it won't kill you, really. now do it.
2007- 7 pairs so far! 
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11/30/2006
put your shades on baby
Ya might wanna put your shades on baby, or even advert your eyes. Cause these mittens are freaking BRIGHT!!
ahahahaha!!! They are REALLY bright! And I used Red Heart!
mahhaahahaa how about THAT! Here are the specs:
Pattern: Bev's the mitts (scroll down to simple mittens)
yarn: acrylic that I have inherited from mom
needles: size 8 straights
gauge: 4sts/inch
note: Took me about 2 hours for each mitt, these are also my first mittens eva! I am hoping that some color loven kid gets these, cause damn they are umm... colorful. I don't care for the seam on the inside of the mitten. So my next mittens are, you guessed it, in the round!
I'm using this pattern (pdf) from Sandy's needle hook. Don't let the picture fool you, I'm ready to knit the thumb on the second mitten. Mind you I would probably be DONE with the second mitten already if yesterday afternoon I decided that this mitten needed TWO thumb gussets, could count and remember what the hell I just did! oy!
I'm knitting these mittens for 
I'm leaving today for Boston, my Dad's surgery is tomorow. I'll try to post, but we'll see what actually happens. My brain is all over the place right now, and I'm super cranky. gotta love the pregnatude ; ) hmmm... maybe I should finish packing...
09:11 Posted in Finished Object , knitting for others , travel | Permalink | Comments (14) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/27/2006
so much to share!
I have so much to share! We've been so busy this week, which we usually are when Mike is home on break. First off, I wanna say Thank you to Eva my tea-swap pal, the postal service was taking there dear sweet time with my package which arrived today!
22:30 Posted in family , Finished Object , knitting for others , Swaps | Permalink | Comments (17) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/23/2006
we are very thankful
We are very thankfull,
we are very glad
For friends we meet
(and haven't met, check my bloglines)
the food we eat
the family that we have
Happy Thanksgiving!
11:40 Posted in family | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this | Tags: knitting
11/21/2006
Time-warp continuum
I seem to have been sucked into some sort of time warp. How is it that in 1.5 days it will be Thanksgiving? Really, how did that happen?! Last thing I knew it was Saturday, now its Tuesday. I'm sure Allysa and Bryce with their sniffling noses, and Corra with her sore throat had something to do with it, or maybe it was the babysitter who "forgot to call me to cancel" yesterday for babysitting tomorrow*gr*, or maaaayybe it was my big mouth that said "Sure, I'll bake pies for Thanksgiving." oy.
Anywho. I'm sure ya'll noticed this little button on my sidebar
Hold on, gotta climb up onto my soap box. urgh, its a little harder now with this big belly!
During this two week knit a long for others I'm going to be knitting for a few different groups. First off something that is very close to my heart
I'll be knitting hats for Christmas knits to help, which will be distributed to the homeless of Los Angele's Skid row. I have this "thing" lets say, which I ask you not to judge me to harshly. We are all entitled to our own opinions. I don't understand how so many people are willing to help other people over sea's when there are so many people here, in our own country that are in desperate need of help. In 1996 (10 years ago) there where an estimated 637,000 homeless adults in a given week, 2.1 million homeless adults over the course of a year. There are many reason to why these people find themselves homeless, it isn't always their fault. Its something that I've always felt deeply about, I want to help, even if right now all I can do is knit a few hats to show a few people that someone out there cares.
I will be knitting a square for my friend Cathy. She wrote about her friend Jenn who has experienced so much great loss in her life. She has recently lost her family and the child she was carrying. Click on the button above to read more about this project.
I found this charity tonight when I went to the knit unto other's blog to collect links. Click on the button above to read there mission. Half way through her post when she wrote "...I will get you mittens" the tears started to flow, pregnancy hormone's thank you very much. Can't even make it through certain commercials! Anyway, at least one pair of mittens will be knit.
Hopefully I will have enough time to also knit a scarf to the red scarf project during this two week knit a thon long. If not, that's ok doesn't have to be mailed till January! These kids have outgrown the foster care system are going to college in an effort to better themselves and their communities. After my ex-husband and I separated, before I met Mike, I was with out any close by family support. Sure, I had a few friends that I could count on. But it wasn't the same as calling Mom and Dad, who where 400 miles away. Its hard to make it out on your own, even harder when you don't have someone to call up at work and ask "so Dad... how long would you cook a bone-less chicken breast in the microwave?"
With all that said, I started a bit late. *cough*Monday*cough* Allysa and Corra asked for a pair of socks which where still on the needles till Sunday morning. Being the kind of knitter I am, I had to get those babies off the needles before they where stuffed away and forgotten, never to be knit again. I also couldn't deal with the guilt that would be ladled out when I said "no, I haven't finished your socks yet." Since yesterday I've knit two adult hats
Stats
Pattern: based off of this pattern found here, except knit in the round. ( what can I say? I don't read directions well )
Yarn: 1 skein and a little extra of Lion Boucle in Parfait color way for each hat.
Needles: size 9 clover dpns
Gauge: 3sts/inch
Time: 2 hours each
Notes: This yarn has been marinating in the stash for about 3 years now. I bought it on clearance at AC Moore for 1.25 per ball, I didn't know much about yarn then but new a deal when I saw one!
I have one more hat on the needles, and am ready for the decreases. Now, I must find a good recipe for a Dutch Apple pie, which I've never made, because somehow I said I'll make one for Thanksgiving! Thank goodness I can bake. oy!
22:45 Posted in Finished Object , knitting for others | Permalink | Comments (12) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/16/2006
My little man...
...requested socks. The quest was on to find a yarn that wouldn't be deemed "too itchy" or "too scratchy" I had to find one that was just right.
(clicky on all pics in this post to embiggen)
I searched the internets for a sock yarn that wouldn't upset his eczema and send us down that lovely road. Minutes turned into hours, which turned into weeks and eventually led into months. As it is hard to find sock yarn in the requested little boy colors "llellow and green". Finally while at Rhinebeck with Mom I found the elusive color. Socks Candy by Blue Moon Fiber arts in Kiwi. Perfect little Brycie colors.
Stats:
Pattern: basic sock recipe 44 stitches cast on to fit 7" foot circumference. 1" K2,P2 ribbing. Garter rib on the cuff (row 1 K2, P2 row 2 knit) for 3". standard flap heel and toe.
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock candy in Kiwi 96% cotton, 4% elite about 150 yards used.
Needles: 5 US2 Inox dpns
gauge: 7sts/inch
Time: 4 days, on and off.
He watched me carefully while I knit his socks, tried them on after each step of the pattern, when I casted of the second sock and kitchnered the toe he said "thank you mommie". I think I could have cried.
My little man, you make me so proud. I had my parent teacher conference this morning and your teacher she sung your praises. She said what a joy you are to have in class. Even though you play rough with other boys at times, you get your work done and you listen. Your growing up so fast, I love you. Even though you do make me want to pull my hair out with some of the odd kid noises you make, even when I have to ask you 30 mazillian times not to run in the house, even when you gross me out by asking for ketchup on everyfreakingthing, I love you because you are my little man.
16:57 Posted in Finished Object , socks, socks, socks!! | Permalink | Comments (23) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/13/2006
Toesies
Saturday started off as any normal Saturday. Got breakfast, we all stayed in our PJ's for most of the morning and chilled out for a bit before it was time for me to leave for my toe up sock class. That was until I went to get ready and the damned power went out! I was chatting on the phone with my friend down the street when the power slooooowly dimmed out. Odd very odd. I finished getting Allysa ready, called the electric company and the babysitter to let her know what was up. The power did come back on for a few seconds, it was strange. The lights came back on and where very dim for a few seconds than went back out. I was trying not to think of the possibilities of what could be going on when I heard the big bang downtown after the lights went out the second time. At this time I had to rush to get to the sitters, who wasn't ready when I got there! Finally I got to the class which was being held at Stitch your Art out in State Collage, almost 45 minutes late. I still feel bad about being so damned late!
The class was SO much fun! I got to meet two lovely ladies and our teacher Cynthia where great. Cynthia gave us her pattern booklet for her toe up socks and walked us though the toe. This part was easy for me, I'm pretty comfortable working with double pointed needles. The heel is going to kick my arse. I can't quite wrap my brain around how to knit a heel backwards.
Check it out teach! I made myself a pair of Mickey Mouse ears!
click to embiggen
Don't they look like mickey mouse ears to you? here are my toesies late Saturday night, thank goodness the power was back on when I came home. Neighbor buddy said it came back on around 2.
clicky
For my class socks I'm using medium weight STR in Lapis that I've had in my stash for a bit. Ok Its been balled up since April (?) so its been marinating for a bit. The class rocked,I can't wait to go back and learn how to knit the heel. I've already got half my homework done already, if I was only this good at getting my homework done in school right mom!
16:55 Posted in Knitting , socks, socks, socks!! | Permalink | Comments (19) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/10/2006
Surprises!
With Mike home for a day I was able to get him to take a belly shot and some FO pictures. I think I look like a dork in hats, Mike says I look cute in this surprise FO
click on all pictures in this post to embiggen
(Look at that baby bump!) Corra on the other hand, looks like a total cutie
Pattern: Odessa by Grumperina
Started: November 5
Finished: November 8
yarn: Jaeger Extra Fine merino shade 989
Needles: size 4 & 6 bamboo dpns
Notions: 130 blue seed beads
Notes: After I finished the ribbing using the size 4 needles, I discovered that I didn't own any size 6 dpns. Damn. Hat was put down for two days till the LYS opened. After that it was smooth sailing. The yarn was like butta, it was awesome to knit with. This hat is going in the Christmas gift box!
Wednesday I received a little surprise from my Dad. When Mom and I went to Rhinebeck, I asked Dad if he had a vest I could borrow for the day. You should have seen his eyes glaze over with fear. In high school, I would borrow his clothes and they would well, sorta disappear into the depths of my room never to be seen again. Daddy mailed me this vest so I could have one of my very own. Thank you Daddy, You caught me by surprise and made my crappy day so much better! Mike was lucky enough to be here when the Roto rooter guy came back, luckily the pipe was just blocked, roto rooter guy fixed it, I will spare you the details. The guy recommended that we have the pipes camera-ed at some point to figure out the layout. Damn Thursday was an expensive day!
While Mike was home, I confronted him. Ya see, Monday I went to rake some leaves. And I found that my rake handle was broken. hmmm.. last person to use it.. (not me!) Mike.. I think he felt bad that he forgot to tell me about it. He had to go to Sear's to buy tools for something. He brought this back too:
how cool is that??? YAY! (He also bought a rake, *snicker*)
I think the kids enjoyed playing in the leaves today
That white blur, would be Bryce! Now, I must and get ready for a toe-up sock class I'm taking tomorrow. Last night I realized, its this weekend. ACK!
23:59 Posted in family , Finished Object , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (19) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/08/2006
30 weeks...70 days left!
Time sure does fly when your having fun... or is it when the roto rooter guy is here, and has to come back the next day to dig a hole in the yarn? Yes, what fun. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the we just have a blocked pipe (which he can't get to, and therefor has to dig a nice little hole in the backyard) and it isn't a broken pipe out there in yonder yard. Its been a crazy month so far. I can't tell you how glad I am that the ground isn't frozen yet! Anyway... check out my new hair cut!
I had 3 inches cut off and lots of layers put in. Corra is so sweet, she said that I look pretty when I wear my hair down, when I wear my hair up I look like a plain mommy! *L*
Time sure is flying by, I can't believe I'm 30 weeks pregnant, and there are only 70 days left to go. AAHHH!! How did that happen?? Good thing I finished these little sweets
sweater and baby hats:
Pattern: Easy baby cardigan from knitting pure and simple and the hats are baby's top knot hats from Strings n' things (look in the side bar)
size: Sweater newborn size, hat on left I started with 56 sts, hat I followed the pattern.
Started: October 29
Finished: November 4
yarn: 3 skeins for the sweater, 1 for both of the hats. Dive cotton club color 215 (60% cotton 40% acrylic 98 yards each)
needles: size 7 knit picks options 16" circ and size 7 clover dpns.
gauge: 4.5 stitches per inch
notes: I received this yarn for free (yes free!) when I went to the WEBS tent sale 2 years ago. So I harassed the guy asking him if they had a prize or extra discount for the person who drove the farthest to visit family and just for the sale. I got a bag of free yarn! Really I was just making conversation. ; ) My pregnancy brain (that's what I'm sayin' and I'm stickin to it!) is getting things muddled up. I didn't check my gauge for the sweater. It wasn't until I was casting off I wondered if I had ever checked the gauge! Goodness!
The color does nothing for me, its not very baby girlie to be perfectly honest. I bought a whole buncha Rit dye and as soon as the plumber guy is done this mama is gonna be dyeing! Anyone have any advise on dying a blended yarn?
Corra's ready for her baby sister, I hope this sweater fits her! Yesterday I kidnapped my friend MandaJ and we went a shoppin. We went to one of our LYS's, I've never been to thrilled with this store she has lots of old patterns, mostly acrylic yarn, and her prices aren't clearly marked for the yarn you have to ask. But I was hoping to find some baby sweater patterns, and some washable baby yarn.
I picked up a few patterns *ahem* and two skeins of beehive baby yarn in color 213. The yarn I have a bad feeling just might be as old, or older than I am! I'm trying to fight off startitus right now!!!
**Mike is going to be working in the Cleveland area for a few weeks, and is on his way home from DC now!! YAY!! YAY!! YAY!!! hmm.. maybe I should hide some of this yarn...
23:35 Posted in family , Finished Object , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (17) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english)
11/04/2006
Second Sock Syndrome Socks
Wowsa. What a week. I'm so glad it's over! I should have fun a few errands today, but opted to stay at home, play with Allysa and knit all day. I'm still in my PJ's *grin* I love Saturdays!! Mike went back to work yesterday morning. The trailer finally freaking got here on Wednesday afternoon. After they where all done trying to back it down the driveway (very scary let me tell you. As our driveway is very close to the house and the other side is a hill) it was 7pm. Urgh, lets just say this whole trailer thing has become a big mess. Mike's back at work, and its taking up half the damn driveway. Seriously, the dealership fucked this up big time. More later, and everything unfolds. ugh.
Enough whinning, how about some knitting? Yes! Somewhere in these past two weeks of Dentist appointments, Doctor appointments, mad cleaning, loads of shopping and laundry I've been knitting. Last Saturday I finished my Second Sock Syndrome sock, it was also my last sock of Socktober. I was Adelle's swapie (Is that right? She sent to me. Goodness, my mind is mush.) She sent me a fab package back in August, I casted on my sock a week before Rhinebeck (maybe on Sun the 14) with hopes that I would get it done before Rhinebeck so I could wear my SSS socks to the festival and show them to Adelle during lunch.
ha. I'm a funny one I tell ya! It took me 4 times to get the 1st row of the lace pattern right. Not that there was anything wrong with the pattern. More like a problem with my brain's ability to comprehend directions (Mike, if your reading this. Shut up. Mom you too!! : P ) You see, at the end of the 1st row for the first 3 times, I had 4 extra stitches. I couldn't figure out why. While I resisted the urge to fling the sock across the room I re-read the chart. DUH moment! Its a SSSK not a SSK, THREE SSS not two, yet THREE!!! DUH!! After that the sock just sailed. Till I got to the heel.
![Photobucket - <a href=](http://www.blogspirit.com/admin/blog/%3Ca%20href="http://photobucket.com/"%20target="_blank"%3E%3Cimg%20src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/Mistress_stash_enhancer/Swap%20Pals/Picture283.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photobucket%20-%20Video%20and%20Image%20Hosting"%3E%3C/a%3E)
This is *the* coolest heel. I have no idea if I did it right, But trust me it is *the* coolest heel! It took me a bit to figure it out, but damn. It was worth it! Really cool. I love the lace pattern used in these socks! It works extremely well with the yarn
Here's the stat's:
*urgh my comptuer is being such an ass right now. I have no idea if the pictures in this post are ok or not. uuuurggghhhhhhh
19:45 Posted in Finished Object , socks, socks, socks!! , socktoberfest '06 | Permalink | Comments (14) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(english), socks
11/03/2006
distraction: eye candy friday
This morning while talking to Mom she asked me to post a pic of our Halloween haul for eye candy friday
for you Mom
mmmmm..... you wouldn't even believe how much candy the kids hauled in from different parties, at school and friends and from trick or treating. Wanna see?
![Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting](%3Ca%20href="http://photobucket.com/"%20target="_blank"%3E%3Cimg%20src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/Mistress_stash_enhancer/Picture277.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photobucket%20-%20Video%20and%20Image%20Hosting"%3E%3C/a%3E)
All I can think is, holy crap that is a lot of candy!! Does any one else wanna scream when a friend wants to give your kid something "NOONOOO!!! no more crap, plllleeasseee!!!"? Part of me is a little bit happy that my kids elementary school has started a "Nutritional program" (they just "recommend" that you give healthy treats instead of sweets)
P.S. I'm still knitting. pictures tomorrow. Promise. It's been a hell of a week ; )
16:14 Posted in discractions | Permalink | Comments (7) | Email this