This and that

Foster kitten Coal is having a grand time now that he's the only kitten around. His favorite thing to do every evening is to watch the fire in the fireplace. He's so cute.

I'm involved in a ravelry group traveling scarf thing and this is my part for my scarf. I kind of remember buying the yarn but don't remember what I was going to use it for. How did I decide on knitpick eggplant? I reached into a box of yarn and pulled it out without looking.
Coal says: Your cell phone? I thought it was my cell phone. Don't you know that everything in the house is mine? When you're a kitten everything is a kitten toy.
And while I know I should probably be actually finishing some of the projects I've got going on I find myself starting other stuff anyways. Like this feather and fan scarf I started on Sunday using Ray's wonderful lace yarn. The colorways is graffiti which I thought might be a little busy for feather and fan but as Rachel Zoe would say, It's bananas.
I've got at least 5 hrs on this 5 hr baby sweater and as you can see all I'm missing is sleeves. What a wild color. Not traditional baby stuff but I love how babies look in vivid colors.
Gotta go see what Coal is knocking over now.

Forrest canopy and my exchange package

Finished casting off my forrect canopy shawl last night. It's about 44x20 unblocked. 400+ stitches. It took forever!!!! Now all it needs is blocking ..... kind of like the shawl I finished for my daughter over a month ago ..... no really I'm not lazy.
And I received my defeat the winder doldrums package from my wonderful exchange buddy Felicia. The dishcloths are beautiful! Included was a notepad, a few patterns, some wonderful soap, candy, some yarn, a needle gauge (which I really really need), and the cutest stitch markers (one is a little snowman).
Thanks Felicia! Oh well, gotta go hide my candy ..........

Happy Friday!!!

Finally feeling better. Going off to the post office to mail some long overdue packages. If you've been waiting for stuff from me you can start standing by the mailbox next week. lol.

Forrest Canopy Shawl is coming along. I started off on size 8 needles, frogged and now I'm reknitting on size 6 needles. I had a knit picks order come in with some longer cables and more options tips so I moved the shawl to 47" cables and I LOVE IT. The colors aren't correct in the picture.

They had some lovely baby alpaca lace weight yarn on clearance in this beautiful moss. 4 skeins found their way into my shopping cart.
Mr Potatohead has a mouth so he's done. D2 decided on a smile with a nice toothy grin.
And this is project #2.

Defeat the Winter Doldrums exchange

Looking for a fun exchange? Like dishcloths? Try this one.

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? I knit
2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? I usually use my trusty knit picks options. The cotton slides well on metal needles.
3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try? I usually use cotton yarn from michaels or ac moores. No particular favs and nothing I've been wanting to try.
4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)? blues and greens
5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? blues, greens, purples. Least favorite? black, white and brown.
6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends? Winter is ok. Don't like snow, ice or cold but love the way fresh snow looks.
7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps? Play with my grandkids or knit a little.
8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps? a nice cup of coffee and dark chocolate.
9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa? coffee or herbal tea
10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do? I'd take a cruise to Alaska and go sight seeing; taking in nature at it's best.
11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of? Nope no fiber or food allergies.

Thank you Corinne

Usually I'm a good swap buddy but I have to admit I was the worst swap buddy ever for the Coffee Swap exchange. For some reason I got the mail dates incorrectly set in my brain and missed the mailing date. As soon as I did I emailed my buddy to let her know and it turned out that she was in the same boat.

So Corinne mailed off her package and has probably been wondering WHAT THE HELL!!! Well the mailman delivered this to my neighbor in error and she just got back from a 2 week vacation. Her brother was picking up everything and just moved it into the house without looking at the label. Soooooo here's what I found last night.
Charlie says: Ok there's candy, vanilla almond biscotti, coffee and a mug from starbucks, some of the silly string that Diane yells at me every time I bite it, and really pretty stitch markers that would be great to swat around the living room if only I could get them off the safety pin.
What no tuna!?!? Catnip?!?! This is an outrage. And outrage I tell ya.
Hummmm maybe I'll just chew on the box for a while .........

Thank you Corinne.

ISE5

I finished my scarf for ISE5. It's lovely alpaca in a pattern from some knitting bible I have. I think the pattern is a great match for the yarn.
My only problem with the scarf is that I'm so use to blocking wool that the edges of the alpaca aren't as crisp as I would like. I think it's just the nature of the yarn.
This is my package from my ISE5 buddy Melanie. I couldn't locate her blog thru the group but boy what a great pal! The scarf is beautiful (and was put to use yesterday). I love the pattern.
Included in the package was some yarn, candy canes (which N and W will put on my tree .... ok will put what doesn't end up in their little tummies on the tree) and some white chocolate with strawberries. Usuallly I'm a very sharing person but I've hidden the chocolate in the back of the fridge and I as not sharing.
Lovely, lovely scarf. Thanks Melanie.

Crazier socks

No these. These are not crazy socks. Opal yarn never makes crazy socks. I was finished with the leg on the second sock when I noticed I started the first 2 rows after the ribbing with k4 p4 when it should have been knit all. Oh well, wasn't gonna frog back for something like that.
Plain janes for some mindless knitting.
The Alpaca Yarn reborn. This is but in the bottom on my knitting bag and has escaped the wrath of Oscar up to now.

I was playing with left over sock yarn the other day and figured it was time for another experiment in sock knitting. Smaller balls of yarn arranged crazy, calm, bright, mute until I thought it was an interesting balance. Then put them in knit order on a little knitting needle and start knitting away.

Not pretty or ugly but quite interesting. But I will say my new pumpkin stitch markers make them adorable.

When good knitting comes to a tragic end

I woke up yesterday to find the scarf for you ISE5 pal all over the floor. About 20+ rows unraveled and the needle missing. I don't know how I didn't start crying. Maybe it was the shock of the whole thing. Only one cat in the house ....
"I hate you more than you will ever hate me", says Oscar
I'm drowning my sorrow in my prize yarn from Jane.
But I really should be finishing the toe decreases and getting these off the needles.

Thank you Anita!!!

I always have the best exchange partners and here's Anita's package to prove it!

How cute is that bag? Could that cow card be any more adorable?
And inside was pretzels (my fav snack) memo paper, soap, chili, a pattern,
a spider web kit, hand cream, yarn, candy, a back scrubber, and a washcloth.
Isn't it pretty?
I even love the back! Thanks Anita! You're the best!

Gotta have stuff on the needles

Finished but still in need of a light blocking pumpkin dishcloth. Love, love, love this pattern. I hope my autumn exchange partner will like it too.
Onto the second sock on my snake socks. The yarn is Opal musica color 1026. This pattern was offered free a while back if you emailed a request. I emailed, printed, and filed. Gotta say the filing was a mistake. It's a beautiful pattern that I should have knit as soon as it was off the printer. Ms Conklin's pattern is well written, fast, and really pretty. Since I'm all about the comfort I did decided to use a heel flap. This is the heel that seems to fit my foot the best.
And plugging away on my Sixth Sense Sock. The pattern an old one from the six sock knit along written by Susan Pierce Lawrence. I love her patterns and have her forest canopy shawl on my to do list. I changed the top to 3x3 ribbing and replaced the heel with a traditional flap.

The yarn is Opal smoke color 1651. I started using the yarn for a socks for my son in law's size 12 feet. Got thru the leg and heel flap and stopped knitting. I don't know why the this yarn didn't want to be a sock for my sil so I frogged it and decided to reknit into a sock for me.

I'm looking for a pattern for sweaters in little man size 3 and 5. I've been clicking around on Ravelry but OMG there's just too much to look at. I start off on task and end up looking at other projects. Too many talented people out there in the land of knitting. So it looks like I'd be better off getting out some of my pattern books and seeing what I can find. Any suggests?

Fall into Autumn dishcloth exchange questionaire

Have you signed up yet? Closes tomorrow.

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I'm a knitter. I've been knitting for about 38 yrs. I also crochet but really not very well at all.

2. Have you made dischloths before? Do you use them yourself, give them as gifts, or both?
I've made them, used them, and gifted them.

3. What's your favorite cotton to make cloths from? What cotton would you like to try that you haven't before ?
I really don't have a favorite cotton.

4. If you knit, do you prefer circular or straight needles? For all, do you prefer wooden, metal, or plastic needles?
I've got an addiction to my knitpicks option circular needles for most of my project and bamboo double points for socks. I've got about 30 pair of straight needles that I no longer use.

5. What are your favorite colors? Any colors you don't like much?
Blue, green, and purples. I don't care much for browns, blacks, or whites.

6. What do you like best about Autumn?
Autumn is my favorite season of all. I live in New England so the leaves are gorgeous, the apples are crunchy, and the weather has that perfect nip in the air.

7. Pies: Pumpkin? Apple? Pecan? All of em? or No Thanks!
Not really much of a pie person. Apple if I had to choose.

8. When you were a kid, were you the one who couldn't wait to get started with school , or the one who overslept on the 1st day?
Neither. I usually was up early but that was because I was worried about everything. Who would be in my class? What if the teacher didn't like me? Would I get blisters walking to and from school in my new leather shoes (back in the day when you couldn't wear sneakers and you hadn't had shoes on your feet all summer)?

9. Do you celebrate Halloween? (The real key here guys is especially knowing if you have an aversion to the holiday or little goodies/decorations associated with it, given the timeframe of the swap)
Yes I love halloween. I have a home made grave yard that I set up every October. When my kids were younger we'd always do home made costumes. Always a fun time.

10. If you had to choose just 3 edible 'goodies' to eat for a full year, what 3 would you choose?
Anything chocolate, nuts, and pretzels. I'm a pretzel addict.

11. Do you have any pets? Kids? Husbands who seem like kids? ;)
I have a hubby of 24 yrs. He's a peach of a guy who loves handknit socks. I have 4 children ages 19-24. I have 3 grandchildren who I adore. And I have 3 cats. 2 are very nice and one is a major pain in the ass.

12. If you were to describe a particular yarn that shares traits of your personality, what would it be and why?
Good old worsted weight wool. No frills, basic, down to earth yarn to get the job done. Of course I have my lace and socks weight moments since a girl can't be tough all the time. lol

13. Do you use your cloths mostly for dishcloths, or as facecloths?
Dishcloths and wiping up spills.

14. Favorite Fall Holiday: Halloween or Thanksgiving and why? (Feel free to share another fall memory if you do not celebrate either of these holidays)
Thanksgiving. I was actually born on Thanksgiving day back many many yrs ago. When I was a kid we'd always get together with aunts, uncles, and a ton of cousins over at my aunt's house for a huge thanksgiving meal. I don't remember the food although I'm sure it was great. But I do remember playing with my cousins so much that I'd fall asleep in the car on the way home and my dad would carry me up to bed.

15. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should know about?
I'm allergic to goldenrod and am afraid of snakes and heights.

Other stuff

Finished 2 pr of socks for W. I still have one more pair for him and 2 for his brother to go. Hopefully those will be done this weekend and I can get back to fun stuff.
I was selected as a "terrific treater" for the dog days of summer dishcloth exchange. Anne sent this wonderful package. More Cotton Ease! Sign ups are taking place for the Fall into Autumn exchange. This has been great fun so I'm looking forward to signing up again.

Last night this cotton ease must have tried to attack someone. From the tooth marks it looks like the cotton ease was subdued. None of the cats look upset so obviously they got the upper hand on the cotton ease attack before any cats were injured.

Dog Days of Summer Exchange

My dog days of summer exchange pal was Marianne.
What a great package of goodies! A bag, makeup, cream, gum,
yarn, patterns,
a washcloth, and some great soap. All this plus a nice letter so I could get to "know" her. We've got a bit in common .... 4 children and some grandchildren to spoil. lol. Thanks Marianne for being a great partner!

$32.70

Thank you nice mailman. Yarn for N's socks $32.70. I also got The Opinionated Knitter which I've wanted for quite a while. Books, needles, patterns, stitch markers, etc don't count toward my yarn purchases since I consider them tools of my hobby. Yarn is obviously a tool too but You don't get to use it over and over again ..... unless you frog unloved and unfinished projects.

So I'm involved in a swap and just getting the box together to send out. My partner doesn't like wool. She crochets. She likes to crochet with acrylic. Acrylic as in trip to walmart acrylic. And although I never thought of myself as a yarn snob all I could think of was, "OMG! She'll think I'm cheap sending off acrylic yarn."

I don't think I'm a real yarn snob. I just like to knit with a nice, soft wool. Or some alpaca. Maybe a good blend, too. But rarely do I use acrylic. And then all of a sudden it dawned on me that I was putting together a box for someone else and should go with their preferences. So I'm off in a little while to pick up some nice acrylic and yummy goodies to send off to my exchange pal.

Bag it!

This is the bag I made and sent out to my exchange buddy Sherry. The blue one was another project I've been tinkering .... and frogging .... for a while now. Currently it's back in the ball. AGAIN.

It's a booga bag made from noro which felts like a dream.

Exchange package mailed sooooooo

I'm allowed to open mine! When the group manager was pairing up participants she didn't realize that Sherry and I were exchange partners for a dishcloth swap. Sherry didn't mind being my partner again and I certainly didn't so we made each other bags. It's fun because I knit and Sherry crochets so it's fun to get something that I wouldn't make myself!
Isn't this fun? It's the perfect size to throw in a couple things and run out the door. I will definately be using this one.
Some patterns to make purses, a chicago keychain, hand towel, bag of scented lotion soap, etc, some leg lotion, stitch holders, and
these things called scent chips. They are so full of scent it's unbelievable. I'll be stashing them around the house and according to the paperwork their scent will release for a long time.

Thanks Sherry!
I finished a pair of socks for my son in law. I love how they came out! I love them so much that I think I'll make another pair exactly the same. lol. Both are Opal yarn. The blue/black is croc and the blues and brown is called smoke. The smoke came in my last shipment from astrid so at least it isn't sitting around in my stash.

Hubby is a little upset by all these socks with none being for him so I just might have to knit him a pair to stop the whining.

Come join us for a swap

Do you knit dishcloths? Do you like swaps? Well come on over to and see the info here.

It's fun and with a $15.00 cost it's affordable for just about anyone. Just send off an email to dishclothswap@comcast.net by midnight June 30th and you are in.

Dog days of summer swap

Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting?
I knit. I've been knitting for many, many year. I know how to crochet but I really don't crochet all that well and don't enjoy it as much as knitting.
Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before?
Yup dishcloths and washcloths. They are fun little projects.
What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not?
I really don't have a favorite cotton yarn. I tend to knit with wool mostly.
Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with?
None so far.
What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic)
Bamboo for socks and my trusty knit pick options for everything else.
What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting?
Socks, bags, scarves, shawls. I have the attention span of a 2 yr old on chocolate overload so I tend to stay away for really big projects.
Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting?
Not really. I plan on giving soap making a try somewhere down the road.
What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts?
yes, yes, and yes.
What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any?
blues and greens
What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike?
I like everything but I'm not a big white, black, or brown fan.
Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages?
coffee, mostly with a terrible addiction to crystal light.
Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)?
I have 4 children ages 19-24 (3 in college right now ugh!). I have 2 grandsons ages 2 and 4 and a granddaughter who is 10 months old. We have 3 cats currently. Oscar is an evil antichrist cat who is 17 yrs old. Joey is 17 also but he's really nice. Charlie is 3 and he'l a little slow. Not the brightest cat but funny.
Do you have any allergies?
Goldenrod so please don't send goldenrod fiber. lol. Actually since they seem to make yarn out of the strangest thing lately that not be as far fetched as it sounds.
Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting.
I always wake up before my alarm clock goes off.

I can't eat anything that I can't identify. If there's a question in my mind about the ingredients in something I just can't taste it.

I can read just as fast when the print is facing away from me as I can when it's positioned correctly. I always thought everyone could do this and didn't realize that they couldn't until I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. It's a quirky gift that really does come in handy at times.

Bag for the exchange take 4

First I'll start off with fun stuff. Yarn yummy sock yarn from Astrid. How I love sock yarn .... how I love Astrid. Damn her and her great prices ..... Anyways we have Opal smoke 1651 and 1656, Meilenweit Magico 2531 and Megaboots 503, Gedifra 4205, and two brands that I haven't tried before but couldn't leave at her store because of the price and colors Scheepjes 1711 1721 1723 and Garnstudio Fabel 672.

I ripped open the package and ran to get my needles only to find my secret project laying on the loveseat. And then I realized how unhappy I was with my secret project. So off to the frogpond again ......
and casted on for try #4. As I was knitting this morning I decided that this is definately the correct project for this yarn. No more searching. This will be the one to get finished. It's hard when you have a vision in your head of how you want something to look but you can't seem to translate it into the work on your needles. This is definately more of my vision.
I'll leave you with poor Charlie who is in search of cooler temps. He's gone from laying on the cement front porch, to laying in the tiled hallway, to laying on the hardwood hallway, and finally up to my room to give me the "Hey cheap bitch! Turn on the friggin air conditioning!" look as he took up a position that would allow him to scratch my foot as I tried to step over him.