Big Day

Tomorrow is the last of the kiddo's surgery. Amy has her tonsils out tomorrow with an overnight stay on the peds ward. This is because she has a little bit of sleep apnea. I know that it will be another sleepless night. I have already planned to bring lots of knitting. Sleeve number 1 for ariann is almost done. I was planning to work on ariann at the hospital but it takes up so much room in our bag that I think socks are in order. I am just about to the toe on my socks that rock. Then I think I will do some jaywalkers. Now to pick out the yarn before bed. (We have to leave the house at 5:15 am )

Knitting is everywhere!!

Lately it seems like I see knitting or yarn everywhere!! What amazes me even more is that my kids see it too. While watching a movie this morning one of the characters is knitting. This started a conversation between the three of them as to what she was making and exactly what color it was. (It was kind of dark in the room where they were as the characters were having a blackout drill during WWII) It gave me great joy to hear what they thought it was, a sweater, a scarf or even socks.

So far this week we have seen knitting or yarn in the following programs: The Lady and the Tramp, Maya and Miguel, Jimmy Neutron, some other cartoon for which I don't know the name and the Molly Movie (american girl doll).

I was also excited when my neighbor showed up this morning. The mailman delivered my package from knit picks to him 2 days ago. Why did he wait two days? I finally got Barbara Walkers 3rd treasury. It's too late for the baby shower gift but I have got some ideas for future projects.

Favorite knitting accessory

My favorite accessory currently is my knowknits knitting bag. I love it because it is perfect for portable projects. I usually holds socks. I take it to work and it is small enought to shove in my mailbox for some break time knitting. (I work in an operating room so it is hard to take knitting to work) The breakroom is the only place to leave it as my locker room is far from the breakroom. I take my knitting bag to pick up my kids from school. It hangs nicely from my belt loops so I can stand and knit while waiting. It also attaches nicely to my purse handle so I can take it to doctors visits. (Which we have did alot of lately)

I bought this bag for myself as a birthday present in January. I himmed and hawwed about the purchas for a while since I have many knitting bags. But I have none like this one. In the picture with the bag you can see my other birthday present to myself. One skein of Socks that Rock in the colorway Love in Idleness. This is the second sock. I have hit a speed bump in progress. I got distracted by ariann for Chicknits. Today I got to the arm holes so I get to start the sleeves if I feel up to it. (I took a sick day from work. The weather here in Michigan can't make up it's mind so it is playing games with my allergies/ sinuses)

New appreciation

After this week I have a new appreciation for my mother. My mom provides daycare for my three children as well as my sisters son and my brothers daughter and son. This week my Mom and Dad are on vacation. The first that they have had in a while. So my brother and sister and I are taking over the task of day care. The schedule is hectic to say the least. In the am 4 kids to school on 4 different routes. 2 busses and 2 drop offs in less than 1/2 hour. I am so glad that my parents were able to take this vacation. It is much deserved. They did go on vacation last summer but that was when my kids were gone to their fathers house for 6 weeks so childcare wasn't an issue but this time I think my brother and sister and I pulled it off. The kids miss grandma and grandpa badly.

On the knitting front not much was accomplished since my schedule is so off. I still have to finish the straps for my sisters felted purse. I plan to finish during nap time this afternoon. Then it is off to the washing machine.

SP10 Questionaire continued

I'm not sure what happended to these answers the first time around but i'll try again. Thanks for your e-mail supersock. I did not even realize they were missing. Have fun yarn shopping. Once my kids are healthy again I hope to get more me time for knitting. Very little knitting this week. Next week is surgery so there should be some waiting room knitting and I have 5 days off of work so I hope to make progress.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? My oldest was 6 years. (I knit a baby sweater for my oldest daughter but never sewed up the seams) This weekend I pulled it out and finished it. It won't fit her but I have LOTS of baby showers coming up at work. So one gift done. Besides that my next oldest is 3 years old. It is a bohus sweater for myself. After starting it I put on some weight and I know it will not fit so no desire to finish yet. It is up to the yoke so not too much left to go.

18. What is your favorite holiday? I love Christmas time, but I really enjoy any holiday which allows all of the family to be together.

19. Is there anything you collect? Besides yarn not really. My home is decorated with lots of county inspired items so I pick odds and ends up when I can. I do seem to have a book collection since our public library does not have many books of the new genre "chick lit" .

20. Any books, yarns, needles, patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I subscribe to Interweave Knits. I am really trying to find Barbara Walkers third treasury. I have searched all of the book stores in my area and no one has it in. I am thinking about ordering it on-line if I can find it. I have also wanted to try the knit picks options since I love addi turbos but they are soooo expensive.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Two handed Fair Isle and intrasia. I have avoid color work but I really want to learn how some day.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I knit socks. My foot is 9" around and about 9 3/4" long ( I wear a shoe size 7 1/2) However my calf's are bigger (12") so I always make the cuff a little bigger.

23. When is your birthday? January 22. (Î just had my 30th )

forget the turtle

Well I have had to scrap the idea of a turtle blanket. It seems where I live it is impossible to locate Barbara Walkers Third Treasury in person. I tried 5 yarn shop and 2 major booksellers and no one has it. This means a) I could order it online and knit like crazy or b) forget the whole idea and start something else. I went with b. I have a few burp cloths and baby bibs knit already so I think I will knit the stuffed turtle pattern on knitty.com. I did finish the body of my sisters felted bag yesterday and the handles will be done today. I hope to finish it tonight and felt tomorrow. No knitting on ariann which is sad. I am loving the pattern. Plus it is all for me so it is selfish knitting.

Project update

Today is the start of my 4 day weekend. I have high hopes of finishing at least one project. I plan to finish my sisters felted bag for her birthday which is the 20th. I also need to decide what to make for a baby shower for a co-worker. The invitation arrived in my mailbox yesterday at work and is on the 25th so I have a little over two weeks. I also need to deceide what to make for the other 3 co-workers who are pregant. I am thinking of doing a small (receiving blanket size) blankie for this shower. There is turtle pattern in one of the Barbara Walker Treasuries books and this coworker loves turtles. So I thought I could do a few blocks with turtles and a few garter stitch to make it go faster.

I hope to show some pics tomorrow of my Ariann. It looks great. I am half way between the first and second buttonhole. I am a little sad that no progress will be made on it in the next two weeks.

New projects

This weekend I started two new projects. My sister asked for a felted bag for her birthday which is on the 20th. I also started Ariann for myself. I am using cascade 220 superwash since I wanted something easy care since I intend to wear it alot. I chose a light grey since it will go with most anything. It will be slow going on the sweater since it is knit in one piece which means unti the arm holes every row has 224 stiches. I figure I will finish it in time for next fall.