I can't seem to keep my mind on doing "constructive things", like laundry that I'm behind on, catch up on my bookkeeping, or knitting anything very complicated, so decided it was time to write a new blog.
I think part of what's causing this crazy feeling is that our daughter, husband and 2 kids are in the air right now, flying back to the U.S. after living in Doha, Qatar for a while and I'm both anxious and excited. Anxious because of all the turmoil happening in the Middle East, and excited to see them and hug those grandchildren!! They are now going to be living in Las Vegas and we hope they stay there for a while - of course, this depends on son-in-law's company. At least they'll be reasonably close to us now and we'll get to see them more often. It's about a 6 hr drive from our place.
I've been trying to work on my Sea of Dreams baby blanket (a new great-grandbaby coming next spring, and on my 2nd Happy Dance Sock. I'm having trouble really getting into either one of them right now and can't "count" correctly!!
SO......instead, I started these yesterday at our knitting meetup and so far am enjoying the "simpleness". I'll finish the 2nd one and knit the green one today, then maybe my mind will go back to work on the complicated projects I have to work on. Right? Right!
So long for now, and happy knitting to you!
Seems like my world has been on a merry go-round of late! Not much knitting, but lots of company. Our daughter, husband and 2 g-daughters were here for 5 days. They flew back to Washington yesterday, so today is rather quiet with lots of laundry to do.
The first couple of days they were here we took a trip to a local nursery/bird refuge which the girls loved. Lots of macaws, parakeets, parrots, etc. The g-daughters got in a lot of hours swimming in our community pool. They've gone home with some red/pink places on their bodies - in spit of lots of sunscreen.
On Sunday we drove to OUT OF AFRICA north of Phoenix. What a lot of fun seeing so many wild animals who have been rescued. We got to see the feeding trucks going around and watch the animals (especially the big cats) tear into their food. After leaving there, we drove on up to Flagstaff where we spent the night. The next morning we drove on up to the Grand Canyon and hiked along a few trails enjoying the amazing vistas of the Canyon. The temperature was cool (in the low 80's), unlike the 107 degrees in Maricopa.
So since this is a "knitting" blog, all I can report on is what I have "not" done. Still working on the 2nd sock of my Happy Dance socks, but am being tempted to start the "Couplet" sock pattern, as there will be KAL starting July 1st. We'll see how disciplined I am.
Keep knitting everyone - till next time!
I received these beautiful skeins of Louet Gems Sport yarn in the Linen Grey colorway today from Paradise Fibers.
Even though I have umpteen projects OTN (on the needle), I can hardly wait to start the Warble Cowl by Bonnie Sennett - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/warble. I think I'm in need of an intervention! How many of you have "startitis"? Stay turned to see how long I hold off starting this.
Have a nice weekend.
I've been working like crazy on the 2nd sock of this pair of my Happy Dance socks. They should be finished in the next day or so.
I'm very anxious to get started knitting my first pair of toe-up socks after receiving this book, which today I took to Office Max and had a spiral binder on it so the pages lay flat. I've looked through all the patterns and also the instructions on casting on the toe. Oh so simple, compared to the kitchener stitch on top-down socks.
I got this fun package in the mail when I got home today. It's 6 spools of Chinese Knotting Cord for making Friendship bracelets. I have 2 granddaughters coming to visit in a couple of weeks and think this might be something they'd like to do. They are both on the "crafty" side and think they'd have fun making and taking these home.
Have fun with your knitting and keep cool 'til next time.
Thought I'd bring you up to date on what I've been working on.
I finished my Woods and Water cowl using Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in the colorway-Crumble, which is a burgundy/deep brick red and gold color. This was terribly hard to photograph and after several tries, this was the best one I could come up with. The yarn was not very soft to work with, but it's great now after giving it it's Soak wash and blocking.
The second project I've been working on is my Happy Dance Socks, which are actually just Plain Vanilla Socks, but so named because of their "happy" colors. I had not knit socks in a while, but everything went fine until I got to the kitchener stitch at the bind off. I sat in front of the YouTube and tried twice, had to rip back as I saw holes. So for the 3rd time, I printed out the 4-step instructions in 25pt type on a piece of paper and followed along just fine. Glad to get this one done and have now cast on for the 2nd one.
In the future, I am going to learn how to knit Toe-Up socks to avoid my problems with the kitchener. I have this book by Wendy Johnson coming from Amazon tomorrow!
Have a good week with your knitting!
LAZY SUNDAY!
Finished my Woods and Water Cowl today. It was a fun knit for a variety of reasons: first because it was knit on size 10.5 needles, nice yarn, a variety of stitches, including a new one: double twisted yarnover.
I knit this with MadelineTosh Vintage which doesn't feel very soft at the moment. I'm hoping it will be much nice after getting it's Soak Bath.
I still have to finish off the 1st pair of the Happy Dance socks. The "kitchener stitch" to close the toe and I are going round and round. I've undid it twice now and am waiting for a calm moment to give a try for the 3rd time. It's not like I've never done it before, but it has been awhile. Maybe after my afternoon "drink" (mocha mix and Bailey's) will be a good time to go at it again.
We're having some warm days here in Arizona. Has been and will be in the low 100's for 10 days or so. Nice inside knitting weather!
