Mistress Stash Enhancer - project_spectrum

Fancy Silk sock meets L5 the clown car

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:30:00 -0400

I don't know what it was about this project, it just dragged. Most of this week the kids and I have been playing outside in the lovely sunshine, cleaning up the yard, getting all the outside toys cleaned up for a summer of fun, cleaning, cleaning and then some more cleaning. The strangest thing keep happening this week, I would watch tv and I wasn't knitting, while the kids where playing outside, I was just watch them play and not knit. I didn't feel like knitting. This totally freaked me out. Last night I (finally) finished the toe decreases on my Fancy Silk Socks using Koigu KPPPM. This morning after I dropped the Van off for her new brakes and oil change, we came home with L5 the clown car* and the kids ~~destroyed~~ worked on some arts and crafts I kitchenered up the toe.

With out further ado, I give you my finished Fancy Silk Socks and L5 the loverly Clown Car:

Pattern: Fancy Silk Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. April/May sock for the Knitting Vintage Socks a long

Yarn: 2 hanks Koigu KPPPM color P52267. This colorway reminds me of yummy watermelons.

Needles: size 1 metal dpns, 5 of 'em.

Time: Started: May 25 Finished: June 9. 2 weeks these where on the needles! Poor neglected sock!

My though's: I love the lace cuff! The lace panel is very pretty, and the little s1k2psso every so many rows, so cute! I'm thinking about modifying the pattern and just using the lace cuff and the lace panel for a pair of socks in the future. (Leaving out the little bumpy things) Now that the socks are finished, I need to give them a nice bath in hopes that the koigu will relax a bit and to get the lace cuff to lay down a bit more. (I casted on too tight it seems!) I'm so happy that I joined the Knitting Vintage Socks a-long, I don't think I would have attempted to even try any of the patterns in this book, (other than the ribbed ones in the front) with out having a knit a-long. When I looked at the directions for most of the socks, they seemed so hard, used tiny needles (000 should be left to tiny socks, not men's size 11 shoe socks) and the measurements wouldn't fit my foot with out modifying the pattern. Next time I need to remember, just one row at a time and remember its just yarn, you can rip-it!

L5 returned happly to the dealorship after our photo shot with the fancy silk socks. L5 is awaiting our visit next week when the recall of whatever will be fixed. Yippie.

*I have to say, I think its fantastic the dealership we bought the van from has loaner cars for when your vehicle is in the shop. What I think sucks, is that they are teeny tiny neons (no offence to people who like neons!!) and it almost impossible to fit 1 car seat and 2 booster seats in a neon. When all of us get out, it feels like we are all spilling out of the car, like the clowns in a clown car. Allysa (who is 2) called it "baby car" when we walked out to it this morning!

Project Spectum: April a little late

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:35:05 -0400

Somehow with everything that went on during the month of April, I didn't put a photo collage together. With my little boy Bryce's favorite color being "llellow" I had to put one together even though May is almost over!

Projecct Spectum April; Orange and Yellow things around the house

"llellow" is one of Bryce's favorite colors, he loves "llellow" cookies, yellow was also one of his first few words.

Knitting content to come soon, Mike and I had a looooong, fun weekend! We went furniture shopping on Saturday and to a family party on Sunday. Today I have more cleaning to finish as the new furniture is coming tomorrow! Ack! Hope everyone had a safe and FUN Holiday weekend : D

In the interest of full disclosure

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Sun, 14 May 2006 23:20:00 -0400

In the interest of full disclosure I am going to admit that yes, I am a moron, and yes ya'll have proof.

uh huh.

Bryce's game was not in a different town 15 minutes away, it was in the same town, on the field, wait for it,

right next to Corra's.

GOOD GOD!! DUH!! My friend MandyJ found the perfect tee for me. (edited to add: I was asking where I could find one, she was surfing about yesterday and found it! Perfect timing, no?)

Hardy Har Har. I already have a dumb blonde tee. (MandyJ knit up a super cute hedgehog, and needs help choosing a name for him, go help her out! I'll wait) ya back? ok good.

I finished up Hedera socks late Saturday night, Sunday morningish. These where my *ahem* Project Spectrum March socks. yeah, well... umm...

The Specs:

Pattern: Hedera from the Spring Knitty

Yarn: 2 hanks Lorna's Laces Lucky Stripe, bought by Mike at Knit Happens. There is a lot left over, probably 3/4 of a hank.

Needles: 5 metal dpns

Time: these puppies have been warming my needles for a month now! I finished the first sock, casted on the second one, and then had to start on Lady E.

My though's: I worked 15 repeats on the leg, and 18 repeats on the foot. This was a very easy to memorize lacy pattern, by the time I reached the foot on the first sock I had the pattern down! I wish I would have omitted the last lace repeat and knit for a half and inch before started the toe decreases. Now that I've finished my first LL socks, I'm very glad I have lots of this good stuff stashed! very happy!

One more pic? A close up? OK!

Also, Have you seen this? Cynthia of Two sticks and a ball of wool she started by collecting pink squares to make a blanket for her niece Grace, and one for Grace's friend Simone who are both sick with cancer. (I hope I have this right) Grace's friend and boyfriend Justin at the Alberta's Children's Hospital is dying of liver cancer and living on borrowed time. Cynthia is in desperate need of Blue Squares to make him a blanket. She needs 63 5" blue squares to make a blanket. If your able to help, leave Cynthia a comment with your email address in it. Thanks.

I still can't believe, I drove all the way to the other town to only discover that I had the games mixed up! DUH!

Itty Bitty Teeny Socks and stash enhancement

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:49:58 -0400

Dude, guess who (finally) called Dell?? I gots my power cable!! *dancing* yay!

Check out these little itty bitty teeny little socks,

don't they just make you wanna go "awwww!!! They are just so cute!!"

I used a mini cadbury egg for scale. If anyone is interested in a pattern, leave a comment and I'll make one up.

I wonder if these little cutties will count for the 200socks a-long and count your socks.. hmmm...

The Lucky Stripe (orange and red) where apart of my Project Spectrum postcard swap, here is my card and the super cool shiney card from my pal

Thank-you Aliastriona, your card is super cool!! I love the artwork that you created! And the little poem on the back

A sun for orange and yellow month...

light, heat, life, death- all

are encompassed in one simple symbol

amazing! Thanks! : D

I'll leave ya'll with my recent stash enhancements

Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn in Passion Fruit (which I had to distract Mom with her early Birthday/Mother's day yarn so I could sneak it into my suitcase!) 1 bag of Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 09 (pink) 2 bags of Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 15 (purplely blue) and 2 just in casers Debbie Bliss Cathay in color 14 showcased in picture 1. In picture two we have Craft gloves, two sets of needles and two hanks of Noro Cash Iroha (very yummie yes!!) and 7 hanks of tweedy cotton classic in color 466.

Throwing it at ya: a couple of weeks ago, I emailed Julia at Knitterely things, asking her if she would be kind enough to create a skein of yarn for my Mom. She came up with the beautifulest of colorways for my mom, even naming it after her Crazy Jane. Thanks Julia, you are the best! I gave Mom her yarn when I saw her last weekend I just couldn't wait till her birthday in June! She loves it! She showed it to everyone at the Harlots event! Mom loves loves LOVES her yarn! Go look she has 4 inches knit already!! WOW! Julia, I don't think I've said this enough, thank you!!! Mom, enjoy your present, I love you!

Confessions

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:01:33 -0400

I...I... have a few uhhh... things I need to confess to.... umm... *ahem*

1. Its April...

click to see another view of scarf

and yes, Christine my Christmas tree is still up! *sob* I'm debating about giving out Mike's email address so we can all power nag him. He would love that. Upon that Christmas tree is the second to last Christmas gift. yessss, quit looking at me like that!! Its a Christmas present promised last Christmas, Christmas of 2005 to be exact. oh, good Lord! *ahem* At least its only been four months!!! geesh!

Project Specs:

Pattern: Branching Out from knitty

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold, silky wool olive color.

Needles: size 8 bamboo 10"

Time: Started in December, and has been marinating in the basket for 4 months. I had completed 4 pattern repeats when I put it down, I picked it back up before Thursdays soccer practice and blocked it Sunday afternoon! I enjoyed the flowing movement of lace. I need more lace on my needles!!

2. Even though I have a few skeins of Lorna's Laces In my stash (click to see) are you ready for this? Its a dozy!

I've never knit with it before.

uh huh

you read that right.

Last night, I started my project spectrum socks.. Hedera from the new knitty.

I don't know why I've waited so long to use this beautiful yarn!! Just look at how the sun gleams off of the needles! I'm loven spring!!

Now that I have a few things off my chest, I feel a little better... now I just need to get Mike to put the Christmas tree away!!

Did my mail carrier hear my plan?

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:20:00 -0500

I don't know about you, but I am a very impatient person. When I want something I want it now! I can't wait for a little bit, ok, not really! I don't order online all that much because of my impatience. Unfortunately there are no yarn shops in a 100 mile radius that sell Koigu and I wanted some!! So I placed a order at the Knitting Zone late Thursday night. I wanted this yarn sooo bad, and yesterday it felt like I'd been waiting a week (it was 3 working days for crying out loud!) for my package of kpppmmmmm. I started to plot a evil plan, you see. I see my mail carrier all over town, a lot. I thought about flagging him down by B's school first thing in the morning, or maybe casually talk to him by the Dr's office, the best idea was to break into the damned little go-cart and get my yarn! After C came off the bus I opened my mailbox and my yarn is here! And it didn't feel like I waited even 4 days! Those ladies are super fast! I quess I just need to "learn" some patience!

I ordered 1 skein Cherry Tree Hill Supersock yarn in Birches for Project Spectrum, 4 skeins each of Koigu KPPM. It doesn't seem like there is 420 yards in the Supersock! Its such a small skein! I don't know why, but I've been craving some green yarn lately, I'm not a green person! The pinky green skein reminds me of watermelons! mmm!

Today when I opened my mail box look what was peering back at me

My Project Spectrum Postcard! Thank you Postcard Pal! It is sooo worth the wait! She hand painted the flowers, the quotes that she used are perfect! Thank you! Thank you!

Did my mail carrier hear my plan? Is he hiding something in that go-cart? hmmm.. questions to ponder!

Because I never stop buying yarn, I kidnapped my neighbor MandaJ we went to the Mall dropped of my fundraising paperwork (URGH!) and went to Joann's

I bought some pretty fabric to make a skirt, some white yarn to go with my new pretty handspun by Cayli , some blue yarn for another Comferting Jef square (which I need to get cracking on!) Embellish this (bought last night from Walmart) and a impulse buy: Joann 50 Fabulous skirts.

Now if you will please excuse me, I have a special Birthday dinner to cook and a sock to finish! Have a awesome night ya'll!

*** Edited to add

Remember Contest is still open till Friday!!

Project Spectrum: March

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:43:13 -0500

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!

Walking around my house with my camera, I realized. I really like the colors pink and red. I may not wear red all that often, but I apparently like to decorate with it! Take a peak:

Red Linoleum carpet in girls room (don't worry you red that right, its not real its linoleum. circa who the hell knows when?), my soda addiction, red rock ladybug made by Bryce

Sun catcher given to me by my sister, (one) of my tin wall hangings in the kitchen, the start of my Neapolitan sock,

Corra (who will be 7 tomorrow) who loves pink, red vase and (some) of my pink and red yarn, the missing Christmas sock (that caused mass hysteria that was in a bag hanging on the attic door) *ahem*

No way to fit this in so lets just throw it out there!

Corra and I had a nasty stomach bug this weekend, Mike was in Maryland still.

I called him Sat. evening whining, "Hunny you need to come home, I need help!" I'll spare you the narsty details,

he says "uhh.. I have 2 hours of work left, and its a 4 hour drive.. and the, and the computer show is tomorrow"

me "hunny, I know, I'm sorry. I'm so sick, I can't carry Allysa upstairs. I need help"

He finished work early, checked out of the hotel, drove home, bought groceries, dealt with my whining, and took care of the kids. Yes, most of this was a sleepy hazy dream from the couch. I did have to ask a few times for soup.

But he missed the computer show, to come home to a germ filled house. If that isn't love, I don't know what is!

Now, Since I missed my blog-o-versery, I'm getting close to 100 posts on blogspirit and 200 comments. I thought it would be fun to have a little contest and send some sock yarn off to a better place. So, to make this quick: Leave a comment, or send me an email, between this post and midnight Friday I'll use a random number generator (or just write all your names down, put names in coffee can and have kid pull note out). Good Luck!

I'm going to knit my sock, eat some solid food (finally) and tell Bryce (again) to stop building with the haystacks to the Old McDonald game!

Red Hot Jumpin' Sizzlin Socks!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:40:00 -0500

Red Hot Jumpin' Sizzlin Socks!

Nothing like finishing a pair of Red Hot socks makes you want to jump on the couch like Tom Cruise in love with Katie Homes!! WhooOOOTT!! One more jumping on the couch picture? oh well alright

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these socks!! WEEE!!! So nice and cushy, even if they turned the bottom of my feet red because I didn't wash them first!! Here is a still shot, its a little easier to see the socks when not in motion:

Please ignore the messy carpet ; ) There is one little thing that kinda bugs me about these socks, do you see where sock leg and the heel meet, it poofs out a bit. I'm not sure how to prevent this next time. Maybe work the 2 X 2 rib for a few rows before turning the heel?

Here's the specs:

Pattern: Corded Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Schaefer Yarn Anne 60% merino wool SUPERWASH, 25% mohair, 15% nylon; Colorway Unknown. I think I'll call it... Fiery Red tomato!

Needles: size 2 Inox

Time: About 2 1/2 weeks off and on.

My thoughts: I love, LOVE, LOVE this yarn!! So soft, warm, cushy! mmmm, LOVE IT! The pattern was super easy too, just 4 rows! I need more of this yarn! Seriously!!

These are my Red Hot Sizzling Socks a-long socks.

I would have never picked this bright red up with out this knit a-long! Thanks Becky! I enjoyed this challenge!

What's next? I have no idea.. no idea... How about one more picture, a artsy fartsy picture, for the road

P.S. Did you know that its really hard to take a (good) picture of your feet shoved through the baluster of your staircase during a thunder storm while using a tripod? Well, did you?

Spring has Sprung!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 14:47:51 -0500

Yesterday was freaking GEORGIOUS! I don't know any other way to describe it! The sun was shinning brightly, and the kids wanted to go outside and play. Lets just say, they had fun in the mud:

or at least Allysa did, after she rolled around in the dirt covered driveway!!

This really brightened my day!! Lookie Daffodils are sprouting!!

Spring has Sprung!! Knitting updates soon. : )

Project Spectrum; March

noreply@blogspirit.com (Mistress Stash Enhancer) — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:00:00 -0500

The house is (almost) clean. With three kids I don't think it will ever, ever really be "clean"!! Project Spectum is well underway! Lookie Postcard Pal! I should have something to send out soon, I can hardly wait!