Mistress Stash Enhancer - knitting

on the needles, off the needles jiggity jig

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:25:00 -0400

on the needles...

(click on all pictures in post to in large them)

this isn't like me! I have 3 projects going at the same time (don't forget the mini van sock! Which has progressed to the heel gusset. yay me!) wildflower socks which are very Project Spectrum this month

which I'm not sure if I'm going to frog or not... I casted on the smaller size (56 sts) its a little hard to get over my heel, but once its on it fits very well. To frog, or not to frog?

also on the needles is knit and tonics something red. I've had the pattern forever and the yarn for even longer. It's absolutely beautiful. Here is a close up, this picture is pretty close to the actual color. As ya'll know, red is *very* hard to capture!

I'm using Louet Sales Gems Merlin Camelot in color 60-2895-1. I'm calling it Red Rose. Much more romantic, no? Its 70% Merino and 30% linen. I bought this yarn 2 years, maybe 3 years, ago at Webs on sale. This is so sad, that I have to admit it. I just got the name of the yarn... Merlin Merino/Linen Mer Lin. Holy Crap I am slow!

...off the needles

Little socks for Allysa

(see my beautiful marigold that Bryce gave to me for Mother's Day? I love it!)

I had enough yarn left over from my secret knitting, Kailey's socks, Corra's socks, another pair of socks for Allysa and my socks to knit a pair of socks for Allysa!

Stats:

Pattern- Waffle Rib II from Sensational knitted socks

Yarn- Socks that Rock medium weight in boysenberry and rhodenite

Needles- Inox US 2 dpns

Started- April ?, 2007

Finished- May 7, 2007

Notes- I cased on 44 sts. Leg measures 3", foot measures 6 1/2" She wears a child's size 10. When Allysa put on her new socks she proclaimed "now I can walk!"

I'm hoping to go to the Waynesburgh Co. Sheep and Wool this weekend, I will be schlepping Allysa and Kailey with me. (unless I can find a sitter for Allysa) Let me know if your going too!

Baby love

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:09:11 -0400

What ~~a week~~ er, two weeks its been! So much has happened. Among the sleep overs, birthday parties, various chores and Mike being home on break, Kailey has been one little fussy baby. After talking to her Dr. I finally decided to have her tested for acid reflux. She has been very drooly, fussy, has the hiccups a lot, and seems to swallow frequently too. The Dr. called for a 18 hour ph study, and an ultrasound. Damn. It was a long 18 hours in the hospital while she was having her test. Both Bryce and Allysa had reflux, but they threw up. A.lot. Bryce had excessive periodic breathing too. Baby Love, has periodic breathing too. Quite a bit for her age too... our Dr. being on the safe side prescribed an apnea monitor for her to wear when she is sleeping. It has two electrodes attached to a belt that she wears around her chest. It monitors her heart rate and her breathing. Hopefully she won't have any episodes... Our Dr. also put her on Zantac and Reglan (no idea if I spelled that right). Which should stop the reflux, and hopefully heal any damage that may have been done to her esophagus.

Baby love has some new hand knits to show off, After picking up some cotton at the LYS two weeks ago I casted on for little hat

(clicky on all pictures to embiggen)

Stats:

Pattern- Ruffled tulip hat by fiber trends

Yarn- 1.5 balls Paton's cotton worsted white, approx. 2 yards Patton's martinique in pink.

Needles- size 7 Clover dpns

Started- April 22, 2007

Finished- April 25, 2007

Notes- I used white for the whole hat, Instead of using the pink for the heart pattern. I used purl sts instead. And pink for the tie. Next time, I will in large the heart pattern and knit the heart patten with all purl sts. Its a little big on her right now, but she will grow into it. She is already 12lbs 5oz!

Baby love looks so sweet in Daddy's arms. (Daddy didn't know I was taking pictures, hehe!)

Baby love has a few MDK bibs to show off too,

Silly Mommy put the button hole on the wrong side of one! The buttons came from a tin of buttons I found in the basement of our home. I don't know how long they have been down there, it was a great find!

Now that Baby love is napping I'm going to go take a shower, I really should clean (ick), or knit (oh knit!), or maybe nap... mmm... nap....

Nice...

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:00:00 -0400

There was a guy I dated in high school that would always say "nice." Towards the end of our relationship it was like nails on a chalkboard. Kinda like the girl JD on scrubs dated that would never laugh she would say "that's funny." It was very irritating. When the ex bf would say nice he would either mean ohh that's cool or nice in a condescending way. Nice was a word with many different meanings for him. Today I bring you: Nice...

(clicky on all pics to embiggen)

Nice... blue sky with no clouds. Warm sunny day here in Western PA.

Nice... the sock that lives in the mini van has finally grown more than 1" (I'm using Vesper sock in Astro on size 0's)

Nice... I managed to cut my pinky finger on my right hand while shaving my legs. (really, who else does this?)

Nice... 1 almost finished Gentleman's sock with Lozenge Patten from Knitting Vintage Socks. (started April 14)

Nice... my legs are so pasty white they are reflective

Nice... I have a new love for almost solid sock yarn, even though my camera has a hard time capturing the beauty of STR boysenberry see?

Nice... I've finally updated my blog ; )

is it? are they? no, they couldn't be!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:19:17 -0400

A few days ago I finished a pair of socks that I can't quite show off just yet. But as soon as I was done I casted on a pair of infant socks for Kailey. I though heelless socks would be a good idea for her, so she wouldn't be able to grow out of them anytime (real) soon. I grabbed my Knitting Vintage socks book and casted on 36 stitches, 2 1/2 pattern repeats latter I casted off these bad boys:

(click on all pictures in this post to embiggen' them)

Stats:

Pattern- based on the Heelless sleeping socks in Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush

Yarn- Socks that Rock in boysenberry

Needles- Inox US 2 dpns set

Gauge- umm... I really should just remove this...

Started- April 8, 2007

Finished- April 9, 2007

Notes- Even though they will fit her for a long time, they cant' stand up to her wild kicking for very long! I also think they look a little stupid with out a heel.

Now tell me something....

do these socks really look like baby socks? or something else? Like maybe *cough*weewillywarmers*cough*?

A FO just in time for Spring

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:10:00 -0400

An knitted Finished Object just in time for Spring. At least I think its Spring, but the weather seems to be a a little confused

(snow by the leftover tree stump in the side yard. boy was it funny watching Mike cut this down and chasing logs down the hill. *snicker*)

Luckly the snow melts as soon as the sun hits it. Stupid lake effect.

What was that? The finished Object you say? Did I say something about a finished object? Did I? Why, yes I did. And guess what. Its not a sock! (shocked are you? hehe)

Kailey wearing Anouk from knitty!

Stats:

Pattern- anouk from knitty Spring 2004 smallest size

Yarn- Knitpicks Swish Superwash

Main color- 1.5 balls Ballerina

Contrast color 1- 0.5 balls Aloe (its really a minty green color)

Contrast color 2- .25 balls Sunshine (holly bright yellow batman!)

Needles- US size 6 Knitpicks Options

Gauge- why don't I measure this? I donno.. its a baby knit!

Started- March 20, 2007

Finished- March 27, 2007

Seamed- April 5, 2007

Notions- 3 white buttons from my Grandmother's sewing box

Knit for little Kailey

Notes: Nice quick knit, cute little dress. It maybe a bit big right now. But little girl looks so sweet in it. I finished it just in time for Easter.

Now time to finish those damned socks... I want me a sweater!

*added* I almost forgot to tell ya'll! Bryce's surgery went wonderfully! You wouldn't even know that he had surgery, he was all over the place this week with energy. He isn't snoring and can breathe better! yay!!!

Knitter's Represent in Pittsburgh

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:10:00 -0400

Mom and I ventured to Pittsburgh Friday night, suckered Mike into picking up the kids at the sitters. Mom and I did get a little lost on the way there, but thanks to handy Street's and Trips we found our way to the bookstore! We didn't make it to any yarn shops (but that was probably a good thing ; ) When Mom and I bought our book I was being a smart ass and asked if they where going to put out more chairs. (I was wearing Kailey in the sling when I asked this) Jeffery at the counter said that was all the chairs they had, but since I had a baby they would find me a chair.

(sorry Rich Mom takes blurry pictures ; )

Rich carried this huge upholstered chair over for baby Kailey and I. I have to say that chair was pretty comfy

Baby Kailey and I thank you! I wish I lived closer, because Joseph Beth booksellers really had their shit together for this event. We met Stephanie again

and saw Julia. Who had *the* cutest stripy baby hat for Kailey

(Kailey wasn't feeling photogenic this morning) Before I know it girl, she will grow into that hat! Thank you so much.

Mom and I enjoyed ourselves. I think Kailey enjoyed herself too : )

Yesterday was the kids birthday party, Tomorrow is Bryce's surgery, and Today Mom and Dad go home. Another busy week looms ahead, Hopefully soon I'll show you my knitting, huh?

Don't label me sista!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:04:17 -0400

Something about being labeled as something, or labeling someone else bothers me. Mostly because we are more than just one thing. Let me explain. The other day while dropping Allysa off at the sitters, I was asked by the sitter to show off my Charlotte's Web shawl that I've been wearing under my jacket. My sitter wanted The lady to see it (she's the sweet Grandmothery type) said "oh, your a knitter! I hate people like you!" She was joking and laughing. (She explained that she had tried to learn how to knit. But couldn't) Recently Lynda wrote about her encounter with a yarn shop owner. The owner labeled her as just a sock knitter? This hit a cord with me.

Mostly because lately, I've been just a sock knitter

its all about the easy, as my SIL would say. All about the easy. Easy is what my brain seems to be able to handle right now while Kailey is still in the newborn stage. Easy has become too easy, I've grown bored with socks and want something different. I'm now craving a sweater. Because don't we all want to knit a sweater on the first day of Spring?

Mr. Mailman delivered my knit picks order and the 2 knitting pure & simple patterns I ordered from One fine yarn. Now that I have the neck down v neck shaped cardi in my hands, I don't know what yarn to use. It calls for a dk or light worsted yarn. I so very want to knit a sweater right now, but my biggest problem well, is my boobs. (such interesting google hits I'll get from that sentence. I'm sure) I'm nursing Kailey, my boobs are huge. Soon my boobs will return to their normal size. (non existent) So what to knit, what to knit? I want to knit something that will still fit next year! I've been scouring the net for dk or worsted weight that knits 5sts/inch on size 6 needles that isn't horribly expensive. Is that too much to ask?

So, am I just a sock knitter?

(New Seacoast Panda from yarn4socks.com gilded Lilly is mine, ashes and roses & sorbet are Mom's. btw yarn4socks is having a 20% all yarns containing green till the 22!)

yes, I'm a sock knitter.

I'm a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter. A friend.

I am crafter, a knitter, a quilter. A needle artist, a paper crafter, a photographer.

I am cook, a repair-woman, a home owner. A volunteer, a jewelry artist, a decorator.

I am me, among many things. But most importantly I am loved.

Two of a kind

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:59:00 -0400

Friday my little guy was in a play called Three of a kind. Had to be *the* cutest little play eva! When the curtain rose there where tears in my eyes. If the play wasn't so funny I probably would have bawled. B played one of the three wise men, he had to memorize 6 lines. Smart little guy memorized all of his lines! (Seriously when he came home a month before the play telling me he had a speaking part and had to memorize lines, my head started to hurt. Kid forgets to flush the toilet for crying out loud, and you want him to memorize 6 lines, what?)

(B's the cute lil guy in orange.)

Also on Friday I finished my barely mentioned on the blog socks. They are two of a kind ; )

They are a perfect match right down to the little pink stripe going around my top of my foot. Clicky on the pick and see.

Have you ever some across something that you liked so much that you didn't want to share? You wanted it all to yourself, and didn't want to tell a single soul. Because your worried that if you do tell, ya'll have to share. Well... that's how I feel about this sock yarn, and the store I bought it from. I mean, come on look how cool it striped:

The colors just blend into each other, keeping me intrigued watching them change row after row. I wanted to keep the dyer and the store a secret. I didn't want to tell... but I don't keep secrets very well. Oh no I don't. I have to tell you where I bought this yarn, because the service is great, and they have great sales. I have to tell you what kind of yarn this is, because you have to knit with it. It's just too neat not too.

Two of a kind socks

Stats:

Pattern: casted on 56sts, knit 15 rows K2, P2. Then K6, P2. Short row heel, classic toe.

Yarn: Twisted colorway Octarine purchased from yarn4socks.com

Needles: Knitpicks circs US 1

Time: 2 weeks 3 days

Notes: Ya wanna know what else is neat about these socks? The colorway's name Ocartine, Oct meaning 8 (pretty sure about that) 56 divided by 8 equals 7. And the stitch pattern I used is a 8 stitch repeat. Ain't that neat. I guess math can be cool ; )

PS. Guess who found her thumb?

It's all about me

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:40:00 -0500

Really, It's all about me. But I think we all know that already. KIDDING! A few posts ago I was whining that I was sick of knitting for others, and wanted to knit something for me. It felt like everything that came off my needles was for someone else, other than myself. And really, I can be pretty damned selfish. I'm not going to lie. So after B's crazy socks where done, I casted these baby's right on! Right on baby! Right on!

This is my sock Sunday night, as of yesterday afternoon I turned the heel and was moving down the foot. Damn it feels good to knit for me me me!!

Speaking of me me me, d,knit tagged me for the 6 weird things about me a few *ahem*months*cough* ago, even though I've been tagged for it before. I thought I would give it another go. My first answers sucked a bit the first time, and these are a bit odd

1. When loading my dishwasher the silverware *has* to be facing down. (the part that goes in your mouth goes down) I used to have to have the dishwasher loaded just right way, but I've relaxed a bit.

2. I have to wear shoes. I don't like to walk around barefoot or just in socks.

3. Not so weird, but I talk in my sleep. I've been known to have full conversations on the phone while sleeping too.

4. I have to drink water from a glass, not a plastic cup. Bottled water is ok though.

5. Can not eat soup out of a square dish or bowl.

6. My parents told the maternity nurse when I was born that they where going to name me "Lead bottom moose belly"

Sorry I can't remember the rules to this meme, so If ya haven't done it yet, and want to. Go for it. Let me know so I can read your answers! What? Yes, It is all about me me me, here's one more meme! Mary (kinda) tagged me for 5 things you haven't mentioned on your blog meme (I think that's what its called) This post I remembered to save on bloglines so I could go back to it (ya me!) Here we go

First, the Rules:
Someone Tags you, you post 5 things about yourself that you haven't already mentioned on your blog, you tag 5 more bloggers.

1. I once had a job at a local farm near where I grew up in Massachusetts washing eggs for 1 cent/egg.

2. I once *had* to bake blueberry muffins from scratch in the middle of the winter, my Dad was nice enough to buy me real blueberries. I mistakenly added 3 tablespoons of baking powder when I should have added 3 teaspoons of baking soda. Opps! Dad will never forget that one, those muffins where bad!

3. Mike is 15 years older than me.

4. I used to wonder if I would ever have kids, if I even wanted them. Now that I have them (4 of em!) I would never change a thing.

5. I used to write poetry in high school (come on who didn't!) and had once of my poems published.

I'm coping out of tagging, who ever wants to do it, go for it! Let me know if ya do it! Since it's all about me me me, I'm going to finish off my turtle chex mix, which btw is so.freaking.good, and knit my sock. Me me me!!! ; )

3-day weekend

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:44:05 -0500

We had a 3 day weekend this weekend, after the kids having 3 days off last week thanks to the snow storm (which by the way, why wasn't it called a Nor'ester?) it was like we had a vacation from school. I'm looking forward to tomorrow which will hopefully bring back some bit of normalcy to our house. I say some, because Bryce has a cold and he's being dragged to the Dr tomorrow. Kailey has her 1 month appointment and I'm hoping to have him checked out too. He's supposed to have his adenoids removed this coming Monday. The kids where able to spend some time outside in the snow this weekend. They enjoyed themselves immensely and its a good thing Mema keeps us stocked with mittens!

all pictures are embiggenable

Yes, Allysa is licking the snow and Bryce is riding his snowboard down the hill. I need to get that kid a helmet! They where thrilled when my friend AmandaJ brought her boys up to play, She got to cuddle with Kailey and show me her latest FO. (Which is amazing btw, I can't believe your giving it away!!)

Saturday afternoon I kitchnered the toe of B's last sock, once he got up from "quiet time" (what a laugh!) he put them on with the biggest smile on his face!

Here's B's crazy socks after a day of wear, He loves how the socks don't match! When I asked B how much he liked his new socks he replied with

"This much!!!" ahhh, this is why I love to knit him socks. Do you know what is so crazy about these socks? I have a walnut sized ball of lapis left over. Crazzzy! The needles didn't even get a chance to cool before I wound up a hank of brand spanken new sock yarn! More on that tomorrow, Here's a pic of Kailey holding my needles

gotta start 'em while they're young!

PS Does anyone know where you can purchase downloadable Knitting Pure and Simple patterns? I'm dying to have the top down V-shaped Cardigan and don't want to wait a week for it to be mailed to me.