Happy Dance!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!  The La Vie de Bois socks are finished. The socks are designed by Heather of Highland Handmades and Fiberistafiles.  The pattern was well written and not a difficult lace sock to knit. I liked the heel on this toe up sock. It is alway rewarding to finish the heel with no holes. ;~)

Still working on the garter stitch striped baby blanket ala SheilaD37 from Knit1Hearttoo podcast. This is a fun knit and may become my go to baby blanket as it is inexpensive, 100% cotton, soft and colorful. 

I plan to cast on a toe up sock with an afterthought heel knit from Knit One Crochet Too’s Pediwick sock yarn.  I encouraged my LYS to order several new colors. I plan to use the watermelon colorway and two of the greens to knit the socks. I am planning to make the toes, heel and cuffs in stripes of dark and light green. The main body of the socks will be the watermelon color. I am going to make this sock for the LYS as a sample to help sell more of this yarn. I hope this turns out as well as I imagine it.

I found buttons for the off white baby yoke sweater that I finished last week. The buttons are chickens!  Just need to block the sweater and sew on the buttons. I made the 12 to 18 months size so that the baby will get more use out of the sweater.  This is knit using the Basic Baby Yoke Sweater in Plymouth Yarns Jeanne Chunky on size US 10 needles.  This is one of the 5 hour baby sweater patterns. This pattern is a keeper. 

Still working my way through Maggie Righetti’s book on sweater design. Hope to start my cardigan sometime in March. We’ll see.

Busy week coming up. Not sure how much time I will have for knitting or reading.

Until next time........

Arizona Trip

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Arizona.

Unusually pretty cactus

Beautiful and smelled great

Great room with nightly turn down service

Red Rocks of Sedona

Thursday was Spa Day!

I'm supposed to climb that?

Spectacular View - worth the climb

Camelback Mountain 

I’m ready to go back!

Random

Still very busy trying to pare down my list of commitments while sneaking in a few minutes during the day to get some knitting done.  

Finished Object

Have finished another five hour baby sweater. The latest one made from Plymouth Yarns Jeanne Chunky in a natural colorway. Still need to weave in a few ends and choose buttons. Around here the choice is so limited.  Maybe I will have time to look for some when I go to the state capital this weekend for a conference.

Works in Progress (WIP)

Still working on my La Vie de Bois socks. I have turned the heel on the second sock and have worked 1/2 of the pattern repeat. Four more to go and then the cuff ribbing. I am trying to finish them in time to submit them for the KnitOneHearttoo February sock KAL (knit a-long).

First Sock

I sent Wendy and Sheila of KnitOneHearttoo a copy of my Rosebud Trellis Cowl and have donated a copy for the sock KAL prizes. Their next KAL is a neck accessory KAL. I hope this will be good advertising and I will be able to sell a few more patterns.

Second WIP is the red vanilla socks. I have turned the heel and am working the leg on the first sock.

Earlier picture of Red Socks

Third WIP is my garter ridge striped baby blanket. I have finished 2-1/2 stripes. Plan to have 10 or 11 stripes.

Reading

I have started Maggie Righetti’s Sweater Design in Plain English. I plan to use this as an inspiration for my forest green alpaca cardigan. I am also again working my way through Jan Karon’s Mitford series. I am currently reading New Song. Just yummy.

Swap

The Dramatic Knits Favorite Musical Swap package is in the mail. My partner’s favorite musical is “Little Shop of Horrors”. I think I put together a pretty good swap package. I hope she likes it.

Love It or Leaf It Hat (part of swap package)

Need to get to our investment clubs monthly reports and work on getting the taxes done. The financial partner’s work is rarely ever done.

Until next time...........

Overwhelmed

Knitting 

Finished a baby yoke sweater and hat, and a project for the Dramatic Knits Podcast’s Favorite Musical Swap. Still working on the La Vie de Bois socks by Heather of Highland Handmades. I am close to turning the heel on the second sock. I am working on the heel flap of my first February red sock.   Have signed up for the Mystery Mitten project by LaLa of the Knitgirllls which requires learning new techniques. Not sure what I am thinking.

Retreat and Book Club

Need to get started preparing for the women’s retreat for Lent. There will be 40 women attending. The retreat is based on the women of the gospels and I am facilitating two of the sessions. Also, the ongoing book club has the current book finishing next Monday. I am facilitating the session. The new book starts the following Monday. I hope I can convince another member of the group to facilitate.

Family

Spent many hours today trying to catch up with hubby to get his phone to him. He left it at home and needed it for work.  Also, trying to get paperwork together to send to our daughter so that she can start on her taxes. I also eat lunch each weekday with my Mom and every Wednesday with my Mom and sister. While spending time with them is  lovely, it takes a lot of time  that might be used to get other things done. Sometimes, being the dutiful wife, sister, mother and daughter is overwhelming.

State Activities

Need to get a letter sent out detailing a service project for an upcoming state convention. Also, have to firm up the guest speakers for the ladies luncheon. Bought items today to make centerpieces. The theme is clean of heart named after the center that allows homeless to take showers and get their clothes washed. Much to do in a short period of time.

In two weeks, we have a conference to go to which involves ladies’ luncheons and a formal dinner dance. I have a new dress, but need to pack and plan for the weekend.

Arizona

Have finally unpacked from our trip to Arizona. The dirty clothes in the laundry room resemble Camelback Mountain, which we hiked while on our trip. Hope to get pictures up soon. Also, plan to print photos of our trip to put together a small album and to send to others who were on the trip with us.  A few more things on the long list to get done.

Doctors

Two doctors appointments this morning. Yearly physical and allergy shots. Guess I am doing this for love of me since it’s Valentine’s Day. Mammogram is normal, exam normal and only a small reaction to the allergy shots.

So much to get done in a short period of time. Would love to go back to Arizona and sit by the  pool and knit. Ahh! Heaven!  Alas, not to be.

Lots of Knitting

Finished Items

The two scarves I was knitting for grandsons, Logan and Holden, are finished. YEAH!  They will be in the mail soon to them. The scarves used the Hogwarts Scarf pattern by Lauren Kent. The boys chose their colors. Each scarf is 6 inches by 50 inches with a 6 inch fringe. They will be nice and warm.

HO (half finished object)

I also finished the first of the La Vie de Bois socks by Heather of Highland Handmades. The pattern is very well written. 

Works in Progress

The second La Vie de Bois sock has been cast on and the toe is almost finished. I am working on size US 2 (2.75 mm) needles in Invercargil colorway of Berroco Comfort Sock. I have to work on this sock when I am uninterrupted. Since this is not often, I cast on another sock. This time in red Berroco Comfort Sock on size US 1 (2.5 mm) needles. This will be a plain sock with gusset and short row heel. I plan to add an intarsia heart in white on the heel flap.  We’ll see. These will be my February socks. They will be much firmer knit than the La Vie de Bois socks.

Next on the Needles

I joined the Dramaticknits podcast Favorite Musical Swap.  My swap partner’s favorite Musical is Little Shop of Horrors. I am looking for a knitting pattern to make for her. I also have found some neat swag to include in the package. We are limited to one knitted item and $10 for the swag. Let’s see how creative I can be. Come on Etsy!

Charity Knitting

A call has gone out for us to show our support and prayers for the designer Lisa Dykstra yenforyarn. Lisa has ovarian cancer and it is no longer in remission. Heather boutrosbabe of Highland Handmades has re-kindled the Yen for Yarn KAL. Melissa Meliabella of His and Her Podcast is a part of this wonderful charity too:-)  

I bought her pattern Winter Birches Fingerless Mitts.  They are gorgeous! I am looking forward to casting them on. My prayers are with Lisa. Join the KAL and send her your good wishes.

Travel

Hubby and I head to Arizona this weekend for a 6 day vacation at a beautiful resort. We need the rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. We are so looking forward to spending time together away from our normal cares and jobs. I plan to take lots of pictures to share with you.

Until next time, enjoy your knitting.