And we're off.....

Bright and early, off to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week. The car has been packed. A mountain of laundry has been processed. The dog has her collar on. (You have no idea how traumatic that is for her.) And we're hoping to be on the road by 6 a.m. Estimated time of arrival in Avon, North Carolina -- some time before dark. It's about 9 hours. Depends on traffic, bathroom breaks, how long we spend in the WalMart at Kitty Hawk. Plus we're going in two cars and need to keep somewhat together. My knitting is packed and I hope to provide some updates while we're there. Just depends on the internet connection available. One thing I've learned over the years about the Outer Banks, you can never depend on have things like internet, electric, if the bridge is going to be there when you need to get across, et cetera. Just happens and it really doesn't matter. Ta Ta for now!

Spring Emerges

This time last week it was snowing to beat the band. And in the midst of the mess that is my flowerbed, the crocus are very happily blooming. Spring has indeed arrived!

Odds and Ends

First for the non-knitting content. We have a new addition to our living room. Sorry about the crappy photo. It's a print that I picked out at Michaels and framed in a black poster frame. I love it. The content is some of my favorite -- view from a beach cottage looking out on the ocean. The colors go very well with our decor (early Salvation Army) of beige and blue. And I used my Gorilla Hooks to put it up! (Move over Billy Mays.) The hook thing really worked just the way the TV ad says.

Next on the knitting front -- I've been knitting up a storm. I've got three active projects. (Bad girl, bad girl) Anyhow, the first photo is Falling Leaves from Knitty Fall 2005. I probably started knitting these early in 2006 and they have languished on the needles for just about a year. (I finished this one up this evening -- I still have it's mate to do. Finished photo of the pair when completed.) Of course, I didn't follow the pattern -- it's supposed to be knit toe up. I have no real aversion to knitting sock toe up. My problem is I have fat legs. And there's just no cast off that I can make to fit my leg without the top of the socks looking ruffly. I'm going to try again because I bought Queen Kahuna's book, Crazy Toes and Heels. The book is jammed packed with tons of information. Frankly, overpacked in my opinion. It's going to take some concentration. You can't really see in the photo, but I finished the Falling Leaves sock off in the magic loop method, using a 47" size 1 Addis Turbo. It works, but I can't see any real advantage over five double points. You still have to move the stitches around and get the yarn straight. It works and I'll use it again.

I haven't quit working on the socks for DH. I've switched over to using two circular needles. Another method. It works fine too. Might be a small bit less fiddly than the magic loop method, just in a different way. I'm almost the heel flap on this one. (The mate is just waiting for it's completion.)

I also have one Cascading Leaves (in a lovely pumpkin color) from Jeannie Townsend's Yahoo group done and need to make it's mate. Too much Second Sock Syndrome going on here. (Photo later.)

Now, for the puzzle project of the week. I just LOVE my Fiber Trends Felted Clogs. I know that I've made at least a dozen pairs. When I'm home, they're on my feet. But I'm always open to something new. I ran across the Curiously Clever Clogs at Stitch Diva.

Hey, they're curiously clever all right. As you can see from the photo, they don't look anything like clogs. It's kind of complex from the point of view that every row is different, they use three different colors of yarn (They are supposed to have beads on the top - mine don't.) And I have to REALLY, REALLY concentrate on them. Now, I'm not going to pass final judgement until I have both completed and felted. Maybe it's worth it in the end. The pattern is well written with lots of info, but I'll have to let you know how it all ends.

Who knows, maybe I'll actually get my Landscape Bag felted, too!

Happy Baby!

My great-nephew came to visit this afternoon. He is nine weeks old and quite happy. DD even got him to smile and then laugh. He laughed, burped, had a couple good slurps off the bottle, and was sleeping before he left. We're hoping to see him again in two weeks.

Here is a finished sock that is no more. DH really liked it, but it was too big through the instep. So, I made another, that was smaller. 64 stitches to start with was better. Worsted weight yarn with size 3 needles. And when the second one was finished and found to fit. This baby was frogged back to two balls of yarn. I have cast on this evening and hope to have a finished pair by this time next week. A couple of March Madness games and I'll be well on my way. If this all goes well and DH is comfortable with them, I'll be looking for some superwash worsted wool to get him a few more pairs ready for winter.

Parts are parts

Well, I finally capitulated and knit up a gnome. The pattern is simple. I can see that because the parts are small, even knitting and no mistakes is important. I used Lion's Wool and Elann's Highland wool and Size 3 double points. Although for the hat seen to the left, I used a Size 3 circular because of the number of stitches.

I thought the hat needed to be blocked before sewing. The bottom edge was curling and it's to be folded up in the end.

Here's the body/head, two of the legs, beard and one arm. At this point only one leg has been sewn up. The pattern recommends the mattress stitch. I went to the Knitter's Help site for a refreshers on the mattress stitch. And it's easy. But us blind people need very good light to see, especially on the dark green.

Here's a close up on the leg all sewn up. The parts get stuffed with fiberfill. There's a pouch of plastic bead the go into the body for stability (haven't got that yet). And you can see the beard in the background. It's rather cute. I doubt that I do more on this project today. I have typing to do, a trip to the grocery store in the offing, laundry, et cetera. Plus, I do have some socks on the needles. I'll show them off tomorrow.


Here's a web site that I ran across and just love. It's called Daily Lit. By subscribing, you can read a variety of classic books, that are now in the public domain. They get sent to your e-mail daily. And you read a bit each day. Currently, I'm working on "Little Women" it's an old favorite of mine. You'll be surprised at the number and variety of book available. Even "War and Peace"!