Knitted Bookworm

Where or where have you been (part 2)?

2011-05-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

visited 24 states (48%)
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Where or where have you been?

2011-05-01T17:57:00.000-05:00

visited 13 states (5.77%)
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Finishing up!

2010-08-29T12:28:00.004-05:00

Hope to have a picture of my completed 22.5 degree scarf in the next couple of days. All it needs is a soft blocking and it will be done. Making progress on the greyhound sweater...needs to be finished by Friday!!!! (The one I made for my favorite greyhound is shown in this picture.) I do have a knitting afternoon scheduled after school one day this week, so maybe I'll be able to make my deadline. Started a new 22.5 degree scarf with some lovely variegated yarn, then decided I didn't like it. Wound some other sock yarn (I seem to have quite a lot to choose from!) and realized that I really wanted to use a larger needle on it. Wouldn't you know, I don't have that size! Gave up looking in stores around here and just ordered from KnitPicks. As you might imagine, I ended up ordering a few more things, too! At least this gives the dog sweater more time!

Have decided, with two other MSU fan teachers, to institute "Maroon Mondays" at school this fall to show support for our DAWGS. We wear our school shirts on Fridays, so we can't participate in the "Maroon Fridays" that other fans support. I'm so excited about Saturday's game, and food, and friends...not necessarily in that order!

Back to school

2010-08-21T08:20:00.009-05:00

Well, my good intentions didn't last very long! School has started again, and the free time has all but disappeared! I'm continuing to knit on several things. My favorite is a triangular scarf out of beautiful hand dyed sock yarn. I'm approaching the end on that.

I'm finishing up on a short sleeved, top-down, T-shirt. Just have the remainder of one sleeve to do. I'm planning to wear it to school after the 100 degree temps die down.

My third project, that sits next to my knitting chair, is a lovely blue and white sweater for a greyhound. I'm making it for a silent auction for the Nashville Greyhound Association in September. Boy, is the neck loooong on this sweater! I like having several projects going at once, especially if the needle size is different. Seems to give my hands a break to change from size 1 to size 6 every now and then.

Football season starts soon, and you know what that means? Lots of uninterrupted knitting time on the 2.5 hr. drives to the games! I can hardly wait for football, knitting, tailgating, good food, and especially good friends. Come on, September, and GO DAWGS!

It's a new beginning!

2010-07-29T08:28:00.002-05:00

Let's just pretend that I DID keep up with this blog during the last 2 years! I really did think about it...and plan to post on it...and consider which pictures to post, but...

So, it's a new beginning! I had a great summer vacation, some of it spent with the whole family. School will be starting for me next week, and I MAY be getting as assistant in the library! I have lots of knitting planned. I've read lots (for me) of books over the summer to share with kids, and FOOTBALL is not too far away. So, there's lots to post about. This is my New Year's resolution, just a little bit early...I promise to keep up to date on this blog!

Sock yarn

2010-07-28T20:11:00.005-05:00

Mad dash update!

2008-07-17T16:59:00.010-05:00

Since it's been sooooooo long since I've posted, here's the warp speed update...
Oct. 07-Football weekends...Go DAWGS!

Nov. 07-Ditto!
Dec. 07-family from the Pacific Northwest visit for the holidays. Much knitterly talk transpires, as well as snuggling with the grandsons, and the newest member of the family, courtesy of daughter #2.

Jan. 08-It's been too long ago to remember!
Feb. 08-You know that short term memory is the first thing to go!
Mar. 08-Spring Break trip with my traveling buddy to Barcelona and Madrid. Wow is the only word for it. Managed to visit 2 yarn shops, too. Top pic is Barcelona...notice Clapotis in window...bottom is Madrid (not actually open, it was Good Friday).

Apr. 08-Stressful time at school - achievement tests for everybody.
May 08-School's out! Garden tour at our house...lots of weeding time!

June 08-Wonderful trip to the beach with family...homemade ice cream, watermelon, and the Gulf of Mexico.

July 08-Well, that's now, so next post will be a few things I'm working on (before school starts AGAIN the first week in Aug.).

Sock It To Me goodies

2007-09-20T20:53:00.001-05:00

Take a look at some of the wonderful treats from Jen C that arrived last week. I feel terrible that it has taken me so long to post about this package, but you know how crazy things can get some days! I didn't realize I had given so much of myself away in my questionnaire, but my pal really has my number...a mystery I haven't read (How DID she do that?) , a knitting magazine, great smelly stuff, and my favorite candy of all time...Turtles (That's just plain mindreading, 'cause I KNOW I didn't mention them!)! Then there are the socks...lovely, woodsy, mock cable socks that I can hardly wait to wear. (Maybe if I turn the air conditioning WAY down, my feet will need some nice, warm socks!) Raspberry soap, dangly purple stitch markers, and a hank of beautiful, hand-dyed sock yarn in wonderful, warm shades of yellow, green, and raspberry almost made my package complete...but the "piece de resistance" is a new pen for my desk at work. Now won't the kids LOVE this? Thanks so much for everything, Jen...you are a terrific pal.

Sock it to me progress

2007-08-27T22:13:00.000-05:00

Are these for you? I finally decided on the pattern (third time was the charm!) and things are going well. The picture shows the pattern, Hedera by Cookie A, but not my progress...I'm almost to the toe decrease of sock #1. What took so much time was the trips to the frog pond! Current sock is try #4 from the beginning. It's going like wildfire now. So...if you like pink and lacy socks, these could be for you!

My favorite yarn...hmmmmm

2007-08-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

It takes quite a bit of thinking to decide which is my favorite yarn, but I've decided that I have to vote for Koigu. Whenever i knit with it, the socks just seem to fly off the needles, and it feels soooo good in my hands. Of course, wearing socks made out of Koigu feel really wonderful, too! I think what I like about it the most is the smooth finish it has and the fact that it doesn't split. Here's a picture of a pair I made for daughter #2, although the picture isn't the greatest!

I'm always on the lookout for new sock yarn, but I keep coming back to this!

Socks off to Tasmania

2007-08-17T21:24:00.000-05:00

FedEx is trying to link up with my Sockapalooza pal in Tasmania...hope they find each other soon! I guess it's safe to show the socks I sent to Amanda J...

The pattern is Diana's Trail Socks from Mountain Colors. It was simple to knit, but has lots of comfort built into the ribbed arch and the added cushiness of the yarn (Weaver's Wool Quarters). My pal wears boots a lot, and I'm hoping that she'll like the way these socks fit and feel when walking or hiking. I'm thinking of knitting some for myself for winter, except that it's a little hard to think of cold weather right now!

I also finished another pair of socks recently...from Koigu that I received at Christmas. I used a slipped stitch pattern, and I love how it highlights the beautiful yarn. Why isn't it cool enough to wear socks???????

Sockapalooza deluxe!

2007-08-17T20:55:00.000-05:00

Look what came in the mail from Micki...the socks are absolutely wonderful! I must apologize for waiting so long to post that I received my Sockapalooza package, but school has started and the days are just not long enough to do half of what needs to be done. It does slow down in another couple of weeks, but right now it is all I can do eat dinner before I fall asleep. Back to the socks...they are just beautiful with the most even, flat stitches you can imagine (mine are always lumpy, somehow!). They fit perfectly, and I would wear them today if it weren't 100+ degrees for the eight day in a row! That has made outside duty at school a pretty sweaty ordeal lately. Micki also sent some lovely hand made soap, Jelly Bellies, and beautiful, hand-dyed "shades of green" sock yarn.

Trust my pal to encourage me to cast on another new sock! Thanks, Micki, for everything. You're the best!

How I learned to knit!

2007-07-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

In response to the contest being held by AJ for the SITM group, I'll try to remember details about how I learned to knit. I was probably about 10 years old and asked an aunt of mine to teach me how to knit. She was visiting from Arkansas and had brought knitting with her. I guess I just thought it looked like a neat thing to know how to do! I think I knitted a pot holder, but I have no idea where that is now. About 12 years later, I picked up knitting again as a newlywed and made baby blankets, baby sweaters and hats for friends. I pretty much re-taught myself by reading knitting magazines and just basically struggling through. I think that lasted about 3 years, until my own baby was born, then I didn't seem able to find the time! Over the course of many years, I've done a lot of crafty things, but really got hung up on quilting. That seemed to last the longest of them all. I returned to knitting, again, about 30 years later, when both my daughters became knitters. I guess the crafty gene is in us all! I think I'm in it for the long haul now. I currently have 3 pairs of socks, 3 sweaters, 1 scarf, and a clapotis on the needles!!!!!! School will start again in 2 weeks, and my knitting time will be reduced dramatically, so I'm going to knit like crazy for the next few days.

Sock it to me swap

2007-07-05T20:58:00.000-05:00

1. What are your foot measurements? Size US 10 Narrow shoe; 10.25 in. length; 8.5 in. circumference
2. How long have you been knitting? I started knitting about 35 years ago, but took off quite a few years! I returned about 2 years ago in order to keep up with my daughters, who are both knitters. I have been totally hooked since then! (You know, it's just like riding a bicycle...!)
3. How would you rate your experience? Intermediate
4. What is your favorite color? I love orange...burnt orange, rust, terra-cotta, etc. (also browns and greens) Your least favorite color? Probably, pink!
5. Do you have a favorite fiber? Wool
6. Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? None
7. Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? None
8. What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? I'd like to try lace sometime.
9. Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? Dark chocolate and anything with pecans in it!
10. What is your family situation? I'm married (36 years) with 2 daughters (neither still at home), 2 grandsons, and currently (but hopefully not for long!) pet-less.
11. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I prefer metal circulars, or bamboo ones for plane flights!
12. Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? Baby things are on my list right now.
13. Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? I'm trying to get up the courage to try the sock featured on the cover of Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. The one using a solid and a variegated yarn. I'm not sure I'm up to it yet!
14. Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? I love to read. I just finished We are all welcome here by Elizabeth Berg (for my book club), The Boelyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory, and am currently reading Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet. Next up, the new Harry Potter!
15. Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) Not yet!
16. What kind of music do you listen to? I enjoy classical and Italian pop
17. Is there anything you collect? Besides yarn? I collect snowmen and book related items (I'm a librarian, so no surprise there!)
18. What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? Reading, travel, gardening, quilting
19. Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? I just finished two Monkey Sock Swaps and am signed up for Sockapalooza 4.
20. Do you have a favorite scent? Gardenias
21. When is your birthday? Aug. 23

Welcome home, Monkeys!

2007-07-02T14:25:00.000-05:00

My Monkey Sock Swap package arrived...and what a wonderful treat it turned out to be!
Knitted cell phone bag, monkey key chain, point protectors, row counter, and lots of good snacks

Monkey journal, bookmark, stitch markers, and lovely recycled silk!

...and now for the wonderful, beautiful, exquisitely soft SOCKS!!!

My pal, Jeremy, is just the greatest, don't you think?

Famous monkeys

2007-06-16T13:09:00.001-05:00

During my recent trip to Oregon (more on that later!) my monkey socks ran into a rather famous fellow sock knitter. I had the opportunity to go to a book signing and talk by the Yarn Harlot, herself, Stephanie Pearl McPhee. What a great evening it was, especially since my monkey (on the right) got its picture made with her tour sock (on the left). Hope my pal enjoys wearing some rather famous socks when she gets them! [Note to Powell's bookstore: when knitters gather, your room that is at capacity at 300, is really not big enough!]

Baby knitting

2007-05-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

Well, sock knitting will have to take a backseat to baby knitting this week. I'm going to the other side of the country to see my new grandson (who will be born this weekend!), and although I'm taking monkey socks to knit on, I'll probably be distracted once I get there! Two long plane trips in the next 10 days should produce some mighty knitting. Here's what has been using up my time lately (besides getting things ready to leave behind at school for a sub).

Look closer at the really cute buttons! Knitting for wee ones is so much fun!

Giving some monkeys a home!

2007-04-27T20:39:00.000-05:00

My package arrived yesterday, and what a bundle of wonder! Everything from my pal Joni came enclosed in a really cute surfing monkey backpack!

Next came the unveiling...sock blockers, wonderful hand dyed yarn (by Joni, herself!), and a couple of crazy, funky monkey buttons that I'm dying to wear to school. Take a gander at it all...what a wonderful pal. This package thing could become addictive. I want more! Thank you, dear Joni, for a terrific swap full of all things marvelous. Lynn

Monkeys #1 are complete!

2007-04-21T16:20:00.000-05:00

My monkey socks are finally finished. I really hope they fit my pal, and that she likes them as well as I do! I'm going to have to get some more of the JitterBug yarn for myself. I enjoyed working with it, and I've decided that how the yarn feels as you are knitting is half the fun! I've started Rebecca's mystery monkey sock but am not quite finished with the leg portion. One more project begun...to add to all those other socks on the needles! I think my goal for the remainder of the school year is to complete all pairs of socks that have been begun so far (at least 3)! This gives me several to choose from to keep from getting bored! ...except...I just received some wonderful feeling yarn from Paradise Yarns. I was attracted by the colors, but the feel is to die for! It is Artyarns Ultramerino4, and I can't keep my hands off it! The colors are so summery that I can hardly wait to begin a new pair of socks! Wait, I said I wasn't going to start anything new...maybe just this once...what do you think?

Monkey Swap #2

2007-04-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

Monkey Sock Swap TWO Questionnaire

The basics:
How long have you been knitting?
I used to knit about 35 years ago, but took many years off. I’ve been at it again for the last couple of years, now.

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
Probably intermediate.

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 10
Foot circumference: 8.5 in.
Foot length: 10.25 in.

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? I love fall colors as well as maroon (for football reasons..go DAWGS!) I also get a kick out of lime green, these days.
Do you prefer solids or variegated? Either!
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? Wool
What colors would you never wear?
Pink and other pastel shades
Knitting Gadgets I like all kinds of things.
Favorite needles. Plastic, metal, bamboo or wood? Love Addi turbos as well as bamboo. I pretty much use circulars exclusively.
Are there any knitting accessories you don't have in your collection but would like? Cute stitch markers and those things that hold your needle points together when you're not knitting!
Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? International or domestic is O.K.
Do you have any allergies? Only to hard work and cooking!

Monkey progress

2007-03-26T21:08:00.000-05:00

Seems as if I'm a pretty slow knitter compared to others in the Monkey Swap. Someone has actually finished her pair! I'm almost finished with the gusset on sock number one and pleased with my progress. The yarn is JitterBug in the colorway "Blue Parrot". The yarn feels great, but I haven't heard whether it will wear well in socks. Hope so! I didn't spend as much time this weekend knitting as I'd planned. I got hooked on a book recommended by a fellow teacher- Snow flower and the Secret Fan. A great story about two lifelong friends in long ago China. We're starting a book club at school this week and need recommendations for what to read. You'd think that I would be in several of these, being a librarian, but this will be my first. Guess this is just time for a lot of firsts for me! Any ideas?

New button

2007-03-17T18:39:00.000-05:00

Here's my daughter's blog...she is my knitting/blogger advisor! Check it out!

Monkey swap

2007-03-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm beginning on my first ever sock swap...the Monkey Sock Swap. Just hope I don't disappoint my pal. I've already started the monkey pattern, but may decide to change yarns after viewing my pal's info sheet. I really like the pattern...made one pair for daughter #2 in gray (her constant color!) and have started another pair for myself in Mississippi State maroon for football season. Can't believe I have 3 (now 4 with the swap sock) different pairs of socks going at once. Seems like all I need is more size 1 needles! This knitting thing seems to be going the way of my quilting projects...I love to start new ones, but am not so good at finishing! Guess what? Life's too short to moan and groan, so I'll just keep starting things 'cause I like to!!!!

New leaf...turning it over!

2007-03-14T21:32:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I started this blog and then just never got around to updating it! I'm going to try to blog at least once a week. Wish me luck! Obviously returned from the trip to London.! Had a wonderfultime...best part was seeing "Wicked"...fantastic! Bad news...next year we only get 2 days for Fall Break. It will be awfully hard to come up with an
exciting trip for, basically, a long weekend.

The sweater was wonderfully warm, but I don't like how the sleeves turned out...too big and long, too. I may do them over or just seam them up some. Maybe I'll decide before it gets cold again!

Knitting news...socks, socks, and more socks. I am currently working on 3 different pairs of socks (trying to ward off the "second sock syndrome"). One is just stockinette but in a self striping yarn, one is "Monkey" in a solid maroon (for football season), and the third is a slipped stitch sock with wonderful orange/brown varigated Koigu that one of my daughters gave me for Christmas. I'm also joining my first sock swap. Am I crazy, or what?

Just so I won't get bored...I'm also working on a secret baby thing for previously mentioned daughter's number 2 son who will arrive in late May.

Isn't it amazing how many things I can get started during Spring Break? Here's hoping that I manage to finish some of them!

Almost finished...

2006-10-04T00:06:00.000-05:00

The green tweedy sweater is almost finished. Just in time for my trip. Hope it's cool enough to wear it. I'm posting a picture (for the first time), so hope it turns out OK. I found the perfect buttons yesterday. I flew in to the yarn store 5 min. before they closed (I just can't keep up with the hours!) and looked at 3 buttons before I found the right ones. They pick up the orange flecks in the tweed, and I think they're great.

Knitting for the greater good...

2006-09-18T19:13:00.000-05:00

I am trying to knit socks for the Mystery Sock KAL...and I REALLY hate the way the pattern looks. I've just decided that I will get it over with so no one else will ever want to use this pattern! It's great yarn (Memories from Knit Picks) in calm shades of blue - perfect for sitting with your feet up and reading a new book, but the pattern (Shell Socks) doesn't do it justice. Of course, I could be doing something wrong, since I don't pay quite enough attention sometimes! Anyway, after others see the picture of the finished socks, no one will have to endure this pattern again!

Other news...I finished all the pieces for my green tweedy cardigan and am ready to block them. I still have to add front bands and the collar, but I think I may be finished before my Oct. deadline. I had to take a little while off from knitting to complete the Broken Dishes quilt for a friend. I made all of the blocks about 2 years ago and actually completed the quilt a whole 25 minutes before the birthday party. It's all in pink, yellow, and soft green scraps - very sweet looking-not at all what I usually come up with, but it was made for someone special and I think it fits her nicely! It also turned out much larger that I expected (although it was the exact demensions of the pattern! See what I mean about not paying enough attention?) and took longer to quilt that I realized. I've made many baby quilts that had to be finished after I wrapped them up for a shower present, so maybe I'm getting better in my old age, after all! My other top priority is to seam together the completed pullover for my husband so he'll have it to wear when we do finally get some cool weather. I had a little trouble with the neck being too tight, but solved that with a technique my daughter taught me over the phone!

My current reading material is the book, Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. We'll be going to see the musical while in London in Oct., so I figured it would be good to read it first. Right now I'm trying to decide what knitting project to carry on the plane. I'm hoping to find some great yarn while I'm there, too. Any suggestions? I'm feeling much calmer about the trip since finalizing all the hotel details. Now...what do I pack?

2006-09-04T22:54:00.000-05:00

This is the beginning of a new experience for me - blog land! I'll try to keep it updated on what I'm knitting, what I'm reading, and where I'm going. Right now I have several projects on the needles at once (I'm not unusual in that, am I?) - a mystery sock, a non-mystery sock (!), a wonderful bright green cabled cardigan, and a pullover for my husband that needs seaming. I'm trying to finish the pullover for football season since it's maroon (Mississippi State-GO DAWGS!) and the cardigan for my upcoming trip to England in October. I just returned to knitting after about 30 yrs. off. In the meantime I did just about all the other crafts at one time or another. The only one I'm still hanging onto is quilting. I just finished a Broken Dishes quilt top for a friend's 50th birthday. I now have a little over 2 weeks to machine quilt it and finish the binding. Wish me luck!