Planning, not knitting

We have a great New Years Eve party every year - a bunch of friends, lots of good food and such a great time. Since some of my best friends live a ways away, they stay over and we do a big breakfast too. It's always a fun time. So, hubby and I have been planning the menu and getting the grocery list together these past few nights. We always try to make a few new things, and a few stand bys that everyone likes.

As you can see, the list is pretty long! (next to the list is hubby's new PS2 game Psychonauts - it is pretty interesting to watch, and the dialogue is hilarious! I guess it got great reviews, but no one bought it - how sad!)

Even the dogs have a good time!

I did manage to knit some on my Hourglass sleeve. I only have a few more inches to do, then another sleeve! I know once the sleeves are done the assembly and yoke knitting will go quick. I also am finished with the gusset decreases and am working on the foot of Jaywalker #2. I have to start the Fuzzy Feet for my dad soon. I need to give them to him in the next few weeks for our belated Channukah get together.

I neglected to show off my biggest and heaviest present this year. Hubby used to be a chef, so he is all about the spices. I love spices too, but I admit, I don't always buy the most expensive or freshest. When you only need 1 teaspoon for one dish and never use the rest, it's hard to shell out $6 for a whole bottle. We have purchased from Penzey's before, they have great spices. Well, hubby decided it was time we replace everything in the spice cabinet! This was presented to me Christmas Day:

Crazy! It had 2 layers and the packing material was laced with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and bay leaves! There must have been 25 jars of spices, blends, a pepper mill and some sauces. Check out the top of the box - no lie -

It was such a great gift, and something I know we will both use and love as we both love to cook! He is the best!!

We also got a bunch of candy from my Mother in Law. Since we always share with the kids - they got to taste some of the Berry Blue Blow Pop.....nice tongues!


I think my next sweater project will be either Tricot or Janda. I am in need of just some comfy sweaters to wear around that aren't really warm. And, with my ginormous stash of Cotton Ease, I see some destashing in the future!

We're only getting started

I hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous holiday!

Christmas may have come and gone, but Channukah is only getting started! It was really neat to have it start on Christmas Eve - I guess it is the first time since the mid 50's that it has occured. Makes it a little easier getting into the spirit when it's somewhere around Christmas, then sometime back in November.

We went to my Mother in Laws Sunday, and as usual, she pulled out all the stops and gave us a huge basket brimming with goodies (edible and not). I'll get unpacked and organized enough to post some pictures soon.

I didn't really knit at all, but did do some knitting related shopping. I headed to Webs on Monday for their annual year end sale. I didn't end up with much as I was feeling a bit uninspired. I did get an Inox Experess needle for my Magic loop socks, a bag of Rowan Cork in a great caramel color, and 2 bags of Knit 1 Crochet 2 Angora Soft(sooooo soft!) in a beautiful light blue. The cork I think will become a Rebecca cabled sweater (the goldish colored one), and the Angora Soft - not so sure yet....I didn't think they had as much as they had at their tent sale in the summer, but it was a mob scene.

I have turned the heel and am 1/2 way through the gusset of Jaywalker #2. I should finish easily by New Years!

Jaywalker Photos and a Gratuitous Dog Shot

As promised, photos of Jaywalker #1! (forgive the blurry one - I was on a sugar high from eating so many holiday cookies!)



The toe and funky colored heel....




They fit great! I am done with the ribbing for #2, just not too much time to knit in the past few days. I did however, start the sleeve on Hourglass (loving the plastic 12" Clover circs!!)



It is going pretty quick as it is all stockinette with a decrease thrown in every once and a while. Great TV knitting!

Speaking of TV - Tucker's usual position after a day of daycare out in the winterness that is December in New England

Jaywalker #1 done!

I finished kitchnering up the first jaywalker right before bed, so I'll post some pics tonight - it fits perfectly, and the colors are wild! It is fuzzing a little, I'm suspecting it's because it's 100% merino. Superwash next time. I plan on casting on today for #2. I have the pattern memorized, so I'm hoping it will go quicker!

I tried doing the scarf out of CP Party and Kid Mernio. Yuck. Too shiny. So, not sure what I'll do with the yarn yet. I may just let it marinate in my stash for a bit! I do have to cast on for the mittens tonight. They should be a quick knit and be done before New years. I can also finally start up Hourglass again......

Stuff to keep warm...

I am happy to report another FO this weekend! The Irish Hiking Scarf! It is really soft, and just needs a blocking. It is maybe a little short, but it is long enough to wrap round my/someone's neck. I haven't decided if this is a keeper or not. I recently read about a knitter who had no handknit scarves or hats! I am kind of in that boat - I have one scarf that was my very first knitting project years back (when I wasn't even a knitter). I love it to this day and wear it all the time. I also knit a hat, but it was frogged this weekend as it has always been too big and I've never worn it. So, I think after the rush of the holidays, I need a new hat! Details about the scarf are in the FO section....



I worked a bunch on the Jaywalker, and am about 3/4 the way through the foot!! The heel looks kind of neat - I ended up doing the standard flap heel in the instructions - but my next pair are going to be short rows! Especially doing magic loop, as half your stitches are already on one needle. The colors are great - kind of obnoxious as my sister says, but I like 'em.









I also think I may do a quick scarf with the yarn I got from my SP - I've been wanting to knit for my friend Heather (one of my 3 friends named Heather!)- she wants me to teach her when she gets some time from her 1 1/2 year old. The CP Party and Kid Mohair should be really pretty together. Luckily, my SP sent me the same colors in each, so they should look very pretty. Plus, it's knit on #17 needles - it should be done in a night I would think!



So, I need to re-start the Hourglass now that I have my needle, (now thinking I could have done it with magic loop - ahhhh!) and I think some wrist warmers and a hat are in the queue soon!

Another Stormy Friday

Woke up this morning to ice covered trees and roads. The main ones weren't too bad, but my driveway and street were a skating rink with a thin layer of slush on top. I love winter. I love New England. (repeat until spring)

I turned the heel and am on to the gusset decreases of Jaywalker. It took some fiddling to rearrange the stitches, but the Magic Loop is still working great. I was hoping for a snow day today to get a good bunch done. Oh well.

IHS is also coming along. I'm 4 1/2 balls done of the 6 I have. I'm hoping it will be long enough, though I could block it a bit longer, but I don't want to ruin the cables. I have been averaging about a ball a night. So maybe tonight I can finish. Then, I only have a few pairs of mittens to do for gifts - and they won't be given out until New Years, so I have plenty of time.

I got my Clover Plastic 12" Circulars in the mail yesterday. They are so cute! The cord isn't round, but flat. I'm hoping they won't be a major pain to knit with! So, I can start Hourglass up again once I finish IHS.

Pics coming tomorrow.....

"Hairy" Potter

What a fun time. The dogs were such sports as we dressed them up! Here is Tucker dressed as "Hairy" Potter. Yes, I used washable marker on him....the dedication....

And both the boys - Wizard dressed up as Dumbledore! It was hard keeping the beard and hair on, but he was so patient!

A view of Boston Harbor after the blizzard - pretty peaceful looking!


As for the knitting, Jaywalker is coming along - only 3 more repeats (6 rows) and I can start the heel. (this was taken before I started knitting last night) Not sure if I am going to do a short row or flap heel.


The Irish Hiking Scarf is also started, though I didn't work on it last night (that is my focus tonight) I'm hoping to have it done quick so I can maybe give it as a gift....


Last, but certainly not least, is my SP gift!!! It had so much stuff in it!



There was some sock yarn, cotton yarn with fun fur to make a hat, 2 sets of needles, a great journal book, a candle, tea (yum!), and some great stitch markers! Now, I have to go and find out who she is! (the fun part!)

Lots and Lots of Dogs!

What a weekend. My first "real" dog show (the Bay Colony Cluster in Boston) and it was something to partake! I wandered around and saw all the breeds, watched tons of agility and overall had a blast! It was exhausting - 15 hour days at the Bayside - but worth it. I am now determined to show agility! The people were so nice, and Razz (Terri's top dog) even had a TV spot on WBZ! (look close - he is the one going through the weave poles!)

I didn't do really any knitting - I managed 3 repeats of the Jaywalker socks and that was about it. I plan on getting back on track tonight. I also started the Irish Hiking Scarf - very easy and I got 2 repeats done before we left on Thursday for Boston. I have completely stopped on my Hourglass. The body is done, but the sleeves are knit on 12" circulars. My Denises only go down to 17", so that left me in a quandry. No one sells 12" circs. I ended up ordering some on Ebay - plastic Clover circulars like the ones that they have at World Knit. The shipping was only $0.75 on Ebay vs. the $4.50 from World Knit. Since I didn't need anything else, Ebay it was. Now I wait......and so does Hourglass....

I also got my SP gift! I saw the box on the counter last night when I got home, opened it, smiled with glee, and promptly fell asleep. I am really looking forward to delving into it with gusto when I get home from work today!

We got about 15" of snow, and the dogs are really enjoying it. I have some pictures, but have been too exhausted to download them yet!

First Steps

Jaywalker is on it's way! I'm done with the ribbing, and I am really liking the magic loop technique. My hands were really aching after doing Dublin Bay - I'd sit and work on them for a while and the way I had to hold my hands to use the DPN's made them a bit sore afterwards. I'm glad I have the skill of using DPN's - I know I will use them in the future, but for now, I'll use magic loop. The 24" circular is ok to use - I can see why a longer one would be a bit easier, but since I have it on hand (and I have 2 from doing the 2 socks on 2 circs!) I'll stick with it.

I like this KnitPicks Garden yarn also. It is soft and a bit "lofty" compared to some other sock yarns I've tried. It isn't splitting nearly as much as the Kroy, which is nice. The color is perfect! Pansy - a mix of black, magenta, purple and yellow! I'm not sure how/if it will pool, but I don't really care - I know a bunch of people dislike when it pools, but I kind of like it!

As for Hourglass, I'm at the point where I put stitches on holders for the underarms, and split for the yoke. Now, I just have to find a circular to do the sleeves on. My Denises wouldn't go small enough. Off to the store today.

My last SP package got mailed yesterday. This round was a lot of fun - both giving and getting! I really loved finding things to mail - giving surprises is just as fun as getting them!

I'm headed for the Bay Colony Dog Show this weekend. Along with Terri (who owns the daycare/training facility I bring the boys to) who is showing 3 of her dogs in both agility and breed. I'm bringing Tucker along to participate in the On Course For Kids charity event. Terri has done it every year since it's inception, and it looks like a lot of fun! Plus, it will get him out and about and used to a show environment.

We are supposed to get about 7-9" of snow tomorrow. At least I'll be inside the Bayside Expo Center all weekend!

It's Magic!

In an effort to start my Jaywalker socks, I branched out and learned a new skill. Magic Loop! I used this site, and it literally took me about 3 minutes to figure it out! I think I may need a longer needle (I had a #2 29" laying around, so I used that) but it just may work. I'll keep you up to date on my frustrations and progress!

More progress on the hourglass - I am about 12" in now, and shouldn't have too much more to go before dividing for the sleeves/yoke. It is a nice quick (boring) knit, but it is really good for TV knitting. The yarn is super soft and it will hopefully be a cozy but refined sweater when done.

I really like the hem - it's a nice touch, and the contrasting color matches perfectly tone-wise! It will need a good blocking, but so far, so good.


Dublin Bay is OFFICALLY done - kitchnered, tried on, etc. They fit me pretty perfectly, but are a smidge big on mom. But, she wanted bigger, comfy socks for the house, so these will hopefully do the trick.


Speaking of socks, I have a current pair that are pretty old, but wearing well. I never realized before how much I like the pattern - I have no idea where they came from, but may be a good model for a (way in the)future project when my fair isle skills develop.

Here, but not

Sorry for the long absence - my grandfather passed away on Tuesday, and I've been busy with family stuff. Since we all live so far from each other, it was great to see everyone, but not under these circumstances. That is what stinks about funerals -it brings everyone together under the most depressing circumstances.

On to happier things. I am about 9" into Hourglass (pics coming). Very tedious knit as it's about 99% stockinette stitch with the occasional increase or decrease. I am doing contrasting trim a la Diana of Streets and YO's. Mine is shades of blue. I may have done one too many rows for the bottom trim, but I think it looks ok. I used the hem technique from Alison's Nothin' but a T Shirt. Very easy and less finishing!

The Dublin Bay socks are still the same - I ripped back, but have to sit down and figure out where to put the needles back in so I can knit some extra foot length. Maybe today.....

The blue Tahki sweater is no more. I frogged and not sure what I'm going to do next. I may see if I can find some yarn for it at the Webs tent sale next month.