Myrtle Beach accomplishments

Here is some knitting, half finished on the drive down. It is by title a "Large felted box" - I disagree with the name because it's only about 8 inches square! Before felting, too. It's knitted from handle, across the bottom, to the other handle. Then the 3rd and 4th side by "pick up and knit" and then a simple seam up the four corners. It is 2 threads of "carpet yarn" which is really stiff and I added a cream thread of maybe sport weight just for kicks on the top 6 rows above the handles. I still plan to felt it a small amount. This box is filled with little paper stars made by Paige, who is completely better except for low energy and an intermittent cough.

Here is Craig and Steph's silhouette against a stormy mid afternoon sky. This was followed by pounding rain and thunder and lightning. It was great. One of my favorite things to do is watch lightning storms! This is taken from the balcony of our condo.

Here are Nate and Jess (son and his girlfriend) at Teddy Town in Barefoot landing.
Here is Paige and her dear friend Hannah who we linked up with at Myrtle Waves water park. She had a great day visiting her friend and it made for a great way to end the week.

And here are some of our wonderful friends, too. It was so great to see them. The only regret is that we never got that game of Speed Uno in. Next time, for sure!
Next year vacation plans: more knitting, less illness, visits with friends, maybe a cat sweater, definitely a yarn store!

Plans go awry in Myrtle Beach

*Sigh. Didn't make the yarn store. For very good reason, though, I might add. My youngest came down with a nasty fever the day before we left and it remained throughout the entire vacation - from 100.4 to 102.8 - despite all our best efforts and an emergency doctors visit and antibiotics. On the up-side, she did great with all of it. She was able to go to the beach, pool, shopping, even the wave park with friends (check back later for photos).

Turns out, after a visit to our home pediatrician, that she probably had "walking pneumonia" and has already responded pretty well to the change of antibiotic.

Craig and I actually did head out briefly, picked up a few souvenirs for those saints watching our geriatric dog while we were away, and I only changed my mind about 8 times about wanting to go to the yarn store (let's go, no we probably shouldn't, oh let's go anyway, we should go home, etc). I am married to a very patient man - not even a breath of frustration when I finally called it off for the final time.

But while we were on our way home, I think I could hear that cashmere from our LYS calling my name. Or perhaps it was my stomach growling, I'm not sure.

A Happy Discovery!

I have a knitting friend who has mastered knitting on many levels. Not the least of which is finding yarn shops on vacation and making it look like an accident. I haven't tried this yet, although my time is nearly here.

We leave for Myrtle Beach tomorrow. And there is a yarn and fiber studio 4.7 miles from where we are staying. I have memorized the directions. I have motivation. I can hardly wait!

Sweater Pieces at last!

Ah, the endless sleeves are completed. The front, back with stitch holders await blocking and joining. I would try to calculate hours but realize that even if I paid myself minimum wage, this sweater would be far too valuable to ever wear!

I have a bit of fear, however, about the neckline. Well, perhaps it'll go better and look smooth once it's done. But my concern comes back to, all this yarn, all these hours, what if I hate the way it looks?

Here are my 3 little darlings. Right at this moment, they have nothing to do with my knitting blog, but the camera was out and, well... here they are.

Mild Panic Sets In!

I've heard about knitters being very irrational and highly upset if they lose a knitting needle. I understand there is an attachment to them, not to mention they are usually lost while in mid-project. I didn't get it, I mean, it's just a needle. No big deal. Until it happened to me!

Cleaned out both knitting bags. Okay, actually there were three that I've stashed things into, to cut down on the visibility. Found some interesting lint and some needle point protectors I didn't know were missing. Cleaned out my purse. Headed out to the car (seeing as how I'd taken them to church with me for show and tell. Really, show and tell. And if it had been dark enough I might have taken them out during one of the services...). Checked on the floor in three most suspect rooms. Wondered with pounding heart if they had been used in a teeth cleaning ritual. Decided to check between couch cushions. There is was, quietly waiting to be found.

I think I get it now. Losing a needle is a big deal.

Conveniently, guess what came in the mail today? A "win" from ebay!

Maybe that will help me stay organized.

A Small Project is in my future

Wow, may I just say that sweater sleeves are endless. I thought the front was rough until I did the back. Now how is it that the sleeves can somehow take longer than either of those pieces?

Of course, like most other mother/knitters I know, you sit down to really pound out a few rows and ... the phone rings, the dishwasher makes a terrible grating noise, the children need to be dropped off or picked up from somewhere, the cat gacks on the rug, the washer goes off balance, or some other natural or child-made disaster occurs.

And my endless socks are actually - "gasp!" - 2 inches long now. Good thing it's warm out.

I'm thinking whatever it may be that I cast on next, it will be something that is quick to finish!

What is so great about Socks?!

I don't have many photos of finished knitting. Here is a cabled pom pom hat on Paige. It so suits her personality! The cable was scary until I did it. Very cool to watch it come together.

Ugh - I've been knitting this beautiful cranberry sock yarn for hours. I go around (and around and around) and it's still only about an inch of ribbing. At this point, I'm thinking about casting off and making it a bracelet.

Or a cat collar.

Speaking of cat...

This is the infamous cat sweater of http://www.myoverstuffedroom.com/ notoriety.


And this is a knitted mouse which I have no excuse for. It was just fun. Please do not attempt to analyze any knitting project.

Back to the socks... I visited a LYS last week, and the staff there was just SO excited about socks. I was gifted the sock yarn above - or cat collar yarn, take your pick - so to see sock yarn for sale at $10.95/ball was disturbing... And one errant toss into the washer... well, we'll just say that I don't quite get it.

And if that isn't bad enough, I made a very bad decision and touched some yarn hanging there that was ... well, it defies description in softness. Happened to check out the label - it was cashmere. And $36.95. My yarn mentor didn't bat an eye and told me about some yarn that costs so much more than that, I think you need to declare it on your homeowners insurance.

If I listen hard enough, I think that cashmere yarn is calling me. I may have to visit it again soon.

My Current UFO's - slated for finishing this week!

Scary to list, but here it is:
My brown tweed sweater still needs sleeves and the neck
some Christmas present fingerless gloves needs multiple loose ends sewn in
some wristlet/fingerless gloves needs about 10 more rows and to be mailed!
The scary socks (seemingly from sewing thread knitted using size 2 masquerading as toothpicks!) in a beautiful scarlet - jury is still out on those

Hmm... Actually I'm surprised there are only 4 items. I think I'm going to go cast on something else now!

Hello

Just can't resist anymore. If I'm going to hang out on other peoples blogs, I'm feeling the need to have my own!



So thanks for dropping in. Check back again soon.