The half.com deal

Just clicking around the other night and I found this. The Disney book of knitting.
Pulled from a library out in community college in Wisconsin. I guess people don't flock to community college libraries looking for knitting books. Sad but true.
I'm not all that taken by the patterns they have in the book. Some are really pretty like this sweater and some are really awful. However .........
There is charting on a ton of disney characters. What a find for $1.50. Shipping media mail ended up costing more than the purchase of the book.

Off the needles

6 different superwash sock yarns in one pair of socks. The positive: Using up some of that left over yarn. The negative: All those ends to weave.
Finished two hats for two little turtles.
Blob-o-lace is almost done. Working on the last chart for the edging.
And plugging along on these.

I've been tagged

by Connie


The Rules:Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they’ve been tagged.



1) I suffer from startitis. I love to start new projects instead of finishing the ones I'm currently working on. If you know a cure please pass it on.


2) I open all my mail while standing in front of my fireplace. All junk mail goes into the fireplace and is burned asap. About 90% of my mail is turned into BTU's to heat the house.


3) I love getting things on sale. I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything. Consignment shops are my fav.


4) I need to get a hair cut. The last haircut I got was 3 yrs ago. Being very lazy I just put it all in a ponytail and every month or so say, "Geeze this is getting long. I should get a hair cut."


5) I never finished my college degree. In my line of work it doesn't matter. It's job specific training. I've toyed with the idea of going back but came to the conclusion that a college degree wouldn't make me a better person. I'm happy just the way I am.


6) I never go to the movies but I love watching DVDs. Netflix rocks.

7) I telecommute full time. I haven't met any of the bosses I've worked for in the last 6 yrs. Ditto for all my fellow team members. Since I'm not really a people person it works out fine for me.

8) I love spending time with my grandchildren. Having W, N, and A has given me a new perspective on life. I love being a mom but I adore being a Gram.

Consider yourselves tagged.

The best pal continues and $8.98

Aren't these just so cute? Excuse the awful picture but it was overcast and horrible this morning. Anita put them in the spider web kit in my dishcloth exchange package. I put them back on the pins since I started using them the minute I found them. What a super talented gal you are, Anita! Check out her esty shop for these (with a much better picture) and many more wonderful things.
Plugging along I finished 1 of my Opal green prisma socks (casted on the second one already) and one of my leftover socks. All I can say about the leftover sock is that it doesn't suck as bad as I thought it would. This picture was taken this morning and I'm already almost done with the second leftover sock. It doesn't match but I didn't expect it to.
I got this wonderful package from Jane for her show your socks contest. The yarn has been sitting on my couch trying to let me know it if wants to be socks or mitts.
I was assigned the task of knitting hats for W and N to go with their Halloween costumes. This year they are going to be turtles. W will be a blue turtle and N will be a green turtle. So I picked up some yarn over the weekend to make them hats for their turtle heads.

And since I saw picking thru the clearance stuff I decided to get these. The yarn is called jewlery box? and it was $1 per 2 oz skein. I think I'll make a couple scarves and donate them to the human services department. Every year for the holidays they have families come in and pick out gifts so I think some child might pick out a nice scarf for mom. So add another $8.98 to my yarn total for the year.

I signed up for the MS3 but never got around to knitting the shawl. It was a lovely pattern so I just bought it instead and will make it sometime in the future. 2 versions for the shawl so it's money well spent.

More knitting than blogging lately

Finished the sixth sense socks made from Opal Smoke.
Woke up the other morning to these guys sitting on my kitchen counter. D2 was at the open house for Bender Kitchen and Bath's new showroom and was given one of these for each of her neice and nephews.
Don't know if I'm feeling this or not but how about a sock of leftovers? D1 will love it.
The never ending blob-o-lace.
And these pretty green socks made from Opal Prisma from my stash.

The grandsons were supose to sleep over last Friday night but W was sick. So I just had N. He was so cute that I decided to keep him all weekend. We watched dvds, had snacks, played, did a little reading, went out for lunch on Saturday (he had a huge chocolate chip cookie for lunch at a local cafe'), played, napped, went to the park, went out to dinner, and had a great time. When I went to take him home Sunday he was crying, "No Gram, I want to stay with you forever." Well seriously who wouldn't?

When N got home his brother grilled him about everything he did for the weekend. But the cutest thing was N sitting on his mom's lap and saying, "Mommy, can you keep me here forever?" HEY!!!! Thought you wanted to live with me forever? Those 2 yr olds are always changing their minds.

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!

A little knitting and a stupid cat story

A little shawl knitting. I can't remember the pattern name off the top of my head (the same one I used for my green shawl) and I don't remember the yarn other than it's knit picks and the color is called smores. I wanted something a little heavier to throw on my shoulders while I'm working this winter. Something that wouldn't show dirt too much so I don't have to wash it until it smells. How grown up is that line of thought?
And this is where I am on sock #2 of my sixth sense sock.

So how about a litle cat story? It's about the evil one, Oscar.

"Please, Diane, they'll never believe I could be that evil."

Every night before bed my clothes from the day end up on a pile on the floor. In the morning as part of my routine I make the bed and throw the clothes in the wicket basket I use as a hamper in my room. Same routine for the 14 yrs we've lived here.

Yesterday I threw my clothes in the basket and the friggin' basket moved. I screamed, jumped about a foot off the floor, and jumped backwards about 3 ft in a nano second. OMG!!!!! I regroup myself enough to look in the basket and it turns out to be this one shooting me the same pissy look as she is in this picture."Ok well someone has to be evil in the house so it might as well be me."

She's never in my room (because the other two cats hang out there all the time and she hates them) and she's never been in that basket before. I was telling my son about this and he said, "Well, I think she's on her quest to kill you. Since she tried tripping you on the stairs and you didn't die, tried tripping you in the kitchen and you didn't die, she probably decided that maybe a heart attack would do you in." I think my son may be on to something here.

Showing my socks

This post is for Jane's 3rd annual show your socks contest. This sorry pair of socks is my very first pair of socks. I had never used thin yarn, never knit on bamboo double points, and never before knit a sock. After finishing these I was hooked and knew I could only get better.

This is my latest finished pair. Knitting socks is my favorite knitting. The only thing better than knitting them is wearing them.

Knitting in denial

Every once in a while when I'm knitting I stop to look at my project. With these socks I'd smile and say to myself, "I love how these socks are coming out. I can't wait to finish them." "Gram, those are some great snake socks you've got there but what are you thinking with those scheepjes socks?"
However with these I kept looking at them and saying, "Hummm, maybe they'll look better when I get the leg done. Maybe they'll look better after I turn the heel. Maybe they'll look better after the gusset decreases." Busy yarn repeat + a busy pattern = fuggly socks. Knitting in denial is never a pretty sight. Off to the frog pond with this ..... Joey says, "Diane, that's the smartest thing you've done since you picked up that ball of yarn."
And Oscar says, "Although this book is a great place to scratch my kitty ear you might want to crack it open and check for some nice patterns because that sock is just plain disgusting."

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?

The answers and our winner!

Ok first the answers to what won at the fair. The little green sweater set and the maroon feather and fans stole both won 1st. The green shawl won 2nd. And the felted bag took 3rd.

Personally I was shocked that the jumper didn't win because it had knitting, crocheting and embrodery all in one item. Quite a range of skills needed. And I didn't think the felted bag should have gotten anything because really how hard is it to knit in the round, throw it in hot water and dry it over a box.

Congrats to luckey #22 comment which belongs to Babs.

If you're married you'll get this ...

I'm upstairs working in my office and my hubby comes home.
Hubby: Did you bring in the paper?
Me: Yup, it's on the table.
(Footsteps walking down the hallway. Two minutes later footsteps walking back up the hallway)
Hubby: It's not on the table.
Me: Did you check the other table?
Hubby: No. Should I?
Me: Only if you want to read the paper.

Things that make you wonder

Ok so I bought a 3 pack of Puffs tissues (fall allergy season in a household that has 4 people with allergies) and as I was taking them out of the packaging I couldn't help but notice that they kindly put directions on how to use the tissues on the bottom of the boxes ..... in 3 languages.

Can you just picture some 80 yr old dude saying, "ooooohhhh look here Martha, you hold the tissue under your nose and blow." "Well thunderation, Hal, what new fangled thing will they think of next!"

If you see me on the street reading directions on how to use a tissue please feel free to run me over.

Did you get a chance to ventured a guess in my contest? If you didn't please meander over. You don't have to guess right since it's an opinion vs reality.

Contest time!

Take a look at these ....

and these too. I entered all this in a local grange fair over the weekend and took home 2 blue ribbons, 1 red and 1 white.

Here's the contest: Try to guess which 2 things won first place in their division. The prize will be a couple balls of some sock yarn (colorways to be determined after some stash diving). Winner will be determined on September 24th.

Where did the summer go?

Don't you just love this colorways? I love it so much. The yarn is Garnstudio's Gabel superwash that I got from Astrids. Can't wait to get them on my feet.
I made a little cellphone pouch from D2 out of some of the leftovers. And of course D1 wanted one too so I made one out of her fav color purple.

Chilly weekend so far. Typical fall weather. I love the fall. It's my favorite season with that cold nip in the air. Of course I'm not quite ready to move on so I'm wearing a long sleeved shirt, wool socks, and shorts. Hey once you are well over 40 you aren't expected to be fashionable. lol.

Why do they call it a 5 hr baby sweater?

I've never been able to finish one in 5 hrs and I consider myself to be a pretty fast knitter. Anyways, sewed on the buttons and snaps last night. I'm going to have to get bigger snaps but that'll be a weekend project.

Plugging along on my socks. Notice how matched they are? The foot goes pretty fast so these should be done this weekend if all goes well.

I'll be looking for a fall dishcloth pattern to knit for the dishcloth exchange and hitting RAVELRY for a sweater idea for W and N. I'll see how the jumper washes and if it holds up well I use cotton ease for the boy's sweaters. Their mom is a no fuss mom so she's requested a no wool for kids clothing rule to be instituted. Superwash wool socks are fine. Superwash wool sweaters are not. Go figure.

My finishing bad ass self

Done
Done. Booga bad with my own little addition of a cellphone keeper attached. Seems like I can never find that friggin cellphone when I need it.

It sounded like a good idea

And it looks like the correct choice for bee buttons for the tabs on this jumper would be neither.
I think it's just too bright of a yellow on this piece.
Probably would look cute here but I'm sure A would be OBSESSED with it and would have it pulled off in no time at all. So I'll forget the buttons and just sew on the snaps.
I did finish my Gedifra (color 4205) yesterday. I like them.
And as always you can't leave naked sock needles so on went this yarn. It's Garnstudio's Fabel superwash from Astrid's. Couldn't pass up the price so we'll see how it wears.

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.