Bad Blogger?

*sigh*
No, not really bad blogger..but bad computer! I'm having hardware issues. My power plug is messed up on my laptop and the replacement isn't working either. So I've no real power!

I'm lurking as much as I can and hope to be back soon!

Thanks for all the previous comments. I'm not ignoring you and will respond when I can!! Meanwhile I'm off to work on the 2nd Jaywalker. :)

Socks Socks Socks

My first Jaywalker is done! Whoot! I don't have a completed picture of it, but this is the latest I do have.

I am in the process of finishing the DH's first sock. It will be grafted by tonight.

So my eye is wandering..where to next. It's not like I have to make mates for these socks, right? Seriously though I'm having some sock burn out, need to toss something else into the mix. Let's just ignore that I ordered 3 skeins of STR last week. :D I had to use the Destash Coupon they gave to Rockin Sock Club Members, right? Right. I knew you'd understand.

My local Guild, which I adore, is holding a mitten contest in July. We have a few members who have been State Fair Judges in the past and they'll pick the winners in different categories. One is gloves, thank goodness, because I really hate wearing mittens. Something about all my fingers mushed together...we all have issues. Anyhoo, the winners get..well fiber of course. Anyway, this is what I've been stewing over.


Here is what I have to play with.


Various shades of Dalegarn Heilo. I think I've narrowed it down to this pattern.


It's by Nancy Bush and is actually written for Heilo, so there'd be no futzing with gauge, etc. I'm not decided on which color will go where, but I'm excited I found this.

Off to finish the DH's sock and ponder what colors for these gloves!

Jaywalkers and Ravelry!

Two great things.

I gave up on the whole Grasshopper thing with the Wild Tide. I tried the Embossed Leaves and had zero luck with that.

Ah but now..now I've found the pattern to match the yarn!


Then there is the lovely thing that is Ravelry.



OMG. I'm in love! I got my invite and it's really all that and a bag of chips. It's an online community for fiber freaks..I mean enthusiasts! It's small and grower, costs nothing and is run by advertisements. If you want to join, oh and I know you DO, go to the site and sign up for an invite. It took about 2 weeks for mine. The creators are really nice, so if it takes awhile, try to be patient!

It allows you to list your FOs, WIPs, your Queue, your stash all linked into various databases. There are discussion boards, ways to link your blog entries to the aforementioned. Seriously, it's an online knitter/crocheter/spinners dream.

If you join, look me up! I'm KnittyLynn.

Whew. Ok. I'm done. ;)

8 Random Things

Eight random things

So Sandie (Stash-N-Stitch) tagged me!
But first: The rules!

1: Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.

2: People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these
rules.

3: At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.

4: Don't forget to leave them a comment and tell them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Here you go! This is going to require a LOT of thinking.

#1. I bite my nails. I quit for over a year and started again this past winter. :P

#2. I'm watching Heros right now.

#3. 3musketeers is my favorite chocolate bar.

#4. I want an Infinity G25 so bad. For now I'll settle on my Odyssey minivan.

#5. My daughter plays on a soccer team called the Robins. I played on a soccer team named the Robins when I was 6. Too cool.

#6. Before I knit constantly, I used to read a bunch. Stephen King, Anne McCaffery to name 2.

#7. I love Harry Potter. But I almost don't want to read the final book. Because it's a FINAL book. Yuck. I don't want to give it up.

#8. I met my husband while playing rec volleyball. If you want to do it, you can. Whatever IT is, you just have to try.

I am tagging Cathy, Leah, Just A Knit Wit, Beth, Anne Nahm, Mini, Kerry and Peggy!
I hope you will all play along, but it is not mandatory. So if you really do not want to, do not feel obligated. It's just for fun and to help us get to know each other better.

Knitting Survey

This is a knitting survey……

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book - oh wouldn’t that be amazing!
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public - Darn tootin'

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?
It's given me a focus in a variety of ways. I actually finish items as opposed to other crafts I've participated in. This is more of a passion than just a hobby.

I came across this Knitting Survey over at Yellow House Treasures .

HOW ABOUT YOU?!!

Place this on your CRAFTY Blog and link to me.. I’d love to see how many different techniques you’ve done or hope to do and what knitting has meant to you!!

Chevron FO

Sniff.

I finished my Chevron. I feel like Cara at January One, I'm addicted. For her it was miters and now monkeys. Me? The Chevron is so amazing.

Here it is...awaiting Fall. Since, thank goodness, spring is here in Wisconsin!
And then, of course, we need to have a model shot...


Think I'm going to do my first pair of Jaywalker next. I will miss the Chevron. Going to have to gift one to somebody for Christmas so I can tackle anotehr!

Full Disclosure

I was reading Julia's blog and felt the need to 'fess up myself.

I'm not quite as clever as she is, so my list is just a list. ;) But these are ALL the items on my needles as of this moment.

This is from the oldest to most current project.


I started this sweater..heck so long ago I don't even know. Hmm must have been almost 2 years ago now. I was making it for someone and then became a bit uninspired to gift it to them. So it's stalled. It's beautiful. It's a pattern from The Best of Knitters Arans and Celtics called 'Wonderous Woven Cables'. I'm using Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes. Great yarn, interesting knit..but there it languishes. I have to admit I'm nervous to pick it back up because of gauge. It was so long ago my knitting style has change and I'm afraid it will look like dog poop.


The Mason-Dixon Perfect (hell) Sweater. It's just a SEA of stockingnet. There sits the completed front and back, and the 2 sleeves are almost half way done. I'll get this finished before the Fall, but I just can't pick it up right now. It's knit in Cascade 220 Heathers. I really like it and know I'll enjoy wearing it.



And then there was the Shifting Sands pattern from Grumperina, knit in Malabrigo. It's soft, gorgeous and well..just not what I want so..


Bye bye Shifting Sands. I think I'm going to try and make an Hourglass sweater with the yarn instead. I have 3 hanks, so I'll figure something out. For now it's back into the stash.


Here's the hubby's sock. It's a bucket load of stitches, done on 1's. The Trekking is lovely, and these will get done sooner or later. It sits next to my knitting chair and I do a few rounds on it every day or so. I did some slip stitches in the arch to make it more snug for his high arches. Will have to see how that works out.


Ah the current love on the needles. The Chevron scarf in STR. I love it. It's mindless enough for TV watching, yet interesting enough that you don't want to gouge your eyes out! I'd say I'm almost 1/2 way done.


This is the Rowan Summer Tweed I'm futzing with. I'd like to make some summer tanks for my girls with it, but have yet to really commit to the project.


And then there's the current Rockin' Sock Club yarn. I THINK I may have found the right pattern for it. I don't want to do the Grasshoppers since I'm just not into 'sandal socks'. More photos when it's progressed.


Whew and that's it. 7 projects, one frogged so really just 6. I'm actively knitting on three of them (hubby's socks, chevron and the RSC yarn), leaving 3 hanging in limbo land. Not too bad. Could be worse. Much worse.

Colors

I hate to think of myself as impressionable or easily led. Yet in Spring, I love spring colors, Fall, fall colors..etc. My eye keeps gravitating towards these lovely yarns. I have TOO many skeins of sock yarn to warrant actually purchasing any, but I can dream right?

www.artyarns.com
YARN: ULTRAMERINO 8 127
100% Merino Wool

www.scoutsswag.com
Prepster colorway

Sherbert Colorway
Blue Moon Fiber

HM Cashmere Rose Garden
The Loopy Ewe

So are you seeing a pattern? Yum!

One step forward, two steps back..

The Chevron grows...


while the Walking on the Wild Tide went from a formative Grasshopper...


to a time out in the 'Naughty Bag', back in a ball.



If you look closely it's trying to escape.

These Blue Moon Fiber yarns sure are cheeky.