Tuesday, March 30, 2010

New wool socks, just in time for spring...

Uptown Boot Socks from the book Favorite Socks. Yarn used, Malebrego Sock. Size 2 needle.


Well ideally these socks would have been done many months ago, before the spring time weather was upon us but I love them none the less.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A new day...

Good morning to all of my fellow blog followers and knitters and friends.  It is a new day isn't it.  Today I had that TALK with myself, you know the talk that we have when we make promises to ourselves, to shape up, ship out or at least try!!! These are the promises I made myself today.
1.  Get to the gym at least 3 times per week

2.  Get on track with my eating program

3.  Work on my core with my fancy pilates reformer that is collecting dust

on the knitting front
4.  Don't work on projects I hate (ummmm Icelandic Sweater might bite the dust)
5.  Only have three projects going at one time (ummmm my needles are almost empty)
Five promises are enough right?  The reason my promises are exercise and diet rich is because I am leaving on holiday in 10 weeks. 

Holiday is 14 days in Italy, Croatia and Greece.  My body parts are going to be exposed and they need a little, ummmm, work before we go!  

The last couple of promises are because I have been terribly bored with my knitting lately and I want to work on things I LOVE, yes, that challenge too but also that I love!  I have decided that I HATE Lopi, so why would I torture myself.  OK, I have not totally abandon the sweater but it is close!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Hairbands and scarves...

I just drove home from a three day client meeting in Chistochina and I was welcomed at the mailbox with two packages.  Both of these packages were addressed to ME and I knew exactly what was in each of them.  Both of them were wonderful, wonderful gifts that were sent to me from friends.  The first gift that I received was from Little Byrd (see this post).  Rebekah is a friend from the past and newly found in the present (she tells our story on the linked post).  I won a drawing from her blog for the cute little hairband that I have on here (oh and I am modeling my last post finish object, Hayworth.  Isn't it cute?)... 
Rebekah made this headband and makes tons of other cute things she sells on her Etsy site, littlebyrdvintage.  Check it out sometime, you will love what you see.
My second package contained some yarn that was gift forwarded from my bestie, Farrah.  It is a group on Ravelry that swaps knitting stuff and instead of claiming it for yourself, you claim it for a friend.  It is some beautiful peacock blue sock yarn from Cherry Tree Hill.  
Isn't it wonderful to be gone from home and arrive to packages?  I think so...

On the knitting front, I am NOT making very quick progress on my Icelandic sweater.  A couple of reasons why...
1. It is boring knitting, roundy, roundy.
2. I am not in love with Icelandic Wool, Lopi (it is itchy, scratchy and catches on all of my dry hand spots)
Maybe I will invest in a manicure to help me through the knitting of this.  I think getting myself to the fair isle part will also help.
GOOD NEWS THOUGH!
I am almost done with my Uptown Boot Socks.  During my long business trip I worked on these socks exclusively and turned the heel, did the gusset and have half of the foot knit.  In fact I have 24 more rows of pattern and then I get to do the toe.  It have a feeling those socks will be on my FEET tomorrow, just in time for a fashion show!
More later.  Have a wonderful Thursday!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Reviewing resolutions for progress...

How many of you have made a resolution, just to forget about it?  I have many, many times in the past but this year I really wanted to stick to my knitting resolutions.  I revisited my post about my resolutions and I am happy to report that I am indeed making progress.  Remember resolution #1.  I do.  It is a tough one...

Resolution #1: FINISH my UFO's (unfinished objects). Knit them, frog them, decide what they are to become once and for all!!! Here are my current UFO's...
Lace Beret (frogged, wasn't feeling this one)
Tapestry Cowl (frogged, lots and lots of work for a garnment I wouldn't wear much)
Selbu Modern for Kirsten (frogged, sock yarn was not working for this one)
Woodlands Shawl (frogged, yet another shawl that I wont wear BUT I made a hat for Kirsten with the yarn)
Cable Ribbed Wrap (FINISHED, REVIEW FURTHER FOR POST UPDATE)
Sock Yarn Blanket
Uptown Boot Socks (worked on this project, finished sock one, sock two is well on it's way)
In the mean time I am working on my second sweater of the year, my Icelandic Cardigan.  It is moving along and currently I am working on the body of the sweater and I have cast on both sleeves using magic loop and two at a time method.  I have to limit my time working this as the wool is not the most pleasant to work with.  It softens up after washing but raw is a little rough on the hands.
Other knitting news...
I finished the shawl that I started on when my BFF Farrah was here for the holidays.  Hayworth is done and is currently blocking.  I have spent the last couple of weeks determined to get a few projects off the needles and I managed to do it with a little determination. 
Spinning has been a bit on hold for a couple of reasons.  I am attending my Icelandic Sweater class on Mondays.  That is the evening that I had dedicated to spinning at my friend Flow's house.  It will resume this coming Monday as we have a break from class to get some major work done on our sweaters.  I plan on working on my fiber for my sweater.  I want to get that knocked out.
This post is void of photo's but it is for a reason.  As soon as my shawl is blocked out I plan to have a little photo shoot of it and also of my Ribbed Cable Wrap.  So check back soon!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Knitting with Icelandic Wool...

It has been to many days since my last post.  Life has been busy, but not busy!  I am not sure if anyone else knows what that means but it is how I describe my life most of the time.  I am a wife, a mother of three, pet owner, full time business owner and lover of my social life which includes knitting and spinning.  My life is busy but not busy (in a bad way).  I LOVE my weekends.  I love to sleep in.  I hate to clean house (complete opposite of how I was in my early pre knitting life).  I hate to cook.  So really when I describe my life and my weeks and my days I am average.  A normal wife with three kids who work full time.  With all that said, since my last post, I spent some time resting this weekend after an emotional Friday afternoon at our friend Alan's Celebration of Life.  So many people turned out for the event, it was wonderful.  Even the recovery dog, Meg, was there to meet everyone.  What a special dog.  If you are a interested take a minute to read her story.  She did an amazing thing finding Alan so he could be brought home and put to rest properly.  Tuesday was his funeral and burial.
Forgive my blury photo of Meg, being pet my Nadina, a close friend and Lee, Alan's Father.
On to knitting.  Monday I started an Icelandic Sweater/Cardigan class.  The reason I decided to try this class out was because in order to make this sweater a cardigan, I have to steek or cut my knitting.  EEK is right.  What a scary thought, cutting your beautiful knitting.  It is one of the techniques I wanted to learn this year so here we go.  Here is my progress thus far and here you also get a glimps of the pattern and the colors I have chosen.

Next I get to join in knitting in the round and get busy knitting up the body of the sweater.  The next step will be knitting the arms and then joining it all for the color work.