Noolie Knits

Where has the week gone?

Can it really be Thursday already?  The last several days have just flown by!  I've meant to post; really, I have, but there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I'm also incredibly behind on my blog reading and e-mails.  I thought that with two weeks off work I'd be able to keep up with things.  Wrong! 

So, what have I been doing with all my free time?  Well, the weather has been absolutely perfect for several days now so I'm sure you can all guess where I've spent a good amount of my time.  Yep, the pool.  It's been great, very relaxing.  I've spent a couple of hours each afternoon just floating and reading a very good book.

I've also completed some projects and started some new ones.

I crocheted a couple of granny squares for Colleen; she's putting blankets together for her local children's hospital.

I started a new sweater for Clover on Tuesday; I was just feeling a very strong need to make her a sweater NOW.  So while at Chicks with Sticks, I picked up some yarn in a really pretty mint green color with flecks of pink to make the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting.  I took a picture of my progress so far, but it is a really crappy picture so I don't think I'll post it here.  This is such a quick knit, I should be able to show you the finished picture real soon (unless I've just jinxed myself by saying that!) 

Speaking of Chicks with Sticks, Mel and The Sheep were unable to attend and both were really missed :-(    We did have a special, first time visitor this week, though.  Mel's partner, David, joined us; it was great to finally meet him and hopefully he'll join us again.

Yesterday, I finally finished the test knit I've been working on; it's currently drying on the blocking board.  It'll be a couple of weeks before I can show you pictures, but believe me when I say, it'll be worth the wait.  I am very happy with this FO.

This one's for you Patti; also finished yesterday:

School Socks

(this is a strange picture; guess I won't stand the socks up to take pictures again)

Yarn:  Soctoberfest by Scout
Needles:  Crystal Palace size 1 1/2 dpn
Pattern:  Plain ole stockinette on 64 stitches

These are my August socks for SAM4; finished just in time.  The first sock only took 2 days of classroom knitting to complete; the second sock took almost a month!

 

That brings us to today.  I got a new hairdo this morning (no pictures until after the cold sore from hell is gone).  Spent a couple of hours in the pool this afternoon and then spent some time with Alice on the deck.  After my lesson with Cheryl and Manise on Saturday, I put Alice away until the test knit was complete.  Now that I've finished that, I can spend some time getting to know her better.  I sat on the deck spinning for about 1 1/2 hours; I must have looked pretty funny sitting there in my bathing suit spinning away.  Good thing I have a nice private back yard.  Here's what I accomplished:

(Apparently, I'm a lousy photographer; the colors are actually more purple than this photo shows.)
The fiber is some BFL I got from Amy in a "Learn to Spin" spindle kit that I bought back in the fall.  This is about one ounce; there's a total of 4 to spin.  I think I'm doing pretty well, although there are some overspun and underspun bits.  I think I'm getting the hang of it though. 

That brings us up to date; I'm hoping to spend some time tomorrow and over the weekend catching up on some blog reading and e-mails.   

I'll try to be better about posting, too.  No promises though :-)

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 !

A Handy Tip

When you are driving down a road and see that a cop has pulled someone over, and you know that you'll be returning on that same road in  just a few minutes, be sure that on your return trip you are going the speed limit!  Sheesh, I really am getting old.  I went for my lunch time trip to get an iced coffee, saw a car pulled over and said to myself, "Self, make sure you are not speeding on the way back."  I continued on, got my iced coffee, and promptly forgot all about the cop.  Another tip:  it really is helpful to admit why you were stopped when said cop asks, "Do you know why I stopped you today?" and act like you are sorry (even though the only thing you're sorry about is that you are old and forgetful).  Thankfully, I only got a warning.

On a happier note, let me show you the decadent purchase I made last night while at Chicks with Sticks:

Tilli Thomas
This is, without a doubt, the softest yarn I have ever had the pleasure of fondling and now it's mine, mine, MINE! 

Oh, you want to know what I'm going to make with it, do you?  I've been thinking about this pattern for a while and bought it yesterday:

It's the Simple Knitted Bodice by Stefanie Japel. Isn't it lovely? Of course I won't make the V-neck quite so low (sorry, Roger) :-)  I can't wait to cast on for this, but I have forbidden myself from casting this on until after I finish the May Holiday Headstart project and my MayDay socks for the Sockamania and SAM3 KAL's and the blankie portion of the monkey doll/blanket.

I've done a little on the blankie; and I do mean A LITTLE! 

Notice the arm reaching in there; Peaches is trying to claim this as hers.


"It's mine, I tell ya; all mine!"

She also tried to nab the silk.

"What, you can fondle it, but I can't?"

I'm telling you, ever since she started knitting, I really have to fight for my own yarn!

Finally, I decided if she really wanted to help, I'd put her to good use modeling the Spare Square I made for Colleen's blanket project.

"Can I model the silk top when you finish it?"

Dream on!