Knitting Mama of 3

Been two long years

2011-01-16T00:35:00.001-06:00

Ugh almost 2 years!! Alot has happened. I have half of one sock on the needles since May 2009. Why? I was divorced December 2009. I'm now a single mama of 3. I have a great boyfriend who I've been with 5 months. I adore him and I think he might have me on a pedestal. That's alright with me! After 12 years of marriage that went stale it's nice to feel loved again. I'm back to knitting. I've made the bf a hat, the pretend MIL a pair of socks. Getting ready to make another hat for the bf. I am partaking in a Pay It Forward where I have to make 5 things for people. Good thing I have a year and amigurumi toys are quick and easy! I've reconnected with my old high school best friend. We are in college together. Funny after about 15 years of not speaking. I'm sort of teaching (confusing her more like) to knit. I hope to update this more often again.

More sock needles from KnitPicks.com

2009-04-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

Not being able to get gauge on several sock patterns I decided it was time to buy some size 0(2.0 mm). Also needed different size ones. Didn't realize that my hiya hiya's are 2.25 and my knitpicks size one's are 2.50. So I bought some size 0's in various cable lengths and size 1/2.25. I really like knitpicks needles and they are way cheaper than addi's or hiya hiyas.

Yarn Eagle! Birthday Flop.

2009-04-16T22:12:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to ME! My eagle of yarn yummy from The Loopy Ewe arrived today. Hmm. Perked me right up after stressing over insurance for Levi's MRI. The perfect antidote for stress. Yarn yummy in the mail! I explained to Sheri at the Loopy Ewe about how I rarely buy "new" yarn, that I buy it generally through Rav's classifieds and if I do buy "new" I do my homework. I told her the yarn I bought was cheaper in price and shipping on the original website. She is looking into it because she said they usually cost the same. I told her I was and still am excited to have shopped her site and plan to do so in the future. I just will only buy if I plan on buying more than one skein because priority mail is too expensive for one skein when I live so close that first class mail arrives in the same amount of time. She then invited me to visit lol. Someday!

Levi wasn't impressed with my 2 months plus of blood, sweat and tears (or at least skipped yoga classes and sore wrists) spent on his spiderman blanket. But who could blame him? 5 year old boys want to play with the monster truck not some silly blanket. I still love it and I know when he's older it will mean something to him. Especially if he ever learns to knit and realizes how long it took me!

I finished the tie dye/Roy G. Biv socks. Oh did I butcher them. Ay yi yi! I frogged back so they'd fit my daughter lengthwise since widthwise they were too tight for me. I then did the Fleegle Heel. I had never done this heel. It added too much length so Liv's toes when the heel was in the proper place on her foot came up to the end of the sock right where the toes ended and the body of the foot started. So I finished up the socks, of course I had to redo the bind off. It was too tight the first time. I don't think I've ever cast off the right tension the first time ever. Then I was looking at them and lamenting that they were too long for her. So I cut the contrasting toes off. Oh yes I did. Hmmhmmm. Yup. I shore did. The first one went rather smoothly. I threaded a needle and went through the first row of MC. Then chopped the yellow toe off, unraveled down to the first row and slipped it onto needles, did a couple of rows of decreases then kitchenered the toes. As usual, I did it bass ackwards. So the toes are purls. Looks crappy but I don't care. By this point I just wanted to be DONE. So feeling confident that I butchered and stitched the first sock just fine I started on the second. I don't know what the difference was but the MC stitch pattern was all screwy. It was like when you unravel something the wrong way? I don't know why it was different from the first sock. At least on the second one I did the kitchener graft correctly. So they are done. Fugly but done. She loves them. :) And that folks, is what knitting is all about. (and the yarn.)

Tomorrow is Levi's MRI and I hope to cast on a pair of socks for him while waiting. I'm going to try http://k2knits.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-favorite-toe-magic-loop-turkish-toe.html and her widdershin hybrid. I've never done this heel but it sounds promising.

Must get all this printed out and ready for tomorrow. Good night. Please say a prayer for my son.

That will teach me to not do my homework

2009-04-14T17:10:00.002-05:00

I had bad day yesterday. Dh came home, took over cooking dinner and just all around made my evening much better than my day. We were sitting on the couch and he told me "You don't have enough yarn. You should buy some." So I immediately ran to my...I mean, clicked, my way to my wishlist at The Loopy Ewe. I had not shopped there yet and was very excited to do so. So I browsed, drooled, browsed, consulted my MIL, consulted my husband and finally chose a skein from Monkeypal's stash. If I'd done my homework I would have found Monkeypal on etsy.com and just possibly paid $5 less. The Loopy Ewe charges priority which is almost $6 plus the yarn is $2 less at etsy. I know the Loopy Ewe needs to charge a little more to make a commission but the least they could do is allow first class shipping. /rant

It's a froggy night

2009-04-12T22:51:00.005-05:00

Sad news fellow knitters. I had to frog back some on my tye dye socks. I knew they were probably going to be too snug but I forged on to the heel. I did the first heel. Short row, in case you were wondering. And I couldn't get it over my ankle/heel afterwards. Decided to frog back about an inch and a half and finish them up for my oldest. I had her try it on and told her they'd be her socks and she smiled real big. She's such a sweetie. As much as I HATE to frog and am bummed that I don't have another pair of socks to slip on soon I wasn't really liking the colorway. To me "tye dye" should be pooling like a tye dye shirt looks but they weren't pooling at all. They look like regular ole Roy G. Biv or LGB pride socks. So she's happy and I get to start another pair for me. Oh, I'm also doing the Fleegle Heel on these now. It's a new heel for me!

I still haven't decided what to work with next. I think I'm going to save the Fearless Fibers colorway til I feel up to doing thigh highs. I think thigh highs would make the hubby happy. :) But I want QUICK projects. Levi's spiderman blanket about did me in and it only took about 7 or 8 weeks. Oh gasp I haven't updated my rav project page for it yet either. Shame on me! Ok it's updated. Granted I could only work on it when Levi wasn't around and Lucy would cooperate but still. I don't have that type of patience!

I would really like to knit into that brilliant orange Piazza I got from Etsy.com but after doing the Roy G. Biv socks I'd really like a calmer color. I might just start on the Cosmopolitan from Yarntini after all.

Here's today's knitviews.

I should go to bed. We had a busy day and, of course, since it's a holiday we all have a touch of a tummy bug. Just like Thanksgiving. And Christmas (ooh that was REALLY bad) which led into NYE. I think we were healthy for our anniversary/Vday in February! WOOHOO!

Livie sock yarn arrived! & 3 Irish Girls

2009-04-11T15:15:00.004-05:00

Livie and I ran to the PO today to pick up her package. Pulled out the first yarn, red heart and sole tequila sunrise, and she was like "Eh, not so much." Ok she didn't verbally say that but her face did. So then I pulled out the Bernat Sox Multi crazy hot and she got a little more animated. Then I realized there should be ONE more yarn cake or skein. Dug around and pulled out the Confetti and she literally shrieked with delight. It has a lot of lime green. I will turn her into a yarn ho/fiber snob! LOL The confetti was the only indie dyed yarn. The other two were manufactured for walmart type stores. So she will be getting a pair of socks in the confetti, Levi will be getting a pair in the Bernat Sox multi and someday I'll get another pair made for me.

Levi's blanket is literally a row and 1/4 away from being done and that's counting the bind off row. I have to crochet vertical lines like spokes and it's DONE!! It takes about 30 minutes per row! Yikes. I'm up to 42 or 44 stitches per section so 44x14 is um....616 around. That's a few stitches! It's actually up to 46 so 644 around. Took me about an hour and 20 minutes to bind off using p1, *slip back to left needle p2tog, slip back to left needle, p2tog*.

Oh today's discovery...naughty me....was 3 Irish Girls. Just going to their homepage makes me want to cry. Click the linky. You know you want to! Someday I am going to join a sock yarn club. I have looked at the 3 Irish Girls and Socks that Rock. ~drool~ Thanks be to God that I do have a little bit of will power. I am forcing myself to wait til the end of the year due to the economy. Dh still has a job and all that and we're luckier than most in that aspect but I don't want to jinx us. So I'm sticking to my "no buy more yarn til I use up most of what I have." Unfortunately I ordered a bunch of 100purewool for next winter's/Christmas knitting so I might not run out for awhile. :( And some of it's sock yarn too. But Mother's Day is coming so maybe I'll send my hubby a linky to my wishlist on the Loopy Ewe.

Miracle Diapers Donation program needs donations!

2009-04-10T09:19:00.001-05:00

Lisa Johnston posted an announcement to the cause MiracleDiapers.org.

----------------
Hi everyone!

Just a reminder that Miracle Diapers is closed until May due to lack of diapers.

At this moment, we do not have any medium diapers or covers at all, and we're in the process of trying to replenish our inventory.

If you or someone you know would like to donate:
Items we are in need of:
Medium Covers
Medium Diapers
Large Covers
Infant and Premium Prefolds
Inserts/Doublers
Non-Microfiber Inserts

Donations can be sent to the address in my signature line, and we do provide receipts for tax purposes!

Thank you for your patience. Please spread the word to all of your groups that we will "tentatively" be reopening on May 1.

Thank you so much!!

Lisa Johnston
Operations Manager
Miracle Diapers
www.miraclediapers.org
23945 Franz Rd., Ste E, #126
Katy, Texas 77493

Help me choose: Cosmo, Piazzi or Serendipity?

2009-04-09T22:42:00.005-05:00

I'm up to the heel, well, almost, up to the heel with my socks currently OTN. That means time to start planning my next pair. Since I'm usually a good girl and don't have a big stash I only have 3 colorways to choose from.

First up is "Serendipity" by Fearless Fibers. 100% superwash merino and an AMAZING 550 yds. Holy smokes. I could make knee highs with that much yardage!

And then there is "Cosmopolitan" by Yarntini. It is only 260 yds. Can I make a pair of socks with only 260 yds??

Then there's my most recent purchase from Sharing/Karen's Heavenly Creations.
Description says "This is a hand dyed hank of blue faced leicester ultra superwash. It is a 3ply finger weight fiber with 400 yards." And here's a link to her Rav profile.

So leave a comment here on the blog or FB or via email and help me choose! I've never knit with any of these brands before either.

Great reminder

2009-04-09T20:02:00.001-05:00

My massage therapist said to me "I deliberately make a mistake in everything I knit to remind myself I am not perfect."

Today's Knitviews (oh, and yesterday's!)

2009-04-08T18:16:00.005-05:00

I skipped my Tuesday yoga. I am getting desperate to finish Levi's blanket. I'm oh so close but his birthday is even closer! The sitter (Aunt TT) showed up as usual and away I went. I decided at the last minute that instead of going to yoga I would journey here:

and knit. So I knit and listened to LimenViolet for about an hour. I found out that it takes me about 12-15 minutes per round. UGH! Every few stitches I have to push them around the cable so that's part of the slow process. I will be happy once this blanket is done.
Today I snuck in a 20 minute nap before Levi went off to school which gave me just enough energy to not NEED to take a longer nap after he left. OTOH, for the Lu 20 minutes is NOT enough. She got cranky, I gathered up my knit bag, etc, swung through McD's (waiting for her to fall asleep) for a grilled chicken salad (YUM but why don't they have fat free ranch?) and sweet tea and headed here.

I didn't get ALOT of knitting done because I had to eat then I remembered at noon on the nose that my son's Easter/Spring party was at 12:15. But I did feel close to hubby. See way off in the distance? That's where he works.

I headed out and was driving along between the waters and out of nowhere is this flock of medium sized black bird things w/ long legs. I slow a little because, you know, birds FLY. Oh no NOT THESE BIRDS. I hit the brakes but couldn't swerve due to oncoming traffic and I think I took out 3 of them. Oh the guilt! The anguish. I called my hubby and he and the guys got a good laugh out of poor guilt ridden me.

Some quick yarn porn. This should be arriving soon. It left the California shipping center on the 6th, I think.

There are several skeins but I'm only receiving one of each color. Which is two skeins.

Oh no what have I done??

2009-04-07T22:37:00.001-05:00

I have heard about the Loopy Ewe many times. I see that people on Rav have bought yarn there. I have always been wary of going to the website. I just had this gut instinct it was a bad idea. Why can't I listen to myself?? Sigh. Thanks Lime & Violet.

OTN, socks and yarn for Livie :)

2009-04-05T21:01:00.007-05:00

I'm just full of blogging tonight! Thought I'd share some photos. First up is Levi's Spiderman Blanket. I couldn't get a photo of all of it since it's on circs. There is another complete blue section and a partial of another blue section. The pattern has it ending with another 2 sections of red but I'm running out of time. I'm up to over 500 stitches per round and I'm lucky to get a round done in a day. 11 days til his bday. I'm also considering entering this at the fall fair. My aunt has entered things so maybe she'll pipe up with some ideas of what is required and who to contact for info. Anyway, here's the spidey blanket that so far I've been able to keep a secret from Levi.

Livie is always asking me to make her something, lately, since I'm making socks she's wanting socks. I found her some purty colored cheap sock yarn! Go mom! I bought these from Rav classified board specifically, SamplerStitcher. Red Heart and Sole tequila sunrise for 3 for $10.

Bernat Sox Multi crazy hot 4@2.50 ea

And Spinning Yarns "Confetti" for $11 shipped. May or may not make this for Livie. Maybe for me. :)

Oh and I yanked her pics so I hope she doesn't mind!!

Then I was bad. Oh so bad. But it was ohhh so good. On etsy I found these and couldn't resist!
Citrus Zest and Piazzi
. Usually that's about double what I'd pay for yarn but the day was a special day in my heart so to celebrate and lift my spirits at the same time I splurged.

Ok, on to my Lorna's Laces "Child's Play" socks. I have worn them several times. I wash them with towels or clothes and dry them in the dryer. No special treatment. They're a little fuzzy but otherwise are holding up so far.

An update of my tye dye socks. The pattern was for cuff down but I am doing these toe up and changed the repeats. So the pattern is technically upside down. I think I've cast on too few this time. Ay yi yi as Livie would say. Eventually I'll get it figured out.

Oh, here's some yarn I bought when I bought the tye dye. Yarntini.

Knitting views

2009-04-05T18:30:00.009-05:00

So I'm at the massage therapist and as she starts on my arms I mention, of course, that I knit. Not a lot of it every day but I do knit daily. And to prove it I had a huge knot in my arm above my wrist. It's been there at least a year because I've had my dd rub it for me. So we start talking knit talk. She's a beginner knitter. I told her I am too. That I taught myself to knit about a year and a half ago but I've crocheted since I was a kid. She asked me which I like better. I said "Knitting, it looks better and I've always liked the way knit looks over crochet, but crochet's......ea...easier...?" I realized as it was coming out of my mouth that I no longer actually believe that crocheting is easier than knitting! I was always told that if you learn to crochet first then you find knitting more difficult to learn and vice verse. And I thought that was true. I was very intimidated by all the loops on the needles and oh lawdy how do I fix a mistake several rows down? OR drop a stitch?? Oh the horror of horrors! But, now, NOW I can knit without looking! I can FIND my mistakes and drop down to it fix it and it looks sort of ok! And I LIKE that better than ripping alllll the way back like you have to do in crochet. I would just like to know when did I pass that bend in the knitting journey?

Stolen moments of knitting time. I don't get very many opportunities to knit uninterrupted. I have a 16ish month old and she's absolutely fine playing by herself but as SOON as I pick up the needles she's all over me like sti....um.....flies on.....like (oh there has to be a knitting term I can use...)....oh do I have the best daughter or what? My 7 y/o just walked up and started rubbing my foot. What was I saying? Anyway, toddler=no knitting. I finally figured out that after lunch and during my daily dose of brain rot brought on by Days of Our Lives, if I close the gate to the living room she will go play in the kitchen and I can knit for about 20 minutes. Desperate to finish my son's blanket before the 16th I try to do this every school day. Friday I was almost busted by my son. He gets home at 2ish which Days is over at 2 so I knit from 1:30 to 2ish. Well, he got out early! PANIC when I saw the short yellow bus in front of the house just a couple of minutes after I picked up my knitting. So I shove it in my project bag and jam it in the space between the couch and wall.

I discovered another way of stolen time to knit. Well, I know it's not a new idea I just don't have many opportunities since I don't go many places. Drive around til toddler falls asleep, pull over and knit til she wakes up or I need to get home. Doesn't work well during the school day. I nap with her during her morning nap otherwise I don't make for a nice mommy in the afternoon when it's me and 3 kids (3 grumpy, tired, hungry kids) until daddy gets home at 6. The toddler also is ready for a second nap at about 2 on. It's difficult to get her down w/out falling asleep myself but having the 4 y/o run amuck is never a good idea. It gets pretty tense when it is time to make dinner. The joys of motherhood! Anyway my point is her nap time doesn't coincide well with my sans older kid time during the week. But, today I was able to drive around this morning, park at a beautiful country cemetary and knit for nearly an hour! BLISS! Then we went to my MIL1's house for fake Easter dinner and on the way back all 3 fell asleep and you guessed it! I pulled over and knit for about 30 minutes. And on Saturday I took my oldest to the park and knit in the van while the toddler slept. YES! Score for all involved. I will be updating this with pics here in a few. I hope!
My knitting views today:

OH and I am SO trendy! Or is it technologically advanced? Or geeky? Or all 3? I had discovered podcasts as previously blogged. I also have downloaded them to my MP3 player (way cool) AND for my bday (double 3 my hubby kept saying) he bought me a stereo w/ not only a cd player (imagine that? NO CD PLAYER!!!) but an aux plug for my mp3 player so as I knit by the cemetary or park I have been listening to Limenviolet's podcasts. They are a freaking riot! They are dirty, foul mouthed and unPC but I love them! They ramble on with some resemblence of a topic list but they get sidetracked much like myself. I envision myself with them sometimes because I can so relate to the potty mouth, trainwreck conversations only I tend to have w/ my husband because no one else likes to listen to me ramble and certainly usually don't appreciate my more colorful language. My amazing hubby just called me to dinner so I'm signing off. I may just get a spanking if I'm late to the dinner table.....

Wordle.net fun

2009-04-01T14:51:00.001-05:00

Tye Dye Chevron socks

2009-03-17T09:42:00.003-05:00

I've decided to go with Charlene Schurch's Chevron pattern. Here's my notes so far.
3/15 started swatch with a cast on of 60. Too big. Decreased to 52 for only 2 pattern repeats but increased the pattern to a 13 stitch instead of original 11. Aren't I getting good?

3/16 Using knitpicks size 1. Cast on 52. Using short row toes.

Pics of the yarn

Noteworthy sock pattern mention

2009-03-15T22:05:00.001-05:00

I'm sure more experienced sock knitters already know this but for the newbies like myself I have discovered that the yarn over cable sock from Sensational Knitted Socks is the same pattern as Vogue's The Ultimate Sock book's wrap mock cable. Just thought I'd mention that.

Tye Dye Sock yarn..what pattern?

2009-03-15T21:37:00.003-05:00

Tye Dye Socks
Originally uploaded by chickwith2stix

I have this exact yarn. I borrowed this picture from flicker from chickwith2stix. I cannot decide what sock pattern to use! I have some sock books, Sensational Knitted Socks, Vogue Knitting and Favorite Socks. What pattern from either these books or a free pattern on the net should I use?

Spiderman Blanket written out

2009-03-11T14:42:00.002-05:00

The Spiderman Blanket is not completely written out in pattern. I wrote out the last bit as promised on my Rav project page. I am currently working ON this project so there might be an error in my added on part of the pattern. I want to thank AnneM for creating this pattern. It is fairly simple and a great idea. My son will love it and I am already trying to think up colors for my girls' birthday blankets.
35.*M1, knit 5, sk2p, knit5, M1, knit 1*
blue
36. knit
37. *M1, knit 5, sk2p, knit5, M1, knit 1*
38. knit
39. *M1, knit 13, M1, knit 1*
40. knit
41. *M1, knit 6, sk2p, knit 6, M1, knit 1*
42. knit
43. *M1, knit 6, sk2p, knit 6, M1, knit 1*
44. knit
45. *M1, knit 15, M1, knit 1*
46. knit
47. *M1, knit 7, sk2p, knit 7, M1, knit 1*
48. knit
49. *M1, knit 7, sk2p, knit 7, M1, knit 1*
black
50. knit
51. *M1, knit 17, M1, knit 1*
red
52. knit
53. *M1, knit 8 , sk2p, knit 8, M1, knit 1*
54. knit
55. *M1, knit 8 , sk2p, knit 8, M1, knit 1*
56. knit
57. *M1, knit 19, M1, knit 1*
58. knit
59. *M1, knit 9, sk2p, knit 9, M1, knit 1*
60. knit
61. *M1, knit 9, sk2p, knit 9, M1, knit 1*
knit
63. *M1, knit 21, M1, knit 1*
knit
65. *M1, knit 10, sk2p, knit 10, M1, knit 1*
knit
black
67. *M1, knit 10, sk2p, knit 10, M1, knit 1*
knit
red
69. *M1, knit 23, M1, knit 1*
knit
71. *M1, knit 11, sk2p, knit 11, M1, knit 1*
knit
73. *M1, knit 11, sk2p, knit 11, M1, knit 1*
knit
75. *M1, knit 25, M1, knit 1*
knit
77. *M1, knit 12, sk2p, knit 12, M1, knit 1*
knit
79. *M1, knit 12, sk2p, knit 12, M1, knit 1*
knit
81. *M1, knit 27, M1, knit 1*
knit
83. *M1, knit 13, sk2p, knit 13, M1, knit 1*
knit
black
85. *M1, knit 13, sk2p, knit 13, M1, knit 1*
knit
blue
87. *M1, knit 29, M1, knit 1*
knit
89. *M1, knit 14, sk2p, knit 14, M1, knit 1*
knit
91. *M1, knit 14, sk2p, knit 14, M1, knit 1*
knit
93. *M1, knit 31, M1, knit 1*
knit
95. *M1, knit 15, sk2p, knit 15, M1, knit 1*
knit
97. *M1, knit 15, sk2p, knit 15, M1, knit 1*
knit
99. *M1, knit 33, M1, knit 1*
knit
101. *M1, knit 16, sk2p, knit 16, M1, knit 1*
knit
103. *M1, knit 16, sk2p, knit 16, M1, knit 1*
black
knit
105. *M1, knit 35, M1, knit 1*
blue
knit
107. *M1, knit 17, sk2p, knit 17, M1, knit 1*
knit
109. *M1, knit 17, sk2p, knit 17, M1, knit 1*
knit
111. *M1, knit 37, M1, knit 1*
knit
113. *M1, knit 18, sk2p, knit 18, M1, knit 1*
knit
115. *M1, knit 18, sk2p, knit 18, M1, knit 1*
knit
117. *M1, knit 39, M1, knit 1*
knit
119. *M1, knit 19, sk2p, knit 19, M1, knit 1*
knit
121.*M1, knit 19, sk2p, knit 19, M1, knit 1*
knit
123. *M1, knit 41, M1, knit 1*
black
knit
125. *M1, knit 20, sk2p, knit 20, M1, knit 1*
red
knit
127. *M1, knit 20, sk2p, knit 20, M1, knit 1*
knit
129. *M1, knit 43, M1, knit 1*
knit
131. *M1, knit 21, sk2p, knit 21, M1, knit 1*
knit
133. *M1, knit 21, sk2p, knit 21, M1, knit 1*
knit
135. *M1, knit 45, M1, knit 1*
knit
137. *M1, knit 22, sk2p, knit 22, M1, knit 1*
knit
139. *M1, knit 22, sk2p, knit 22, M1, knit 1*
knit
141. *M1, knit 47, M1, knit 1*
knit
143. *M1, knit 23, sk2p, knit 23, M1, knit 1*
knit
145. *M1, knit 23, sk2p, knit 23, M1, knit 1*
black 6 rows
purl
149. *M1, knit 49, M1, knit 1*
purl
151. *M1, knit 24, sk2p, knit 24, M1, knit 1*
purl
153. *M1, knit 24, sk2p, knit 24, M1, knit 1*

Podcasts and more yoga reviews

2009-02-27T16:19:00.003-06:00

Yoga Zone-Gentle yoga for beginners. First, I rented this at the local Family Video so no money wasted buying it. Just a buck for a week. There are two sessions on this dvd. I have only done the second session once. Last night, after doing my regular yoga routine at the Y, which includes leg and ab pilates at the end, my back, neck and shoulders were very sore. All the kids were in bed, dh was out for the count and I decided instead of reading my boring book (must pick up that last twilight book from Misty, yes I'm a closet Twilight fan) I would try this dvd. I looked at the two session menus and thought session two sounded about right. I wanted something easy, not too energizing (bedtime ya know) but would bring peace to my shoulders. I really liked it. I found the poses easy and gentle. I did not like the "clock" which is basically pelvic tilt nor the one were you lay on your back and bring your legs straight up and back to your head. That hurt my back. I thought I'd come on here and do a 2 thumbs up review. I did a google search so I could provide a link (click the title of the post) and began reading the Amazon.com reviews. Hmmm...there are several technical complaints about the first session on the dvd that I haven't done yet. Then there are the usual complaints of "too hard", "too easy", "too fast" and "too slow". Those are all based on a person's knowledge, skill and expectations I suppose. Keeping in mind that I've only done the second session, I've only been doing yoga since October but am always reading everything I can about yoga and practicing every chance I get (not often I tell ya!) here is my review: It WAS gentle, I think it would be easy for a beginner yet a nice, relaxing practice for a more experienced yogi who's looking for a light workout. It certainly did the trick for me. My back and shoulders felt great and I was able to go right to sleep. Until the 4 y/o coughed from midnight til 2:30. I was very happy to have had a chance to relax and destress before dealing with the middle of the night coughing spell!

Now, on to podcasts! I had a brief love affair with my Creative Zen Vision M a couple of years ago then put it away and forgot about it. Getting into knitting introduced me to knitting podcasts such as Knitpicks and Lime and Violet. Not having enough time as it is to knit and having no cd player in my van (I know, I know it's freaking 2009 and I don't have a cd player) I really didn't get into podcasts. Then along came my love affair with yoga and my desire to learn more and expand on my pose database. I found yoga podcasts!! Free, downloadable videos and audio practices!! OMGOSH MUST HAVE THESE. I now have some 15 hours worth downloaded into iTunes. Dug out the mp3 player, found my old computer speakers, stole the power cord to Livie's portable dvd player and I have a huge library of yoga podcasts! WOOHOO. My favorites so far are Yogadownload.com. You can download directly from their site or you can go to iTunes store. There are even more at the apple itunes store than on yogadownload.com's site. Heaven!! I have probably 200 podcasts downloaded now between knitting and yoga! Told my husband he HAS to get me a cd player that will connect to my mp3 player for my van.

Uhoh I just added about 90 more to my podcast download. Lucy will be waking from her nap soon so I must sign off and ....whaddid I tell ya? She's calling for me now.

Spiderman Blanket

2009-02-23T19:46:00.003-06:00

Thank goodness I read the forum posts on this first. The pattern has you knitting front/back post then at line 15 you are to make one before you knit the first stitch. I don’t know if I would have problems with it but someone did and because I read about it first I definitely didn’t. I just made one as described at knittinghelp.com by lifting the bar from the stitches below. I also am using stitch markers between each set of repeats so I don’t get lost since I get interrupted frequently. I also took the time to write out the rest of the pattern, which I will put in my blog so I can mark off where I’m at. Since this is a bday present for my son I have to cram it into hiding if he comes in the room so it’s nice to be able to see where I’m at.

Click post title to go to pattern.

Silent Auction for Easter Seals at Culven's Peoria, IL

2009-02-18T13:23:00.000-06:00

When: Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Where: Culvers of Peoria (4612 N University St, Peoria)
What: Silent Auction from 5:00-7:00 p.m. also
10% of all proceeds at Culvers between 5:00-8:00 p.m. will benefit Easter Seals
why: Easter Seals provides exceptional services to ensure that people with disabilities
and their families have equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

So, mark your calendars, come on over, eat, bid, help Matthew support Easter Seals, and HAVE FUN!

See below for your sneak peek of the wonderful packages we have to auction off. If you would like to volunteer to help with the auction, or have questions, please contact Kristie Moorman at 693-3156 or e-mail me ateeyorific@sbcglobal.net

(1) Matthew's Pick
- Peoria Chiefs Baseball (4 tickets)
- Children's Discovery Museum (4 tickets)
- Christian Center (1 sport registration)
- $25.00 Chili's Restaurant gift certificate
Total package value: $149.00

(2) Family Ties
- Riverplex (4 passes)
- $40.00 Denny's Restaurant gift card
- Peoria Palace (6 passes)
- Lakeview Museum (8 tickets)
Total package value: $164.00

(3) Shop Til You Drop
- $25.00 Naturally Yours Grocery gift card
- $10.00 Kroger Foods gift card
- $20.00 Old Navy gift card
- Papa Johns - 4 large one topping pizzas
- $20.00 Wal-Mart gift card
- $10.00 Jimmy John's gift certificates
- $25.00 Merle Norman gift card
Total package value: $157.96

(4) The Chateau Hotel
- The Chateau Hotel
* This package includes:
over night accommodations for two
dinner for two at hotel restaurant
breakfast for two at hotel
wine and cheese basket
loaf of bread
Total package value: $200.00

(5) Pamper Yourself
- $50.00 Buffalo Wild Wings gift certificates
- Starbucks gift basket
- Bergner's Fragrance Basket
Total package value: $235.00

(6) Fun For the Family
- $25.00 McDonalds gift certificates
- Rivermen (4 upper bowl tickets)
- Five Points Washington (4 tickets)
- Hollywood Video Basket with Wall-E Movie
Total package value: $165.00

(7) Down by the River
- Overnight Accommodations at Mark Twain Hotel
- Spirit of Peoria Family Pass Sight seeing cruise
- Downtown Carriage Ride for 2 Adults
Total package value: $220.00

(8) Live & Learn
- Hobby Lobby Goodie Basket -
($100.00 value of fun kits for kids of all ages)
- APACHE Homeschool Convention Tickets
- School House - 2 Puzzles
- $10.00 Family Video gift cards
Total package value: $174.00

(9) This & That
- Spirit of Peoria Family Sightseeing Pass
(2 adults 4 children)
- $20.00 Olive Garden gift card
- $20.00 Carlos O Kelly's gift card
- Red Wing Shoe - Men's Leather Cell Phone Case
Total package value: $117.00

"The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad things to happen....
it's his promise that he will be there with us when they do!"

Help Matthew score a "grand slam" for Easter Seals! Click on link to see how..
http://www.easterseals.com/goto/matthewmoorman

What a blah day turned into a yoga review

2009-01-31T17:02:00.007-06:00

Not much to report on the knitting front. I did get some pics uploaded of my yarn over cable socks so will get them on here.

I've not been doing a lot of knitting lately because in my hands free, sit down time I've been learning about yoga. I've wanted to do yoga for years but never made the time. Now that I have 3 children I have even less time for me and I've also been gaining weight since birth of my last child (Nov 07). To combat both issues I decided to do something about it. I tried walking last summer but my hip has been bad since Lu was born and would pop out almost immediately and the pain would last for weeks. I wouldn't be able to bend over or pick Lucy help and with a toddler both things are necessary. When I found out there was a yoga class at the local Y I started looking more into it and wouldn't ya know they have free babysitting! I talked it over with my MIL2 and we decided we would do yoga together.

That was in October. I now have my SIL come over on Tues and Thurs evenings to watch the munchkins while MIL2 and I bend ourselves into pretzels. Or attempt to. I noticed after a dozen classes or so that my hip wasn't bothering me as much. At the beginning of January, which is when my SIL started coming over, I decided to get to the Y early and see if I could walk the track before class. I can! The yoga had already paid off enough that it had strengthened my hip/pelvic enough to walk briskly for 20 or 30 minutes.

It's almost February and I've taken maybe 20 classes so far. I weighed myself a couple of days ago and I've lost the ten lbs I'd put on during 2008. WOOHOO! I didn't realize I had mainly because my clothes still fit the same. So, I'm thinking the weight loss is mainly in my boobs. :) They're breastfeeding mama boobs but the babe is now a toddler and eating solids 3x's a day so they've deflated back down to normal. I'm really excited, nonetheless.

I'm attempting to practice at home. I did manage to get up before the kids a couple of times but I then loaned my new dvd, Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga, to my instructor. I was hoping I'd get it back fairly quickly. She hasn't had a chance to watch it so I ordered for MIL2 and I "Yoga for Inflexible People". I received it and I did listen to a bit of it but the Lu hasn't really let me attempt to practice.

Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga review: I love it! As menus to customize your workout and routine. Has warm up, beginners, intermediate and HARD! I've done the beginners and intermediate. I enjoyed it immensely. I worked up a nice sweat. I felt invigorated afterwards and ready to take on the day. The participants are from the show, Biggest Loser, therefore not some buff, intimidatingly sexy muscleheads but normal people!

Yoga for Inflexible People review: Even though I haven't had much chance to do anything with it I did watch a few of the poses. There is a customizable menu on this one too. This is a very step by step, detailed instructional video for getting the poses correct. It also focuses on using props to attain the proper alignment. It's definitely Hatha and Iyengar style yoga. Great to really learn the proper way to move into, maintain and move out of postures.

I bought the Biggest Loser at Kmart for ten bucks and Inflexible People at Amazon for about 12$ shipped.

I am seriously considering buying Wii Fit but am not sure I'd get to do it very often. As soon as my yoga mat comes out so do the munchkins. They fight over it like crazy.

Ah well I see MIL2 walking up my yard. Time to go.

Lead testing law delayed

2009-01-30T20:50:00.001-06:00

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

I haven't been on here much. Been learning yoga or actually knitting instead. :)

Knitting needle pierced woman's heart

2009-01-26T14:19:00.001-06:00

OUCH!
And I thought I was in trouble when I poked a hole in the new couch last night!
http://tinyurl.com/bfd728

Ready to do the heels!

2009-01-23T13:03:00.001-06:00

OMGOSH the time has finally arrived! My sock is now up to my ankle and it's time to start the heel. I hope it turns out right. Lucy's in the high chair eating her egg so wish me luck!

Toxic Toys! : Mama is…

2009-01-22T13:59:00.000-06:00

Toxic Toys! : Mama is…

Knitting fears

2009-01-22T08:45:00.004-06:00

What are you afraid of? Is there a project you've been wanting to tackle but afraid to try? A new technique?

I would love to make something with a fancy design. Some lacy knee high socks or shawl. I am afraid to try for a couple of reasons. I don't get enough quiet time to concentrate on a "real" pattern. My yarn over socks are about as fancy as I've ever gotten. I have it memorized and it's simple. But a pattern that requires me to follow it to a T and I have to have a piece of paper to look at, well, with 3 little ones who write on and rip up everything it's difficult to do. Not to mention how many times in a day I get up to do something. No sooner than I get into a project someone needs a drink or their butt wiped. Now, if the buttwipee is the 4 y/o and the 7 y/o is home for a buck she'll do it for me. :)So, my fear is complicated patterns. I know my day will come when the youngest will start school so for now I'm happy to make hats, socks, etc. But I do look forward to doing a real grown up project.

My other fear is I'll buy semi expensive yarn to make a semi complicated object and screw it up. Like I have two projects I really should frog (fisherman's socks are one of the projects) but I've put so many hours into it that the thought of frogging it is actually quite upsetting!

FYI, comments are moderated so may take awhile to appear.

CPSIA compliant toy etsy listing plus info

2009-01-21T07:02:00.002-06:00

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19984444 CPSIA compliant toy funny! Plus serious info about the new law.
More listings.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=19884927

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_7&listing_id=19968866

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_14&listing_id=18072150

In Etsy's Forums:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=5000002

In Etsy's Storque (search 'CPSIA' for more articles):
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/

... and to read the insanity straight from the horse's mouth, the CPSIA website:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

do you know what I've been doing?

2009-01-20T14:15:00.003-06:00

Tending to a croupy son all weekend.
Working on both pairs of socks.
Watching the inauguration.
Checking out a bunch of new blogs through this blog. Be sure to check it out as there are a bunch of beautiful "Bird Of Change" giveaways.
Enjoying my new couch.
Laughing because the store tried to deliver another new couch today.
bumming because my sitter is sick and I will probably skip yoga (bad for my mental health) and grocery shopping (bad for the tummies in the house).

Bonus: Guess what my son was doing when his bus pulled up this morning?

Ah snow days

2009-01-16T14:13:00.002-06:00

We are on our 3rd snow day in a row. And they have Monday off, too. I hope, when I'm a grandma and if I'm not working outside the home and am healthy enough, that I remember these snow days (holiday vacations) and remember how stir crazy not only I got, but the kids. Thankfully, my FIL lives next door and he came over Wednesday afternoon. He took the older two outside to make snowangels and forts. Then he visited for awhile and had snacks with the kids and I. It was great. It really broke up the monotony of the day and lifted everyone's spirits to have someone other than each other to stare at. Thursday the older two got to go next door for a couple of hours after MIL was home from work. However, it wasn't pleasant for her because they were stir crazy and fighting. Today hasn't been too bad. I've gotten some knitting done (there made it knitting related) because they've been playing fairly well in the other part of the house. Rather, they WERE until my oldest ran out of the room with a blanket over her head and ran smack dab into the corner of the wall. She has very pretty goose egg on her fore head now. She's in a not so great mood since that happened.

So, when my kids have kids I hope I remember these days and think to go visit and even take a kid or two home with me. Even if it's just for a couple of hours. It's such a small thing with huge returns. Reason #489 that I'm thankful to live next door to inlaws: snow days are long and boring.

Delurk Day

2009-01-15T15:17:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I'm a few days late but I just found out about it on majorknitter.typepad.com. So, delurk and leave me a comment! This means you 3 family members that think I don't know you are lurking. ;)

knitmap, twitter and facebook

2009-01-15T11:42:00.002-06:00

Did you know this awesome online map and reviews of LYS's existed? Check it out and add your lys. http://www.knitmap.com/

Do you twitter or are you on facebook? LMK in the comments and I'll add you. Just an fyi I hate facebook but I get tons of hits from there. Awesome way to expand your reader base.

100-purewool coop going on

2009-01-14T22:45:00.000-06:00

LMK if you wanna know where to get in on it!

Yarn and needles review

2009-01-14T22:06:00.002-06:00

Just a little review from me about Lorna's Laces sock yarn, some bamboo/wool dh bought me a year ago, knitpicks vs hiyahiya needles.

Lorna's Laces. LOVE it! Made from wool and nylon the yarn is soft and slides easily but not too easily through my fingers. No splitting or rough feel to it. Very gentle on my eczema fingers. No irritation. I must buy more!

Dh bought me way too expensive yarn last year from a LYS. It's 75% bamboo, 25% wool. I can't recall now if it's superwash. Oops. Oh well. I'm loving the colors but I hate knitting it. It is super thin (I know, it IS sock yarn) and is rough on my sore fingers. I'm knitting 4 rows then switch to my yarn over cable socks.

I found out the hard way that my size 1 hiya hiya's are smaller than my size 1 knitpicks. I cast on my first sock for yarn over cable socks, got the toe and one pattern set done. Decided to use the hiya hiya to start the second sock and then slipped it over to the knitpicks. The toe is obviously smaller. Oops. At least they are for me. Also, the hiya hiya's feel lightweight flimsy. The knitpicks are lightweight but sturdy. I am doing another pair of socks on the hiyahiya's 2 @ a time, magic loop and I'm not liking it. The cable doesn't seem flexible enough.

So, my picks are Lorna's Laces and knitpicks needles. Which, as luck would have it are the two I'm using on my yarn over cable socks.

I have some

Latest project pictures

2009-01-11T22:51:00.006-06:00

Livie's yoga socks made from Berroco Sox "Lancaster". I hate the colorway and the feel. She's thrilled to have them. Everybody's happy!

Levi's one lonely "yoda" sock. Made out of some cheap acrylic. I have tons of cheap acrylic.

100purewool in "babies". I made my yoga socks out of this and love it. Of course, no picture of FO.

And beautiful Lorna's Laces, "child's play". I'm making my yarn over cable socks in this. I'm about halfway up both feet. I'm flying right along amazingly enough!

projects current and in the future

2009-01-09T08:22:00.006-06:00

I stayed up way too late getting my pretty pair of socks started. Oh yeah I lied about my next project, didn't I? I still plan on doing the entrelac shawl but I need to figure out what yarn to use. I also have some birthdays in the next few months I need to knit for.

For Levi's 5th birthday (swoon five years) I am making him a spider man blanket. I finally just ordered cheap, washable acrylic through Joann.com. It has arrived. He knows it's spiderman yarn and for him. Hopefully I can keep the actual project a secret. Hopefully I'll get it done before April 16th!

I made me another pair of yoga socks. I didn't like the colorway or fit of the first pair so I gave them to my oldest. Then I knit 1/2 of a pair of yoga socks for Levi. He wants everything I make. So he's been running around in one blue yoga sock for a couple of days now. I cast on my second pair immediately following my yoga class on Tuesday. I knit like the wind to get them done for Thursday's class. I cast off as the babysitter arrived at 3:15. I leave at 3:30. I wore them and they were a hit. I made them in100purewool (of course) worsted in the colorway "babies". I'm running low on PW so my options were limited.

Also, a couple of nights ago, dh held Lucy and rocked her to sleep so I could cast on for Yarn Over Cable Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I am using Lorna's Laces in "child's play". It's pastel-y and rainbow-y. Now, normally I hate pastel's. I won't wear them. But socks? They are different matter!

The book gives two options for toes. Oh yes, these are toe up and I will be doing them two at a time for better match when they are done. I cannot knit two items separately and get the same tension. So I have to knit both at the same time. So, I chose the short row toe. I hate wrapped short rows. You'd think I'd remember this. But no. I punish myself. It takes alot of focus and concentration, which on a good night, I don't have. So it took me 3 nights to do the first sock's toe. Last night I managed to finish the toe and do one pattern set on the first sock. Then I tried to go to bed. I tossed and turned. That second sock was calling to me "Cast me on!" So, I tiptoed back out to the living room and to the sound of nothing I cast on and did a couple of rows of the toe. Pure bliss. Oh yes, it also uses the provisional cast on which is pretty cool. Fortunately for my sleep deprived brain the baby started crying so I was forced back to bed where I finally slept (here and there, anyway) til 5:30.

Life has gotten in the way...

2009-01-09T07:49:00.005-06:00

I think it's the oldest, most often voiced (blogged?) complaint of knitters. Life gets in the way of knitting time!

School has started back up and you would think that having 4.5 hours of just me and the baby at home would give me plenty of knitting time. Alas, it does not. Our morning starts about 6:15. The baby usually wakes up just a few minutes after I sneak out of bed so I only get a few minutes to pee and wake up in semi solitude. My husband heads out the door a few minutes after I awake. Then I wake the oldest up at 6:30 and from there until 7:45 it's a mad house.

This morning, amazingly enough, went pretty smoothly despite having to do spelling words for today's test. I hope she does well. She had no school Monday so we missed that day for practice and she didn't bring her words home on Tuesday so we only 2.5 days to practice. She struggled all through the first quarter and flunked almost everything. Finally, the teacher told me at the end of the quarter that she was doing very poorly and would flunk her. Um no. Not an option. So we worked our arses off every night after school adding a new subject every week until we were doing everything. Reading, math and spelling words. The week we started doing spelling words she got a 100. The next week only missed one. And she hasn't had a spelling test since beginning of Dec. There wasn't a test the last week before break. So I'm hoping today's test goes fairly well for her. I've really noticed an improvement in her over all daily mood plus she is kinder to her siblings because her self esteem has gone up.

So anyway, back to knitting. Life is getting in the way of knitting. My 4.5 hours of just me and babe is NOT enough time for knitting. For one before my son even gets on the bus between 9:15 and 9:30 she's cranky and wanting a nap. Until he leaves I pretty much have to devote every minute to him. Like right now, the baby is in her high chair eating her scrambled eggs. He's hanging on me begging for food (um, the cereal you requested is still on the table) and a drink. And he's not the type to let you ignore him even for a second. He hangs and whines and cries and takes things very personally. So, when he asks for something it's generally in everyone's best interest to just get up and do it. If you wait too long it tends to lead very quickly to a melt down that can last 20 minutes or longer. Then he is in a bad mood and so am I and I hate sending a kid to school in a bad mood thinking mommy's mad.

Ok Lucy's done with her eggs. Giving Levi a second breakfast.

Now where was I? Ok so at 9:30 it's me and the baby. Baby is cranky and ready for a nap. I have two options. The first is sitting in the chair, nurse her to sleep and knit over the top of her. Nice BUT...my second and most often chosen option is go lay down in bed with her and nurse her to sleep. And I usually fall asleep. If we sleep too long, say until noon (a guilty pleasure, I assure you), then I get lunch done and straighten up the kitchen, probably do a load of laundry and sit down to Days at 1. Levi gets back home shortly after 2. So, then it's back to catering to him, keeping the peace between him and the baby and by 3 if she didn't fall asleep on my lap during Days then she needs another nap. Same two options only I can't fall asleep with her and if she falls asleep on my lap not much chance she'll nap too long with Levi banging and stomping around the house. He's very sensory seeking so he stomps when he walks and he's constantly touching everyone.

It's exhausting to force yourself to be in a good mood when you're running on just a few hours of very interrupted sleep. He's like a sponge or a mirror. However I act, he soaks it up and returns it. If I'm impatient and short with him, he becomes very obstinate and even more uncooperative than usual. But if I sing silly songs, smile and hug him instead of rush through getting dressed and ready for school, he will pretty much stay cooperative and happy.

Boy, I do tend to ramble. You can tell I've not had much blogging time.

So, anyway long story short, life has gotten in the way of my precious knitting.

Where to file complaints

2009-01-05T10:30:00.002-06:00

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/264507 says "no later than January 30 2009 to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Office of the Secretary, email

Sec102ComponentPawrtsTesting@cpsc.gov . They can be faxed to (USA) 301 504-0127

Snailmail:
The Office of the Secretary,
Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814 US.

Comments should be captioned: Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts'"

edited to add I tried emailing and got a return error email. Have no idea why.

Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA

2009-01-05T10:25:00.004-06:00

If you think this doesn't affect you then think again. Go to this website and read the comments. That will begin to give you an idea of just how many people will be affected by this poorly written law. I'm all for regulating China from killing our kids. I've been ranting to my family for years to quit buying my kids crap from China (most don't listen). Now the lawmakers are going to the opposite extreme.

http://sites.google.com/site/handmadetoyalliance/

Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA

A Proposal From the handmadetoyalliance.org:

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small parts, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and updating their molds to include batch labels.
For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatory testing, to the tune of up to $4,000 per toy, will likely drive them out of business. And the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007. Toy makers won't be the only ones impacted by the CPSIA, the thousands of US businesses who offer clothing, jewelry and other gifts for children --in essence-- the entire children's industry will be as well.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children's products will no longer be legal in the US.

Thriving small businesses are crucial to the financial health of our nation. Let's amend the CPSIA so that all businesses large and small are able to comply and survive!
- Cecilia Leibovitz (Founder, CraftsburyKids.com) Dec 12 @ 07:04PM PST

New lead testing law sucks!

2009-01-05T01:33:00.001-06:00

http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/cpsia-what-childrens-clothing-designers-and-manufacturers-need-to-know/

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/blog/

Seriously. A new law that says all children's items has to be tested for lead. Sounds great right? What about those moms that make cloth diapers to supplement their income? What about your yard sale next spring? What about those adorable boutique OOAK (one of a kind) ebay clothes you buy? All affected. Toys at the store? Will skyrocket! Please check out the link and pass it on.

Yoga socks, rib-a-roni and kitty hats

2009-01-01T17:05:00.007-06:00

I finished up Becca's kitty hat. It's cute. My MIL, Dee, saw it and has put in a request for one for next year. It seems like it's big but it fits me and Dee. Oh and my hubby. He was an unhappy model. Pics uploading now. I finished up the poms poms on the hat and immediately cast on for my yoga socks. Fast and easy. The only thing that didn't work for me was the two rows knit flat between the ankle and foot of the sock. Just two rows has you knitting in reverse so I did 3 rows then did the knit cast on for the new stitches. Piece of cake. I am using berroco sox yarn in the Lancaster colorway.

Oh I also finished up Levi's replacement hat. It's done in 100purewool, Reign. I think it gives me seizures when I look at it. It fits under his helmet though and I made it a little longer than the mesto hat so it'll fit next winter too. If I can stand to look at it for another winter.

McMorran Yarn Balance aka Hmm, who knew?

2008-12-29T11:55:00.002-06:00

I had never heard of one of these. A McMorran Yarn Balance. Created by a guy in Scotland to measure yarn. When I finished reading it all I could think was "Hmm, who knew?"

My next projects will be...

2008-12-24T00:58:00.002-06:00

Becca, sister of the hat thief Griffin, has picked out this hat. I am actually quite proud of myself because I had picked that pattern out at one point in time to make HER a hat but never got around to it. She has also chosen 100purewool.com's black and cyan. Jason's rib-a-roni hat is made from that colorway. It's somewhere else on this blog if you must see the color. I also have to replace Levi's rib-a-roni hat that Griffin wore home. Levi chose 100purewool.com's colors pink and choc. The same one's that the fetchings are made of, also in another post on here. As open minded as I try to be I just can't let my 4 year old boy wear a pink and brown hat to school. So he chose this

Also from 100purewool.com. Yes I have alot of PW. Being a newbieknitter I have a rather smallish stash. Since I have a smallish house and knit slow I am pretty good at not buying more yarn til I need to. Sort of.

I made it, they stole it

2008-12-24T00:25:00.004-06:00

I've read of the syndrome where you knit up some lovely objects. People come to your home. You stupidly show off your lovely objects. You no longer own lovely objects. Lovely objects have gone home with the people.

Let me explain. With pictures.
Meet Griffin. Griffin is wearing his birthday hat from me.

Meet Levi. Levi is wearing HIS hat handknitted by me.

And here's Griffin again.

Get the picture?

I can't decide!!

2008-12-23T09:57:00.006-06:00

I feel the urge to create a LARGE item. Up to this point I've only made small items. Amigurumi, or shorties, and even the occasional sock or two, . But I'm feeling the urge to make something nice for ME! Something I can actually use. Something beautiful. Something unique. I feel I've gained enough knitting skill to tackle a larger item. It might take me a year to make what I have in mind but I really want to try something new! So here's the dilemma. Do I want to make a blanket/afghan? I'm looking at this pattern, Alexi Throw. It has cables. Now granted I've not done a whole lot of cables but I like the way they look. I'm also looking at this entrelac Himalaya shawl. I've never done entrelac though. So I was thinking if I decide to do the Himalaya, I would practice first on an Entrelac Scarf Tutorial. For either project I was thinking of getting Noro Kureyon. Here's a blog with some great examples of Noro projects. So which would you do?

Dash away Dash away Dash away

2008-12-23T09:56:00.001-06:00

That's all I'm saying.

Finished Fetchings!

2008-12-18T23:19:00.002-06:00

Here are my notes from Rav.

Melanie-hardly-finished 12/6-one at a time, 45 cast on, came out big
ellie-pink/choc
Erin-browns
Pat-choc/pink-finished 12/9, 2 @ a time, 40 cast on just right (for me anyway!)
12/10 cast on “nuts” for Erin
12/12 cast on rose and choc, first stripes attempt, 2 @ a time magic loop. Forgot to do cable round. Will have to frog some.
12/15 finished 4 pairs but will try to redo the hardly pair as they are HUGE and ugly with the trim.
12/18 all FIVE pairs are done! I made another pair of hardly without the hot pink trim. I had to do the thumb in the hot pink because I did run out of hardly but they’re all done! All of them! WOOHOO
The hardly pair, after blocking look like blocks! They look awful and are huge! I will have to remake these if I have time.

My tips on making Fetching would be to cast on 40 on larger needles and knit loosely especially the cables. Do the optional thumb that is in the comments section of the pattern. I will try to remember to copy and paste it here. Also do these magic loop two at a time so they come out the same. I had such a great time making these as I could switch it up and make each pair different.

Optional thumb:Starting at the 5th row after the last wrist cable row:
Row 5: k2, m1, k2, p1, continue in 4x1 ribbing.
next row and all alternate rows, knit 4x1 ribbing and k new stitches picked up for gusset.
Row 7: k2, m1, k1, m1, k2, p1 continue in 4x1 ribbing
Row 9: k2, m1, K3, m1, k2, p1 continue in 4x1 ribbing
Repeat the increase rows alternated with regular rows until you have added 15 new stitches.
Then: k2, put 15 new stitches onto waste yarn, k2, p1, continue in 4x1 ribbing and follow pattern through picot bind off.
To Make thumb: pick up 15 live stitches off waste yarn, pick up 2 stitches and finish thumb as directed. This makes a nice comfortable thumb gusset. The gusset adds some width, so for those with smaller hands, you may want to consider starting the pattern with 40 stitches instead of 45.

Take the poll

2008-12-18T19:44:00.002-06:00

Look on the right side menu. See that little poll? Go ahead! Vote!

Cute kids mittens!

2008-12-18T14:51:00.002-06:00

I found the cutest kids' mitten pattern. FREE PATTERN! The best kind! I started out on Ravelry.com's blog group trying to come up with ideas on drawing visitors to my blog. I found Daisy Mum's blog. From there I decided to find more knitting blogs to subscribe to. I found The Daily Knitter on this blog. On the Daily Knitter I found the cutest kid's mitten pattern!

Blogger templates

2008-12-17T16:42:00.001-06:00

If you ever try to upload a new template and get some weird error code. Don't bother googling it. I didn't find one person who knew what to do. What I did though was switch from Firefox to IE. :) Like it?

Knitpicks.com rocks my world

2008-12-17T14:03:00.003-06:00

Over the summer I ordered and received in a timely manner their options set. I had hemmed and hawed and talked it over with hubby. I didn't know if I wanted to spend that much money BUT then again every time I start a new (aka different) project I have to order the right size needles to do it. And sometimes the a couple of sizes up and down, too, if it needed accurate gauge. I've only been knitting about a year and have very few needles. So I decided it would probably be a money saver to buy the options interchangeable needles. I love magic loop and that's how I do soakers and, well, anything else that is done in the round. I read the reviews on Ravelry.com Common issues seemed to be the cable coming out of it's base but everyone said Knitpicks.com has awesome customer service. And they do. One of the needles, size 4 I think it was, wouldn't screw onto the cables. The opening was too big. No questions asked they sent a replacement SET. Not one but TWO! Couple of months go by, I'm working on my Fetchings, and the cable pulled out of it's base. I called them up and no problem! A new SET of 32 inch cables are on the way! How awesome is that??

Fetching Prattle

2008-12-14T18:06:00.005-06:00

Ok so I'm really loving this pattern. It is fast and easy. I don't even need to follow the pattern anymore it's that easy to memorize. And it's super easy to modify. Add rows, add cables, switch up the ribbing, I'm doing a different thumb than the pattern calls for. I got the idea from another knitter on Ravelry.com. It's in the comments section of the pattern there on Ravelry. I have to cast on 40 instead of 45 and I use a larger needle for the cast on. I then arrange the cast on stitches onto one long cable for magic loop. This latest pair I'm doing stripes. I'm halfway up the palm. I will probably be done tomorrow with these and hopefully get to remake the ones done in Hardly. I don't like how the hardly ones turned out. They're huge and I don't like the pink trim. So if you are interested in doing fingerless mitts or want to learn how to do cables this pattern is a great one for both! I highly recommend checking out the ravelry comments section for the optional thumb.

The Wii Craze

2008-12-14T10:17:00.002-06:00

Ok for you folks who think you have to stand at Walmart on Black Friday, freezing your ass off to get a good deal Amazon has them for 249.00 with free shipping. I ordered mine back on Nov. 13. I also suggest buying a second remote and nunchuk so two people can play at once. Also a remote jacket is recommended to help protect the remote if it gets thrown or dropped. The remote that comes with the console doesn't have a jacket.

I did knit a little while dh played wii last night!

Wii vs Knitting

2008-12-13T20:12:00.003-06:00

Uhoh. Do I have a new past time? Which will win my undivided attention? Ok nothing ever gets my undivided attention with 3 kidlets underfoot so which will get my 30 seconds here, 30 seconds there? We may only get to play Wii when Lucy's asleep. DH gets rather energetic while playing the Sports. He's a big dude compared to little Lulu.

Quite Fetching

2008-12-10T07:38:00.008-06:00

I made myself a pair of fingerless mitts from the pattern, Fetching. Made from Hacho Mirasol yarn. I may have to buy more of this yarn for a pair of yoga socks. Purchase of this yarn helps support a children's center in Peru, where the yarn comes from.

I am also making 4 pairs of these for Levi's teachers and aids. The first pair, done in 100purewool.com's Hardly came out huge. I did a cast on of 45, one at a time, magic loop and then blocked them. I may remake these if I have time. The second pair are also done in 100purewool.com, chocolate and pink. Cast on of 40, 2 @ a time, magic loop. Not blocked. Much better!

Flyfishing socks

2008-12-05T09:43:00.004-06:00

Flyfishing socks
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

So these are suppose to be a christmas present for someone. These are socks made from Charlene Schurch's book "Sensational Knitted Socks". It is the beaded rib. It's easy to follow. Short row toe was a little daunting but I hate wrap and turn short rows anyway. The yarn is from KnitPicks, Flyfishing. The person I am making these for have HUGE feet. I hate making socks anyway because it takes so long and it can be tedious. Plus I have to hold the tension so tight it hurts my index finger. So I have set these aside for now and am making some Fetching fingerless mitts for other people (including myself).

Levi's Rib-a-roni Hat

2008-12-05T09:41:00.003-06:00

levisribaronihat
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Knitted up in 100purewool's Mesto colorway. Very fast and easy pattern. I have 3 of these. One for hubby, son and FIL.

Jason's Ribaroni Hat

2008-12-05T09:33:00.002-06:00

jasonshat
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Knit in 100purewool, cyan and black.

Norwegian Baby Hat

2008-11-03T23:07:00.005-06:00

norwegianhat
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Interesting.Levi is modeling it. Maade from Araucania sock yarn.
Birthday present for Griffin. Now if G's mama would just send a picture of him wearing it! Norwegian hat pattern

Lucy's Hardly Longies

2008-09-30T23:03:00.002-05:00

hardlypants
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Knit up in 100purewool.com "hardly" colorway. Used Munchkin Rumpsters universal pattern.

Griffin's Nuts :)

2008-09-07T15:27:00.002-05:00

100purewool nuts colorway soaker
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Griffin's Sheepy Time longies made from 100purewool.com 3 ply wool in the colorway "Nuts".

My homemade swift

2008-09-07T15:26:00.002-05:00

My homemade swift
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

My best friend's husband made this swift for us. Well, more for me. She buys the yarn for her stuff and I knit it. :)

Kelly's Kause

2008-09-01T21:33:00.000-05:00

From Kelly's Kause at http://www.teamsalesinc.com/kk/index.html. "We have written this letter in hopes that we can reach out to your hearts to help a family in need. A young mother of 2 (ages 2 years and a newborn, 2 months old) is fighting a battle against Guillian-Barre Syndrome ( also known as GBS). Many have called or e-mailed asking what they can do to help. The answer is simple. We have established several ways to help Scott and Kelly (Williamson) Burdette and hope that you can find it in your heart to at least help out in one way or another.
"

Please take a moment to say a prayer, check out the site and help in whatever way you can. If you think your one dollar won't do much you'd be surprised.

100purewool coop ends today. Get your orders in!

2008-07-08T13:26:00.001-05:00

We need a few more skeins to meet the minimum for a price break! It's already a great deal but let's get a better deal.
Go to http://groups. yahoo. com/group/crunchymamacooperative/

Crocheted Market Bag

2008-07-02T13:46:00.002-05:00

DSC01563
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Quick and easy!
This pattern, Ender Market Bag, is from knitfink. I'm not sure where the pattern is on her blog because I downloaded the free pattern from Ravelry.com.

Patriotic Sheepy Time Shorties

2008-07-02T13:44:00.001-05:00

Patriotic Sheepy Time Shorties
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Came out perfect! I’m thrilled. Super easy instructions with pictures and it’s a cheap pattern to buy. So glad I did. My first circular project too. I was a little disappointed in the yarn because I thought the blue trim was the same blue as the body but it was lighter colored. Still it’s ok! Click on the photo to go see more pics.

Not knitting related, but that's ok!

2008-06-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/500kin365
Please visit this site and go to the website too. This mama of two is fighting the same disease that Levi had. She is a beautiful woman and singer. So far she has lost her eyesight in one eye and her voice. Her wife is struggling with two children and one job to make ends meet. Download the songs on the 500kin365 website. It is only a dollar. And please pass the site on to your friends and family.

I wish there was more I could do.
http://store.payloadz.com/str-asp-i.135050-n.katie_s_Voice_Music_Folk-end-detail.html
http://www.500kin365.org/main.htm

Angie's Patriotic Potholder

2008-06-23T15:17:00.002-05:00

angiespotholder
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

I made this for a friend. She wanted red, white and blue and I finally found some cotton yarn by Peaches n Cream.
Free pattern available here.

100purewool co-op

2008-06-21T00:28:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in a 100purewool coop
join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crunchymamacooperative/

Soaker #4 (FS btw)

2008-06-20T20:36:00.004-05:00

I remade the soaker. I went up a couple of needle sizes and also a few stitches. Still came out too small for FatsyPatsy. GARRRGH! I had added some yarn over short rows
so the bum was perfect. The short rows make it roomier. But FP's chubby legs are just too round. Can't get it up over her cankles. So I have one beautiful, not quite perfect, girly size medium wool soaker for sale. Rise 16 inches and waist about the same. I will post pics and actual measurements shortly. Lucy is 20 lbs and too fat by a couple of pounds for it. Need a scrawnier 20 lber or a lighter weight fat baby for this soaker.
I paid probably about 8 bucks for the yarn?

Soaker info: rise 16-16.5, waist 16 inch at rest-22 stretched out. Thigh-8 inches $15 ppd

Soaker Insanity #3

2008-06-16T12:15:00.004-05:00

Well, number 3 was going beautifully. Til it came out TOO small. I used cascade220 shrimp color 7804 and 100purewool.com's fantasia 2. So soft and beautiful. So I frogged it. Completely back to the beginning. I was so sad. I had nearly finished it! I got to sit for about 2 hours last night while dh watched a movie and held a sleeping Lucy and knit. Usually I knit in 5 or 10 minute increments. With 3 kids, one of them newly potty learned and the other one 7 months old, knitting time is sparse. So it'll probably be at least another week before it's even close to being done. Oh the pattern I'm doing is a very basic top down, triangle, flat knit pattern. I am doing the size with 90 cast on stitches. My problem was I co only 88 on needles two sizes smaller than the pattern says to. I totally suck at trying to customize. If I had cast on on size 3 like it says to the waist would have been perfect.

Making math with yarn

2008-06-11T13:42:00.000-05:00

Making math with yarn

Yarn work helping to provide answers to wide range of math problems

By Stuart Fox

ScienceLine writer

LiveScience

updated 7:06 p.m. CT, Fri., June. 6, 2008

Coral reefs can be crocheted. The atmosphere can be knit. And a stop sign can be folded into a pair of pants.

Welcome to the intersection of math and handicraft. Unexpectedly, handicraft in general, and yarn work in particular, has started to help provide answers to a wide range of mathematical problems. From the way the atmosphere generates weather to the shape of the human brain, knit and crocheted models have provided new insight into the geometry of the natural world.

"Crochet, knitting and other crafts allow people to visualize, recontextualize and develop new problems and answers," said Carolyn Yackel, a mathematician at Mercer University in Georgia.

Another prominent practitioner who uses yarn work, mathematician Hinke Osinga of the University of Bristol, puts it this way: "You can get bogged down in your own standard techniques of doing things, and then someone asks a silly question, and all of a sudden, you see a new way of interpreting things."

The math of handicraft was long dismissed as merely a cute trick or an inconsequential coincidence. Now, however, handicraft has begun to come into its own as a legitimate tool for mathematical research. This is especially true of knitting and crochet, which, thanks to the efforts of a new group of researchers, are now receiving a great deal of attention from the world of theoretical mathematics. Yackel and Osinga, along with Sarah-Marie Belcastro of Smith College and Daina Taimina of Cornell University, form the core of the group looking at the intersection of math and craft. Some of them are using craft to help answer math problems, while others are using math to answer knitting problems.

In 2005, there was a special session on math and the fiber arts during a joint meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. This conference, along with a newly released book based on the special session by its organizers, represents the newest expressions of a very old topic.

It is believed that the partnership between math and craft dates back to the invention of geometry, where the repetitive patterns seen in ancient baskets and weavings first hinted at a mathematical subtext to the world at large. Later, Alan Turing, the theorist and computer scientist, was often seen knitting Möbius strips and other geometric shapes during his lunch break.

The modern interest in math and craft began in 1997 when Taimina devised a plan for crocheting a hyperbolic plane. Hyperbolic planes are spaces of negative curvature (imagine the shape of a riding saddle) where all lines curve away from each other. Hyperbolic planes are fairly common in nature, appearing everywhere from the frills on a sea slug to growth patterns of coral to the way the brain folds.

The craft objects themselves tend to be common shapes, such as discs, spheres and cones. However, just as a triangle that normally only has 180-degrees worth of angles can have three 90-degree angles when drawn on a sphere, the shapes take on novel and surprising forms when projected across hyperbolic space.

Despite being widespread in nature and well understood in theoretical math, no good physical models of a hyperbolic shape existed until Taimina crocheted her first plane. In hyperbolic space, points move away from each other as the shape expands. While it is hard to model this using paper or plastic, it is easily replicated by simply increasing the number of stitches per row as the shape is knit or crocheted.

"What you can do is get a tactile insight. I theoretically understand the concept, but [the model] allows me to communicate it," said Taimina.

After Taimina's crocheted models gained a degree of notoriety, Hinke Osinga realized that if a hyperbolic plane could be modeled with crochet, then a model of the complex shape her research focused on could be made the same way. Osinga was looking at the Lorenz manifold, another shape that had yet to be presented in a physical model. Manifolds are shapes where the curved nature of the larger shape can be treated as a flat plane over short distances, like a 2-D road map sufficiently representing a portion of the 3-D Earth.

The Lorenz manifold models how objects move through a chaotic space such as a flowing river or the atmosphere. Various applications include meteorological prediction and spacecraft navigation. Before Osinga made her crochet Lorenz manifold, there had never been a physical model of this shape for reference.

Around the same time that Osinga was using craft to answer questions about math, Yackel and Belcastro began their attempt to answer questions raised by craft with math.

Belcastro designed a mathematical proof detailing why any topological surface can be knit. While seemingly limited to explaining yarn work, the proof could have ramifications for biology. A range of phenomena from shell growth to bird's nest-building replicate knitting by building up a structure one line at a time.

For Yackel, the research involved moving beyond knitting. Instead, she began using Japanese string balls called temari as the basis for designing a way to map out points on a sphere. Temari balls are decorative items made from colored strings wrapped around a small wooden or plastic sphere.

As the strings crisscross the surface of the sphere, they form intricate patterns. To approximate points on the sphere, temari artists use origami techniques that are actually just physical representations of very complex geometry.

Together, Yackel and Belcastro have co-edited a new book "Making Mathematics with Needlework: Ten Papers and Ten Projects." In it, they use the knitting of a baby's pants to show how, in certain types of mathematics, an octagon can be folded into a two-holed donut. Using their math, if one crocheted a stop sign, it could be folded into a pair of pants.

For all of the researchers involved in this field, pursuing the link between everyday objects and complex math hearkens back to the original impetus for devising geometry in the first place.

"We talk about the different experiences that lead people to geometry, and it began with making patterns," said Taimina. "How do you learn that something is round?"

This story is provided by Scienceline, a project of New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.

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URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25011806/

Soaker Insanity

2008-05-15T16:42:00.000-05:00

I bought some beautiful yarn from Snarky Designs. Omgosh that's MY yarn on the front!! Totally! Way cool. So I decided to make Lucy a wool soaker to go over her cloth diapers. I found a free pattern and it said it was a size large. Lucy's a big girl. She's 6 months old and wears med/large-large cloth diapers aka size 4 huggies. So I'm knitting it. It's looking big but I'm a novice to knitting and this is my first soaker so I figure it'll be ok. NOT! It's done flat and you seam up the sides. I'm actually SEAMING THE SIDES when I decide to frog it (rip it) and do it again. The rise (length from back edge to top edge) came out to 26 inches!! Lucy's is only ohh half that?? Ok looked it up she's 17 inches in rise. Yes I even did a swatch to check my stitches.

So I'm going to do curly purly's basic plain wrap. Wish me luck!

A whole new language

2008-03-25T13:46:00.004-05:00

I am learning so many new words on Ravelry. Well, of course, I'm learning all kinds of knitting terms such as frogging (ripping out knitted work), tinking (knitting backwards), k2tog, etc. Then there is snarky (kinda like sarcastic-bitchy). Then there is this site of "internet kitties". They spell the "teh" and put a "z" for the letter s and other annoying bad internet grammer.

I've been reading and posting in a group with a meaningless-to-all-members-but-the creators-name. It has something to do with parenting and someone annoying. I have no idea who. Yeah we get childish.

Its a nice change to "talk" to other parents who parent differently than me and even NONparents. We're doing a mystery swap. I don't know why I joined lol. I have a hard time shopping for people I know well let alone someone I don't know at all. Then to boot my paypal is messed up and will only let me pay by echeck or my credit card and I don't use my credit card and echeck takes a few days. Finally got that straightened out but it will still take a couple of days before I can instant pay through my checking acct. I hope I get it all here on time to mail out as one package to my swappee.

Got to cut this short. Kid's doctor appt at 2:30.

Seriously?

2008-03-03T12:40:00.005-06:00

I so want this yarn! Seriously! But unfortunately it's sold out. :(

I have been working on the same pair of socks since the beginning of February. They are green and violet. Knitpicks yarn. Using Silver's pattern. I am doing it magic loop.

The first one the toes are way too tight. I guess I knit extremely tight. It took me nigh on forever to knit the first one. I had to frog the heel several times because I just couldn't get it right. So then I got it right and the sock was too short! ARGH. So I had to frog it AGAIN and make the foot length longer. The second sock I cast on more and am consciously knitting looser. I'm knitting away when I realize I forgot to do the stripe. Sigh. I was 10 rows past it. So now I'm tinking. Tinking is Knitting backwards.

I am never going to have a matching pair of socks!!

I wanted to knit me a curtain for my kitchen window but I just do terrible at patterns. I am distracted too much by my children. So I am now crocheting a curtain. Much easier for me.

NOT Updated List of diaper FSOT

2008-02-11T20:53:00.023-06:00

If interested please drop me an email as this is not updated with sold/traded diapers. Been busy. :)
I am mainly looking for paypal, girly fitteds or medium BSWWs. Maybe consider circular needles. I don't like susan bates or boye. So far I love hiya hiyas and addi's. I do not discount for anything except for maybe if you buy in bulk. Diapers are listed at the prices I paid for them a mere 3 months ago. I research what diapers are currently selling for, also, when I'm listing them. I am confident my prices are fair. I ran an online cloth diaper resale site for about 5 years and owned/operated ButterflyKissesDiapers.com for a year.

Listing soon!! bsww and prowrap covers.

Kissaluv size 0 lavender sold. GUC Maybe very very light staining. I don't see any though.

1 lime (sold), 1 natural Kissaluv size 0 GUC $7 ppd each, all have very faint discoloration

lime and peach inner (one lime not shown)

natural outer and inner

$7 fitted peewells small

PENDING-used small swaddlebees pockets
Originally uploaded by MamaNak
PENDING $7 ea shipped
2 yellows
1 mint green
1 white
no inserts
funded paypal

Sm mums bums fitted has sm wear holes $6 ppd

inner mums bums

Nb fitteds used
Originally uploaded by MamaNak swaddlebees-gone
striped whippersnappers pocket (needs insert) fitted $7 ppd
country cozy's flannel fitted faded but still totally useable$6 ppd
funded paypal

here a knit there a knit...

2008-02-07T20:11:00.001-06:00

All kinds of knitting fun! My hubby went by Marie's, The Fiber Station and bought me a pair of hiya hiya's size 1 40 inch. UGH my first time to that site. I didn't know they were made in china. UGH UGH UGH. Gee guess I'll have to buy another pair of addi's.

Speaking of addi's. A very nice woman I met through Ravelry GAVE me a pair of addi turbos!! Size 2. I'm SOO excited. Thank you MrsH!

Then my husband went back to The Fiber Station and bought me some gorgeous handspun superwash bamboo/merino yarn. Marie dyed it herself.

And my mama gave me a bunch of sock yarn. Of course, since she usually just knits barbie items there isn't enough of each color for a pair of socks so I will have to do some funky striping. I can't wait.

Let's see there is Paton's Kroy Socks, 2 skeins of coal and 2 skeins of mallard. Then a skein of grass and a skein of purple from KnitPicks. Then 4 skeins in pink, white, slate blue and blue ofLang Yarns.

Stash of crap yarn. I use my crap yarn for washcloths, hot pads and amigurumi.

It's actually much larger but that's what I'm currently working with or plan on soon. I don't have start-n-abandon-itis. I just have plan-to-itis.

I finished Livie's kindergarden teacher's Valentine washcloth.

Click the picutre for the pattern. There are hearts on the cloth but you can't see it in my picture.

Get your badge!

2008-02-03T14:08:00.000-06:00

I saw this on radioactivegirl's blog and I had to have one. Of course, there isn't a children's cancer badge so I'll have to request one.

Here's one for cancer survivors and their caregivers. We fall under that category. :)

Oh to keep this yarn related I met radioactivegirl on Ravelry.

Amigurumi poop

2008-01-29T14:14:00.001-06:00

DSC00752
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

The pattern is here.

Amigurumi Dragonfly

2008-01-29T14:12:00.001-06:00

DSC00773
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Pattern by Kristie

aristocrats

2008-01-28T18:43:00.001-06:00

aristocrats
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

I have no idea what size these were originally but after a few failed attempts at proper washing they are now newborn/small size. :) I love these for nighttime!
$10 ppd

Liv's hungry hippo

2008-01-12T14:10:00.001-06:00

Liv's hungry hippo
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

I feel so special. Someone...two someone's favorited my hippos on Ravelry. :) Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Livie loves her hippo. It was the first one I made and didn't really like the final results but she does and that's all that counts. Levi's came out better but I think that's because I used nicer yarn for it.

Levi's amigurumi hippo

2008-01-12T14:09:00.001-06:00

levihippo (3)
Originally uploaded by MamaNak

Pattern avail at Bittersweetblog.wordpress.com

Flickr

2008-01-12T14:06:00.001-06:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Socks!

2007-12-29T13:14:00.000-06:00

I made a baby sized pair of socks on dpns!! I only have one set of 4 dpns size 3. So I am limited to what I can do. Now I am making ME a pair of socks. Just got done with the heel turn and gussets on a cuff down pair. I'm making them ankle high because that's what I like to wear. :)

A nice lady in my town is giving me Addi's size two circs and I can't wait to get a chance to go over there. Yesterday I was going to but everyone is sick and it snowed.

Speaking of yesterday and snow....and knitting...my mother and I were suppose to go to our LYS for a Spin, knit whatever or maybe it's knit spin whatever...anyway whatever!! It snowed. My mother couldn't even get out to the highway from her house. :( We were both so totally bummed!! So at the LYS I have a pair of hiyahiyas and sock yarn waiting for me plus a free ML knitting lesson.

My wannas

2007-12-20T20:50:00.000-06:00

I want to knit so many items but I don't have the needles so am going to make a list of needles needed for said wanna makes so I know what to buy first when I get the extra cash.

#4/3.5mm straight needles
#6 circs
3 27″ circular for Magic Loop method
Size 6 27″ circular for magic loop method OR size 6 dpns

Ravelry Rant

2007-12-20T17:53:00.000-06:00

I'm having so much fun reading and browsing ravelry that I'm not knitting!! Ravelry you suck!! But in a good way!

Needle Frustration

2007-12-15T11:31:00.000-06:00

I have very few needles and seems none of the needles I need to do the projects I want to do. It's about an hour away to the nearest real store that would sell more than 2 kinds of needles. All I have is Walmart and I already bought everything they have. They only have one length in the circulars. All smaller straight needles are 14 inch and I don't like those. If it's not icey out it's snowing. If the roads are clear I have too much running to do for the kids. Starting to feel a bit bahhumbugish.

Where can I buy needles online for a fair price? I'm too broke to get the fancy expensive ones but I would love a set of those swappable circulars. Any suggestions on a kit that doesn't break the bank?

MamaNak on Ravelry

2007-12-14T12:11:00.000-06:00

I'm on! woohoo having fun...should be doing housework....oh I did do dishes and started laundry. Patting myself on the back.

Lucy bag!

2007-12-13T18:38:00.000-06:00

http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/lucybag.htm
nak

ok being mommy to lucy i need this pattern!!

maybe tomorrow??

2007-12-13T18:29:00.000-06:00

Found you!

* You signed up on November 27, 2007
* You are #63154 on the list.
* 271 people are ahead of you in line.
* 6764 people are behind you in line.
* 90% of the list has been invited so far
woohoo this morning it was 680!!

Ravelry update

2007-12-11T22:53:00.000-06:00

* You signed up on November 27, 2007
* You are #63154 on the list.
* 1260 people are ahead of you in line.
* 5879 people are behind you in line.
* 88% of the list has been invited so far
My first time I kept track of my place in line I was at...
* You signed up on November 27, 2007
* You are 63154 on the list.
* 6508 people are ahead of you in line.
* 1782 people are behind you in line.
* 86% of the list has been invited so far

which was on Dec 1st. Moving right along!!

Praying hands dishcloth

2007-12-11T21:48:00.000-06:00

It's hard to see IRL but seems just fine in the picture. I used this pattern http://www.knitwits-heaven.com/praying_hands_washcloth.htm

Anyway to make the hands more visible?

just starting out

2007-12-10T20:37:00.000-06:00

i'm a knitting mama with a newborn. I'm honestly not a bad speller or typist but I'm generally NAK. Which means, Nursing At Keyboard, so excuse typos and such. Guess that could mean Nursing And Knitting. :)

So far I have made: matching hat and scarf, baby santa hat.....Guess that's it for finished projects. OTN I have a Christmas scarf intended for one of my kids' teachers. A dishcloth with praying hands but I think it's messed up. Was intended for MIL but if it's messed up it will go to my 6 y/o for her babies as a blanket. I started to make a caterpillar but frogged it and moved on to the previously mentioned dishcloth.

Will do pics later. Have a sleeping baby on lap and 2 kids who are suppose to be asleep but keep getting out of bed.