I GIVE UP!

I don't know if it is me or the pattern. Here is a tank top and shrug I knit out of bamboo yarn. The gauge is correct but the shrug was really small and had to be adjusted. Being brave or let's admit it somewhat stupid, I went back to it and knit the tank top. The top is too large, go figure...I didn't make any adjustments because I thought that I would adjust again when finished. I even put the top in the dryer on high. It's still too large. Maybe this is just one of those projects that is not supposed to be, or maybe the person was slated for wants something really loose to work in the garden. I have been under the weather the past few days but as long as I am sitting in my chair I might as well have needles in hand so at least this is finished even if never used and I am thankful to be working on something else. Toed socks next. I will let you know how they come out.

Another package ready to go

I finally got together the rest of my package for the stitch markers swap so here it is. I took a picture of the markers earlier. I have been remiss at blogging the past week or so and really need to get going. I just ordered some sock yarn from the internet that looks wonderful and if it is half as yummy when it arrives I won't be able to wait to get a picture on my blog. Repeat after me, I will not keep buying sock yarn. I like to knit socks but there are things I would rather knit. Oh, but sock yarn seems to come in the most wonderful colors! This one is hand dyed and one of my presents for Christmas was a yarn winder. I love watching it wobble around and get the yarn all tidy. It is so nice to not have to wind from my swift any longer. I is still cold in Wisconsin but I have to bundle up and get to the storeand post office. Got to get that package in the mail. Chewie has about little over a quarter of his heart worm treatment finished and is giving me a disgusted look because I told him it was time to clean the house. He hates it when the vacumn makes it's growling noises. He doesn't run, but he sniffs it and keeps a close watch.

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like about anything that is soft. I really prefer the natural years but that is not saying there are not some acrylic blends out there that are very nice

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a very old hand made needle holder for my straights, my circular are in a tote and my wonder pal in secret Pal 9 made me a holder for my double pointed needles

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting since I was about 8 or so. I am really not sure the exact age. I was taught by a family friend who used to knit for a living. I think they probably did to give me something to keep me busy so I didn't bug them all the time.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No, I use them but I have never filled out a wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? it depends upon the season. In the spring I like Lilacs, fall is apples and pumpkin well you get the idea. I am not fond of some of the vanillas out there. There are so bad ones.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes, Yes Yes I have many sweet teeth. I like almost all kinds of candy and love to try different things but I have to say that my favorite would be chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I sew, so a small amount of counted cross, quilt, crochet. I would love to spin but want a castle wheel and that is currently not in the budget.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My computer can play MP3s but I am 60 percent deaf and so music is really not one of my "things"

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like them all but vary between the rich bolds in fall and winter and the pastels for knitting for the spring and summer months.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live alone although one of my sons and his family live very close so I am with them frequently. I have a dog that is currently going through heart worm treatment. Hopefully he will come out fine.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I have about all the scarves I need unless it is the type you wear for decoration and not for winter weather. I have quite a few pair of mittens but can always use more warm ones. I haven't worm ponchos in years but I think it might be time to start again now that they are back in popularity.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? whatever catches my eye. Sometimes it is a felted bag, some times it is a sweater. It is fun to knit for my grand kids.

13. What are you knitting right now? Finally finishing a long put off tank top with matching shrug of bamboo. I keep running out of yarn. Hope this does it.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes, there are so many creative people out there.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like circular because I can use them as straight or circular. I have some of all types and it depends upon the yarn. Some are better with bamboo some with aluminum etc so I can't say I have a favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I own both a swift and a yarn winder

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I threw a bunch out years ago and try to finish so I would have to say this top I am working on. I started it last fall about September or October. that makes me sound better then I am. When I gave the toss to the Good Will I had UFO's that were years and years old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Hard to say...If it is by Christmas I say Christmas. If by Easter I say Easter. It changes with the seasons

19. Is there anything that you collect? Reproduction and antique prints, kitchen gadgets

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Nothing in particular. I think that my subscription to Interweave Knits is about up and that is the only magazine I had coming in the mail. there are some interesting looking ones out there though.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? If it is new and looks interesting I would be interested in giving it a try no matter what it was.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I knit socks but ear a size 10 shoe and my foot is quite wide so if someone needs exact measurements I can email them.

23. When is your birthday? February 11th.

EVENING ROSE GARDEN

One of the skeins of yarn I recieved from my knit kit partner was an incrediable soft bulky wool called Evening Rose Garden from Rose Garden Fibers. I have really large hands and the kids are ready for winter so since I couldn't wait to try out something with this great stuff I decided it was time to make a bag to hold the beads and things I use to make stitch markers. This is the result. The knitted button is a little large but it works and I love the colors in the yarn. My partner spoiled me so I have lots of other yarn for mittens and this bag beats the zippered plastic bag I was using.

A Present for Princess

I love stitch markers. It is kind of an obsession so when I saw a swap for stitch markers I had to join. Lucky me, I got someone with the nom du plume (or is de plume?) of Princess Kate so I hope she likes her markers. I also want to thank my pal Stacey over at www.http://www.peaknits@blogstop.com for inspiring me to make some stitch marker bags. So friend, here is one with ribbon and one with the buttons. Oh, and yes, the buttons are not quite level. Pull the fabric Princess, they will even out.

Back at it

Wow, I must have made things sound much worse on the blahs then they really were. Thanks to all the emails and notes to keep my chin up. Honest, it was more like what my mother used to call being at loose ends. Nothing is just right and nothing captures your imagination. Anyway, I have been busy trying to keep Chewie calm now that he has started his heart worm treatment. Curses to being told he was heart worm negative and finding out he was positive. So that takes some of my time. It is also really cold here so I am trying to do nice cozy warm things. I did make another felted bag. I am not sure where this one is going to find a home but it looks to me like it belongs to someone who wears blue jeans and doesn't need a huge bag. Now off to find something new to try. I will keep you posted.