Uhhhh, somethings wrong with my socks dude.......

So, I am loving the bumblebug sock pattern. I have finished the heel and am halfway through the foot section( with a modification, I am not doing the lace pattern on the foot, the yarn Im using isnt the softest, and I dont want the pattern bugging my foot) and Im knitting and thinking, yep, youre good. The I try the sock on, and yes, it fits perfect, BUT....... my heel is wrongside out. Somehow when I did my heel turning, I must have started going in the wrong direction, because my heel is in garter stitch....... Now, I thought about tearing it all the way back and redoing it. But I am not gonna. The yarn is very dark and it wont really be noticable by anyone but me. Im gonna leave it, and make sure to do the same mistake on the second sock.

Also, gonna be opening my etsy shop, yaaay! Mariah is coming over in the morning, and we are going to have a store together:) Im very excited! And, I promised a contest, and I shall deliver a contest. After I get my shop open, I will runa grand opeing contest, for.... well something cool. So, this week sometime, I will be letting you know what kind of goodies some lucky person will be winning:) Dont worry, its not a contest where you have to buy anything. All you will have to do is visit my new store, come here and leave a message about what you think, and you will be entered, hence having to wait until I open our store to enter:) I know, Im such a tease!!!

Well, my lilman is sick, running a fever, coughing the whole nine yards. Im not much better. I spent most of my night and this morning throwing up. If it was JUST throwing up I could handle it, but my stomach hurts so bad in spasms that I swear it feels like contractions. Sooo, hope we feel better tomorrow:)

Other wip updates.

Rainbow fall coat: I have figured out what I am doing with the lapel, have gotten passed the lapel, got passed my first chevron peak, got listening to the kids, and screwed up on the sleeve chevron, so, rippity rip rip. I am thinking about tearing all the way back passed the first chevron peak, because I dont think I can tear back to exactly where I need to start again and not mess it up.

Spinning... Oh yes, there has been spinning, but you will just have to wait till I open my store to see what I have been so hard at work on!

I have also been busy making knitted items that are secret, for the store, so no peaking till I cut the ribbon:)

Oh yeah, I did make a small present to go into my Valentine Swap partners package. But it hasnt been mailed yet, so I cant show you yet. But if you hang tight, I will post pics. Nothing much, just something sweet and valentiny!!!

As far as I know, that is all for right now. Here are some random pics of cool stuff to make up for the lack of wip pics!


OMG~!!!!!!! I cant believe I forgot about Prince. I picked him up from Donna on Saturday, and he is just perfect. Here is a pic of my oldest boy holding him!


Well, sorry no pics, blogger is not being very nice tonight! I will post them tomorrw, promise:)

A little of this and a little of that:)

I promise I have been busy spinning and knitting, but I cannot show you all that I have been working on!!! I am going to open my Etsy store in a few weeks, and don't want to give away any of the secrets:) I can tell you, I will be offering hand spun art yarn, and hand spun yarns. All spun on my spindles. I will also be offering hand made stitch markers and spindles. I am thinking of venturing into handmade pins and little gifties as well. I am very excited to do this, and cant wait to start!!! I am hoping by having my own shop it will help pay for some bills, being a stay at home single mom who gets no help form the state or anyone else is a bit hard. I do get child support, and, well we all know how that go's:(



Oh!!!!!!! Guess what? I'm getting anew bunny! His name is prince charming, and I will be picking him up tomorrow ( Saturday). He is a satin angora. I cannot wait to hug all over him!!! The woman I am buying him from is a spinner and knitter, as well as a member of a local homestead group. I will be going to a meeting with her on the16th. I cant wait!!!



Oh, and guess what else??????? (yeah, I know, full of surprises today!!!) I finally got to meet Mariah. Her blog and shop is
http://www.dragonflyknitdesigns.com/

She is a wonderful woman, and she even brought me a spindle she made for me!!! We met on Ravlery.com and then found out we live in the same town, literally right down the road from each other. We also discovered that her daughter and my son are in the same class at school, hows that for a kowinkeedink???

Well, I hope everyone is having a great New Year. I promise not to wait so long before my next post. And I will keep you updated on my new etsy shop. I am waiting on my credit card, as you have to have one to open it with. And you know me, I just don't do things like banks and credit cards. Had to bite the bullet on that one though. Leave me a comment, let me know I'm not all alone!!!!!!!

I am going to be running a contest next week sometime, so be sure to keep your eyes open!!!

Fo Friday!!!

Looky!!!!!!! I was in the Ravelry Christmas swap, and my original swap partner had sent my gift, which was stolen by my neighbors (along with Christmas cards with gift cards, packages, the whole Christmas nine yards!!!) So, an "angel" sent me a package to make up for it:) I want to thank both people, my original swap buddy, and my angel! This is some bamboo yarn all the way from Australia:) It is called cleckheaton The natural Choice, 100% bamboo. I love it!Also, do you see the adorable kitten card? So sweet.

Ahhh, yes, another unexpected surprise for you!!! I didn't have a pair of sock otn's, so I started these awesome bumblebug socks!!! This will be my first sock pattern, and my first with following a lace patter. I really like how this is knitting up, and I wish my camera would pick up the awesome design that is being made in these socks! I am using the unknown sock yarn I have, it is in earth brown colors. It is turning out awesome!!!

What are those? You didn't say anything about keeping an eye out for these??? Well, no I didn't! i forgot till yesterday morning that my stbx's birthday was yesterday. I spent the majority of the day knitting these, and neglecting as much house work as possible. Again, I did not follow a pattern, just knit what i though would work for his size. They turned out perfect, and he really likes them. I used a Mary Maxim worsted weight yarn, and a vintage worsted weight wool in the contrasting blue stripes. I had never cast off in the middle of a pattern before, and when I cast back on for the thumb opening, it looked sloppy. Soooo, I ended up crocheting around the thumb hole to give it a neater look to it. Worked like a charm:)

And, here we have the DREADED panta, that I had the hardest time with!!! I ended up NOT following the pattern whatsoever, and just knit what I saw while looking at the picture of the head band. It did turn out perfect, and does look just as the pattern pic does. But, I must admit, I will not be doing another one of these.

Well, my sister wanted me to make her some warm headband that covered her ears, but not much else. I used some fun fur type stuff I had lying in the bottom of my stash, and mixed it with some Lions brand micro spun for the green and pink one, and some feather type fun fur by moda dea and some bernat pink bulky alpaca for the pink and white one. She just loves them, and it only took about less than an hour each to make.

Oh yeah, and guess what else? I have a few major changes going on in my life that I just did today.

1) I enrolled in college!!! Oh yes I did. At the ripe age of 31, a single mother of 4 children, I decided to go back to school Monday thru Friday 5:30 pm till 9:30 pm!!! I will be attending Elmira Business Institute, and the admissions advisor has no problems working around my "mommy" schedules!!! How cool is that? Yep, the coolest:)

2) I am filing for a legal separation next week. It was a hard decision to make, but one that had to be done. My marriage has been awful for 9 miserable years. He has kidnapped my children, he has stolen my cars, he has turned my power out in the middle of the night, he has been a no good drunk, oh my god, I could go on and on to all the crap he has done to me for 9 years, but I wont. I am tired of trying to save a marriage that never should have been a marriage to begin with... I am done, and I am going to make the final step in freeing myself from him. You know what the clincher is for ME? My children are starting to treat me the way he does, and always has. THAT is something that opened my eyes. I want my children to grow up and have loving families, I don't want them to think that what they see in their father, is how families work. It breaks my heart to think the damage may have already been done. That cant be the case, I still have time to make a different, I know I do, I have faith in my kids:)

Well, I will post in a few days about my progress with my bumble bug socks!!! I am not good at linking inside a post, cant figure it out, so I am gonna put the link list to the patterns I have talked about below:)

PANTA: http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=86&d_id=10&lang=us

Bumblebug socks: (pdf download) http://nephele.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/bumblebugsocks.pdf

Warning! FO pic HEAVY:)

Well, I have been a busy little girl! My kidddos are still on Christmas vacation until Wednesday. And did you know??????? I found someone who lives in the same teeny tiny town I do, on ravelry??? I wasn't even looking! When you pass your mouse pointer of someones avatar to get somewhere (which was my case, I happened to just be moving my mouse to a post) and saw her!!! I am sooo excited! She is going to give me some pointers on spinning, and I am going to give her some pointers on dying! I cant wait till the kids go back to school Wednesday, (I know that's not nice to say.......)

Anyhoo, here are some fo's I have been working hard on.

Awareness ribbon dish cloth for my weekly dish cloth kal. Sorry for the crappy pic, I sooo need a new cam, but it just isn't gonna happen:(

Just some plying practice with my spindle spun yarns. This one is just a baby, 11 yards long, some leftover from my Christmas ply job. And we have some spin wip, silver 50% merino, 50% tencil blend from Winderwood Farms I am spinning up for January's spin challenge. The name of the challenge is indulge yourself, well, silver is an indulgence!!!

Ah yes, and the matching/contrasting hand towel to go with my ball band dish cloth. Want to know a secret? The dish cloth is a wash cloth, my kids claimed it!!! I really adore this pattern, and am thinking of doing many things with it:)

Last but not least, we have a finished Chevron scarf. This seemed to take me forever, but in retrospect, was only a few days. I am very happy with the way it turned out! I just love the colors, and cant wait to get it washed and dryed so it will lay nice and pretty:) I was gonna use it for a gift, but....... it matches my head cover and I think I want it for me:)

Guess what? After raining for like a week, and all the snow (14 inches of it) melting, it snowed 8 inches last night!!! So, I guess I cant complain about having to shovel first thing this morning, I did have a week break from it:)

Hope all is well! Keep your eye out for these upcoming projects!

Panta for my one skein kal

And I will be casting on the second sock for bil

And, of course a new dish cloth for next week:)

I know, not much happening, BUT, kids are home still, and I am lucky to have gotten done what I have, so I don't want to start any major projects just yet!!!

Talk to me baby, talk to me!!!

Couple of wips and an fo!!!

Well, I have frogged my hand painted chevron scarf. The more I worked with it, the more I just didn't think it was soft enough to wear on someones neck. So, I ma using some yarn I got for Christmas. Red Heart.

Yeah I know what your thinking, that stuff is rough too, but I know for a FACT that once you wash it, it is uber soft. I love how it is turning out.

I have also finished my first (of many!!!) ball band dish clothes, and have cast on for the second in contrasting colors of the first.

I balled up all my yarn I will be using for the fall rainbow coat. But, man I am having the hardest time getting through this lapel. If someone kind and wonderful has already read through this pattern and has written down row for row in lamens terms, could you please share with me? I think I have frogged this thing like 17 fricken times now, and no I am NOT exaggerating!!! I WANT this coat, I WILL do this coat, but it seems to be kicking my arse in the process.

Well, I hope everyone is doing wonderful, and enjoying all there Christmas goodies! I will have you know, that I finally just this morning got my house back in order. And my bedroom does not count, so don't look in there!!! Leave a comment, say hello, let me know I'm not here talking to myself:)

Started my Chevron scarf, I like it:)

Well, I started my chevron scarf, and am about 30% through it. It is a quick easy and midless knit. I love how it looks!!! I am using my own hand dyed worsted weight wool, using wiltons cake dyes. And hope to have it done tomorrow. I think I like it so much I would like to make alot of them, in all sorts of colors:)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! My boys are real excited, and cannot wait for Santa to visit tonight:) Now, if only Santa stays awake long enough.......

Socks socks and more socks!!!

Here is the sock i was making for bil, out of worsted weight acrylic. It is HUGE!!! I know he is a big man, but I do not want to make him a pair of socks that don't fit well, and fall down, that would sort of defeat the purpose of why I was making them! Gonna frog it. But that's ok, cuz.......
Here is the sock for my 7 yo ds. It is in Bernat sox yarn. Working perfect!!! I have already cast on the other of the pair, and am past the cuff. If I don't have it done tomorrow, I will have it done Sunday. Maybe it wont be done tomorrow, Saturdays are our spinning days. We will see.
Here is the sock I was making for my kids daddy, and guess what? It is too BIG!!! So, I am going to finish this pair and give them to my bil, and make another pair for the kiddos daddy using.......
This awesome yarn from http://www.pagewoodfarm.com/, hand dyed sock yarn in Bird of paradise colorway. I would tell you who I traded it with, and I really wish I could. But I accidentally erased the pm on Ravelry, and I cannot remember her name! She was an awesome lady though!!! I wish I knew her name! If I don't get to post again before Christmas, Merry Christmas too you and your family:)Happy knitting, happy spinning, happy dying, happy crocheting, happy ... oh goodness I could be here all night saying happy! Happy everything to you!!!

Busy busy busy, and can prove it!!!

Here is the final product of A Lacy Chill cowl pattern I just finished. It is a very simple lace pattern and I will post it here tonight when the kids let me look at my notes and type at the same time. I have a baby on my lap right now, so that is NOT going to happen! I really love the way it turned out. Warm, functional and pretty!
Here is the side profile.
And here is the 6 oz of coriedale I dyed reds and greens using kool aid. It is a bulky weight 100 yards. I think I will use it to make Christmas tree decorations for next year. It was only my 2nd ply attempt and I am very happy with how it turned out!!!


I also have 2 pairs of socks on the needles. A pair for my sisters dh, he is a big man, so it is taking me a while to make some progress. I will post pics when I have something substantial to show. Right now I am about 7 inches into the first sock. This is also my first pair of socks using circ needles. It is going great, but I am trying to figure out just how I want to do the heel.


I am working on a pair of socks for my stbxh. I am missing 2 of my size 4 needles, so I had to whittle 2 chop sticks to improvise. It is actually working out quite nice, and I think I really like working with them! They are alot longer than regular sock dpns, and I have less worry of the stitches slipping off the end of the needles.

I will be casting on a pair of socks this after noon for my 7 yo ds, I have a skein of Bernat sock yarn in dark blue, and he wants it for him, soooooo... I cannot say no to the kiddos,lol.

Well, I still have no car, and just wait around for people to decide to come and see if we are still alive up on the hill. The weather has been terrible. Ugh, I do not like shoveling snow 8 times a day.



On a side note, can I just say that it irritates me to no friggin end when people decide that if you don't do things their way, then it must be the wrong way? I mean, really!!! I am not putting my sticky fingers all over your fiber, so don't worry about how I have my fingers in mine. Get over yourself. If you don't like what I'm knitting or spinning with, or how I'm knitting or spinning with it, well, that's your problem not mine. Its not like Im forcing my goods on you. And to be quite honest, its no ones business what anyone uses or how they use it!!!! Here is an example... I do not eat meat, I don't believe in it. But do I go around saying how people are nasty cuz they do? Nope, why? Cuz its not my business. Same applys to fiber, yarn and techniques. Its not someones business if some one wants to use rhss, or if they spin different than you. And being rude to them is bullshit, and why is it bullshit? Well, like I said, its not anyone elses business!!!

Ok, rant over, had to get that out there, sorry!!!

Giftees and other knitting

Here is 100 yards of pencil roving I spun on my spindle for my secret santee. I thought about plying it, but it just looked so good the way it was I left it. I really love working with pencil roving. I am a REALLY big fan of predrafting to perfection, and am really obsessed with doing so. But working with pencil roving was basically already predrafted and I loved working with it! This has been sent in the package to my secret santee, I really hope he likes it:)
Just another pic of it:)

Whats that N? Well, I will tell you what that is. After looking and looking for the perfect cowl pattern, and not finding one that was pretty AND functionally warm for my walking in the NY winter, I have decided to make my own pattern. It is lacy, warm and comfy. As soon as I am done with it I will post the free pattern. I am very proud of myself for this! Hint, I am using knitpick shine in pumpkin, just one skein does the trick:) I will have it done tonight and will post the pattern and close up pics of details and lacy things in the morning if the lil one lets me!

i just had the perfect book swap with Lizmk on Ravelry, I sent her Family Knits by Debbie Bliss and she sent me Hollywood Knits! I just love this book, so much more my style than Debbie Bliss. I haven't really gotten any other of my spinning done with the hand dyed Christmas roving. I have been so busy making this pattern for the cowl, and spinning the roving for my secret santee. Hopefully tonight when the kiddos go to bed, and I get this cowl finished, I can get some more work done on it. We will see how that go's though wont we?

Well, tata for now. Hope all is doing warm and wonderful:)

Secret knitting and spinning!

Here is a super secret knit pic, cant show you any more because my secret santee hasn't gotten it yet and you never know who may be peaking! I have also spun up 100 yards of some pencil roving for my secret santee, no peaking! I will post good pics when I know the package has been received!
This pic goes with the other days pic. This is the continuance of my first plying attempt. Here it is all bathed, beaten and skeined up!
And, after all this spinning I needed some instant gratification. This is the cashmere ski headband from one skein wonders. I did modify the pattern a bit. I wanted it wider. I used .75 skeins of Moda dea Cache. It turned out awesome!

I did get a ride to the po today to get some things mailed, finally! Liz and Freddie, if your reading, your goodies have been sent!!!!!!!

Feelin better, so I knit and spin:)

This was undyed creamy grayish colored coriedale 6 oz roving. I dyed it in green and red using kool aid to look Christmasy. I am spinning it on my hand made spindle. It is turning out quite nice, and I plan on plying it with gold. It is for the December spinning monthly challenge on Ravelry group...http://www.ravelry.com/groups/spindlers
Here is the first cuff of http://www.applelaine.com/Socks01.html
This will be my first socks that are not plain stockinette stitch. It will also be my first sock following a pattern. I am using Reynolds Swizzle, though I'm not sure of the colorway.

Well, I forgot to take pics of the before wrapping, but here is my secret Santa package getting all dressed up to go to my secret santee!!! I still have to finish something I have been knitting to go with it, will have it done by this afternoon though.
Here is my 6 yo dear sons yarn!!! Just had to show off:)

More to come soon! Keep an eye on me... I start the Fall Rainbow coat soon, and I will be starting the chevron scarf soon!!!

An update, and a fo!

Well, after walking around yesterday hurting so bad I couldn't Even pick up the lillist one, I cryed alot too. When my stbxh went to get my car, he got it to drive, and the same thing happened to him. He was going straight and the rear tires locked right up and spun the car, he ran into a guard rail about 40 mph. He is OK, the car is completely totaled now. There was something wrong with it, which takes some of the guilt I was feeling away. But, OMG! What if my kids had been in the car? What if my sister,. her friend and I had hit head on? When he hit the rail yesterday at 40, the airbag NEVER deployed! If we had hit head on, we would have died as bad as we hit!!! I know not too dwell on what could have been, but it really bothers me. I do feel a bit better today, I can at least hold the baby, and yesterday I did get some knitting done...

It is my Christmas party form fitting poncho I made using Moda Dea ticker tape.

Also, for anyone interested in the new Magknits Fall Rainbow Coat

http://www.magknits.com/Dec07/patterns/fallrainbow.htm

I have started a KAL starting December 7th. I think this would be a great way to use up all those 1 skeins we have hiding in our stash! Get em used up so we can start fresh in the upcoming new year!

Here is the kal, I have one on Ravlery, and one on blogger. You can sign up both or one, no matter:)

http://rainbowcoatkal.blogspot.com/ Leave me a comment here and I will invite you!

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fall-rainbow-coat-kal Just click join:)

I know everyone is busy with holiday knits, but I think this is awesome, and is the perfect time of year for this coat!!!

I was in a car accident last night.

Last night I picked up my sister and her friend, I told them I would be dd just give me a call. I took the back roads home because the highway was just atrociousSP?) I went to hit the brakes a little to avoid hitting a deer( I did miss her) and did so going around a curve down hill on black ice. We spun about 10 times which sped our speed up ALOT, I finally got it to go the toerh direction, only to start spinning that way as well. We hit HARD backwards in a 4 foot deep ditch. The front end was up in the air, and my whole back EVERYTHING was pushed and torn up into the back of the car. The 2 girls are fine, thankfully. But my car is totaled, and I hurt so bad. I am not sure if it is whiplash, or the force of hitting the steering wheel. My hands are bruised. I was told that is from "griiping" the steering wheel. It was about 2 degrees when this happened. I have never been so scared in my life. I just kept thinking, no, this cant really be happening. I just dont know what Im gonna do. That was the only car I have. Insurance will not cover it because I didnt carry collision, only liability. I live in the country, just the kids and I. Without that car, we are kinda screwed. But the most importnat part is my sister and her friend are ok. I just keep thinking that if I hadnt gotten that car to spin the other way we would have hit head on, and they would have died. It is a 94 car, only drivers side air bag. And the girl in back seat wasnt even wearing her lap belt. It was just so scarey, U keep crying. I hurt so bad I cant even knit, if you could please send me some get better vibes?

Pictures of wips! And Spinning!

I wish my camera didnt stink so bad, but here is the hand spun i plyed last night.
And here is the form fitting poncho I am making for the Christmas party on December 6th.

I got batteries for my camera and the kids and I are all feeling much better than this morning:)

No batteries, no pics, but progress!

Well, even after stealing batteries out of two different toys and a remote, none of them where strong enough to run the camera, so no pics yet, BUT, I have lots to update on!

I learned to ply on my spindle last night!!!!!!! I had previously spun some really shiny pretty wool I got from a fiber fair, it spun up beautiful, a bit thick as I think it was my 2nd or 3rd spinning attempt, I decided to spin it a really thin yarn, I used a sock yarn that is a pretty gold, but when spun up was just too scratchy of a wool to wear, but together with the purple, it looks soooo cool!!! I have been intimidated by the thought of plying on a spindle, but once I started, it was really just as easy as spinning, I couldn't believe it! I did the whole ( even though my arms are aching today) 1st ball about 50 yards probably, and I have a 2nd ball I am going to spin ply tonight. So, now I know how to ply, and I know what to do with sock yarn that just doesn't feel soft enough to put on piggies!!!

Also, I am about 1/4 of the way done with the form fitting poncho I am making out of ticker tape to wear to my stbxh's work Christmas party. I had picked this yarn up for a dollar each at the beginning of summer while on my way to a camping trip , it was shortly after I learned how to knit. It isn't a yarn I would buy now, but man, I am loving how this knits up, and the colors are just beautiful! Makes me want to buy more, but I cant, I have taken a pledge to buy,
1: local
2) earth friendly or low impact
3) home made, hand spun or dyed, or small private shops.

Moda Dea ticker tape meets none of that criteria. I will continue to use things in my stash that aren't so earth friendly of course, but my pledge is I will buy only the above criteria for the whole year of 2008. You should think of taking the pledge, the group to sign up is on Ravelry.com I am not good with linky things, but if you leave me a comment, with your ravelry id, I can send you an invite to join the group.

Also, in other news, i am going to cast on my Clapotis today!!! I have decided to use a worsted weight wool that I have hand dyed in greens oranges and blues, I have 3 skeins of about 250 yards each and I am hoping that is enough... wish me luck!!!

Oh yeah, guess what? ALL my kids are home sick today. I am sick the 3 older boys are sick, but the 21 month old is flying fine!!! I think we have some sort of tummy bug... So I hope they get (and myself) to feeling better!

Last night was my 6 yo's ds J's birthday, I had 12 kids here, was fun! I cant believe the mess though!!!

Well, will try to get batteries tonight, will see what happens:)

N

Hello world!

Well, here is my first post. My name is N, I have 4 beautiful sons and I live in the Ithaca NY area. I knit, and spin on a drop spindle. I am a single mamma, and I stay home and care for children in my home to help pay the bills.

I will get some batteries in the digi cam this week, right now they are dead, so I cant even post any pics of some things I am working on, but I promise I will get to it.......

Visit often, say hi in a comment if you would like:)

N
pickayarn on ravelry