June Report

June is almost over and there is enough going on to write about. First daughter number two left the country to be a beach bum. Now the trip to Chicago was something. We had good time when arrived at Joilett. For the last twelve years I stop at the same Cracker Barrel. This time was not any different, we had a nice lunch and left the restaurant on time. After that it was a nightmare, highway was closed due to an accident, 7 miles took an hour. Things did not get better once we arrived to International terminal. Long checkout and security lines, poor girl had only 20 minutes to spare. Her trip was uneventful, her luggage did not get lost and she made it home safe and sound. Now she is enjoying sun, beach and getting spoiled by grandparents.

Second I started going office. Dear Stu drives me every morning, he helps me with my wheelchair, opens the doors so can get in to the building then picks me up very evening.

Third I mailed 6 hats and one vest for Dulaan Project. The deadline is July 1st. It does not take too long to make a simple hat. I know my family enjoys the things I knit for them but they have so much that they would wear one or two time as long as colors match the outfit etc etc. But I know those children will wear the hats, sweaters, use the scarves regardless of the yarn and color. Anyway hats are basic round hat pattern, and the vest... I started with the intention of making a sweater then I realized that I don't have enough yarn, I just made a vest, no pattern, just eye balled.

May Report

I did not realize it has been more than two months since I did not post. This does not mean I did not knit, on the contrary I have been very busy. The main reason I start going office and I took my computer to the work. I don't have home office setup any more. It took a while to copy the photos and import links my old home PC. June is traditionally busy month for us , and of school, travels etc but this May has been the busiest month so far. This will be a long, photo heavy entry

May 4: Cowboy Blanket

Cowboy blanket has been completed last minute before we start for Oklahoma. I did not have a chance to take a picture before, so Stu held the blanket for me. The blanket was knitted in five strips ( garter stitch). All the lettering is done by I-Cords. I hated using acrylic yarn but my daughter loved the practical side of it.

May 5: Graduation

Daughter number one aka favorite child(!) graduated from Oklahoma State, William Spears Business school with Economics and Pre Law degree.

Iba Hall where the ceremony held









Proud graduate and future lawyer. She has been accepted to Syracuse Law, my baby is moving to Syracuse this August. Syracuse gets average 113" snowfall every year!

















As you may have already realized, school colors are orange,black and white. To keep the tradition alive most people dressed in orange, including the little monster Breia. She had orange bows and orange painted toe nails.

May 22 - Cozy Completed

I completed Cozy finally. I used Reynolds Mandalaya 100% silk yarn. I did not like this yarn. It kept splitting, it was very hard on my fingers and it smelled funny! The yarn did not have a sheen and was not soft to touch. I was told black was my MIL's favorite color, otherwise I would have picked some other color(more cheerful). But it still looked good, if I were to knit again I would probably use Knitpicks shine .

May 25: Another Graduation

Daughter number two aka Precious Child (baby of the family) graduated from Middle school. Their graduation ceremony was very nice. After ceremony the whole eight grade had celebration party.

Cozy Wrap

I have received my Reynolds Mandalaya yarn last Friday. I wanted to give something to my mother-in-law for her birthday/mother's day. I have been looking at lace shawl pattern for sometime. I did not think I would have enough time to follow the charts. I also wanted something practical and easy to take care of. When I saw Cozy I knew I could knit it in a reasonable time. My first deadline is the cowboy blanket, the project I hate due May 5th. It will be 5 strips and I am about half way with the 4th strip. After I saw the strips together, if I have time I will stitch school logo on the corners and of course graduation date. The second deadline is for the wrap, it will be due to first week of May so I can mail it. I should be able to knit while driving to OK for graduation ceremony. And last but not least my sister's cardigan which I am still waiting for Knitpicks interchangeable needles. I plan to finish it before my daughter's trip to my parents. She has reservation for June 15th. I have about a month to be selfish and knit something for myself.

I started swatching yesterday and I got the right gauge 18st/4" with stockinette stitch. But when I started lace pattern which is very simple by the way, it started looking too holey and loose. I changed the needles from circular to straight, then changed the size, knitted several swatches I did not like any of them. I am not crazy about the current one either I think it is mainly due to the color. I wish I had some bright lighter color but Stu thought charcoal would be safer and more versatile for his mom. Otherwise it is nice yarn, pure silk although it has funny smell. I will use lavender when I block it. Right now I am tired of trying I will continue with us sz 8 needles.

I also got Denise Interchangeable needles this weekend. I think choice of needles deserve another blog topic since first thing I have to decide with every project.

I wish ...

...I were a pet in my house. I work all day and this is what they do all day!

Sock Report

This is what I picked for my dear husband, Stu. Sensible, manly colors are also suitable for business attire.


This is what he picked for himself. The reason..."I like purple". Live and learn. I am actually glad he picked this yarn. It has soysilk fibers along with wool, cotton and chitin. It has nice feel about it.



Hotsocks, us 2 dpns, Sockbug's Garter Stitch Bars pattern

This pair suffered from SSS (second sock syndrome) for long time. First I got sidetracked with other projects then I could not find the first sock. This weekend I decided to finish it and start the week with only one project. It is not going to happen since my daughter gave me a totally different project which requires a sewing machine.







J.Knits Columbus colorway us sz2 dpns

These are the anxiety socks which I finished sometime ago but never had a chance to post the photos. I had only one skein (50gr), luckily my daughter likes ankle socks.



And this arrived this weekend for Knitty's Sitcom Chick cardigan which entered to project queue right after Arian cardigan. Lion Brand discontinued all the bright colors of cotton ease, I saw this yarn on ebay and could not resist to little voices in my head!

More yarn

After my last post I contacted the seller. I also sent her the photo posted earlier. She immediately responded, she was apologetic and she told me that she would send me two skeins. I would be happy with one skein too.
These two skeins arrived today. Colors are more deeper and richer than the first skein. They have more autumn feel but still beautiful. The package was in my mailbox and ...

this package from Elann was at my doorstep.
It is Highland Peruvian wool in Spiced wine color. My sister picked up the color for her Arian cardigan which will be the next project.
The current project is the monster cowboy blanket in garter stitch. I am knitting the third strip. The finished blanket will be at least 56x48.

Frustration

I love color and I love knitting socks therefore I love sock yarns especially hand dyed ones. I am more disciplined for any other yarns but if I see a sock yarn I like I usually can not resist and I end up buying it, hey what is $20 here or there, right? I bought this beautiful yarn (online) two weeks ago. Since then I have been waiting anxiously, I received it today along with cotlin yarn for $1.50 cardigan from another vendor. The colorway looked different than what I saw on my computer screen but I thought still looked OK in spite of some dark spots. The skein was so tangled it took a while to find the ends and I started winding then I noticed the yarns was broken in multiple places. I could live with spit slicing for big sweaters but I refuse to have knots or spit slicing for my socks. A sock yarn should not have any knots whatsoever!!! I contacted the seller, we will see what happens.