Whipping out the WIPS

I have finished two scarves that have been on the needles for some time. The bottom of my knitting bag seems to be a vortex that hides old projects for long periods of time. :) Or could it be that my knitting style has a bit of ADD mixed in there?? I tend to have several projects going at once because I get tired of working on only one thing.....but that also tends to mean that I have a lot of unfinished stuff hogging my needles. :o)

2 WIPS Down so far.....

Here is a scarf in really pretty autumn tones of gold, sage green, rust and deep burgundy.

The yarn is Modea Dea Jai Alai in the Raffia colorway.



Normally I really don't care for fun fur type yarns or novelty yarns....but this yarn is SO pretty. I made an exception in its case. :)

I also finished up a scarf using Cascade in purple and Trendsetter in Dune. Trendsetter is SO pretty! It's 3 strands...2 are mohair, and one is metallic. It makes for a beautiful, soft scarf when carried along with a soft wool like cascade.





I also turned the heels on a pair of socks I've been working on for a long while. I'm using a cuff sock pattern from the Bernat website and Wildfoote sock yarn in Rhapsody. Now I just have to go buy a pair of Spring shoes to wear with knitted socks. :o) My digital camera doesn't photograph this colorway very well. It makes the deep purple look blue for some reason. The yarn is really more purple with just a hint of pink, green and a grey blue than the photo shows. I'm using size 3 DPNS because I tend to have a bit tighter tension with smaller yarns. I'm knitting both socks at one time so that this pair doesn't fall victim to Single Sock Syndrome. I used to get one sock done, and then 2 months later I would start the 2nd sock. If I get out 2 sets of DPNs and just do both socks at the same time, then I can't get distracted and not finish the pair. It's that Knitting ADD again!



I have the book that teaches how to knit socks using 2 circulars...I need to actually get that out and give it a try. But I kinda like using double points.

I do already have another pair of socks cast on....I started the ribbing on the first sock last night. I'm using a pattern from "Knit Socks: No matter what the weight.'' It's a pattern book that has patterns adjusted to any weight of yarn. Easy patterns....and the skein I wanted to use was a bit short on yardage to make anything but a pair of ankle socks. I'll post a picture of the new pair on another post. It's that Project ADD popping up again....I can't even finish one pair of socks before my needles are calling to me to cast on for another pair. :)

My husband is also getting crafty. He enjoys making candles. He started out simple with a candle making kit and really made some cool things! Now he's graduating to more advanced stuff. The other day a huge box appeared on our porch. 60 pounds of wax he ordered.



Here's one big 10 pound chunk. The 2nd box which contained some fragrances, dyes and molds that he ordered hasn't arrived yet. Maybe today! We have all decided that waiting for packages is really really hard. My son is waiting for some books he ordered. Hubby is waiting for his candle stuff. And I'm waiting on 3 yarn orders. 1 big one for a yarn swap I'm in, and 2 that I ordered off Etsy for myself as a diet reward. I keep checking the tracking # from the big order....the package keeps getting closer and closer and closer. It says it will be delivered on Thursday (that's tomorrow)....but there's always hope that it might be TODAY instead! And I have a pattern book coming from ebay too! WooHoo!

Here's my little helper:



And his Kilroy look:



And a picture of our Tortie cat Gracie. Doesn't she look snooty??




We recently adopted another cat, who we renamed Bruce. He's a huge grey stripey tabby. Our little black cat took to him right away. Gracie, however, would just look at him like she was totally appalled he shared the same house as her. I could just hear her saying, "Stripes??? Oh that is just so five minutes ago!!'' Torties are totally stuck on themselves, you know.

Here's a picture of Bruce. He is a HUGE cat....so we called him Bruce after Bruce Banner who turns into the Hulk. And, also so we could fake an Australian accent and say "Good on Ya, Bruce'' all the time. :o)




Isn't he pretty?? We just love him. :o)

Well, that's enough for today!! I'll save something for a post tomorrow!

TTFN!! Juli

Stitchin' and a'grinnin'!

I went for a couple of years not doing any real thread work at all. Just too much going on at home with a toddler. This month, I finally got my steel hooks out again and got busy! I'm on my 3rd doily this month now.

Here's the 2nd one I finished:


This is the Windsor Oval pattern from Absolutely Fabulous Doilies. It was fun to make, although I really don't enjoy front post triples. :o)

As soon as I finish the doily that is on my hook right now, I will take a break from crochet for a bit and finish my knit socks. :o) I have project-ADHD sometimes. Seems I always have several going at once because I get tired of working on the same thing relatively quickly sometimes. At least I've gotten into the habit now of actually finishing everything. Nothing sits 2/3 done in my workbasket for 2 years anymore. :o)

And, here's my questionaire for the Favorite Color Swap: (Thanks for all your hard work Nicole!)

1. What are your top three favorite colors? Blue, Deep cherry red, Purple (jewel tones).

2. What crafts do you really enjoy? Knitting and crochet.

3. What products do you really covet? Crochet thread. Sock yarn.

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things? There is more than crafting?? LOL. I love to read. I like outdoor activities. I'm working hard to lose weight. I enjoy spending time with my family and playing games with my 3 year old.

5. Is there anything you collect? boardgames and cardgames. Thread and yarn. Steel crochet hooks. Old sewing notions. Vintage postcards and photos. Americana art. Knitting or crochet memorabilia. Vintage doily and vintage lace patterns. Old bits of vintage thread work. Healthy recipes.

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol? I'm a Cancer. Can't remember which Chinese symbol I am -- the monkey maybe? 1968.

7.What are your favorite……scents/smells?…spicy scents like patchouli, cinnamon, lavender. Lavender is the only floral scent that I'm not allergic to. Other florals give me a whopping headache and make me sneeze.

types of music and/or bands?…I have ecclectic tastes in music. I listen to everything from Big Band music to alternative. My favorite music is classic rock from the 60's/70's, and Loreena McKennitt. I don't like rap music (the lyrics are a bit too rough for me), country (a bit too whiney and depressing and sounds too much like yodeling sometimes for me), or screamer music.

authors?…Agatha Christie is my favorite author, but I also read a lot of historical fiction (not the romance novel sort), and ghost story type books. Another ecclectic area for me....I read about anything really except pulp romance novels.

animals?…I love cats! And I also really like dogs. We have 5 cats and 2 dogs at home.

places to shop?…Craft and yarn shops! :o) I also LOVE antique stores, thriftshops and flea markets. :o) I like to display little bits of vintage goodies. In my front room, I have an antique sewing machine on display, as well as some wood thread spools and other dashes of vintage crafting and sewing.


season?…fall is my favorite season. Perfect weather, and lots of nice holidays and fun. :o) But I also like Spring as well!!! Great time to be outside and enjoying the sunshine!

yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies?…I love unusual colors of thread. I want to try to hand dye some at some point and see how it comes out. I don't really have much fabric on hand as I only use it to line purses. I have been looking for a yard or so of jewel toned fabric to line a recycled silk purse I made, but always seem to forget when I'm actually at the store. I have just about every size of knitting needle imaginable, but have a couple holes in my steel crochet hook collection in the smaller sizes. I need to buy size 10 through the teeny sizes again as I can't find them. I have a book that has patterns for making doilies with sewing thread, and I want to try it. :o) Looks like a fun challenge, and sewing thread comes in so many neat colors! :o)

candies or goodies? I'm on a major diet, and also am pre-diabetic. So I can't have regular candy or sweets. I don't use any sort of artificial sweetners (nutrasweet, sucralose or splenda, saccharin or sweet and low) as I'm allergic to them. And I have cut High Fructose Corn Syrup out of my diet because I was getting wayyyy to much sugar. I can have stuff like flavored coffee or hot tea though. :O)

8. Do you have any wish lists? I do have an amazon list. There's a link on my blog. I put it up for hubby so that he could get ideas for birthday presents, etc.

9. Are you allergic to anything? I'm highly allergic to cigarette smoke and all floral scents except lavender. And I can't have any artificial sweetners. And I'm pre-diabetic....so no regular sugar either. Sigh. lol. :)

10. Do you have any pets? What are they? we have 5 cats (3 indoor and 2 outdoor) and two little dogs.

Also, if you have a Ravelry ID, please include it here. On Ravelry, I'm woolieworm

Hugs! Juli