Yarn Along 5/30/2012

Hello all! Linking up with Ginny again :)
~Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Taken from Ginny's blog

Hello all--thanks for stopping by. As the weather starts to heat up and Memorial Day came and went quietly in my home it all brings with time for reflection- to think about the troops that are defending our country and those that paid the ultimate price for keeping us free.  This week I picked up Gettyburg by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen. Last year I dived into To Try Men's Souls and Valley Forge.  Both were wonderful Alternative History reads. Did you know that there was a term for such fiction..I didn't until a very nice gentleman mentioned it to me at Barnes and Noble this past week.  I will be honest with you. It is a tough read--I have to re-read and go to my shelf  heavy with Civil War books and Maps to understand who is fighting and what is going on. Seeing images of actual people listed in a fictional book tends to blur what is the truth about the Battle of Gettysburg. You can imagine as you turn the pages of this book, that these are the conversations or thoughts of some of the men the days before the Battle. Sorry, I do tend to go on sometimes, especially about the Civil War....

My knitting this week has been about finishing projects and casting on small ones. It feels so wonderful and so carefree to set some projects aside(for now) or finish up some or cast on small ones that bring me so much joy. With the end of the school year looming large on our horizon and some other major changes for our home in Maryland it sure is nice not to knit on my lace scarf--at least for right now. I am sure I will need the distraction in the coming weeks.

I was inspired to cast on a certain whale thanks in large part to seeing Ginny and Silas whale. I wasn't able to dye my own woolies but I did manage to use some wool from my stash and I am very pleased with how ours knit up.

After "he" was completed, I was mesmerized at the thought of using the Magic Loop method to knit up a seamless toy- it was instant gratification! Having all the wool left over from the whale, I cast on a dolphin. Since it wasn't the weight called for, I believe it turned out smaller than the pattern stated but I am okay with the outcome and so were my boys. Besides, it did make it easier for tiny hands to hold. The best part is that both were finished in less than 24 hours- which means that my boys each got to hold one in time for bed.

I finished up the Lyalya  hoodie and I am really happy with it.  I really thought I was knitting it wrong but thanks to many Ravelers I was able to use their projects and notes. I couldn't have knit it without all those wonderful notes! I did think the finished knit would be bigger than anticipated--gauge on tiny hats isn't something I normally check.I am happy to report it doesn't fit my 4 year old (which is a very good thing--as it was cast on for infant sizing). My thought is that since it wasn't knit for anyone in particular it would fit the right person someday....I do hope I am able to cast on another one soon. I have never "Kitchener Stitched" so many stitches off the needles at once!

I did cast on a LTK Pilot's Cap yesterday evening. It has been on my To Knit List for ages. Do you have a list? I would love to know what is on it.  I am using some Lions Brand wool I have in my stash for ages--yeah for stash busting! I love the shaping- LTK patterns are always so cleverly constructed! And can be knit quickly. I am making the tiniest size just to see how it knits up and hopefully I will have a darling baby gift I can pass on in the future.

What are you reading and what are working on? I can't wait to catch up with everyone!

Yarn Along 5/23/2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Taken from Ginny's blog


Can you believe Wednesday is here already? Sorry I missed last week I just didn't have any new reading or new knitting to add. BUT I did managed a couple of FO's!

In case anyone was wondering about our felted water bottle carrier.  I ended up throwing it back into the washing machine and I felted the heck out of it! Thanks for every one's advice and kind words!  A special thanks to Paula for giving my the courage to keep at it!  

I love the finished result!

Next I cast on waldorfmama's felted iphone purse for a young lady turning 14!  I really loved knitting up Waldorfmama's pattern. I do wish she had more. They are so easy and fun and now I feel more comfortable with the felting process.

I am happy with the purse but I would love to do a different flower(anyone have a knitted flower pattern they love) or maybe I could just sew the middle of it to the petals pop.
Next I finally finished my very own pair of Puddle Jumpers! Always the faithful pattern follower I knit for the 11.75 inches but I didn't read what the pattern added..."check you own boots against this length". Can you guess what happened next? I cast off added the strap--feeling fancy because I picked up the stitches requested for "said strap" and knit away on both! I sewed the strap on and tucked all cast on and cast off wools in and slide one into my boot and YUP you guessed...they were too long! I unravelled 3 heartbreaking inches and didn't add the strap this time around- I just don't think they need it. And this is the finished items.  

Last but certainly not least I cast on Naked.

I knit this in an afternoon! I love this pattern. I think it would lovely to have one on the needles all the time!

I managed to cast on another project for this week. A lyalya hoodie. Not for anyone I know, just to add to my stash. The construction intrigues me.

As for reading, it seems that there is more knitting going on. My older son is sick with some sinus issues so he is home from school--  I love when he sits still long enough to cuddle and read to. We ended up with a stack.

 We are only a few pages from the end of Help! I'm Prisoner The Library. It was nice to spend some quiet  uninterrupted(my youngest was still sleeping) time with some old friends--don't you love Jo-Beth and Mary Rose?
I can't wait to catch up with everyone!

Yarn Along May 9, 2012

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

Joining Ginny again this week. I managed to finish some handknits this week! Can you believe it? Okay, it really wasn't anything I have been working on but a FO is a FO, right? I did finish Mason's Monster--I managed to stitch on the body and arms(they look just dreadful). And I went with no eyes or mouth. I would love to think I did it as part of the Waldorf inspired toys we are playing with more and more. BUT the reality is... you shouldn't seam up your project if you are going to add safety eyes? AHHHH, lesson learned. I see seamless handknits coming off my needles in my future--lots of seamless knits.... I also cast on for a Minion...not for anyone in particular. The patttern details are fabulous.


I did cast on for a Kleen Kanteen holder. It was a super fast knit. I managed to finish it in 2 days, right down to the felting! Can you spot the reason it will not be used much?? I believe the error lies in the gauge..... I am usually spot on with gauge or maybe the reason I have never noticed my gauge is off in the past is that the things I knit are things where gauge isn't really an issue? What if gauge is something I have had an issue with my whole knitting life?!!! Bears more scrunity....

My reading....sigh..... The truth is I have been reading anything that happens to be in my hand lately. A magazine, a  book, a bill.... Doesn't make for lasting reading.
Can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Yarn Along May 2, 2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Joining up with Ginny again this week. My favorite part of the week! I love reading about what others are reading and knitting, don't you?
This week really hasn't changed reading wise. My stack by my bed is still the same size--maybe bigger as I bought a magazine about the Titanic 100 year "Anniversary"(Why is it named that. It really isn't a celebration, is it?-Remembrance would have been better, don't you think?) That is one of the reason I did buy the Life issue. It doesn't say that-- at least on the cover.
I am still knitting on my Puddle Jumpers and and I don't feel like I am getting anywhere. They have officially become my car knitting--they will fly off my needles as I wait for school to open or watching my daughter play soccer. I did cast on a monster for my youngest son. His patio monster has been cast off and all I have left is to stitch him up. I did a few stitches last night- using this video --and I truly do dislike seaming--I am terrible at it, can you tell?  This is the time when I wish I knew someone who could teach me more about the fiber art. I do hunger to learn crochet and would love to know more on handsewing--sorry a bit off track. Back to the monster: I bought some safety eyes for him this week. I am a little anxious about them. I haven't ever used them, have you? I am sure I will be "pinning" lots of instructions for them.I did have a minor knitting heartbreak this week. Remember Phoebe? My church decided to cancel the Silent Auction and Dinner so I won't be able to find Phoebe and her book a new home. I am not sure what to do with her... Hopefully I will be able to gift her to someone someday.
I can't wait to catch up on what is on every one's needles and reading list!