Noolie Knits

Saturday Sky

One minute I was floating around in the pool, reading my book and enjoying the hot sun.  The next minute, I was racing to get out of the pool as the clouds and thunder were moving quickly overhead.

Right now I am sitting inside watching the thunder and lightening storm outside the window.  I keep jumping at every roar of thunder or bolt of lightening, but I sit here in my wet bathing suit hoping it'll pass by quickly.  I just know that once I change, the sun will come back out. 

In knitting news, Ella's sweater is finished except for the seaming.  There are only 2 seams, but I think I'll wait and bring it to the gym tomorrow morning and do it there.  I want to work on the SKB tonight; I'd like to finish it before it's too cold to wear it.

I'll be away at school next week; I'm leaving shortly after work tomorrow.  Not sure how much internet access I'll have.  I'm hoping there'll be connections in the rooms, but I'm not counting on it.  I'm hoping I'll have at least some limited access and if I do, I'll be in touch. 

Have a great week, everyone :)

ETA:  The thunder and lightening has stopped, the rain is almost gone and the National Weather Service has just now issued a "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" for our area.  Sheesh!

THURSDAY EDITION

Where does the time go, and how is it that the work days seem to drag on FOREVER, but the evenings just fly by?  I fully intended to use the Sheep's WNBP (Wednesday Night Bullet Post) format for a post last night, but by the time I was ready to sit down, it was already 8:45!  WTF? How did that happen?  I hadn't knit a stitch or read a single blog yet, how could it be that late? 

But it was, and I had to choose between writing a WNBP, reading blogs, knitting on the Sockapalooza sock, knitting on the Simple Knitted Bodice, or doing some spinning I've been wanting to get to.  The spinning won out (the fact that I want to use the resulting yarn for Clover probably influenced my decision a teensy bit).  I had some of the same fiber I spun for her hat left over and am hoping I can spin enough to make a teeney tiny pair of baby mittens.  I'm spinning a whole lot finer now and will have to ply this. (I really don't have a clue how to do that, but I'll figure it out.)

Check out how thin this is compared to the first batch. It's also a LOT more consistent.  After spinning for about 1 1/2 hours, I took the remaining fiber and pre-drafted it so it'll be all ready for the next spinning session.  Here's what I have left.

Fuzzy Balls :-)

I did finally finish the cuff of my Sockapalooza pal's 2nd sock this morning.

The plan is to knit the heel and at least through the gusset decreases tonight and try to finish it tomorrow night.  I really don't know what is taking me so long to knit this pair of socks.  Well, that's not really true; I do know.  I seem to have a bit of ADD lately and can't stay focused on only one thing.  There are just so many things I want to knit, then there's Ravelry, and blog reading, and planning baby knits.  I need to focus! 

Speaking of blog reading, Bloglines has done something really screwy to me.  One minute it said I had something like 70 blogs to read, and the next minute it said 20!  I do not read that fast folks; it just willey nilley marked a bunch of my feeds as read.  I am not a happy camper!

Picture Post (mostly) and NEWS

This is my brother, Tony and his new wife, Karlene.  Don't they look happy?  They were married Saturday, 07/07/07.

My nephew, "little" Tony and my neice, Heather

(This is the most accurate picture of what the sky looked like)

This is where they were married.  I was a wimp and skipped out on the ceremony (and 2 hour sail) on the boat and just went to the reception.  I was afraid I'd get sea sick or make myself sick worrying that I'd get sea sick.  The reception was held here; drinks and hors d'oeuvres overlooking the harbor.  It was a very nice time.

Although you wouldn't know it from my last few posts, I have been knitting, crocheting, and spinning (not enough spinning for any pictures though).

I've knitted quite a bit on the lace portion of the Simple Knitted Bodice. What's that? You don't think it looks like much knitting? There was quite a bit more knitting done than shown in the pics; it's pretty hard to show the rows that had to be tinked! There were several of them. At least as many as you see completed in the picture. It's stupid really; it's an incredibly easy 4 row repeat (and 2 of those rows are all knit). Apparently, I just can't keep my mind focused for 189 stitches in a row. Oh well, only about 2 or 3 more repeats to go; shouldn't take more than a month or two ;-).

I crocheted 3 Fish Baby Washcloths last night when I got home from Chicks with Sticks (well, I finished the 3rd this morning).  I first saw these done on Vickie's project page on Ravelry and marked them as a favorite.  I was so happy when she asked me if I'd test her pattern.  How could I resist? Not only am I going to be a Nonni (grammy) in December, but Samm wants to do the baby's room in an ocean and fish theme! I can see some of these as decorations and stuffed toys.  I made the top one using a size H hook and some Peaches and Cream cotton; the middle one is in Bernat Cottontots using a size J hook, and the bottom is done in Cotton Fleece with a size I hook.  I love them all.  This is a fantastic quick and easy pattern; Vickie did a great job!  She'll be posting the pattern soon. 

A "Spare Square" for Colleen's blanket drive.

8inch diagonal knit square - 10 rows garter, 5 rows seed

size 8 needles

One strand each: Plassard Layette, color 209 and Lion MicroSpun in white.  It's very soft.

A sqaure for the Rebuilding Greensburg project.

Another 8inch diagonal knit square, this one in garter stitch

size 8 needles

Reynolds Odyssey, color 409

Since we're on the topics of washcloths and squares, this would be a good time to direct your attention to Rabbitch's latest do-gooder project. She is collecting washcloths for the Women's Information Safe House; read about it here.  I'll be making a few; how about you?

AND NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS:




Meet Clover !

Busy!

Sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as I should or responding to all the comments like I should.  I feel like I have no free time anymore and I can't figure out why.  I can blame Ravelry for some of it; but since I've only been on that for a week, that's not really it.  Do you ever have times in your life like that, when it feels like you'll never have enough time to do all the things you want to do?  Oh well, I'll just keep doing what I can and try not to worry about the things I don't have time for.

Another thing taking up my time is the spindle spinning. I've been doing quite a bit of it lately. I've pretty much filled up the spindle with my first real spinning (even though it is a bit thick and thin) and I've been working with my new spindle and the fiber Gina gave me.  I brought it with me to Chicks with Sticks last night so I could show off my new skills.  Can you guess what happened?  That's right; I couldn't spin without the yarn breaking to save my life.  I blame it all on Roger; he put a jinx on me (just kidding, Roger; I still love you. But don't tell Patti).

This new spindle is quite a bit lighter than the other one, and I've been able to spin some pretty fine yarn; fine as in skinny, although I think it is mighty fine looking too :-)

I've also gotten quite a bit done on the Simple Knitted Bodice. I'm at the garter ridges before beginning the lace section. I tried it on when I joined it and it seems like it'll be a good fit. The garter ridges and lace portion are knit in a smaller needle size (of course I didn't do a gauge swatch for the smaller needle size so keep your fingers crossed for me).



The V-neck turned out a bit lower than I wanted, but not quite as low as the pattern called for. I guess I'll have to wear a cami under it after all. Although, with the lace section in the middle, I probably would have anyway.

The second River Valley sock for Sockamania hasn't seen much action lately. I've completed 2 1/2 pattern repeats in the cuff (nothing picture worthy) and will be ready to turn the heel after I finish the third repeat. I don't really need a lot of time to finish this; I just need to pick it up again. Perhaps tonight.

That's it for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow; I'll be announcing a contest!