Friday, February 17, 2006

 

Away we go...




Well it has been a busy week with not much time to post, or complete much else. I did finish the striped bag, just in the nick of time... She loves it, and I am so happy! I have picture before and after felting. I think I felted it a little too long.. I had to really stretch it at the end.

I have progressed on my Olympic socks... Just a little frustrated because I have a small hole where I joined the heel flap back with the rest of the sock. Otherwise I am very happy with it so far and am already planning the next one.


My next dilemma is what to pack. Temperatures in CA will be in the high 60s and Mexico around the same, not exactly beach weather....The clothes are not so much the issue as the knitting; what projects will I complete, and work on. 6 hours on a plane. That is a lot of knitting! I think I have decided to stick with the socks since they are small and easier to carry around. My girls are bringing their knitting as well. They have been knitting ribbon belts. It think it is quick easy gratification. They love 6 stitches on a needle!

Electronics is always a big issue.... The amount of electronics 5 people can bring is outrageous. How many chargers do we need to bring for ipods, phones, camera, videos, palm pilots, game boys. Between that and knitting for 3 people we definitely need and extra suitcase.


I do not think I will be able to post until I get back. Just in time for the closing ceremonies. Hopefully I will cross the finish line without any injuries!

Happy Knitting..

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

 

Priorities...

Choices, decisions, priorities... as I mentioned before I really dislike making decisions, so to have to prioritize is just not fun.... Cleaning, laundry, shopping for the trip, studying, finishing the striped bag, or my Olympic socks. What do I do in the next few hours? If I had my druthers I would sit in my comfy chair, knit and stare out at this beautiful day...


Started school yesterday, which was fun, although one more thing to add to my plate, and take away from prime knitting time. 3 chapters to read by tomorrow morning. The plan was to do the reading last night, but my children's homework became mine. The creating of Valentines for the little one's 1st grade class. Why did we chose to be crafty, rather than just purchase those Powder Puff girls...... Middle daughter has a big test on the Constitution this morning. This meant me relearning the Articles of Confederation, Bill of Rights, Virginia vs New Jersey Plan and the Constitution. What again is the Preamble? I am really in trouble when they do advanced geometry and chemistry. Do you think that she will help me learn about agencies and calculations of commissions?


Well 95% of my striped bag knitting is done. Unfortunately the next stage is to sew it together , and clean up all of my ends. My least favorite part of the project. I hopefully will get to it today. I promised it would be ready for Saturday. I have to admit I am excited to see it. I love the colors.

My Olympic socks progress is nonexistent. Feels like I crashed and burned. I want to work on them, but just no time. Hopefully while we are on vacation I will be able to cruise through them, but until then I just do not see the light. I had thought I would knit them while watching the Olympics, but unfortunately I have not had much time to watch. In addition the stitches are so small that it is difficult to knit and watch at the same time.

Well off to do as much as possible, and hopefully have time to enjoy the view....


Sunday, February 12, 2006

 

Progress...















So far so good... Wish I could have done more, but duty calls...maybe tomorrow.

 

Winter Wonderland?



Wow, be careful what you wish for! From 50 degrees last week, to 25 and a blizzard, but I am loving it. Pictures are unclear since there is no visibility outside. Today is declared a Pajama Day at our house, hanging out, watching movies, Olympics, playing games, and maybe building a snow man later. And for me KNITTING! A knit-a-holic's dream come true.

Yesterday I got so much done preparing for the trip, but I did not even get to the starting line for my socks! I got home last night; after a long day of being hormonal,dinner/drinks and began knitting at midnight... not a good idea. After a few rows I ended up twisting my work inside out and starting working on the back. Did not realize that I could do that with the circular method. Live and learn! I woke up early this morning and to my surprise! Oh well, I ripped most of it out and started again, and hopefully will continue for the rest of the day. Being new to the 2 needle method I also have knit on the wrong needle and ended up all on one. Definitely a learning experience.


Tomorrow morning is my first real estate class. What will I do if the kids have a snow day or a delay, and my school is still on? Asked hubby,and of course he needs to be on time at work in the am.... Just what I anticipated when I signed up and paid.

Well I need to go knit... Hopefully I will post my progress, or lack thereof, later.

Have a great snow day!

Friday, February 10, 2006

 

Ready, set, fare a maglie (knit)


As you can see I do not speak Italian. Just an attempt to get in the spirit. Officially the Olympics have begun, but not I.... Busy doing things that SAHM do, and more. I did spend a fair amount of time at the LYS winding 6 balls of Cascade 220 yarn. Why does it not coming already balled? I never understood. What a waste of time! I think I should invest in a ball winder and let the kids help me.

Update on the striped bag; front, back and sides are done. I love the colors! They match my blog! In the process of knitting the pocket when I ran out of balled yarn. I think my older daughter (age 11) is going to help with the pocket; basic knitting and purling. That is a healthy addiction to share with your daughter. Its fair, the bag is for her... I REALLY do not like finishing and that will take up a lot of time this weekend. I would like to learn how to seam together with a single crochet stitch. Maybe go to one of the LYS this weekend for a quick lesson. In between the 2 basketball games, a lacrosse game, driving son to Bar Mitzvah, and trying to have a social life with hubby. Needless to say, with my 6 year old at tow. Did I mention that she has the worst case of Mommy-istis? It is painful at times, for her, myself, and the rest of the family.

Snow, snow, snow. It is coming, and I am looking forward to it. If it is going to be cold I would rather there be white. It also means time to hang with the family without driving from activity to activity! and maybe more knitting!


Well I am all ready for my Olympic project; my first socks. I swatched last night. Good news; I found that I loved working with the 2 circular needles (sorry TEAM DPN!, but I will still do my share of poking!) Bad news; I needed Addi size 1 not size 2. So back to the other LYS, for Addi size 1s. I have to look at is as an investment.

Now it is time to balance between the new, exciting project of socks, or another striped bag. Why do us knitters create these predicaments for ourselves? I am always adding to the list of current, and future. Got to concentrate on the completing. While in the LYS today, someone mentioned that I should work there. I would probably spend even more, looking at all of those wonderful yarns, and imagining NEW intriguing projects. I just can not even walk in. Today I was good I refrained, "only needles please".

Off to cast on for my socks, and work on the bag,oh and take care of my family...

Ciao....


Thursday, February 09, 2006

 

It's Not Fair

Do teeenagers have a recording inside them that requires them to utter these words daily? It's not fair that they can't have those jeans, or that XBOX, or can't go hang out without parents....Now it is not fair that I have a blog and they can not have a blog, or a page on MySpace.com, or their names and contact info on their profiles. When does life become fair? How do I convince them that I am just trying to protect them....and as we all know life is not fair, and it's my job as a mom to teach them that! But, they will continue to think of me as the mean mom.

I am so excited, my
Pursenalities book is here! So many choices of bags. I love the Summer in the City Bag!!! Here it is. Oh well, I will put it on the list of future projects. Definitely check the book out!

Off to knit the striped bag...and swatch for my socks.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

 

Learn something new every day

Well, it has been a long 36 hours. My new addiction, blogging, is hopefully temporary. I had to get it right. Thank you Kat for all of your help. You are definitely a savior. As if you did not have enough to do! I think I have the hang of it now, but I will keep on trying.

One of my middle school kid's teacher called yesterday about some PTA stuff and told me about a great book "Perfectionism; What is Bad About Being Too Good" for me and my daughter. Do you think she meant for me? I wish I had read it last night at 2AM while trying to master this Blog! I just could not let it go! I have to order it.


Well, for now the blog is good enough. Now I need to concentrate on my knitting. I start a real estate class next week, so I have a lot of knitting to do before it begins. We also need to get ready for vacation, and I am sure my 6 yr old daughter has grown out of most of her summer clothes.

I finished the two side panels of the bag, and front. Unfortunately it will not be done by Friday, but I am definitely casting on my socks on Friday evening.

I decided to do
Sockbug's Lava Flow Socks on 2 circular needles. I got my sock yarn; KnitPicks Simple Stripes,my addi needles (I invested in the needles but went with the cheap yarn for the first time sock), and have Cat Bordhi's "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles". I am ready to go.

I visited 2 of my local knitting stores today for the book. Wow. What a difference. One sells a lot of reasonably priced yarns, needles and other notions, but they know NOTHING! The other shop sells the most beautiful yarns and accessories, can be very helpful, but are so expensive. It is so frustrating to see so many items made of pashmina,cashmere, silk.... and you need to buy the yarn to get the pattern. WHY can I not buy the pattern and use my own yarn???? Not all of us can afford to make a $100.00 scarf or $30.00 socks.

Okay I will stop. Well back to my bag... I will try to post the pictures soon.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

 

Ugh! Another wasted morning!



UGH! I was only going to working on this for a few hours and time has definitely gotten away from me! I wanted to post this picture as part of my profile, and add some buttons for links... It is just not happening!

Now it is time to do the things I really need to do like cleaning, laundry and cooking.... I think we will have a marinated skirt steak tonight with a tomato and mozarella salad and ???????? My husband and I are on south beach diet and have hit a stand still!

Looks like it is going to be another late night. I really need to work on Abbey's bag so I can be finished by friday (the knitting Olympics), and in time for vacation. She will be so upset when she gets home and sees I have done nothing!

I am so excited for my next project. I will be knitting the Cocoon Jacket from Vogue (fall 2005) by Annie Modesitt. There is a woman at out local knitting store that has started it and it looks great. I am still trying to decide which yarns to use, but I did a swatch last night and loved it!

 

First Blog


This is my first posting! Not sure what I will write about everyday, but just thought it would be fun, and help me keep track of my life.

My name is Judi and I am a stay at home mom. I really enjoy it, however I am now looking for other things to occupy my time.

Knitting is my addiction. When I go to the knitting store, my husband refers to it as the "drug store". He is so right! It is difficult to keep me away, especially since three new yarn shops have opened within 10 miles of my home!


I have been knitting since college, at least 20 years ago, and sometimes am in full force, and then drop it for a few years. The past couple though I have been nonstop.

Currently I am working on three projects; a felted bag for my daughter, an evening bag, and a poncho for myself. The felted bag is a modification of a knitting bag I just finished. She wants one for sleepovers. I love the colors of hers much more. It will be pink, light blue, and royal blue. I will post it soon.

On Friday I begin my first sock project for the knitting Olympics. I have never knit socks before. Any suggestions? I have heard about toe up, leg down, 2 needles, using dbl pointed, and 2 socks at the same time....All of these decisions. I am trying to minimize the number of decisions in my life. The worst is what is for dinner....

That is it for now. Going to work on this blog and figure out how to put my favorite links!

BBFN.... Judi



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