busy busy busy

last night, as driving home, i tuned into a radio station that announced that they would have all the holiday classic favorites playing 'all the time' through this holiday season.

i guess that's what happens right after halloween? right?

however, things have "happened" since my last post.

first of all, i attended SAFF.


in years past, they had a big "this is not the tractor show" sign posted here. they still have this sign, but it's on the other side of the entrance.

this event is a favorite of mine --- it's a combination of going home, spending a day with  mom w/o other 'things' going on, YARN, and just fun fun fun.


it was an amazing day. the weather was so much warmer than last year. last year, it was a whopping 29* when we rolled up to our parking space. this year? … it was so "not as cold" that i didn't even notice.

by lunchtime, i was baking under the sun in a long sleeve t-shirt.


the picture here, and subsequent, are pretty crappy --- the color is off --- i was taking pictures under a fading sky --- so they all have that 'evening blue' hue to them.


first, is this amazing yarn i got from the 'black sheep farm' from morganton, nc. they don't have a website, but i found their information on the vendor list from SAFF. i have scribbled all their contact information on the backside of my yarn labels.

the yarn is a superwash merino @ approx 250 yds each hank. i got 4 hanks. "approximately" 1000 yards.

and i've started a sweater ….

 
this is some miss babs "yowza" ! … OH SO PRETTY!

the color is almost black with dark blue highlights. i have enough for a sweater. i'm still debating which design to knit.


the next 2 items, yarn kits from miss babs …

on the left the polydactyl set … to knit tubularity in the exact colorway, "jelly fish".

though, i have failed. i started it in the recommended needle size and the feel is too compact. i will restart in a larger needle.

regardless, i love LOVE love this color combination.

the other kit is to knit leftie --- mom chose this --- for ME to knit. thanks mom!


and one last thing for me ….

a gradient kit. 5 hanks of fingering yarn, in 5 shades of? (gray?!)

i hate cockroaches & kakerlake

YUCK YUCK YUCK!

i moved an old piece of furniture today, and found these 2 remains ….


SO … INCREDIBLY…. DISGUSTING !!!

they are big! here, in the south, sometimes people call them "water bugs" … ???!

i call them moth__-fuc___s.

H A T E ! H A T E ! H A T E!

pictured with american and old italian coins for size …….

the month is already passing too quickly!

i am working 10 hour shifts these days, so there's not much time for things i want to do, or need to do. of course, i try to do the necessary things first. however, the "want to do" is more fun!


i guess this falls under the "want to do".

next weekend, i am going to SAFF. i'm SO looking forward to next weekend.

in preparation for next weekend, i told myself that i should finish crocheting this shawl. i started this shawl last year, when i purchased my yarn in miss bab's booth.

here's a picture of my yarn purchase from last year.


the yarn is called "yet" lace … and i cannot sing any higher praises!

so, i started working again on the tricolore scialle … and though i accomplished much early on, i eventually ran into so many problems that i stopped working on it.

since i started this shawl, the pattern has been updated. the pattern is much better now … with illustrations and stitch counts.

with the updated pattern in hand, i revisited this project.










it is completed … mistakes & all … though no one will find them. i hope to wear this next weekend.

starry starry night

… this is a favorite tune from the past. and i think about this song each time i'm knitting on my pogona shawlette.


i purchased this yarn in 2009 at SAFF. i was more into sock knitting then vs. now. however, i never found a sock pattern "worthy" of this beautiful yarn.

recently, i found a shawlette pattern definitely worthy! … the pogona (stephen west design).


the yarn is Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock. it's L O V E L Y ! ! ! … and the colorway is called "starry night". starry starry night …...

so, would a man wear this? i wonder …..

stupid hook!

i cannot find it … stupid hook! apparently i have a 4mm clover hook. where? i don't know. and i want to finish a crochet project with the same hook. where is it? i don't know!


the pictures are dark. it is autumn here … the light is fading. however … stupid hook!


not too long from now (about 2 weeks), i'm going home to visit SAFF … and i want to show off my finished shawl(ette).

i can finish it now, but not without this hook. i might have to find a different 4mm hook in my stash. this makes me grumpy.

i'm knitting a sweater!

…. not that this is "news". but, this one will likely be finished in a reasonable amount of time, and then i can start another.

i'm thinking, i'm more excited about what i might start next instead of what i am working on.

however, this is the heather raglan from knitscene winter/spring 2010.


the yarn used in the pattern is 100% alpaca … which i do have in my stash, but by a different company.

i knitted, washed & blocked my swatch.


and all's good.


i'm happily knitting away … and hoping that i don't end up looking like the michelin tire man! i don't think i will, because of the drape of alpaca vs. wool.

what else is up? S H O E S ! ! !


i got a new pair of shoes today, for the fall (and summer, winter, etc ….).

they are red leather clogs, and they are super-comfy!


they are too casual to wear to work, except on fridays.

and, they also require me to knit some other sweaters to go with the new shoes. isn't that how life is?

one for me, one for him

the for me part is something i didn't knit.

this is hitchhiker. knitted by deb.


she gave this to me the other day --- and i love it!

the yarn she used is a non-wool sock yarn. i do not have the label, however i used something similar when i made my patchwork socks.

the weather is a bit cooler today, and i've been home most of the day --- i have been wearing it around the house.

… finished project #2 … for marco ….


i finished his socks, but i cannot get them to photograph well. either the color is off, or it's hard to see the stitch pattern.


the color and stitch pattern are better in this shot.

the socks will be a christmas gift, only because sending a package to italy is expensive and unreliable. airfare and a personal visit is definitely the way to go!

i have also finished my pink malabrigo lace banana leaf scarf. it just needs to be blocked (schmutzie volunteered to block it for me).

i'm itching. ITCHING. to cast on something new … but should probably finish other projects first.

pink & green ….. pink & green

happy labor day!

i love a weekday off, especially a monday. however, tomorrow will be twice as challenging.

1st of the month, first business day of the month, … after a 3 day weekend ….

but, back to the knitting!


pink & green!

on the left is my banana leaf shawl. it's lovely. i've never knitted with malabrigo lace before --- but all the rumors are true.

it is delicate (though i've not broken it yet). the end of my scarf has gotten fuzzy (especially the tail where i cast on), and it's deliciously soft!

i bought two hanks of yarn. i fell in love with the 1st hank (a soft pink). but, i could not find a good match for hank #2. i chose the closest one to it.

when i wound the yarn, the yarn i started with was the nice soft pink. as i progressed, the shade grew darker.

i wound the second hank. it was darker --- so i rewound to find the other end which was lighter. the colors are blending well.


the color changes are not due to the angle of my camera or the light, but the dye of the yarn.


here's the green part … sock #2 of marco's socks.

now, both projects have entered the realm of "mindlessness" … i can work on either, without a pattern.