A SWEATER FOR ME!!!!

YES!!!! Nothing to add to the baby trousseau this week . Instead it is a sweater for me! I know it is hard to believe but I actually made a sweater that is not a present for someone else or to add to the growing baby sweater collection!

Knitting Pure and Simple's Neckdown Wrap Cardigan #263 was a breeze! Size 8 needles with a gorgeous worsted weight home spun yarn. I bought this yarn several years ago at The Maine Organic Farmers Association Fair. I just could not bring myself to knit it because it is so beautiful and soft. I have just lovingly stroked it every time I would peruse my stash.

I tried desperately to make this into a Dale of Norway sweater but it was not to be. I had to break my own heart and send it back to the frog pond. This yarn demanded simple lines and straight knitting to show off the gorgeous multi-colors that had been spun into it. (It looks so much better on me but noone was home to take a picture - the hanger will have to do!)

Hubby is disappointed - he had coveted this yarn since I bought it and hoped it would end up in his handmade sweater collection but alas it is mine - all mine!!!!!!

CLEARING OUT THE WIP BASKET

Here is my newly cleaned out WIP basket. Knitting that has frustrated me or just doesn't suit the yarn gets thrust into this poor basket on our fireplace hearth never to see the light of day again! But yesterday - it got a good cleaning and I was amazed at how many UFOs I found that just needed a few more rows or a matching mitten to be completed! I had forgotten so many of these projects that I had a hard time remembering which pattern I had used - so some knitting projects were finished with a little flair of their own!




Baby socks, Baby hats, and baby mittens all got their finishing touches!

Yesterday, I worked for a few hours at the hospital and got a really bad vibe about the mood of the hospital. A Medivac helicopter flew in to take out a patient - this happens often but there was something different about the buzz in the hospital. Not knowing what was going on, I left the hospital after my short shift and got into my car just as the helicopter was taking off. In the car, the radio was running nonstop news bulletins about a shooting in our little vacation town. HORROR. Most major roads had been closed and several people had been killed. The freakin psycopath shooter was on the loose and the SWAT teams had been called in to search for him. I decided to head home and wait it out. Frequent news bulletins and my UFO basket kept me busy for the day - Hubby came home safely and early due to the fact that he could not drive around town due to the search. We watched movies and locked the house securely - wondering how in the world this could have ever happened in our quiet little town which has welcomed thousands of people to enjoy the 4th of July to play in the mountains and lakes all around us. I am always in total awe of the things that people do-------- the thought of harming another human being is just not a thought process I could ever put together. There is so much of it in the world and it just makes me so sad. This morning, the killer is still on the loose and the whole town is in shock. Off to work I go with thoughts and prayers for the families who lost loved ones yesterday. I will never understand the taking of a human life - I hope I never do.

OUR LATEST WIP.............

Okay - I will throw some knitting into this post! Hubby and I have been busy remaking our side yard. This is the space between our barn and the house entrance. It is always a mud trap in the spring and an ice trap in the winter. After 21 years of living here and thousands of children tromping along this muddy pathway we finally got our act together. We have been in the planning stages for about 3 years - Hubby doesn't like to jump into projects without thorough research! (He is terrified because our little town is getting it's very own Home Depot this week - and my honey-do list has grown exponentially)

This is the original walkway - just a patch without grass led to the side door. The white poles are the beginning of hubby's 3 week torture session to get the lines for the new walkway - JUST RIGHT! We had to dig an 8" bed for the walkway and fill it with crushed stone and sand prior to placing the stonework. 10 tons of gravel, 2 tons of sand, and a pallette of paving stone and TADA!!

















Way better looking don't you think? We still have to build a step and lay the granite slab that starts the walkway but with work and heat in the 90's, we are taking a break.


Maybe now I can get back to some knitting! But honestly - my honey and I love to do these kind of projects together and they always grow and grow. Now the plan is to get more pavers and make a sweet little pathway around the back of the house. A moderate size patio will follow - where the barbeque will sit. A new shade garden and some tree limb surgery and we will have the backyard of our dreams.


The honeysuckle is absolutely gorgeous this year (on the left of the trellis) and we have to be really careful of the hummingbirds. They have no fear of us and love to whiz past our heads.

I HAVE GOT TO BE CRAZY!

Patternworks is having a "Knit and Crochet Challenge" Afghan. So I, in my infinite desire to drive myself crazy, have decided to take on the challenge. Yes, I crochet - but prefer to knit. The design must be original and be both knit and crocheted. It must be made up of 7" x 9" blocks joined in the technique of your choice. The finished size can be up to 50" x 60". The whole deal has to be made with Encore Worsted Yarn and must be turned in by November 16 ( yes this year). The hardest part is that they send you a kit with 5 different Encore Yarns and you must incorporate these colors into your afghan! You have no choice in even 1 color - I asked! So here is what they sent me for colors - In order from left to right.
1. Green (I don't even think so it is more the color of peuce!)
2. Beige (Okay I can live with that one)
3. Wine
4. Orange (Orange, Peuce, and Wine? May the force be with me!)
5. Rainbow (which would be fine if only all these other colors were part of the rainbow colorworks!)



Dale of Norway baby sweater with 8 3/8 " of seed stitch - 304 stitches. What was I thinking? I have got to be crazy! I have a little over 4" done.

FIXATION......MY NEW LOVE!

Darling Husband is getting picky about what I make for him. Not that that is a bad thing - you have to give the guy credit for always being interested in every fiber in every yarn store we visit. He doesn't sit on the bench out front of the shop and look at his watch every 30 seconds or groan when he sees my purchases. No, he touches and asks questions about every yarn that I have not worked with.
He knows the difference between a knit stitch and a purl stitch and fair isle and cables. When the phone rings and it is for me, he always asks the caller to hold on for a minute until I am finished with the row! So we visited Scarlet Yarns in Lancaster NH last week and he got his hands on some Fixation socks and just had to have a pair! I wasn't too sure if I would like working with it because I am not a stretchy yarn kind of knitter but his gorgeous green eyes made me buy a few skeins and get to work. I have to say that I really hated this yarn at first - too stretchy - too hard to see the pattern - too difficult to see if they were going to be the right size. After several attempts at Thuja from Knitty.com, I finally got it right and these just flew off the needles. I had to post them quickly because Hubby had to wear them today! Something about the weather and how his feet wouldn't sweat in them - HEEHEE! I think I will have to add Fixation yarn to the stash and make him a few more pairs.

The sad news of the day - I have knit a few baby sweaters from Dale of Norway (okay a few hundred). So I decided that it was time to make one for me! I bought this gorgeous yarn at a huge fair several years ago and had been waiting for the perfect pattern to make ME a Dale sweater. I found a pattern that I loved and went to town - it just never looked right and although I had way more yarn than the pattern called for - I seemed to be running out quickly. So it is back to the frog pond for this one. This yarn just did not want to be this sweater - yes I did the proper swatching and followed the directions to the letter but after finishing the front and back - I only had 2 skeins of yarn left! I tried it on and I definitely would have looked better in a garbage bag so yesterday morning was spent carefully unraveling a few weeks worth of work - I am okay. I did not loose my mind or the desire to use this yarn. I started another pattern with it yesterday and it just may work. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

ALL MY WORKS IN PROGRESS......

Socks and a baby sweater on the needles. Hubby found some sock yarn at a sweet little shop in Lancaster, NH - Scarlet Yarn. Amanda, the owner of the shop, spent a lot of time with us and hubby decided that he just had to have a pair of socks from this yarn! Getting picky hubby is - we'll see.
A Dale of Norway baby sweater started but it will be a while before this is done. Size one needles - 304 stitches - seed stitch! Need I say more?


The gardens have demanded much of my time lately. 3 years ago, darling daughter got married at the house and hubby and I seriously overdid the whole garden thing. Now we spend a lot of our time in the spring and summer planting, weeding, and simply enjoying the multiple gardens we have created. This is the entryway to the house which lies between the barn and the door - Loads of annuals and perrenials here!




One of my favorite hanging baskets - this plant hooks onto the trellis work and just grows and flowers all summer! Sorry - can't remember the name of it!




One of the small fairy gardens. Different size irises, begonias, ginger, and hostas surround this fairy bird bath.



I have also increased my work schedule to three 8 hour shifts a week. There are no hours available in the ICU so I am working on the Medical-Surgical Unit. I worked there for 4 years before going to the ICU and it is just a miracle to be able to take care of patients again!
I have also been teaching a course on reading ECGs. The cardiac rhythm course is a really good chance to review and I love teaching. It has been really time consuming putting together the program and teaching tools but so far so good. I have taught 2 classes and will teach 3 more. Feedback has been good and I have been asked to take on more and more responsibilities as the Medical Surgical Unit takes on the Telemetry Interpretation role. Good thing I knitted this felted bag while I was out sick - It carries all of my teaching goodies. Say HOORAY for my continued progress with the silent migraine/vertigo saga. I have not had any problems with it at work but do get small doses of head pain and vertigo at home from time to time. I couldn't be happier - everything is looking pretty good right now!

JAYWALKER SOCKS....TA DA!!

What looked so hard was OH so easy! These are Jaywalkers socks by Grumperina. I saw these socks on several blogs and just had to make them. They looked so hard that I wasn't sure I could do them justice but they turned out to be really easy.

Regia sock yarn, knitted on size one needles proved to be a perfect match for these cute socks.

If you want this free pattern go to www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm Thanks for the free pattern and the loads of fun knitting these Grumperina!

FLOWERS FOR BABY............

Sometimes, I see a blog or pattern and nothing can stop me from putting down every other project and just knit up the most gorgeous things! I stopped over on Zonda's blog one day and caught a glimpse of this beautiful baby blanket - I was on a mission. Dawn Brocco's Flower Baby Blanket just had to be made for the grandbaby trousseau. Can't you just see this wrapped around a beautiful baby girl? I sure can.
I copied Zonda and made it out of Lion Cotton Ease Yarn (rather than the wool yarn that it called for) because it would be softer and better to cover baby - no matter what the time of year. It is so soft! Double stranded on size 10.5 needles, the pattern was clear and concise with lots of short rows to produce the perfect petals.
I was very unhappy with Lion's color selection for Cotton Ease because I wanted the bright colors and nothing less. I found a seller on Ebay with enough "Bubble Gum and Lemon " Cotton Ease that I could make this project without worry. Cheap price and low shipping - order and wait. I think it came out great! It still needs to be washed and blocked but I just couldn't wait to show you!

I had enough yarn left over to make a matching hat! HEEHEE! Oh these grandbabies are going to be dressed year round!

LITTLE BOYS AND DRAGONS.................

I may have gone back to work but I am still knitting away. Working 4 hour shifts leaves me plenty of time for knitting the grandbaby trousseau! What will I do when I get back to full time?
(I won't do housework anymore probably!)This is Dale of Norway NR 163 - pattern16308 from the new Fall Dale Collection.

I just had to knit this dragon! I saw it and knew that a little boy would just freak out over a fire breathing dragon - so size 4T. Made out of Dale Falk yarn on size 4 needles, this was a blast to watch grow off of the needles. The dragon is embroidered on after the sweater is finished and the result is just too cute for words!
I also forgot what it was like to work with a knitting needle larger than a size 1 - Projects actually get big fast when you are using a larger needle! Thank goodness for a little break.


I love the flames!

IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER...................

It seems like forever since I have blogged but there is an incredible reason why!I am back to work - 4 hours, 3 times a week!! Can I say YIPPEEEEEEE!!!! For those of you who do not know - I have been having a silent migraine with vertigo for over a year and have been unable to walk across a room without falling. I have tried to stay strong and finally found the right combo of medications and vestibular exercises that allow me to start back to my beloved nursing job!! I have knitted constantly through the last year and it has been my saving grace- when all else failed I had gorgeous yarn and lovely needles to keep me sane. Even though our financial resources were strained, Hubby always took me to yarn stores and let me spend whatever I wanted. He would stand with the basket and say, "You need to get new yarn - find something you like and get to knitting!".

These are my new Fiber Trends Peak Experience Socks. Pattern #AC-49. Made on size 1 needles with Regia Cotton Surf sock yarn, these were a breeze to knit up and have family and friends begging for them for Christmas. I will definitely use this pattern again and again! Sue

KNITTING NEWS FOR THE WEEK.......

Another Dale of Norway sweater completed! This is my first attempt at using Stork Yarn but I think that I am in love! Oh so soft and easy to work with - what a pleasure. Dalegarn NR 142- Pattern 14208. Knit on size 1 needles with a great lacey pattern at the bottom, this is going to be so sweet on a newborn.


Fun lace work -----------
but you really have to pay attention to the 12 row repeat! This is why I tend not to do lace work - It can make me crazy if I miss one stitch. Hubby was amazed to see so much of it done but to be really honest - I had to turn off the tv, phone, and be as quiet as possible so I didn't screw this up!


Two new Vintage Knitting Totes have been added to my collection. To the left is an English style tapestry knitting tote. The English style totes have a round bottom and a square top giving them a wonderful look. They also used all leather for the strap and top which makes them much more sturdy than the "pleather" totes that were made in the USA. And this one is so funky, I just had to have it. I wasn't really so sure that it was a knitting tote until it arrived in the mail. I have never seen anything like this one - so I took a chance and got it! When it arrived, I ripped the packaging open and to my surprise it really is a knitting tote! The riveted hole on the top gave it away. I am not a big golf fan but this tote just had to be added to the collection. A pocket it the front and a pocket in the back make it very useful to carry around needles and extras. It is in great shape and I am glad I took a chance on it!

SOCKS!!! TA DA.............

The latest pair of socks in the "I must knit all of my sock yarn before I can buy anymore" saga. Oh, how hard not to buy sock yarn! It just calls to me everytime I enter a yarn store.
This is my first attempt at knitting with a yarn made with some elastic. I had a terrible time getting started because this yarn did not want to be the socks that I wanted it to be. I must have tried 6 different patterns before going back to the simpler stitches that allowed the yarn to show itself off.

This is Trampoline Stretch yarn made by Skacel. The picture does not do the yarn colors justice - they are so bright and interesting.

These are knitted on size 3 needles from a pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks. Twin Rib is a 6 stitch repeat sock and is a great knit! I love this book and just received More Sensational Knitted Socks ( more wonderful stitches and patterns to choose from). I just love these books and wish every sock owner could magically find them in their knitting stash right now. Simple directions and lots of choices - my kind of knitting book!

Off to work on the latest pair of socks - TaTa for now.....

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!!!!

Now I know why they call them the White Mountains. We got 12+ inches of snow overnight and another huge Noreaster is on it's way for Sunday! Will I ever see my garden again?

PURPLE MUST BE THE COLOR OF THE DAY!

My life has just turned purple lately! I don't know what it means but everything I am knitting is either outright purple or has shades of purple in it?
Dale of Norway - Dalegarn NR 114
#11404 Knit on size 1 needles with Baby Ull Yarn. Size 9 months
I absolutely love the fair isle pansies but don't like this pattern at all. I knit a swatch and the measurements in the book match but it just doesn't have the usual style (?) look(?) that Dale of Norway patterns usually do.

I may just have to crochet loops on the sides of the dress and add a purple ribbon that ties in the back. We will see when grandaughter comes how it looks but I won't make this pattern again. I do love the pansies though except that portions of the fair isle had 3 colors carried through the row. I think I am pretty good at fair isle until you ask me to add a third yarn to the mix - then it takes me forever!

Darling daughter finally got a real cast this week - purple! She is healing nicely and the Xrays look good but she still needs to keep it elevated in order to keep it from swelling.
We got a little carried away with taking this picture - notice the fruit and chocolates. It makes it a little more artsy! Don't you think?

PEACHY KEEN..........

I know - another Dale of Norway but you must admit that this is so sweet! Dale of Norway NR 142 - pattern #14206 - size 24 months. Knit on size 0 and 1 needles (my Knitpick Options make the knitting glide), this sweater and cap set just had to be added to the baby trousseau.

I love the fair isle pattern. I held up the colors prior to knitting and just didn't think that the khaki color would work but it blends nicely!
This pattern was a fairly easy knit except for a few rows that called for using 3 colors in the same row. I love fair isle knitting with 2 colors per row but adding the third color was very challenging.

I am not a big fan of pom poms but this hat just called for one! I can't wait to see what it looks like on a grandbaby.

I'M STILL HERE...............

I started to knit a swatch for a hubby sweater this morning. This is KnitPicks Shamrock yarn in OReilly. Ever since I finished my kangaroo pocket sweater last fall, he keeps asking me to make him one. I will see if he likes this yarn before starting it. He is such a big fan of my knitting! How lucky can a girl get?
I have just had a few crazy weeks and haven't been able to finish anything. Once again, I find myself in the middle of a bunch of projects that are almost done but can't seem to be able to finish just one thing. Instead, I jump from project to project - finishing an inch here and a sleeve there but never quite getting one thing done. Also, one of my projects needs to be steeked before I can knit any more - A process that always slows me down. I need a large glass of wine or to be in an absolutely courageous mood to actually cut through my knitting!
My sweet daughter fell and broke her ankle last week. She has been in so much pain! I got over there last week for a few days to help out around the house and keep her company but wish I could just stay by her side. I knit a little while I was there but my concern for her far outweighed my need to knit. I think that is why my knitting is so scattered in the last few weeks - worry always gives me attention problems.




I just started reading this new novel about knitting. I read somewhere that Julia Roberts has already signed on to play the lead in the movie! I guess she is quite an accomplished knitter herself. So far, it is really good and will let you know how it is when I am finished.
I ordered 2 new knitting books this week - the new Stephanie Pearl McPhee book - Cast Off and More Sensational Knitted Socks. I'll review them in a later blog.
TaTa for now! Sue

KITTIES WITH GEMSTONE COLLARS - WAY TOO CUTE!!

Kitties with gemstone collars on a size 2T kids sweater!! I put 2 patterns together and got this really cute sweater. I started with Sandnes Barn book 0308 - Sweater with Ruffles and added the fair isle kitties from Sadnes Design Nr 34.

Isn't it sweet - Knit in Knit Picks Merino Style yarn in Petal Pink. Size 4 needles (whew - glad to be off of the size 0 and 1's for a change!) I love the ruffles on the sleeve and the seed stitch rows.
I found the collar strings of dark pink gemstones at WalMart. I knew that I had to add them for perfect contrast and just the right touch to make this a girly-girly sweater.

DEAR YARN GODDESS.......

Dear Yarn Goddess,
I know that I have turned my back on you and have spent the last 3 months not worshipping you as I should. I have refrained from adding lovely, soft, and vibrant yarns to my overflowing stash. No matter what the price or need to buy, I have abstained from all knitting shops and on-line yarn sales. This is my apology and hope that you will correct my yarn karma to me.
I tried. I went to my favorite yarn store last Sunday and tried desperately to add to my yarn collection but alas they did not have color or texture that called to my senses. Hubby held my shopping basket with anticipation as I fondled and pleaded for the right colors - but to no avail. Darling Husband was also disappointed in me when I walked out empty handed.
So, I ordered online. A sale on Dale of Norway Baby Ull at 20 % off made my credit card fly from my purse and although it was a small purchase, I felt that I had regained my yarn mania in some small way. An e-mail from the company quickly followed stating that they were out of the color that I had ordered but it would be coming in in the next shipment and I should receive my peach Baby Ull within 10 days. I waited with baited breath and on Friday my package arrived. I ripped open the package to find THE WRONG COLOR!!! They had sent me baby pink instead of baby peach - a flurry of e-mails ensued and my correct order is already in the mail.
Once again, I apologize for my insensitive treatment of you. I will get back on the wagon and begin to increase my stash beyond human imagination. I know that I still have many closets and areas for hiding the growing yarn collection and I will work diligently to restore my good name with you. Please allow the correct color of Baby Ull to land upon my doorstep so that I may finish a lovely baby sweater and I will be forever in your debt.
Your friend in yarn, Sue

BRINGING HOME BABY BOY

Here is Dale of Norway NR 135-#13505 - my bringing home baby boy set. A few weeks ago, I finished the bringing home baby girl set and needed to knit up something baby blue. Knit on size 1 knitting needles, this set was a breeze. Time consuming - but worth every minute! Baby Ull makes this outfit sooooo soft that I want one.
I love the Baby Ull yarn for it's softness and the color palette doesn't change. Dale of Norway is great at keeping their baby yarn the same every year so that you don't have to run out and buy a different shade of red for the new designs.
After showing off my grandbaby trousseau to a dear friend, she kindly pointed out that most of the knitting I had done was mainly for boys ---so I am on a new kick to find Dale baby girl sweaters and dresses and they will be coming along in the future!
My vertigo is still keeping me from driving for very long so I totally missed the Korner Knitter's biannual 25% off sale! My favorite yarn store, Korner Knitters in Standish, Maine has the greatest selection of yarns and the nicest yarn gals you would ever want to meet. Maybe by October, I will be able to drive an hour to get there for their next sale! In the mean time, I continue my yarn diet - I have refrained from yarn stashing (except for one lonely ball that I needed to finish a project) since mid December! I think that hubby will just have to take me yarn shopping soon - Enough is Enough!!!!!