Knit This Knit That & 3 Kitty Cats

Aidan's sweater is DONE and in the mail. Just think it is great that a 7 year old knows what he wants and has the faith in me that I can do it.

Things I Do While NOT Knitting

Remember last year when I had that bad accident with the rotary cutter?  It has been a whole year now.  The index finger still tingles a bit but all is well...the fingerprints even came back.  So much for thinking about committing a crime now...oh well.

With the bandage/cast, I couldn't knit for about 3 months.  I could quilt though and I took a few classes.  Knitting...just couldn't get the hang of knitting with an injured forefinger.  I knit continental and just couldn't get the hang of throwing.  Have to admit that I was a little afraid of the rotary cutter and thought that I wouldn't quilt but they have things now where your hand doesn't have to be in the line of the fire.  :)

 

I was counting up the quilts I've made last year...the answer is 8...2 were for me.  Haven't been able to post anything about them...until now...because they were presents.

   

This past Christmas I gave brother-in-law (John) a quilt.  He is quilt worthy and thought it would make a nice Christmas present.  John is one of those brother-in-laws that when he comes to visit...he fixes stuff.  He is quilt-worthy.  It was going to be a throw for downstairs...just for him.  Then I had enough fabric to make my sister one too.  Did a more girly pattern for Jean.  It became the his and her's quilts.  Now both of the quilts reside at the end of their bed on each side.  So proud of them and I do think they like them too.  

   

(John took these pictures of the quilts in their guest bedroom) 

Patterns: Urban Amish (for John) and the Spot on Retro (for Jean 

Fabric: Art Gallery Fabrics

All purchased at  Quiltology

This is how I HAVE to knit....

Cold Sheep! That is the new word for 2010. I don't smoke...really don't drink so there is no reason to go cold turkey on anything...but yarn. Went through my yarn stash this past weekend. ::::scream::::

Won't post pictures of the stash (don't even ask) but just to give you a hint...have 48 skeins of Socks That Rock, 7 Bohus kits, 60 balls of Rowan 4ply soft, etc. I have no business buying yarn this year and really wondered how I got to this point. The funny thing is that I know....every trip I take...yarn store...oh, Knitting Workshop is having a sale...oh, look at what Jessica and Mary are making.

So, 2010...COLD SHEEP....no yarn. Have enough...I really do.

Somedays you just have to jump in....

Finally finished the intarsia portion of the Puffle sweater for my nephew Aidan. He requested the sweater and helped with the graph, colors, etc.
Aidan knows how to work it too. He asked if I could make the sweater in a very nice way and was so excited. He gets the concept that I make things and they take time. Love him!

Wild Apple WILL Be Finished...or Else

Yesterday I was surfing around on all the knitting blogs...reading the New Year's wishes and the resolutions for the new year when I saw that the Yarn Harlot was knitting a Bohus Wild Apple.  I love it when I feel a part of the group. :::hugs all around:::: 

I started my Bohus back in May and have put it down, knitted, put it down, brought it to knitting camp, put it down and now I am going to finish it!  Yes, I am.  It is so pretty but that size 1 knitting after the yoke really takes dedication.  After all the fun colorwork the body is...well...takes time with no motivation.

This is my third Bohus and each time I am still amazed at how much I love the sweaters.  (have to apologize for the bad pictures...took them on the floor of my office today with my camera phone).   
 

Oh, I should post something about the new year...2009...well I won't hate on 2009...even though I have every right.  2009 was like a bad boyfriend.  You know it is bad but you stay in it and when you finally have some distace, you realized that you learned and grew as a person through all the challenges.  Here is what I learned from 2009:

1. It is not bad to rely on people sometimes.  Always has been rough to ask for help.  My true friends...and family are always there for me.  From the trip to the emergency room in January to the car repair in December...I appreciate everything. 

2. Work does not define me as a person.  It is something I do and enjoy but is just a little part of who I am.

3. Learned new things such as spinning yarn....and quilting classes.

4. Have too much yarn in my stash and WIPs.  This year will be "cold sheep."  I have projects that I need to finish both on the needles and in my head.

5. My cats are spoiled but that is ok because what they give me can't be measured...even when the Christmas tree is on it's side and the branches are in the middle of the floor.

6.  Can't worry about the what-ifs.

7. Need to save more and spend less.

8. I can get through anything.

It was a year of growth and change and change is always a good thing. 

Caution! It is Christmas Time.

    
  
   

I think as knitters, quilter or basically crafty types we all say "I am going to start my Christmas stuff early."  We all have good intentions.  We start making that list in August or earlier...buy the supplies...finish a truck load of stuff and then....then it hits.  I think of that scene in Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer when the storm hits and you see the wind whirling around and things flying through the air and Christmas was almost cancelled.  That is the scene in my head lately.

"Oh, I think my secretary needs a scarf." "Humm, I just saw Julie without mittens.  I can whip those up in no time."  "Tim is making a scarf for his Mom, she needs mittens too...oh heck, his sister and HE does too."

I know that there are people out there that don't stress about their Christmas projects and I am not friends with any of them.   Been known to be up till 3 am finishing a sweater to go out via fed/ex in time for Christmas...on a school night.  Thought this year would be different.  So much is different this year but some things are just tradition, right?  That is what I am telling myself...makes me feel better. 

While I can't post the items I have been working on till after next week...can post Bert and Felix's new catnip toy I made for them (and for about 7 other kitties...don't worry, the 7 other kitties don't read the blog).  The pattern is a free download from Ravelry and is soooo easy.  Thought it was appropriate to have traffic cones....caution it is Christmas. 

 

  

Louisa Harding We Need to Talk...

What a pretty sweater from the latest Classic Elite book "Sunday Brunch."  Mary, the owner of the Knitting Workshopstarted it out of the Louisa Harding Kimono Pure Angora.  Such a wonderful yarn...soft...knits up nicely and doesn't pill at all.  There was a color that is the color of Felix.  A nice charcoal.  I was jazzed!  Oh wait...there is a BUT...  I knit into the second ball of yarn and almost finished it when I noticed that the shade was off from the 1st one to the 2nd. Humm...odd.  All the dyelots matched.  So, I rip out (6 inches) and started another ball...same thing...different shade.  Wanted to scream.  Then I go online and found that a few others had a similar experience with some of the darker colors of the yarn...oh, and it is being discontinued.  I bring the yarn into the shop and they see exactly what I am saying.  :::Whew::: not crazy. 

Has this ever happened to you all?

So, anyway, I am a little disappointed that I won't have a sweater the color of Felix but then again I think he is always trying to get his fur into my projects anyway.

On a happier note though...it all works out.  The knitting workshop had this beautiful blue color (like the color in the yarn with Felix) and it is coming out so pretty...and no dyelot issues!  :)!!

Oh Baby You Knit So Fine