Worked to death...

I will be worked to death someday, but today I took the day off. I made dijon chicken for dinner, and argued till I was blue in the face with my son over trying a bite of creamed corn. I have been working on a shrug for myself and soon will need to make a sweater for my son, it his his year to pick what he would like. We even went to the dentist today and had fairly good news. I wondered how it would go. Apparently I clench my teeth, shocker. I tend to internalize things sometimes...but don't we all? I have so many things that I would like to do and there really is not enough time to do them. Pictures to hang, decorations to make, furntiture to build, why don't I have drive for me. I have been pretty busy helping a friend with her new house from habitat for humanity. I even volunteered some hours to a house build. I need self help. I am going to make myself a list and see what I can accomplish. Pictures. Wallhangings. Halltree. Dresser. Chair. Footstool. oh wh am I kidding? Pool here I come.

House Warming

Wow, what a unique and difficult process, I never thought that buying a house and renovating would end up driving everyone to distraction. I really like my house, and am not exactly done doing things to it. I still have not finished the bathroom, (mostly paint). And I purchased some things to hang in the kitchen and they arrived today, yay. But I also still have several small projects to do, and shall get done at some point. And then the biggest job of all, I would like to renovate the back room and make it into a bathroom, rustic style, vintage. For some reason I seem to like things calm, peacefull, and classic. I like to sit outside in the sun and let the day pass, playing with the kids in the water or whatever. I hope to plant some pretty things and have a nice yard. So much to do, and so little time! I welcome visitors though, but do pardon my slow progress, lol.

So much to do...

And so little time, my house is supposed to close on Monday, and I am really not sure what is going to happen from there. You know when you think everything is sorta ok, and then its not, I have some of that going on right now. I am not sure that I will ever trust men fully. The only two that I have ever found that won't ever lie to me...my dad and my grandfather. Why? I don't know. Should women today have to put up with lies all the time? I don't like being taken for granted, and I cannot stand it when someone tries to spin me a story. I know when I am being lied to. I am not stupid. Nor will I be treated as though I am not smart enough to see through the pile of crap story that's being heaved at me. I was mad the other day because a few dollars walked away, and it was automatically suggested I take my daughters money to replace it. What you say? I was outraged. And then when I ask a direct question, I get neatly sidestepped. Really? It makes me want to quit. If someone is not going to put enough effort into telling the truth even though it is something they may get into trouble for, then I don't want them.
Ugh! Anyhow, I am working on a pattern for Jean. Hope she likes it. Knitting tomorrow at Panera in Joplin 6:30 for everyone that can make it.

Oh the holidays...

So we have once again made it past that time of year when it seems that most of us are in some kind of marathon to create the most knitted gifts of anyone we know, or just trying to overwork ourselves... I made some hats for the military, and I made house socks for my grandmother. A hat and scarf were mafe for Heather, as a secret Santa exchange. Almost done with the house socks for my grandfather. And there were some filler items as well, and new requests. My nephew liked my sons slippers and he requested that I make him a pair in lime green and black, so now I need to find linme green wool. Black is easy... I mase a sweater vest the other day, and I pretty much hate it. It is not flattering at all, and I am sure that I may either give it away or redesign it, not sure yet. But below are some pics of completed items.

Military knitting

So, as some of you know, Charlie at work asked us knitterly folk to make hats for the brave at the hospital in Fayetteville, in the psych ward. This is a place that is close to my heart. Many of the wonderful people in my family have served time in the military and some in the psych ward. I am not sad for either, we learned things on both accounts that make things better today. We were originally trying to do as many as possible, started last week, and then we found out that we would only need to be knitting for women, and that about 10 hats would be required. We have 7 already and 2 more on the needles....Tina a kind heart does not know how to knit, but she donated money for us to buy yarn with. Thank you Tina. I have made two so far with the yarn money that she donated. I have a bin of yarn too that I think I may go through tonight and bring to knitting to see if anyone would like to use. I will post pictures, and I have a new pattern. One I had to make up off the cuff, since nothing I was doing was working. I thought that Lionbrand Thick & Quick Jiffy and Lionbrand Thick & Quick Wool-ease were the same guage approximately, I was wrong. Lol. But I now have an even quicker pattern for a hat that can be done in about 3 hours tops, on size 11 needles, it's quite dense and very warm, a great gift idea if you're looking.

Changes...

So I was going through my blog and I noticed that there was a lot of stuff on here that seemed like immature behavior. I was using my blog to have a one sided conversation; airing my thoughts. Well, I think I shared too much. Some of the things I typed would have seemed intentionally hurtful, not just truthful. I have since changed those posts and hope that I never made anyone mad with them. It was never my intent.
I have recently posted two more patterns online and hope that people get to enjoy them too. They are patterns that have been here on Blogger but are now available as a downloadable PDF on Ravelry.
More knitting later, lol....

Pattern Creation

I have so been enjoying the visual numbers climbing on my website and checking to see how many times I have been dowloaded. So Fun! I hope to have many more patterns out soon, more to come such as the adult version of my baby basket beret, and a mitten pattern that would match rosi-g's capitan hat, and several other things...I have some other knitting going on at the moment though....looking forward to hearing from you all.

Still Going

I now have a few challenges before me....I have a pattern that I made for my son, and I have a request, to make a knitted mitten pattern to go with the capitan hat...and I want to make a bolero pattern, one that would be suitable for work, and I have that cable jacket to post....ideas, just keep going. Should have a new pattern up in a bit.

Spinning yarn from sheep...dog

This funny little sheep dog that I have continues to challenge me as a pet owner. In the picture shown she was ignoring me as I tried to coax her out of the car. She was determined that I should take her for a ride. She makes me laugh for sure. Now though she is finally shedding her extra layers of hair and I am very temped to try to spin it...I have heard so many times though that you can't get the dog smell out of it. In the back of my mind I keep thinking I could find something useful to do with it. Any ideas? Lol.

New Pattern

I added a new pattern to Ravelry, it was just to open the door and get things figured out. I am enjoying myself so far, and am trying to make the patterns fairly simple. The color in this one does a lot of the work for me. Malabrigo, need I say more? Oh, wait Merino worsted...better?

pattern writing

I have been writing patterns now for a while, and rewriting patterns for even longer, sometimes I wonder why they ever suggest doing what they say...well now maybe people will have the opportunity say that about me, lol. I am kidding I hope, I would like to think that the patterns that I write are user friendly, if they are not, please let me know. I will be posting yet another pattern in about a week or so on Ravelry. I love that site.

Destruction

I live in Joplin, which was listed on my profile, I feel lost, I am not sure what happened to my memories, but I drive across town and wonder where the ghosts of my past have disappeared to. There is little left of St. Mary's a private school that was kind enough to give me scholarship when I was 9. I loved that school, and I even liked singing at mass. I even used to go to the school booksale after I returned to Missouri at 18 just to visit, and support the school. The place I spent by big 30th birthday was at J-Town, recently renovated to the new Salvation Army, and even more recently destroyed. I have so many memories tied up in the rubble, the daycare my children went to on Moffet, was the same one I attended at their age. All of the buildings are destroyed, wiped away by the tornado. I miss my memories, and the way they made me feel. Now every time I leave home I wonder if it will be there when I return or what will happen while I am gone. I am forever blessed by not having lost anything myself in the storm, and full of guilt as well. My only consolation is that I know others feel the same, wanting to help and hoping those that had people things taken from them will somehow be whole again.

Baby Basket Beret

Baby Basket Beret:
By Stephanie Kuhler

Worsted weight yarn, ( I chose Vanna’s Choice)
Size 6 and 8 dpn’s
Hat Pattern:
Using size 6 needles and worsted weight yarn:
CO 66sts
Join for working in the round being careful not to twist.
Rows 1-8: k1, p1, repeat all the way around for 8 rounds, totaling 1 in.
Switch to size 8 needles:
Rows 9-12: k3, p3, repeat all of the way around for 4 rounds
Row 13: *p3, inc(1), k3, inc(1) repeat from * all of the way around
Rows 14-16: p4, k4, repeat all of the way around
Rows 17-21: k4, p4, repeat all of the way around
Rows 22-26: p4, k4, repeat all of the way around
Rows 27-31: k4, p4, repeat all of the way around
Rows 32-35: p4, k4, repeat all of the way around
Row 36: decrease round, *p2, p2tog, k2, k2tog, repeat from * all of the way around
Row 37-40: k3, p3, repeat all of the way around
Row 41: decrease round, p1, p2tog, k1, k2tog, repeat all of the way around
Row 42-43: p2, k2, repeat all of the way around (44sts total)
Row 44: k2tog, p2tog, repeat all of the way around
Rows 45-46: k1, p1, repeat all of the way around (22sts total)
Last Row: k2tog all of the way around (11sts total)
Cut yarn about 6 in from needles, weave through live stitches, and weave in ends.
Flower Center:
Using size 8 needles and worsted weight yarn:
CO 3sts
Row 1: k1f&b, k1, k1f&b
Row 2: knit 1 row
Row 3: k1f&b, k3, k1f&b
Rows 4-10: knit (7sts total)
Row 11: k2tog, k3, k2tog
Row 12: knit 1 row
Row 13: k2tog, k1, k2tog
Row 14: bind off
Petals:
CO 1 stitch
Row 1: k1f&b
Row 2: k1, k1f&b
Row 3: k1f&b, k2
Row 4: k3, k1f&b
Row 5: k1f&b, k4
Row 6: k4, k2tog
Row 7: k2tog, k3
Row 8: k2, k2tog
Row 9: k2tog, k1
Repeat from row 2, 5 times, creating a total of 6 petals, sew the petals around to the flower center and then sew the flower to the hat, making sure to weave in all ends.

warm feet coming up, and heads

oh yeah, by the way, I knitted another cabled hat for Rick, it was in Blue Alpaca this time, from Bernat, and then I am currently working on a hat for a coworker named Randa. Also tonight I am going to use my knitting machine to make a baby afghan for a coworker, Christina, she is due next month, but when asked what she needed, she stated that she could use real baby blankets, problem solved, since so many of us knit and crochet at work. Can't wait to post a piture of that as well.

Finish line

I have been busy, I have even given away projects without taking photos, I know it's a nono. I will post later.

Slippers, violet not ruby

ok so I made slippers for my little sister for Christmas or so I thought, they are not going to fit, I am upset, I am going to have to sit down and knit another pair and I have to make sure that they will fit and be dry by Christmas, UURGG! Darn that cute pattern! I was sucked in and did not even try to be smart, and knit early or test knit! I paid $7.00 for you and you suck, its so disappointing.....

New Book!

I am now the proud owner of the GlamKnits book by Stefanie Japel, super awesome Jean bought it for me for Christmas! We did a cookie swap the other night at knitting as well and it was a blast, we had so much fun and the goodies were great, I am going to have to put my new recipies into play soon. I think that I am going to make a pair of earrings for Jean for Christmas, hopefully she won't read my blog tonight, lol. Not quite done with my slippers for Lindsey, I made heat sacks for much of my family, and I got some easy necklace closures for my grandmother, if she will use them. I know that no one likes to get older but sometimes we need a bit of help. Kay made me some really nice earring as well and I wore them with my sweater last night. Also I think that I am going to try to creat a post with just the information from my Knit in Chunks sweater and post my chart and the modifications that I made just in case anyone would like to make one like mine without frustration.

wor k a hol ic

ok, pic of some non knitting pleasure for my stepmother, it is a drawing of a train wreck in mid 1800's, it was the first insurance payout of Northwestern Mutual Insurance...

And here is some knitting pleasure, even though part of it is not for me...


The shawl is also for my stepmother, and the hat may be for me, apparently I love hats, and I would love to make myself some matching mittens, oh yeah, I have enough yarn to do that! But wait! Christmas is coming near and I need to make gifts for everyone else, I am making slippers for my sister, they are adorable and the pattern better turn out is all I can say because it cost me 7 friggin dollars...I have started already with a Tweed yarn, purple is the base color and then it has the red and yellow green and blue flecks of color all over...light gray purple is the only color I guess you could call it I suppose. Will post after I make them on here, won't be able to post on Ravelry since my little sister looks on there. hahaha

work work work

For Christmas:
Lindsey, I want to make slippers
Mom, I want to make slippers
Ahava, I want to make Barbie clothes,
Myer, I want to make matching hat and gloves
Meem, I want to make a cowl
Dad, I made a hat
Cindy, I made a shawl
Tavis, love.
Made a hat, Urchin by Ysolda Teague, and it is fun, and fast. I am now working on the Everlasting Rose Hat, and I would like to make gloves to go with...maybe that will have to wait, lol. Will post pics soon...

Booty

I made some baby booties for a friend the other day. She had no idea that they were going to be for her and when she eremarked on them I thought it was funny but said nothing about it until I gave them to her. The look on her face was priceless. I got the pattern off of Ravelry and they are called Grey Baby Booties.