T - Minus 7 Days

Here is my progress so far on the teddy bear project.

Day 10 I knit ten pieces, which was good because Day 9 I only knit six.
Day 9 only had six pieces because it was wine night with the neighbor, I mean we had a spaghetti play date with the girl across the street.
Day 8 I knit six and a half pieces. It was weekly clean the house day, which was extra messy and we had a play date at our house. I didn't get to knit until after dinner. It was late and I was falling asleep. Even the horror flick I was watching wouldn't keep me up. I did knit the bodies which are the largest pieces.
That puts me two pieces behind, which is okay because the last day would of been six pieces. Sixteen pieces left, eight arms and eight legs.
Here's what I have, only doubled. Front and back for the ears, left and right of heads, gussets, left and right of the bodies and paws for the feet. Today I should work on cleaning the garage and we have a party to go to. But I think I'll get my knitting done, I hope it goes fast.

T - Minus 10 and Counting

I have know that my SIL is pregnant with twins for about 5 months or so. I've known it a boy and a girl for 3 months or so. I've known that they are due in late July, but being twins, will probably come early. I would love to blame my rush on someone else, "What! A two week notice on the baby shower. Don't they know I'm hand knitting something?" But that just wouldn't be fair. So, I had a 15 day notice on how long I had to make two teddy bears with yarn that I haven't even bought yet. Did I rush out and buy yarn? Of course not. I have company coming in over the weekend. (My sister and the stitchmarkers). So, I didn't bother dragging her to my LYS.

On Monday, I dug around in my stash and found so great white organic cotton that would be perfect for the bottom of the feet. I need to find brown yarn though. I run to my LYS on Tuesday. Closed. What! I only have 11 days left. So, yesterday at lunch was a mad rush to find and buy yarn. The good news is I knew exactly where to look. I found more organic cotton, exactly the same as the yarn in my stash, but decided on the organic boucle cotton. It looks more teddy bear like.Can you tell which ball I hand rolled? Hehe.So here is the pattern and the work so far. The Classic Teddy Bear. I was going to make Otto, until I saw the nursery and realized Otto is too cool and modern for the bears on the wallpaper. The room is VERY classic teddy bear. Which also mean that I will have a lot of sewing to do. I had to give myself a time management calender.

Days 10 - 6: knit 8 of the 38 pieces a day. Of course, the larger pieces will be knit on the weekends and thank goodness I have 3-day weekends.
Days 5-4: one day for each bear to be sewn up.
Day 3: stuffing and embrodering the eyes and nose. (I won't be making the arm joints).
Day 2: finishing touches and catch up.
Day 1: day of rest.

Yesterday was actually Day 10, so I am on schedule with the 8 ear pieces, front and back to four ears, and the 2 right sides of the heads. I may be able to do this.

Dishcloth Summer Swap

I joined a dishcloth swap. I'm pretty excited about it. Should be cool and all. It's a summer theme and has a bunch of rules, which I love. Means I should get something as nice as I gave. Either way I have to post my questionaire on the blog, so here it is. And hey, you might learn something about me.

1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I've been knitting since September of 2005. I've known how to crochet since September of 2004, but I don't crochet regularly..at all.

2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook? I normally use bamboo or my Denise interchangables. I do own a couple of metal needles and some Addi's. sometimes it does depend on the yarn.

3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand? I love a lot of yarns. I buy mostly from my LYSs and avoid the Walmart/Michaels selections. I think of the yarn I use as being as fine as the work I make.

4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't? I've only made Dishclothes with Sugar n' Cream. I've used other types of cottons for clothes and toys. I'm on a little of a organic cotton kick. Being that the Washcloth I make with be with Blue Skies Organic Cotton. I really want to work with that one.

5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts? At first I gave them all away as gifts. In our house all the cloths are for doing the dishes. (I just found this link that I want to ty next). We love washcloths in the bathroom, but don't have any knit ones in there right now.

6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike? I would love to have something cool and fresh colored. Not really any colors that are dark.

7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in? The bathroom is mostly pink/purple. The kitchen is a free for all.

8. What are your favorite scents around the house? All of my Yankee Candles are in citrusy or berry scents.

9. What is your very favorite thing about summer? My birthday, the Fourth of July, swimming pools, shorts and tank tops, not having a cold car, going to the beach, early morning sunshine, pink lemonade, green plants, road trips, long holiday weekends, blowing bubbles, barbeques, staying up late, going to Disneyland, tan lines, ice cream, and fresh fruit.

10. What is your least favorite thing about summer? This is summer we are talking about? Cause I could give you a list of my least favorite things about winter.

11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower? I use body wash. We currently have Dove Cucumber/Green Tea and Philosophy Melon Daquiri (for date night-- hubba hubba).

12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath? In the bathroom is a black cherry candle. Yummy!!!

13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern? All of our cloths have hearts on them. So I don't want anything with hearts. Maybe a pretty Knit/Purl design with a few increases and decreases. But really, anything without hearts.

14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty? I like sweet and sour snacks. Butter cookies, sour patch kids, spree, sour spree, licorice, honey roasted peanuts (that would be a salty), peanut butter cookies, white wine, lemonheads, you know snack stuff.

15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather? See What is your favorite thing about summer?.

16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting? I'm trying to read more. That's a good hobby, right? I also like to blog, play video games, get steps on my pedometer.

17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!) Jokes. I tried to collect things. Coffee mugs -- I don't really drink coffee. Post cards -- I don't go that many places. Snow globes -- they replaced post cards because they are so much cooler. I like to collect them for my daughter. But really, whenever I hear a good joke, I like to write it down so that I can remember it.

18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID! Hell yeah I Ravel. freerangechick

19. Do you have any allergies? I'm allergic to falling off of buildings, people I don't like, and gynocologist. Okay, really. I'm allergic to grass and most types of trees. So, don't give me an olive branch. I mean a real one, not metaphorically.

20. Do you have any pets? I have a hamster. Her name is Molly. She smells.

Stitchmarkers

The title to this post has a double meaning. First to let you know where I am, kinda like a stitchmarker. Get it?? Second to show off some actual stitchmarkers.

I lost my camera inside of the beach bag, which sits in the back of my car. I never look in there and I didn't remember using it at the beach, even when I decided to look in the bag. So, I have some pictures that still need to be taken to show stuff off. I've been getting some knitting done. Though it has been a little spread out between projects. There is a FO hybernating project, progress in another and three new cast ons. I need to get some photos taken.
Here are the actual stitchmarkers. My sister's family stayed with a us for a quick overnight. They were vacationing at Disneyland and getting ready to drive home to the SF Bay area. She made these for me though. To give you an idea of the size, those are size 8 needles. They are modeled on what little knitting I did get done this weekend. The white is a basketweave scarf. The green is my lace-edged cuddle blanket (hybernating). I got about six feet done on the lace edge. I have about another four feet to make and then I can sew it all together.

What I need to do though is cast on two teddy bears for a baby shower in 11 days for my twin neice and nephew. So much work. I guess before all that, I had better get some pictures taken though.

"Fun With Tagging"

I wish I were Buffy tagged me. At least I think she tagged me. She posted that she was tagged and gave us five facts about her. Then she said she wanted to know more about me and four others. So, I guess I was tagged. Either way, all of you are learning about me!

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was 19 years old, working two jobs. Blockbuster Video and bagging groceries at Albertsons. I lived in my own apartment, had a boyfriend and a busy social calender.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

Go to work, figure out what to make for dinner, make a shopping list, make a rope out of yarn for a tank top (post coming soon) and play checkers with Haley.

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Chewy sour candies. Anything made out of potatoes. Wine.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

If I were a billionaire, I would have a beach house, never talk to people
I didn't like again, have extra time for knitting because I'd have a maid, do charity work and travel.

5) Place I have lived.

I was born outside Salt Lake City, Utah.
Then moved to Fort Lewis, Washington.
Some place I don't remember in Alabama.
Frankfurt AM, West Germany
Butzbach, West Germany
Dixon, California
El Paso, Texas
Dixon, California
El Paso, Texas (not a typo, I moved back and forth)
Caldwell, Idaho
Tehachapi, California
Lancaster, California
Rosamond, California
Palmdale, California
Redondo Beach, California

Okay, here is the hard part, I have to pick five people I want to know more about.
KM- a day in the life of 5, 3 & 1
Julie - good yarns
Shawna - lamby knits
Vanessa - old soul knits
Janet - on the house Janet is new, so I really want to learn about her.

Oh yeah, and just so there is clarity, you five ARE tagged :)

5/22/08

Okay, Kelly wants to play also. Of course I've known her for 12 years and everything outside of her to do list, I already know..... But, Kelly is tagged too.

Daphne Purse

What do you get when you put together yarn, ribbon, cloth, string and chopsticks? Yeah, I said chopsticks. All these put together with a lot of time and hard work and...You get a Daphne Purse! I am so proud of this finished project. I thought that I would never finish it even though I set myself up with a finish date. Even then I was two days late for the completely finished, not one more stitch is going in to this, done! I was surprised by the weight of the purse, but when you look at all that went into it, I guess it makes sense. Here is the front side. It took about four days to get all the flowers right. As I was embroidering it, I hated the way it looked. I would walk away for an hour and when I came back decide, "Oh it needs a flower there." It's one of those things that never looks right until it is done.

Pattern: Daphne Purse By Louisa Harding (Ravelry)
From: Knitting Little Luxuries
Yarn: Louisa Harding Cinnabar in 03 Gold

Here is the back side. I was going to put the flowers on both sides , but it took so long to do the first side... Natalie pointed out that she liked having a solid side. It shows off the very beautiful Herringbone Stitch. It looks almost woven. The yarn I picked is straw colored with little specks of gold. It reminds me of when Rumpelstiltskin spun the straw into gold. Here's a close up of the lower right corner. These are lazy daisies and a lot of fun when you get over trying to make each one perfect. The green stalks are three ribbons, two shades of green, braided together and then sewn where ever to bring the flowers together. The lavenders look great against the yellow of the yarn. Really makes them pop.I don't have a sewing machine, so every stitch of this bag is literally hand stitched. I tried very hard to make them all even and straight. The cloth is really cool. A bright blue that turns purple at the folds. A great shade to bring out the little blue centers in the purple flowers. It is also great for finding stuff in the bottom of the bag. Nice and bright so I can see. Finally. I sewed chopsticks into the handles. They needed a little stability for carrying. I cut the sticks so they were not too long, keeping the bag from opening wide. I love this bag. Now I'm off to a birthday party. I have to show off my hand knit bag while I am pointing out to the other moms that "yes, I hand knit matching socks for my daughter and I." Not that I brag or anything. hehe

Simply Lovely Lace Socks II

Haley and I now have matching socks. She thought this was the greatest thing. We immediately had to play on the grass and get pictures of our feet. Sadly, the grass was muddy. Now a brand new, hardly worn pair of socks is in dire need of a hand washing. Haley found humor in that the mud made the green yarn turn brown. No honey, that's just mud.

Pattern: Simply Lovely Lace Socks by Karen Baumer

From: Interweave Knits, Spring 2006

Yarn: ToFutsies in Off on the Right Foot

I have a ton of this yarn left over. So, I made a cute little skein out of it. It will now sit on a shelf looking all decorative until Haley outgrows her current socks and needs a new pair.

PB&J

I got into a bunch of trouble yesterday afternoon. It started in the morning when I was making lunch. I've been working on the Daphne Purse at lunch so I can finish it before this Saturday. To save time, I made myself a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich to take with me. I like the crunchy PB and Haley likes the creamy, so we have both. I made the fatal mistake of making my sandwich first. When I went to spread Haley's creamy PB, there was a nut on the knife.

I get a regular sandwich, crust and all, while Haley enjoys her circle sandwich made with on of those sandwich press things. I'm amazed that he first bite she took out of a circular sandwich, was the bite with the nut. She wouldn't eat it. When I picked her up she complained about the nut.

Like any good mom, I opened the sandwich up, showed her there were no more nuts and made her eat it as a afternoon snack.

Today, I asked her what she wanted for a snack.

"A sandwich, with NO NUTS!!"

Come on Haley, give a Mom a break.

So Slow, I'm Moving Backwards

I feel like I am moving so slow that I am moving backwards. And in some cases, I think that I actually am. I am trying to make progress on my knitting and I don't feel like it is happening. There are too many projects going on at the same time.

1. The Prairie Tank. I started this last summer. I knit the back and over half the front before I got bored and put it away. I am trying to finish it. Natalie suggested that I leave it at work and bring no other knitting with me. This has worked, it is getting knit. But so little gets done at a time. I'm a busy girl at work, some days.
2. The Daphne Purse. It seriously takes forever to make little "lazy daisies," sew the ends in and all the other ribbon work that is going into it. I was hoping to be done by this weekend. Not going to happen.
3. The Wallis Cardigan. I just had to start this. My gauge is good. I'm up one needle size and just under the gauge. So, I knit the first three inches and my piece is about four inches too wide. I don't get it. So, I'm going a little math and knit/frog to get the sweater to do what I want. Definately moving backwards on this one.
4. Finally my Lace Socks. This is the one piece I really want to work on. They are in my car right now because they aren't allowed to go to work ( see Prairie Tank). I feel guilty working on them at home with the Daphne staring at me. So, they get worked on while standing in the line at the bank, stopped at long stoplights, etc.

I am knitting, I'm just all over the place.

This post does make my laugh. When I was in high school, my friend's Dad used to give us a ride home. We weren't allowed to just sit and wait for him though. We had to start walking and he would pick us up when drove past. Sometimes we would make it half way home. Either way. He would always stop his car as soon as he saw us and wait for us to walk to the car. Then he would complain that we did run to the car. He say that we were walking so slow, we moved backwards. So, now whenever I say that, I think of my high school friend that I talk to less than I should. She was cool.

Thank you Mr. MailMan

What a yummy coming home from work day. I found the yarn that I ordered for the Wallis Cardigan hiding next to my door. Then I checked the mailbox and the pattern was there. Oh man, what a way to start my weekend. I've already made a gauge and figured out the alterations so that it will fit me. I love that there is no waiting for one or the other! I'm off to knit now.