Pssstttt....

I'm over here.

Blogger has served me well these last couple of years. It has helped me get a good start in the world of knitblogs and let me get to know all of you so well! But, I've decided now's the time to take the next step in blogging and make Knittymama.com official! I hope you decide to join me over there as I'm looking forward to this next step in my blogging journey. I'm hoping to keep things a little more organized and my posts a little more frequent. And of course, there will be a blog-opening contest! So come on over, join me in the fun, and don't forget to change to the new feed. I'd hate to lose any of you in the move.

I'll continue to maintain this blog for the time being. I still haven't quite gotten everything switched over, and I think I can still have some use for this one as well. Thanks for everything. See you at the new site!

I'm re-posting this...for some reason Bloglines didn't seem to pick up the post.

Secret Pal and the Mailman

I am really starting to dislike my mailman. First, he sort of forgot to let me know he was trying to deliver a package from Valkyrie Knit This for the GPA craft fair, and it was nearly returned and got to me two weeks late. Now, it turns out he gave my last SP9 package to the wrong person, who was luckily not a knitter and sent it back to my pal. He gives me the wrong mail at least every couple of weeks. I want my old mail lady back!

Anyway, I am planning on stalking him as I am waiting for this to arrive. Are you in as much shock as I am? The coolest contest ever and I won!! Poor April has had some bad luck lately though, so send her some get well soon thoughts while you're over at her blog.

On to Secret Pal 10. I got a lovely note from my new pal. Here are my answers to the questions for this round. And I might just need to have a chat with my mailman about my important yarn packages that frequently arrive at this house.

1.What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love wool and other animal fibers, or any natural fibers in general. Totally not an acrylic kind of girl. A little microfiber in a nice blend (a la Rowan or Debbie Bliss) is fine.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I've been making my own needle cases lately.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Just about 4 years now, from my friend, my Grandma, and all you online lovlies out there. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'd say intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yup.

5. What's your favorite scent? Anything all natural. Citrus or lavendar. And it's got to be really all natural, lilke from a coop or something. Anything else gives me a whopping headache.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate:-) Dark, milk, nuts. I love it all!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I spin and sew. I'm trying to crochet but it's not going well!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Indie, classical, jazz, folk, world. Yup to MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Pinks and blues with brown, bright colors, really anything except baby pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm married with two little boys. I have two cats and a greyhound.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to everything but the ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks, sweaters, hats, mittens, bags....depends on my mood.

13. What are you knitting right now? A diaper soaker, a baby sweater, socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? You know, I pretty much use them all. Depends on the yarn, although I do really like Addis.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 3 years

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Aside from yarn, books and fabric, I'm an anti-collector. I keep trying to avooid having too much stuff, although it doesn't seem to work very well!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? All of the latest Interweave books: Lace Style, No Sheep, Socks...I subscribe to Interweave Knits, Vouge Knits, and Knit Simple.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'm hoping to get moving on soem lace for my next project.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes. I'm an average size 8.

23. When is your birthday? March 29.

Thanks in advance SP10!!! I'm excited for another fun round.

The raglan pics are coming. I decided this sweater is more deserving of nice pictures taken by The Skeptic rather than a crappy self portrait.

Coming Soon.....

Thanks to a nice weekend back at my parents, the raglan is done and I'm happy to say it is awesome!!! But, it's still damp so no pictures yet. I should be able to get some tomorrow and then I can show it off.

Glad everyone liked my collection of stuff in the last post. The needle roll? Let's just say there will be more to come with a certain new blog unveiling next week, as soon as I get my act together. I'm stressing a bit, because our little household will be celebrating all four birthdays in the next month. I want to open up the new blog and have a little celebration and we start with Knittybaby's birthday next week. "What??" you're all saying....Yes, he's going to be one. I'm totally shocked about this. Then it's my birthday. Then Little Man turns four (crazy!!). Then the Skeptic has his. That's a lot of cake in one month.

So anyway, next week keep your eyes out for the move, and the needle rolls. In the meantime, I'll keep you updated over here until I'm all set to go.

Keep your fingers crossed I get that amigurumi done. He still has no head.

Now where was I?

Oh yes, projects.

But first, I know I didn't get a chance to say thanks to all of you who left me such nice get well messages. I went from feeling a little better Monday night, to even better Tuesday, to thinking I was surely going to die of a head explosion yesterday. I did absolutely no knitting for the last two days and went to bed early. Very rare for a busy body like me. Usually I'm more of this variety: I feel like my head is going to expolode and this pain is unbearable. I need to go to bed. But first I have to wash the floor, do the dishes, and knit twenty more rows on my sock. Which is probably why I'm so sick in the first place. But today was good, and while I did wash the floor I took it easy most of the day.

So anyway, before I gave in to the sinus infection of death, there was a dragon at my spinning wheel.


He's been making frequent apperances lately, which should make his grandmother very happy that money for the dragon costume has been well spent. The dragon, along with his assistant, the tiny Wool-Eater, had been helping me to spin this:

Into this:

Which now looks like this:

Still pretty uneven. My spinning is still in the "woo-hoo, I'm SPINNING!!!" stage which means I just keep spinning away, oblivious to being even slightly even. But it's still beautiful, and really, how even can you get with a dragon and baby who eats wool as your assistants?

Next, the pincushion:

Nothing too fancy. My first attempt at piecing anything together. But hey, it's cute and does the trick.

This is my favorite:

Another one? Yes, but not just any old needle roll. A sock needle roll. A tiny roll for tiny needles.


See those little six inch size zeros in there? Yes folks, no more needles sliding around in a too-big needle roll that was meant for seven inch size eights. This is for teeny-tiny sock needles only! And with interfacing...no more poking holes in the bottom. I'm very excited about this, and guess what? There will be more coming!

The only thing I'm a little dissappointed with is that the inside panel was supposed to be off-center on purpose, but I didn't off center it enough so it just looks like I can't measure. Other than that I'm pleased with the roll as well as my sewing skills. All those hearts made this a breeze.

Finally, the Ann Budd Raglan of Interweave Knitts, Spring 2004. It's been hiding in my closet for two years. It used to be my lunch project, and I lost interest while pregnant since it would be no fun to finish it and not get to wear it. But now it's back, and I'm decreasing.


Little Man's suggestion? "Take is apart. It's yucky." (Someone didn't think taking pictures of Mama's stuff was a fun afternoon activity. I can't understand why.)

I also have started some socks for the Skeptic but no pictures yet, as my picture taking mission had to come to a close. I'm sure you all understand why.

Now, off to another early bedtime.

Sick

So two weeks ago I came down with a little cold, which has since turned into some sort of ranging sinus infection. It kept teasing me. I'd feel better one day then worse the next. I finally decided this morning that work was just not going to happen and I needed to go to the doctor today. This stinks, as now I've missed my Monday music students two weeks in a row. Not cool when I only see them once a week. But, I reminded myself that this will not cause the world to end and I need to take care of my health. So off to the doctor I will go today.

I actually had a productive weekend craftwise. Being sick means I avoid all real housework and take it easy, either in front of sewing machine, wheel or needles. I sewed a new needle roll and pin cushion on Saturday (when my body tricked me into feeling a bit better) and spun a bobbin on Sunday (as I progressively got worse again). By the afternoon I just plopped myself in front on the needles and attacked my raglan sweater with a vengence. What raglan you say? The Ann Budd raglan hiding in my closet. I'm officially on the yoke. I have no pictures to show as I feel too crummy to find my camera.

Finally

So it's a little late, this snowstorm, as I was already starting to look forward to my tulips. But I'll still gladly take a good snowstorm, even in March.

On Thursday, Little Man decided that he and Knittybaby needed to sit back and watch the storm start up.


After two days of snow, this is what we awoke to this morning:


My ever faithful mailman showed up Thursday night around seven (he's usually here by three, poor guy) with this lovely prize from Javajem. I won her contest!!!

I can't say enough how thrilled I am with this package. Beautiful yarn, hand dyed by Jody herself. I love the colors! And inside that adorable little bag (oh how I love little bags!)...

Her own hand made stitch markers and earings, and two cute little sheepy erasers. I love these so much! I've been wanting set of beaded markers, and this little kitty ones are so cute. I've been needing new earings and these are so lovely. Thank you so much Jody!!!

Finished:


Yarn: Lorna's Laces Sport
Color: Vera
Needles: size 3
Pattern: Nothing fancy. Cast on 56, garter stitch rib cuff. Heel flap.
Verdict: soft and warm!

Valentine's Day?

Yeah, our Valentine's decorations are a little bit late. But, I'm pleased that I stuck it out and finished this little garland up.

The lighting wasn't so hot and I had a hard time getting a good shot. But they look beautiful hanging by the window and I'll leave them up until Easter, to add a bit of color to the house. Lately I'm wishing for the house to be filled with color. It feels so blah lately....

The heart garland is a kit from Anna Maria Horner. This was a perfect practice project for me. Practice in using my rotary cutter for more than straight lines (easy!) and having to sew curves (HARD!) although I got better.

The big trouble was my sewing machine. All of a sudden it wouldn't bring up the bobbin thread. I messed with it for an hour and gave up. The suggestion at Mom's Night last evening was to change my needle and wind a new bobbin. Those mamas are smart, it did the trick and the garland was finished last evening.


Now for a little envy: SOCK CLUB!!!


I joined one at Spunky Eclectic. I love her colors and you join on a month to month basis, which I like. The one for February is called Forecast.


Considering we're swamped with snow here, it's perfect. We're gonna hunker down for the next day and enjoy a nice snowstorm!

And just because there's always room for a good laugh at the end of a post, guess what Little Man called me this morning? "Friggin' Mom. Friggin, friggin Mom!" He did not like the lack of chocolate in his breakfast options. Apparently the Skeptic and I have not cleaned up our vocabulary quite enough.