Derailed.

I did not follow the plan at all this weekend.  But instead finished the second pink/purple mitten, and the first pink camo mitten.  I decided that I don’t have enough yarn to complete the second camo mitten, so I started on the blue snowflake mitten.  I’m already up to the finger opening.  I really like this pattern.  Very easy to read and follow.  I’ve been fiddling with increases and so far like the kfb (knit through front and back loops).  It looks the neatest and doesn’t leave holes like the yarnovers.  I’m planning on duplicate stitching the snowflake on, but I’ll wait till I have both mittens so I have a better chance of them being the same.  If I have enough time I’ll do the same only opposite – white mitten with a blue snowflake.   

The Central Park Hoodie is now available in plus size.  I’m psyched.  Finally a sweater I can get behind.  I really want to spin my own yarn for this sweater.  I think it would be a huge accomplishment.  But, first I will need to purchase my own wheel. 

I keep thinking that due to the wicked smallness of my turn-of-the-century saltbox, I’m going to need a small portable wheel.  I’m due a 150 reimbursement in January.  With that and my year end bonus from work I should be able to get the Schacht Ladybug.  It’s wicked cute.  Plus the plastic composite wheel is awesome since New England is known for warping wood with it’s temperature and humidity extremes.   

Totally on track (to Crazytown)

I spun some more weds night.  I filled two bobbins and still have a bit left over.  I ended up plying them last night.  But ended up with some left on one bobbin.  I think what I’ll do is spin up the remaining fiber and then ply that with the remaining on the bobbin.  I’ll totally have plenty to do something with.  I’m thinking maybe a hat.  (of course I’m thinking a hat – I love hats).  I have come to the conclusion that I’m not a big fan of mohair.  I think it’s the halo.  It just looks messy.   I also finished kitchenering both ½ done mittens.  I’m getting better at this whole kitchener thing.  I also did the thumb on the pink mitten.  I’m so happy with my progress so far, I have a few lofty goals for this weekend: 

• Finish at least one more mitten
• Drop 6 stitches on Karen’s Clapotis
• Buy a yarn ball winder
• Spin and ply remaining blue fiber
• Make one santa hat
• Set twist on all blue hanks
• Go to Iron Horse Farm and show off to Debbie

 I also have a couple of other (non-knitting related) goals: 

• Go to bank
• Go to post office
• Make cookies (I’m thinking spritz)
• Clean and vacuum room
• Cut and polish nails

 So all in all not bad.  I totally think it’s doable.  Tonight (Friday) I’ll swing by BSK and see if they have a ball winder for sale, I’ll finish the thumb on the pink camo mitten, and start and finish up to the opening on the second pink/purple mitten, and spin and ply the remaining fiber and put into hanks.  I’ll set the twist tonight and then Saturday I’ll get up early and go to the bank and the post office, maybe pick up some of the crockpot classic soups and come home to hang with nana (the fam is in NY on a shopping trip all day).  While with nana, I’ll finish the mitten and drop 3-4 stitches on the clapotis.  In the afternoon I’ll take a run to the farm and show off to Debbie.  Depending on the cost of the ball winder, I’ll purchase 1-2 balls of fiber.  When I come back we’ll eat the soup that has been cooking all day, and I’ll make a santa hat.  I’ll finish the second pink/purple mitten and start the second pink camo mitten.  Sunday (game day) I’ll finish the second pink camo mitten, drop the remaining stitches on the clapotis and possibly cast on for the blue snowfake mitten.   Totally doable.  (I may be crazy)  In Non-Knitting Related News, I got a call from my uncle.  His boss is sending the guys home for Christmas, and since Chris wasn’t going, he offered to fly his girlfriend Trishie up for the holiday.  Right.  Where in the hell are they going to sleep?  Cause he’s been sleeping on an air mattress in my old room (read: tiny ass room).  Chris seemed so excited and said, “you will love her, you are like peas in a pod”.  So, what? You are dating someone exactly like your niece – well, that’s not uncomfortable at all.  So we’ll see how things go.  He said she might not go for it since she’s originally from California and it’s freezing up here. 

I’m so tired of people saying it’s freezing up here.  I think it’s wonderful.  I love the cold.  I love knitting warm things, and afghans on your lap and hot chocolate and turkey and meatloaf and Christmas and snow and everything.  I think it’s wonderful.  I’m trying really hard not to let those people who hate cold get me down.  If you don’t like that it’s cold – MOVE.  Cripes, I’m so annoyed.  It’s December in New England people, it’s cold every year.  I get it.  It’s cold.  It’s supposed to be.  And guess what – it’s going to be like this for 3 more months.  So you better suck it up and put on a sweater and some warmer shoes – cause vnecks and chucks aren’t going to keep you warm.  /rant. 

Wrap-Up and Goals

Week Wrap Up

• Finished first Peekaboo mitten*.  Looks pretty good.    Easy, quick pattern.  I think I’ll be making a lot of these in the weeks to come.
• Discovered my problem with spinning is that I’m not drafting enough and that my spindle is weighted for sportweight yarn.
• Spun the roving from the Sherborn Fiber Fest.  Not bad.  I just feel like I need another hand.  Although I switched hands and seem to be a little better.  Although after plying seems like an aran weight yarn.  Which I guess is what you would get with two sportweight yarns held together.  But not sure if that is how it works. 
• Decided to take actual spinning lessons on an actual spinning wheel after the first of the year.  If I don’t totally hate it, then I will start saving up for my very own. 
• Finished green/brown socks.  Glad they are done. 

 Weekend Goals

• I’m buying 3 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in an off-white color this weekend for my dear, dear sister’s Clapotis.  If she isn’t going to appreciate nice yarn, then she isn’t going to get nice yarn. 
• Set twist on all fiber.  Maybe swatch a bit to see what’s what.
• Purchase some Woolease for more mittens.  Hey, it’s on sale.   
• Suck it up and go to Braintree to meet other Ravelers.  I’m a little scared doing it, but I won’t stay long, so that I don’t have to navigate that rotary in the dark. 

 *Ok, so I haven’t totally finished the mitten.  I didn’t kitchener the top, and I didn’t do the thumb.  But I decided I would have better luck looking like these match if I did them both at the same time.  So, I’m casting on the other mitten and putting the live stitches on waste yarn till I finish the second mitten body and then do the thumbs and close the top on both at the same time. 

FOs

Took some pictures last night of some recent FOs.  Ravelry has been a godsend since someone posted how to find the HTML in flickr to post their photos.  I really have to play around with flickr more.  I know I’m not using it to it’s full potential. First off is the Hallowig.  Nana loved it.  Everyone thought it was hysterical.  Size 8 Addi’s and Cascade 220 Superwash.  I taught myself magic loop on this.  Not bad, but I think I like dpns better.   

   

A simple intarsia hat.  I love fishes.  Pretty huh?  Leftover Woolease in assorted colors.  Wait, I think the blue was leftover Cascade 220.  Ah, stashbusting.  You are my friend. 

Next up is the Yarn Harlot’s Unoriginal Hat.  I was planning on using the Reynolds blizzard that my sister got me for this.  But to try the pattern first I thought I’d use some….. STASH.  I have some “old people” yarn in black.  Both were aran weight so this hat is a wee snug.  And the acrylic nature of if makes it a wee itchy.  But I like it.  It was only my second time doing cables.  And I used the 2 circ method at the top since I didn’t have dpns that size. 

   

Now onto the current project.  Peekaboo mittens. 

I love this yarn.  It’s from Iron Horse Farm where Debbie Smith does everything, she dyed and spun the yarn herself.  From her own animals no less.  It’s pink/purple with a metallic magenta fiber in it.  It’s Shetland/Mohair/Angora.  Gorgeous.  When I saw it at the Sherborn Fiber Arts Festival – it jumped off the table and said “Make me into something for your sister” I know I make my sister a lot of things.  Which is weird since she is always so hot – I swear her baseline temp is like 198.  Anyway, I’m making Karen these mittens.  They are working up so fast, it’s crazy.  No new skill with this project.  Except that I decided I hate purling on dpns.  But I love ribbing.  My life is a series of contradictions. But tonight.  Tonight is when the real fun starts.  Karen and I are going to the opening of Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro tonight.  A couple of the Patriots are going to be there.  I’m so excited.  I have about $30 if I see something I HAVE to have.   

Excuse Queen

So picture taking isn’t going as well as I thought.  It always seems like my camera is downstairs and I’m upstairs.  Or I have my camera but my knitted stuff is scattered all around the house.  I have to clean my room tonight so maybe that will help.   I finished the Yarn Harlot’s Unoriginal Hat.  I held two strands of black acrylic together.  Good way to get rid of the acrylic.  I worked it on size 10.5 needles.  I’ll definitely go up a size or two when I do it again.  Very tight on my widdle head.  I’ve also decided to make Karen a Clapotis out of some acrylic too.  She loves Caron Simply Soft.  And I’m not going to spend a lot on yarn if what she really likes is the 1.99 a skein kind.  I found someone on Ravelry who has done it in the acrylic so it should work out.  I’ve started a Peekaboo mitten for Karen too for Christmas.  I bought the yarn from Iron Horse Farms at the Sherborn Fiber Fest.  It’s so pretty.  Pinks and Purples and a sparkly thread running through it.  I just realized that I’m making a lot for Karen for Christmas.  Oh, well.  I’m going to haul ass on the mitten, and get one done, then maybe do the clapotis and then do the other mitten.  Then see which one Aunten likes.  I’ll make her either one.  Lisa and Abby are hopefully getting mittens.  If I slack off then Abby is getting a pretty skein of yarn.

I can see the light

The second sock is almost done.  I’ll probably have it done by Thursday night.  Once the sock is done, it’s time to set course for the Peekaboo Mittens.  I have to swatch the loads of Red Heart that was gifted to me with the size 8 addi turbos.  That way I can use magic loop.  I also have to swatch Karen’s socks.  I still haven’t decided on a pattern for them.  It would be best if I do an all-over rib, as her feet are bigger than mine.  I’m planning on working mitten, sock, mitten, sock.  That way I won’t get bored or frustrated. 

  

I’m really excited about these mittens.  I hope that the pattern isn’t that hard.  I know acrylic isn’t really the best for mittens, but it’s free.  And I’m slowly working my family out of a financial hole, so free works for me.  I wonder what would happen if I stopped working on the sock and casted on the mittens tonight?  Would the knitting gods be angered?  Or would they applaud me for forgoing knitting something for myself and instead knit for others? 

  Hmmmm.  Things to think about. 

Socks are OUT, Mittens are IN

The socks didn’t have such a good weekend.  I JUST started the heel last night.  But I have full confidence that I will finish the heel and a bit of the leg tonight.  I was looking for quick christmas knits as socks will probably be not happening.  I found these.  (Thank you Ravelry) They are perfect.  I have a bunch of left over yarn to use up.  But to treat myself for not buying new yarn, I’m going to try wooden dpns for this.  Looks like a quick trip to BSK is in order. 

Special people will still get socks of course.  Lisa, Karen, Aunten, Abby and Debbie to name a few.  But the socks probably won’t happen till after Christmas.  Mittens will happen first.

Tonight’s Agenda:

• Picture of Nana in Hallowig
• Picture of acrylic stash
• Picture of sock progress
• Pictures of completed hats
• Upload all pictures to Flickr
• Download knitting podcasts to iPod