Some of My Recent Forays

So I figure that while my boys are in bed, I'd better get some photo updates posted on my blog of the dishcloths that I've recently finished... Woohoo!!!! Plus a couple of other things that I've been meaning to share, too...

First, a special thanks again to my Canadian Dishloth exchange buddy Suzanna Eve for her cloth. I promised a better photo of it when I first posted about it. Love the lacy pattern, simple yet very functional... Its very pretty.



Thanks again... I'm probably the tardiest person with exchanges but they will get to their intended recipient, if not eventually.... Note to self, move quicker.









Plus, I did my first Mason Dixon ballband cloth.... Oooow that was fun!

I used two leftover balls of verigateds that I had kicking around, plus the swimming pool blue as my other colour. The result was.... Multi-pretty.... Here it is in my kitchen in our 5th wheel out at the lake (where I finished it.).



I'll definitely do this one again too... I tried carrying the colour up the sides and tried breaking the yarn each time.. It was a learning experience. I think I preferred to carry the colour as all that weaving was insane!

The pink/red verigated was from the mock lacy cloth that I did (again through my yahoo dishcloth group's KAL) and the purple/yellow verigated was leftover from the cloth that I made from a suggestion of a lacy pattern that Dorothy made in a comment on my blog.





Speaking of the Lacy Mock cloth, I don't think I ever posted a "OFN" shot of it... So, here she is!



OK! So what else?...Well, I've also done an Oak Leaf cloth, here. It was an interesting pattern to knit and I enjoyed making it, I just prefer to knit stitch patterns with repeats to learn. I'm sure I'll make this one again as this one is slated for my Fall dishcloth exchange buddy from my Canadian Discloth group, Mary Anne. Shhh don't tell her. Its in the mail so hopefully she won't stumble on my blog until she receives it. Now I see her blog roll includes my link so I'm taking a big chance... yikes.

I've also taken a whirl at making my own stitch markers. Its my first attempt and I'm curious about how they will work out.



I figured why not. I haven't done anything large or complex enough yet to warrant using them, but I can't resist jewellery of any sorts... If anything, I think they look decadent hanging off my needles while I pretend I know what I'm doing. ;)

Lazy lazy lazzzyyyyy

Has it really been a month since my last post?! Yikes! I'm so sorry... I have been so busy with "life" lately I haven't had any time to sit down and type out my thoughts... Mostly, I've been a flat out lazy blogger.

My needles haven't been resting, though. I've finished 3 different cloths, worked on my Irish Hiking Scarf which I love, but get bored of with because of the quick repeats (that's my own undoing), and plotted out numerous toques (hats) for my two boys (hubby and son) with colour changes and ribs and hopefully cables... Now if only I could just "get bizzy" before the snow flies. We've been lucky so far (knocks on wood).

With the weekend coming, I vow to reassert myself into the knitting bloggers universe! That is if the big pile of laundry doesn't get me first........

Again With the Dishcloths..

So, I joined in a new KAL for, yup, dishcloths. I love them because you can practice all the stitch patterns you can get your hands on! A usable gauge swatch, really.

On my two favorite sets of needles I've got two different cloths being worked up. One from the Monthly dishcloth KAL. Its the mid-month pattern, and one for my Canadian Dishcloth group's fall exchange. Nan has asked that I partner up with Mary Anne as her partner had to "bow out" unexpectedly and unfortuntely... She just lost her husband. Prayers are with her and her family... So, instead Mary Anne will be getting her gift in the snail mail now that I finished it.

Photos to follow.

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are pink aluminum.Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic things. If they're 99 cents at Goodwill all the better! You are moved by striking colors and tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch session in the sun. Just remember, while you're being kitschy cool, don't get too cold. Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails, baby!

Been A Long Time Coming

Posting anything has been difficult lately with the Back to School Craze that's swept the Country lately....

That and work, going to the lake, bombing around town in my new car, summer holidays... Blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. This lil ol post is just a teaser....

Here's what's been occupying my needles mostly as of late. We had an exchange in the Canadian Dishcloth Group I belong to and I was lucky to exchange cloths with a super nice lady in Halifax (Hi Suzanna). She sent me the lovely blue/green/yellow cloth that's resting on the top right hand side of the photo. I should have done a better photo of it, what was I thinking.... I also got some chocolate that was "confisgated" by my son and a sample of some detergent for wool. Thanks again, I hope you enjoyed your cloth and goodies I sent....



This is the cloth I sent her.... Its the ZigZag Stripes pattern I've got posted here on my blog. It was fun to do but I really had to concentrate... Again, I don't think the photo captures the pattern well enough. I'll update it when I take a better one.



I finished my shawl that I started for my Triangular Shawl KAL.... Here it is in all its glory resting comfortably on our sofa out at the lake. There's a few boo-boos in it, but all in all, I'm pretty happy with my first big piece.



We decided instead of doing the "family summer vacation trip" together this year, we'd seperate our holiday time so that our son could be at home all summer instead of having to go to his grandmother's. My hubby took him to the Dinosaur Provincial Park earlier so when it was my turn to do something "summer vacation" like with the boy, we went to the beach! The sandcastle that my son and I made during our "mini-holiday" when we went to Sylvan Lake. It was hot and sunny and wonderful to be able to go just him and I, and hotel it for a few days.



... and my new car .... (Notice my hubby's head poking out the top.. heehee.) The back windows have since been tinted and now it looks really hot! I want to wash it and detail it again then I'll update this photo also.

My Cabled Irish Hiking Scarf

I love knitting these cables! The pattern is so nice. Its a simpe repeat that once you get going, you just don't want to stop! The Conquering Cables KAL was such a great idea, I'm glad I joined... Thanks ladies for organizing this one.

This is only about 2 hours worth of knitting and its already close to 12 inches long. I know there are some who have already finished theirs and probably faster than me too, but hey, its not a race...

My niece asked me to knit her a poncho for back to school. Maybe it'll have cables in it.

Dishcloth Weekend

Summer holidays are without a doubt the best way to unwind and recharge the batteries. They give me a chance to get things done I wouldn't do otherwise. Like reorganize entire bedrooms, go through piles of clothes that no-one wears anymore and KNIT!

We went out to the lake this last weekend and it was wonderful! Not super hot, by any stretch, kind of drizzly and overcast, but great weather for just sitting around and relaxing. The kids were busy riding the quads, with helmets and a pre-determined speed limit set by us, AND within viewing distance. Our boy is very responsible on a quad and doesn't grumble with our rules.

Anyway, I managed to knit up 4 dishcloths during our 4 days out. It was perfect!

The first one is a simple but pretty lacy pattern that
Dorothy left for me in a comment she posted on my blog. Thanks Dorothy! I chose to break up the pattern with stockinette between each panel and really like the way it turned out. I did have some trouble with it though, each panel of lace is just a bit different. Hard to tell until you really scrutinize it, but all in all, its a nice big piece (about 8x10).


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The second and third are variants of Granny's Fav and the DW cloth. This one was tons of fun! Especially when I did the second one and figured out when to start the pattern closer to the edge so that the whole thing is in the DW pattern.
The picture however is super bad so I'll have to take another of that one.


Then, just for funsies, I did a Granny's fav. Would you believe this is only the second one I've ever done.. With so many great dishcloth patterns out there, I've never really thought of doing more of these. This I think I knit up in about an hour and a half.



PLUS, still on one set of needles is the Mock Lacy Cloth from my Monthly Dishcloth Group's KAL. I really need to finish this one even though, (I know I'll be making another) I debated frogging it as there's a couple of boo-boos in the repeats.

Dude - Where's My Car?!

So. I tickered when my new Caliber should be arriving. Like an expectant mommy waiting for the stork. 40 Days, 30 Days, 20 Days, 10 Days.... I phoned today. TWO OR THREE MORE WEEKS MINIMUM!

OMG!

I'm now on holidays ...without reliable transportation... This bites, sucks and blows. I know that's not nice to say but, here's the kicker. I booked my holidays off, thinking that when I did so I'd have my new car to bond with. Take my son on road trips around Alberta. See all the sights... The Giant Egg in Vegreville . The UFO landing pad in St. Paul. The Giant Mundare Sausage in Mundare... PLus a couple others I just can't remember them right now. We did it one summer with my family and as cheesy as it sounds, I enjoyed it! It was an Alberta Bound Road-trip.

Anyway. Now. I just don't know... End of rant.

I'm a Cablerina... dance cables, dance!

Get it? Cablerinas... Ballerinas.... OK. I'm just really excited about this one, so sue me! LOL

I'm having a blast Conquering Cables! (Insert really big smile here.) I've always "adored" cables and envied every big and beautiful one I've ever seen! In fact, my absolutely most favorite sweater was an aran cable in "ivory" cotton that I literally wore out. Could not be saved! Holes in the "girl-zone", if ya get my drift. I'd wear camis under it so I could wear it in public... BTW, I'm not exactly a size "2". I didn't care! The sweater begged to be worn and I wore it out!...

Anyway, I've started my Irish Hiking Scarf (which by the way, I've downloaded the pattern onto every computer I've touched since I started knitting in January...) in Red Heart Cozy Wool Paprika on No. 11 bamboo needles (bulky 5, 70% acrylic, 30% wool). I've frogged it twice now. The first time out, I did it on No. 8 Bamboos, and mucked up the 3rd repeat of cables in my excitement of doing the first two right! It was so pretty... I just couldn't stop! Anyway, after I frogged the first one, I restarted on the larger needles, but didn't like how loose it was. Got grumpy and in a fit of "over-perfectionist" rage, frogged it all after my first repeat of 8 rows...

That's when I had an Epiphany! I'm going cable at row 6 instead of 8, AND, instead of repeating the pattern 3 times, because of my bulky weight yarn and big fat needles, I'll do the cable repeat twice. The Extra 2 rows aren't really helping me any, other than making me tired as I'm really trying to watch my tension and "tighten up".. By row 8, it was looking holey and sloppy with big baggy ladders... Anyway, tonight I've done 5 sets of 6 rows and its freakin awesome!!!

You'll have to take me word on it though as my hubby and son took my camera with them on their "father/son" holiday. When they get home Thursday, tho, I will take plenty o'pictures!...

Faith and Blarney! I love this Irish Hiking Scarf!

From Too Busy, To Can't Stop Knitting!

Well, it seems that my lack of blogging lately has contributed nicely to my excessive knitting these days.

I've done 3 cloths in 4 days. All of which I can't show just yet as they are gifts and I don't want to ruin the surprise for their intended recipients. Let me just say this, though... I have been having such a good time doing this cloths, they're patterns I'm just learning but they're fairly easy to memorize! Makes for a fast knit!

Once I figure who gets what, plus I think I still need to do about 4 more before my gifting session is finished, I will post photos of all my hard work!

My son, (who turns 10 in Oct.) bless his heart, asked me to teach him how to knit! I grabbed some big needles, some cotton yarn, cast on a dozen stitches and we went at it. In no time, he had a rhythm down and was knitting like a pro! He even made himself a wristband... I'll share the photo once I download them to my computer. It was a blast!

Oh yeah!... I've also joined a Beginner Cable KAL called Conquering Cables. Its going to be great! I need to see if there's anything in my stash that will work for the Irish Hiking Scarf I'll be doing... Cables are so beautiful and I'm hoping that I won't get too frustrated learning. Patience, young jedi.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone, if I don't get a chance to post again this week...