(she's the instruct...

I finally finished my Penguins socks. I started them when they won the Cup(2009) and finished one very quickly and then the dreaded second sock syndrome hit and I worked on the second one sporadically. I thought I could finish them while watching games last season but what I have learned is that I cannot knit a lot during a Pens game--I get too into the game. But they are done now, ready for pre-season which starts at the end of September! I also started another pair of socks for my Grandmother. I'm trying to do them using the magic loop method. I'm not sure my gauge is the same this way but I am getting the hang of it. In other news, I started a third round of P90X when my kiddos started school in August and I have finished the first month, starting the second this week. I just love P90X even though it is sometimes a pain to make the time to workout everyday--the results are more than worth it. Speaking of which, I need to go workout now.

Skew 6Aug2010 Originally uploaded by KnitterinProgress I finished these a few days ago. I shortened the foot a little on the second sock and I like the fit much better. I think that this pattern is more about form than function; they will be nice socks this winter when I want something warm on my feet while I am padding around the house or ---God forbid---shoveling.

I have started, and restarted, and restarted, and restarted this pair of socks too many times to count. I have finally finished the first one. I branched out and learned magic loop for this one and I learned a new toe up Cast-On. I followed the pattern exactly and they are just a little bit too long in the foot BUT I am not ripping it out. This yarn is sticky and knots easily. The pattern was fun as it is a departure from traditional sock structure. On to number 2! Stats: Needle: 1.5 40" circular Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock Pattern: Skew from Knitty

I made these for my friend's birthday. I loved the pattern and the yarn. Pattern: Show-Off Stranded Socks(Ravelry) Needles: 1.5 dpns Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight, Hard Rock This pattern uses up a bunch of yarn but I love the construction. I think that the basic construction of this sock would be perfect for a beginning sock knitter. The heel is made with increases and decreases instead of picking up stitches--which, from what I've noticed, seems to be the arch nemesis of new sock knitters.

The kiddos finished school and we are on to summer vacation stuff. In addition to our usual summer stuff, I decided to have Diva and Rage make a list of 5 goals for the summer. Diva came up with her list without too many problems. Rage, on the other hand, has 5 "goals" that all revolve around watching TV and playing video games--consequently his list is still a work in progress--my definition of "goal" is more along the lines of trying something beyond your normal. In the interest of being fair, I also made a list of 5 things I would like to get done this summer. Now I just have to get my husband on board--maybe that should be my sixth goal ;)

I am working on a gift for someone--can't say who but I can say it will involve more of these: It's the Ballband pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting. It is such a fun pattern to work on.

I have been working on squares while watching the NHL playoffs. Clockwise from the top left: Shibui Knits sock, Pagewood Farms Sock bites, Pagewood Farms sock bites, Pagewood Farms sock bites The purple square ran out of yarn with about 3 rows left so I threw on a super tiny sock bite in green. One bad thing about the sock bite bags is that there are tons of bits that are just about too small to do anything with. I am off to get ready for our upcoming snowstorm. I'm hoping it's a false alarm but from the looks of things outside I am not optimistic.

Totally Useless SAL for April(where is this year going, I can't believe it's April already)! Check out the blue sky in the background and the beginning of leaves! Bring on the hot weather :) No stitching jar this month--just the knitting jar. I should be adding more to the jar by next month because hockey playoffs are starting and I knit through the games :) Lets Go Pens!

Raising blanket, that is. Guided tour(top row, left to right) Pagewood Farms Sock Bite, Dream in Color Starry, STR Lightweight Opal Harry Potter, Red Rocks Fiber Works(from Stacey), Three Irish Girls Sock STR Medium Weight, Red Rocks Fiber Works, Pagewood Farms Sock Bite Pagewood Farms Sock Bite, Colinette Jitterbug I am probably going to keep cranking out squares to make one giant blanket instead of the two I was originally planning. Right now I have over 50 squares.

I have had a severe case of Second Sock Syndrome(SSS) over the last year. I have three finished socks and none of them made a matching pair. I have started to remedy that. Stats: Yarn: Red Rocks Fiber Works Needles: Size 2 dpns Pattern: Rick, from Sock Innovation And, although it's a little late, I have my picture for the Totally Useless SAL . I have added to both jars over the last month. Lots of red in the stitching jar thanks to the Bramble and the Rose :)

Here is where I ended up by the end of Closing Ceremonies on Sunday: In the Knitting Olympics there is only one goal--start/finish during the Olympic Games. I admit that this is what I had wanted to do with this project BUT life intervened. I had obstacles to overcome: **Rage was sick for the first week of the Olympics--as in home from school requiring Mommy's attention sick. **My birthday took out a day **I actually watched a lot of the Olympics and, although I was stitching during all of it, I was distracted by watching instead of counting especially during all of the hockey events. **I had a few visits to the frog pond when I was distracted by said hockey events. **By week two I was fighting off aforementioned illness that has taken down everyone else in this house. I decided after the first week that I would strive for one of the following: All 9 pages of the chart=GOLD 6 of 9 pages=SILVER 3 of 9 pages=Bronze I am proud to say that I made it to the BRONZE and I think that is s...

I am a little late in posting my Totally Useless SAL progress but here it is: I decided to start using two jars; one for knitting, one for stitching. I didn't get a lot of time to stitch this weekend--it is always harder to find time when everyone is home. I am going to to kick it into high gear this week. I love, love, love the thread I am using for this. I have always admired pieces people have done with DMC 115 and love it even more seeing it in person.

I've been working on some baby knits for my friend Sam's upcoming arrival. We had her shower yesterday so now I can unveil the the socks and hats I knit for her little one. The pattern is a personal baby sock pattern and I used a few yarns: Dream in Color Smooshy, Pagewood Farms, ShiBui sock, and Socks that Rock. These are too cute and very quick knits. It is the Handle pattern by Larissa Brown; I found it on Ravelry. I used Jitterbug and Opal Harry Potter yarn. I also bought her a few other store bought gifties. Now we just need to wait for the little one to arrive!

Fabric, floss, and pattern ready: Just waiting for Opening Ceremonies to begin, so I can begin :)

I have been working on Blackstone Fantasy Garden as an Olympic warmup. I finished the main design and now I'm just filling in. This will actually be set aside until after the Games. I love how it looks.

I've been hearing about this book in various places and I've been following the blog . I decided to read it and see if I was inspired--I'm still working my way through it but I'm fascinated. I love the idea of setting monthly, themed goals and adding to them each month. Although the book is a chronicle of the author's personal happiness journey, it could be tailored to fit anyone's personal goals. Even if you never read the book, you should take a look at the blog. I look forward to reading the posts every time they pop up on my bloglines. Maybe I need to use what I learn in it to find a way to make time for all of the things that make me happy: knitting, stitching, reading, family time, alone time, exercise time, etc.

I figured I should transition my mind from knitting to stitching if I plan on meeting my Olympic goal of starting/finishing Ink Circles The Bramble and the Rose , so I pulled out Blackstone Fantasy Garden(also by Ink Circles) in order to get my mind and fingers back in the stitching groove. I started this piece quite a while ago and have just pulled it out of the WIP pile. Stats: Fabric: 28 count white evenweave, the exact type I can't remember Floss: I'm changing the colors from the original piece. So far I've used DMC 814(the reddish color) and DMC 803 (the blue). I'll be using DMC Impressions floss for the rest of the piece. Stitched: 2 over 2 I'm hoping to have all the outlining done before the Olympics starts. When I first picked this back up at the beginning of January I only had about 1.5 pages done(of the outlining)--now I only have 2 of the 9 pages left before I start filling in :)

First finished project of 2010. Stats: Needles: Size 11 Yarn: Lion Brand Thick and Quick, Claret Pattern: Winter Lace Afghan, Free at Lion Brand It's very easy knitting once you get the pattern down. It makes a heavy, nice sized, lap blanket. I have also decided to participate in the Totally Useless SAL again. I'm using my jar that I started in July. I'm thinking I might divide it into two jars--one knitting, one stitching. Here is the jar as it is now--the bulky yarn from the blanket really added to the contents.

I have been thinking that I would challenge myself to some Olympic knitting/stitching a la Harlot. Right now I am thinking I would like to start and finish Bramble and the Rose by Ink Circles during the Olympic games next month. Anybody else going to give themselves an Olympic size challenge?