Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category
February 23, 2010
I have finally been able to get in a little walk the past couple of days. I can almost make to the end of our road, but the incline is mostly snow-covered. It’s so aggravating. Last night, it started raining and it has really helped in getting rid of the snow. I will be so happy when it is all gone. This snow was very heavy and I think we will have to have at two large ones removed. Also, a holly looks very bad. It saddens me. Even though I like the rain for snow removal, it is very hard on my joints. When I came in from walking, I could hardly get my sweater off. It’s a heavy, close-knit pullover and my shoulders really protested. I was going to sew, but I didn’t have the energy for even that. I had cut out a top and a vest the other day. The fabric is very hairy. I had to get out the Static Guard in order to get the hair off my cutting table. I hope I don’t run into too many problems putting it together. I’ll probably have to clean my machine a few times while I ‘m making them.
I’ve been cheating on my knitting. The sweater from hell is taking a back seat to my clown socks. I had taken the socks to knitting group Sunday and enjoyed working on them so much that I haven’t gone back to the sweater. My fingers just love little wooden needles. Flo says she doesn’t mind.
Tags:wlaking
Posted in Knitting, Sewing, Stuff | Comments Off on Walking Again
February 10, 2010
I was going to do this yesterday, but I was too tired.
Friday evening, it started. Eighteen inches and 24 hours later, it was finally over. The electricity went off at 3:23 Saturday morning. And stayed off until noon on Monday. It could have been prevented. We have one asshole in our neighborhood. And we do have a neighborhood here. He was told by a tree expert that a dead tree needed to come down over a year ago. The elderly couple next to him asked him on several occasions to have it removed and so did another neighbor. He always had an excuse. Well, this snow has the consistancy of wet sand. The weight of snow on the tree pulled down wires and killed the power to the entire neighborhood. He swore that no one told him and that we were all liars. He screamed at least three of neighbors. I hope he enjoys being ostracized by the entire neighborhood. And I wonder how many of them will be vindictive.
I got a lot of knitting accomplished ans I cut out a robe and night-shirt for myself on Saturday. By Sunday, it was too cold in that part of the house. Of course, I could only knit during the day.
By Monday, we were almost out of firewood. Doug was having an anxiety attack. He wanted me to take the animals and go to Reisterstown. He figured he could camp out at the neighbors. Have you ever tried to catch and cage four cats? We started around 10AM. It was almost noon by the time we got them together and everything in the car. I WAS NOT looking forward to driving 111 miles on bad roads with four screaming cats and a car-sick dog. By this time, the power company was finally able to get to the power lines. It is in a small wooded area and the truck they sent had gotten stuck during the night. At this point, I didn’t know what to do. I went out to the garage and started my van. It took a few minutes for the heater to work. Flo turned her face to it. She thought it was wonderful. I waited as long as possible. I was about to leave when the power came back on. Boy, was I happy! And the cats? They were thoroughly pissed. Olive didn’t talk to me for the rest of the day.
I especially want to tell you how much I appreciate John of John’s Tree Service. He came out an hour after Doug called and did a superior job of cleaning our driveway. Doug noticed our drive looked better than anyone else’s on the street.
The funny thing is, I slept great. It was only 38-40 degrees in our bedroom. I wore my long silk underwear and wool socks to bed and put another down comforter. I could hardly move. I slept soundly for nine or ten hours both nights. Doug didn’t sleep at all. My poor baby.
Tags:asshole, carsick dog, John's Tree Service, wet sand snow
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | 2 Comments »
February 3, 2010
At this point, I thought I had finished. The sleeves came to the same point as the picture in the book. I must have tried it on at least six times, trying to tell myself that it was fine. But it wasn’t. I like sleeves to be too long. So, what do I do? I make cuffs.
It hangs out a little in the back, but I can live with that. I also sewed in hooks and eyes down the front. It’s finally finished and I’m finally happy.
While I was away, I started another pair of socks. I didn’t want to take the sweater with me.
The pattern is from Socks, Socks, Socks on page 70. I used more stitches and smaller needles. I may also change the heel. The pattern is relatively simple and fun.
I want to get back to my Stars sweater. It depends on how many cats I have in my lap.
For a change, there was more snow on the shore than in Baltimore. I was surprised to see all this. Cora has been having fun.
Tags:Cora, Puzzle Me This sweater, Socks Socks Socks
Posted in Knitting, my pets | Comments Off on Finally Finished
January 22, 2010
About once a year, I feel like eating a hot dog. The stuff that is in them is gross, so I bought Hebrew National to feel better about it. We made pasta salad and got out the pickles and beets so love so much. I chopped an onion and reached for the catsup and mustard. They were good.
I finished sewing this evening. I’d like to start the embroidery tomorrow, but we’ll probably go out for supper, so I need to do a little cleaning. You know, I should just get a cleaning lady person. It is SO boring! I would very much rather sew, knit and create. Anyway, everything should be ready by Wednesday or Thursday.
I also finished my page on making a camera case. Yea!
Tags:camera case, cleaning, hot dogs, pickles and beets
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | Comments Off on Hot Dog Day
January 21, 2010
Yesterday, I decided to update the camera case page. Every time I added a couple of sentences, I would lose the connection. It made me crazy. I couldn’t get anywhere. I finally gave up and turned it off.
I finished the first night-shirt. The other is almost done. I should be ready for Jenn’s birthday.
Here’s my Puzzle Me This sweater. I removed the front panel and made it longer. I may also take out some of the three needle bind-offs. They look too bulky. I’ll decide after I sew the front panel back on. Flo doesn’t understand what the fuss is all about.
Tags:nightshirts, Puzzle Me This sweater
Posted in Knitting, my pets, Sewing | Comments Off on I Was Frustrated
January 19, 2010
It’s quiet. Doug is fed. The animals are fed and have gone out to play. I figure I have about 45 minutes until Doug comes in and turns on the TV. Sometimes days go by with no chance of this kind of peace.
I am not happy with my sweater. I finished the front band and attached it. I held it up and didn’t like the way it hung. I tried it on and stood in front of the big bathroom mirror. Nope. I still didn’t like it. So I took the band off. It needs the band so I am re-making it. I think I will re-attach it differently, too. I won’t give up on it. I’ll get it right. All this effort is not going to waste.
Yesterday was knitting group. I had a birthday gift for Maria. She is determined to make gloves. I gave her some sock yarn, which is also good for gloves, and my old ball winder. I had her make a swatch and told her to start the ribbing. She’s going to try and come one day soon her help. She’s trying to get Leslie to do it, too. We have such a great time together.
Cora is doing very well with the swift. She is so helpful!
My sewing is going well. One robe is almost finished. I need to do some embroidery on it before sewing the side seams. It’s much easier that way. I plan to complete the first night-shirt tomorrow and hopefully get halfway through the second. Everything should be ready by the time I cross the bay.
I talked to my son yesterday. He tried to get me to volunteer to pick a doctor for him. He complained that it was hard to call anybody since he was at work. I suggested he call one each day at lunch time with his questions. ‘Are your accepting new patients? What are your hours? Etc.’ I had all ready knocked the list down to four for him. Sometimes you just have to make your kid do things for himself.
Tags:Cora, Puzzle Me This sweater, quiet, sewing nightshirts and robes.
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | Comments Off on Alone At Last
January 15, 2010
Two days ago, yesterday and today, but I’ve been busy. I’ve started two night-shirts and a fleece robe for my daughter and a robe for me. I have also decided on my sweater. I’m making the front bands out of a small loop brioche in a rusty brown. It looks g
ood. More next time.
Tags:nightshirt, Puzzle Me This sweater
Posted in Knitting, my pets, Sewing | Comments Off on I Meant to Blog
January 11, 2010
Maria called Saturday morning asking about going to the yarn shop in Easton. About two hours later, we were finally ready to go. Leslie came too. We were not impressed, but Maria did buy a few things. There was nothing exciting there. The owner was not helpful or friendly. She was more interested in her dog and her knitting. The was another woman there giving a lesson. I thought it was strange that she only wanted the student to do things her way–that there was no other way to do it. Another thing that bothered me was when we asked about other shops, she said there were no others in the area.
Fifteen minutes later, we were at Frivolous Fibers in St. Michael’s. What a difference eight miles makes. In the front of the shop there are various items from local artisans. I bought some of the soap and I was interested in some salt and pepper shakers. The back 2/3’s was filled with yarn. And was it ever eye candy!! We had a grand time. It was almost 5PM by the time we left. It was hard to figure out at first who were the customers ans who were the workers. Everyone was having such a good time. Maria went crazy and had a really hard time making up her mind. I also found it interesting that they had a very large supply of Blue Heron yarns and none in Easton where it is made.
Sunday, I made myself a camera case. I need to get my revised notes on this and update the page. Gotta go!
Tags:Blue Heron Yarn, Frivolous Fibers, Yarn&Co
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | Comments Off on Yarn & Co, Easton MD and Frivolous Fibers, St Michaels MD
January 8, 2010
I finally got out the ham and cooked it. Now my kitchen smells, and so does my refrigerator. It was good, but I could only eat so much of it. Now I have all this leftover. I am going to be so sick of it. I’ll freeze some of it. I could make ham salad, but it’s so messy. The one thing I really like about ham is making bean soup so I guess I’ll have to buy some soup beans. Even then, I won’t be able eat it until the day after I make it. I’ll make some cornbread, too. I have a good recipe that I’ve developed over the years.
I’ve been putting my Puzzle Me This sweater together. There is a lot of three needle bind-offs that make it slow. The yarn is a bit rough and uneven. After I finish, there is the front band to make. I hope it’s worth the aggravation.
I’ve been sewing, too. I patched my husband’s and son’s jeans. I was a bit surprised at the way they smelled. The jeans were clean, but washed in different machines with different detergents. It was like the “man” smell was permanently saturated in them. I also worked on Win’s camera case. I sewed the pieces to the stabilizer. If it snows tomorrow, I may get it completed. I have been jotting down notes and taking pictures that I will be putting on my camera case page.
There’s nothing like cat help.
Tags:bean soup, camera case, cat help, ham, patching jeans, Puzzle Me This sweater
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | 1 Comment »
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 