Monday, October 24, 2005

Finished!

I finished Toby's socks (almost - one toe left to do) and I felted the two bags for the shop - they are still wet. I need to buy size 1.5 needles for some wool socks for my brother's Christmas presents. The sockotta sock #1 is finished and #2 will be cast on this week.

I'm really trying to get Christmas gifts out of the way - I've got a couple of afghans to crochet, but they are fast and easy to do while watching TV so I'll probably start one of those this week to.

You know - it's funny how each week starts out with such possibility for most to end up swo dreadfully far from what we planned. I suppose that's the way of it. One of these weeks I'm going to plan my week and execute everything on the plan - when that happens I suppose my life will have grown very dull - which might be a welcome change!

Off to make the list for today and wrap up lose ends (no pun intended) on a few knitting projects so I can get going on the new ones!

I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe

Friday, October 21, 2005

Mittens, socks, and Shawls, oh My!

I've joined another KAL - for mittens this time. Sandy is hosting this one and I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to make mittens for the kids out of leftover Zara Plus wool that I have in my stash. Hey it counts for stashbusting too - Yippee!!

I also joined Sandy's Charlotte's web KAL. Everyone seemed to have som much fun making that last year I thought I'd join in - it's a good way to go ahead and get my MIL Christmas gift out of the way for next year - plus it's an excuse to drive to Chatanooga to visit my friends at Genuine Purl b/c we don't carry Koigu and I'm not too likely to shop at any of the other 10 or so shops in the area. - Besides I've been looking for an excuse to get up there.

Little Girl Munchkin has an ear infection. It came on fast and hard yesterday afternoon so she'll be off to the doctor ASAP. Toby's socks should be finished on time - I made one completely and it's too small so I started a larger pair and they are going very quickly - easy to knit for tiny feet.

I've been promising patterns I know I know - they will be here this weekend along with photos (I hope) and another fun surprise.

I missed knit Night b/c of little munchkin, but it's fine I'll catch up with everyone next week.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Monday, October 17, 2005

More More More!

I've been making progress - Yippee! Toby's birthday socks are underway and will be completed on time (good thing he has little feet) Michael's socks are down to the toe on one and almost ready to cast on #2 - I AM going to need more yarn - like 20 yards (aggravating). I have two bags to felt today or tomorrow and hopefully one more by the end of the week.

I'm going to try and use up stash yarn as much as possible. I know I know we've all said that before right? Well I have enough yarn to make several sweaters for the children that will fit thiss year and next, but not after that so... I'm getting to work on it. I still have about 10 Christmas gifts to knit and am working those into the list (good thing most a quick & simple) There are only 69 more knitting days until Christmas!

I love this time of year - it's getting cool and is crisp in the morning and evening, but still nice during the day - actually it's been a little too hot during the days lately near 80. Sometimes I think fall will NEVER get here.

Well I'm off to work on those socks and find some more yarn - I need something to show for socktoberfest right?

I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Armed and Dangerous

Well maybe not too dangerous, but armed with the snazzy Sock Wizard software and a "Sock It To Me" cheater's card I am ready to finish Michael's socks. I need to do a little more math and plug some numbers into my new software to calculate if I'll need another ball of yarn, but the liklihood that I will need more is high.

My arm aches from all of the knitting I've been doind since Sunday. In defense from all of the new yarn we're receiving at the shop I'm trying to make samples as quickly as possible (also to impress my employers by making lots of neat-o things very quickly). My wrist hurt so badly when I woke up yesterday morning that I feared knitting impossible for the day - alas a little time and a few painkillers (OTC only I promise) later I was back in business.

So far this week I've made Chris Bylsma's NaStasha Bag (not yet felted), Designs by Shelley's Pink Lady Bag (not yet felted), a Magic hat, My brother's sock #1 completed, and another felted project cast on. Hopefully I'll finish the felted bag, and a little wristlet purse before Saturday so I can spend some quality time with my new sock books & software and get some more things (personal - not shop) cast on and in progress. After all There are only 73 more knitting days until Christmas!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Saturday, October 08, 2005

I have a confession to make...

My brother's birthday socks (which are now for Christmas) have been stalled and on the back burner. I was so afraid that they were too small. I finally picked them back up and got them to a point where Casey can try them on and he says they fit fine - so... Off I go again on the socks. I am going to need more yarn though so I'll have to find that, but just knowing that all the effort isn't a waste and that the socks will fit when finished has renewed my knitting spirit and I'm on my way to finished with sock #1.

I finished the fingerless mitts yesterday and they are very cute. I'll probably make one more pair for my SIL and that's one more name marked off the Christmas list. Wow - at this rate I should be finished with Christmas 2005 gifts in about March of 2006.

The shop looks so nice and we are STILL getting in new yarns everyday. Nashua yarns came in and are GORGEOUS!!! I can't wait to make a felted bag with LOTS of novelty yarns and the new striping wools.

After Christmas I am going to make myself a sweater. Yes indeed a sweater for me. I got the yarn today (it's been on BO FOREVER!!!) Cascade Sierra in lime color #10. I am going to make Chris Bylsma's MidSummer's Aran Sweater and make it a little longer. I LOVE this pattern and can't wait to work on it, but I must get Christmas out of the way before I begin.

Hopefully the socks for Bro (pending yarn hunt) will be finished by next weekend and I cna move on to some new socks. These have all but broken my will to knit socks. Next I'm going to learn to knit socks on 2 circs so I can teach it at the shop. I LOVE my dpns, but people want the 2-circs method so I'll give it a go. Which is your favorite?

Time to knit while the house is quiet for a while.

I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Wow what a week!

It's been an interesting week around here. Last Thursday Anna (5) nearly knocked her two front teeth out - so after an emergency trip to the dentist - where he told us we can expect Anna's teeth to turn dark and potentially fall out - Mommy waited until the kids were napping and had a mini meltdown. Better now though.

On the knitting front: The wristers for my SIL are almost finished (after about 3 false starts) My brother's socks are still stalled - I have fear that they are not going to fit. I made a store sample of wristers from another yarn and pattern - much quicker and easier, but not quite as nice than the one's I'm doing now. We've stocked all of the yarn that was in the store last week - it looks FABULOUS! Then yesterday we received 4 more huge boxes - Nashua, Tahki, and some gift items from one of our accessory vendors. Now we have to find a place to put it.

I started knitting (for store) some "house socks" out of Artful Yarns' Circus those are quick and should be finished before the weekend.

We've been working on the house and getting the kid's rooms sorted out while moving the craftroom/classroom to the finished garage - it's been tiresome and busy. But we're getting things finished one by one - now if I could just get someone to haul off the tree lying in my backyard...

I promist that this weekend I'll figure out how to post pictures, etc. to this crazy page and get some fun things going. I also have a pattern or two to upload, Casey will help me figure all this out - he's the "Computer Guy."

I can't wait for knit Night tonight - lots of fun!

I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe