It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I"m joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  I've been working on the sleeve of my Funky Grandpa and the pink sweater for Miss C.

I feel that I have grown in my ability as a knitter.  Why, you ask?  Because I messed up the cuff and made the decision to rip it back and redo it.  A few years ago I might not have done that and just made two sleeves to match.  The sleeve gave me troubles from the get go but the latest I'm blaming on bronchitis.  I coughed so much and was tired that it is my excuse for my mistakes.  It's fixed and sleeve one is done.   Break time to finish Miss C's sweater.

While laying around on the couch coughing up my lungs, I finished reading I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer Fleming.  It was book six in the Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne mysteries.  I immediately tried to check out the next book but there is a wait list!!!  Oh.  No.  I have to wait...

I also read Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe.  I read it in two days.  It's about Leaky Gut (yes that's a real thing) and how to fix it.  He talks about how the things we eat and our environment can cause a surprising number of health issues.  Great book.

What are you working on?  Reading any good books?  Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  I am working on a Lottie Cardigan for Miss C.  I let her pick out the yarn over a year ago when our LYS was going out of business.  I was going to make size 4 and that is what I bought yarn for.  Now I'm making a size 6 and making a short sleeved sweater.  She gets too hot with long sleeves (I wish I had that problem, but she takes after her daddy!).
I am also working of my Funky Grandpa.  I am having a hard time with this sweater.  There are so many things to remember to do.  I'm now working on sleeve one,  decreasing every ten rows, but changing colors every two row for nine color changes.  I'm fairly certain I've missed some decreases. I'm not worried how it will look in the end, but I've very frustrated with it.

I have been reading a mystery series with the Reverend Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne from Upstate New York.  I am now reading book six called I Shall Not Want.  I have enjoyed this series and it just gets better with each book.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It seems that I've been working A LOT of Wednesdays recently and have not been able to participate in the weekly Yarn Along.  But here it is Wednesday and I'm on an off day!  So I"m joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  While I don't feel that I've gotten much accomplished in the past month (work really does get in the way), I have at least finished two hats, one headband and started on a third hat.

The blue, green and purple hat was made for a friend.  She had purchased the yarn and some crochet hooks and was going to watch YouTube and teach herself how to make a hat.  In the end she called me and asked if would be willing.  I"m not pleased with the way this hat turned out.  The pattern was Be Kind.  I started Bankhead with the leftover yarn and will be playing a rousing game of Yarn Chicken.

The red hat was made at my mothers request.  She bought a new coat and needed a new hat.  The pattern is Hat in Slipped Stitch Ribbing for a lady.  I think it's too small, but she is happy with it.  Who am I to complain.

Miss C wanted a Colorado headband.  I made her a Colorado hat last year, but did not account for her glasses so it is tight on her head.  I sewed velcro on the ends of the headband so she can wrap it.  That way it will also adjust as she grows.

I've also worked on several other projects.  My goal for 2017 is to not buy any yarn but rather finish projects that were started in the last year.  It is tough for sure.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday.  What are you making?

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I"m joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  I had to wrap my nephews Ravenclaw scarf with the needles still on it but I was pretty close to finishing.  He handed it back to me and I knit all Christmas Day.  I finished that night while watching the Broncos lose to the Chiefs.  He loves it and was very excited by it.  My niece LOVES her Hufflepuff bag.  She wore it everywhere.  Even in the house.

I did a bit of a year in review on Ravelry.  And quite frankly it left me a bit anxious.  I have quite a few unfinished projects that will be my main focus in 2017.  I have cancelled my subscription to YarnBox for the time being so I can focus on current projects.  In a way I"m going to be doing some stash busting this year.  In order to save some money as well, I"m going to try to use only yarn on hand.

These are the projects I finished in 2017:

• 8 Colorado hats & 2 Colorado headbands
• 8 Starbucks cups sleeves
• 4 hats for the Seaman's Church
• 1 Ravenclaw scarf
• 1 Hufflepuff bag
• Pacifica- a shawl
• Fahrenheit 113- a scarf
• Handbrake- a cowl
• Pretty Palette- a cowl

And that doesn't count the five projects currently in hibernation!

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It is Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I am joining Ginny and everyone to share books and yarn.

I started this Hufflepuff bag on the airplane to Europe the week before Thanksgiving.  It is for my niece as a Christmas present.  I am planning on lining it so that the stranded knitting doesn't get snagged.  I wanted to make a Gryffindor bag, but she is a Hufflepuff fan!  I found this pattern on Ravelry and it has charts for all four houses at Hogwarts!
About ten days ago I found out that my nephew wants a scarf from Harry Potter in the Ravenclaw house colors.  That was information I could have used a month ago as I am not a fast knitter.  But some sit time on Saturday at work allowed me to get about a foot done and then with some unexpected time at home on MO I was able to get another foot or so finished.  I probably won't do as many repeats as the pattern calls for.  I"m on a pretty tight timeline right now!

I just finished reading The Guilty by David Baldacci.  It's a good murder suspense novel.  I am trying to read all of his books in order (it's one of my obsessions) and this is his newest one with the Will Robie/ Jessica Reel characters.

I had set my Goodreads challenge for 2016 to read 75 books.  I am not quite going to make it.  Again. I didn't read to my goal of 100 books last year so I lowered it to 75 and I still fell short.  I have read 61 out of 75.  I am listening to one in my car  so I can add one more.  But still...

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along!  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books!

I've finished two quick projects this past week.  The first project is a striped cowl for one of C's kindy teachers.  The yarn was from a Yarn Box a couple of months ago.  They are not my favorite colors for myself but they are perfect for Mrs. S.

The second project is the cute little cup cozy with a pocket for the cup stopper!  I am hoping to make a few of these for the teacher assistants and staff at her school.  They are a easy and quick knit.  Perfect for last minute gifts.

I knit four hats for hats for the Christmas at Sea program.  These are hats for mariners.  I learned of the program from Steph at WoolyThyme.  These were great projects for stash busting (hence the stripes).  The hats have been packed and shipped!

The bottom picture is my latest Yarn Box yarn!  I'm in love with it.  It's a bulky weight yarn in a gorgeous color.  There is only 282 yards so I'm not sure what to make with it.  At the beginning of the month the overstock yarn will go on sale and I'm hoping to buy more to make something bigger than a cowl or hat!  I'm taking suggestions!

I finished Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger.   I'm currently finishing A Fountain Filled With Blood that I was reading last week.  Reading is slow since I'm on vacation...Too many things going on!

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

Oh.  My.  It's been several months since I've participated in the weekly Yarn Along.  The Yarn Along.  It's every Wednesday.  It's hosted by Ginny.  Everyone who plays along shares their yarn and books.

This current project is called Pretty Palette.  It's a cowl for one of C's teachers (she has two) for Christmas.  I am using yarn from my last YarnBox subscription.  Not my favorite colors, but I think they would perfect for Mrs. S.

I have so many books that I'm reading right now.  Or not reading.  I've been on vacation since October 7th and I just don't seem to have any time to read.  Part of that is while I've been at home, I find to many things to do during the day and feel guilty for sitting around to read.  Oh. the pressure.

I have been reading A Fountain Filled With Blood on my ipad before bedtime.  It's by Julia Spencer-Fleming.  The two main characters are ex Army helicopter pilot, Reverend Claire Ferguson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne.  This is the second book in the series (you know, it's my obsessive behavior to starts series at the beginning).  The series takes place in Upstate New York.

I'm excited to read all of what has been happening while I've been gone.
Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I am joining Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  Yesterday I ripped back my Funky Grandpa to the shoulder saddles because apparently I can not count and my stripes were off.  I was having a hard time keeping track of the neckline increases, the armhole shaping and the stripe counting.  I decided to start that section over.  It wasn't that much to do and it will be easier to do than try to "fix" it.

So in the meantime, I've been working on hats.  They are easy and portable.  A few months back, Stephanie from Woolythyme mentioned Christmas at Sea.  They donate hats to mariners.  I can do hats and I have stash!

It is Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I am joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.   Considering how cold and rainy/snowy it was here in Colorado this past weekend, I sure didn't get much knitting or reading done.

Once again, I am working on several projects at the same time.  I pulled Sylvi out of the storage bag and dusted off the pattern.  The cables are so intricate that I can only do two rows a night before I'm ready to pull my hair out.  The way I look at it, slow and steady knits the sweater... it's better than the sweater in hibernation.

Last week I cast on Funky Grandpa with the O-Wool yarn I bought at Rhinebeck.  The yarn colors are called Black Bear, Porcupine, and Trillium.   I'm only a couple of inches into the pattern, but I like an easy knit after working on cables!

The crafting club that I knit with (AKA The Dragon Club) is going to do a KAL using a gradient kit.  We haven't decided on a pattern at this point, but one of our members mentioned that Yarn Box, the subscription yarn service, is sending out a gradient collection in May.  I've signed up for the monthly subscription but may end up changing it to the every other month since I don't knit that fast.  I'll be checking my mailbox religiously after the 18th (the box ships on the 15th)!
 I was at the library yesterday checking out library books for Miss C and found this lovely little book on display as I walked to the children's section.  I have not opened it yet, but I'm hoping that I find a couple of recipes to try this summer!

It is Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I am joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  This week saw no knitting rather a lot of time was spent on Ravelry for a new knit project.  I'm not sure why I wasted so much time.  I have two projects on the needles and one of them has been there FOREVER!  I am working on the back of Sylvi and it is not a talk at crafting or watch TV at night kind of knit.  But I am determined to finish it this summer so I can wear it next fall!

Today is Ginny's virtual baby shower.  I love baby knits because I feel like I have accomplished something.  I made a little washcloth out of very soft cotton.  Together Miss C and I picked out the kitty with the heart for the sweet new baby.

I have been reading a lot of travel books in the past week.  I had checked out books on Iceland, Croatia and Budapest.  I check out books from the library and then when we decide, I'll buy a travel book we can write in.  We are trying to decide where to go on vacation in October.  My list of places I want to visit is very, very, long.  But we have to consider places that are kid friendly and we've narrowed down our decision to Croatia.  In the next couple of months we'll make a basic plan of what we want to see and do while we are there.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I am joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  WooHoo!  I am so excited.  I finally finished the stitch block cowl!  I just looked at my ravelry page...I started this cowl as a KAL with the mamas at crafting on April 18, 2015!  I put this cowl aside so often to work on other projects.  First I had to finish my Hitofude for Rhinebeck.  Then I had to work on the sweater for the school fundraiser.  And I've made eleven (ELEVEN!!!) Colorado hats.
I was so excited to finish and photograph it that i didn't even weave in the ends.  I took some quick pictures before leaving for work yesterday.  There are three blocks and I"ll tell you, that second block kicked my butt!  I learned to use a lot of lifelines!  Every repeat I used a lifeline.  And there are still several mistakes that I think are quite noticeable.  I'm fairly certain though, that there will be one more snow this spring that will enable me to wear my coat and new cowl!   My stitch block cowl was made using Quince & Co Osprey in Bark, Nasturtium, and Egret.

Block one

Block two

Block three

I have enough yarn left in the nasturtium and bark and a tiny bit left in egret, but it should all be enough to make a hat or maybe some mittens.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  Once again this week I have been working on Colorado Hats.  I have started the second to last order.  But that doesn't mean I'm done...I need to make one for my brother and Miss C.

I have also been experimenting with a headband.  This one I single crocheted and chained 110 because I'm going to attach velcro closures on it.  I made the "C" a little bit flowery so it will be a more feminine.  I also plan to experiment with headbands that are just one circular piece as well.
I am also working on a little something for our Yarn Along host, Ginny.  Tracey is hosting a virtual baby shower.  Let's just say it's in white cotton yarn.

I finished the last audiobook of the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy by Nora Roberts.  While I love Nora Roberts books this series was a lot predictable and redundant.  I am now listening to The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (who is also JK Rowling).  I am really enjoying it so far.  It's a lot better than her book The Casual Vacancy (which I thought was horrible).  In actual book form, I just started reading The Hour Game by David Baldacci.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  While it seems I've not really made any progress on any project, I have three completely finished Colorado hats ready for the recipients.  And I have one hat on the hook and another partially finished.  That means I have the C and the hat, the ends are woven in.  I just need to make the fleece liner and sew it all together.  And then I only have five orders left!

I have started section three of the stitch block cowl I have been working on.  In fact, I've started it seven times.  With a little help from a mama in our Dragon Club (aka, crafting group) I am on the right path.  I am religiously using lifelines every six rows so I don't have to rip back too far if I make a mistake again.  I hope it is just cold enough to wear it this year.  It is March and that is our snowiest month...
I have read a string of bad or just ok books.  I am listening to Die Again (a Rizzoli & Isles story) by Tess Gerritsen.  And I am reading Unspoken by Lisa Jackson.  While both of them are suspense thrillers, they are a light enough & easy read that is just what I needed right now.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I am joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books!  I'm taking a break from knitting!  Not a long break... Bryan wanted a Colorado hat.  I found two patterns on Ravelry.  One is crochet and one is knitted.  I knew I could whip out the crochet hat pretty quickly so that is what I did!

Luckily he sat next to me on the couch while we watched movies so I was able to have him try it on every step of the way.  I even lined it with fleece!  I watched a couple of video's on YouTube and kind of took a little bit from each one and made it my own way.  I made the fleece part and put it on Bryan's head then put the Colorado hat on over the top of the fleece.  Then I took it off together and stitched the hat and fleece together on the bottom edge.  He says it's very warm.

He posted it on Facebook and now I have orders for three!  I will make one for each of us and one for a friends birthday.  That's six hats total.  I thought it might make a nice little cottage industry for me.  There is a new indoor farmers market where I could sell them, but I'm not sure I want to limit myself to little hats and nothing else.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  I thought I would get a lot of knitting done on the airplane to Orange County, but I was so tired...we walked a lot at Disneyland and we played hard.

While I didn't get as much knitting done as I had planned, I did FINALLY finish the Maisie sweater that I was knitting for Miss C's school silent auction.  I originally decided to knit this sweater because I had found 12 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan at a crafter thrift store in Boulder.  When I checked Ravelry this pattern popped up.  It's cute, but this yarn is a pain in the rear end  to knit with.  As hard as it was to knit with, it was worse to seam the sweater with.


The only ribbon that I could find that looked halfway decent was black and it is 3/4 inch.  When I sewed it on, I inadvertently sewed over the button holes.  By mutual consent the mama's at crafting and I decided snaps would be best.

I am listening to Nora Roberts The Dark Witch.  It's a part of another trilogy.  I have to admit, I love Nora Roberts.  I finished Compound Fractures by Stephen White.  It wasn't my favorite book of the series and it was a continuation of the last book, Line of Fire.  There were some things that I didn't remember from that book which may have helped make more sense to Compound Fractures.  I am sad the series is over.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  It has been a busy couple of weeks for me and my knitting projects have taken a back burner to life!

This past Sunday I finished up the left front of the purple sweater (the one that I ripped out a couple of weeks ago) and was very excited that I was close to the making up, but then realized that I still had to knit the sleeves... Ugh.  The deadline for turning in handmade items for the silent auction is Saturday.  I have let the coordinator know that while I will not make that deadline, I am close to finishing.

I got some money for Christmas.  I bought yarn.  The blue, white, red and yellow yarn will be Colorado hats.  Bryan wants one and I may make one for myself.  I will probably also make one for my brother.  I've got two patterns- one is a knit pattern and the other is a crochet pattern.  I like both of them and may do both.
 I have not started it yet, but this is my new book.  Stephen White is a local Boulder author.  His main character is psychologist Alan Gregory.  This is actually the last book of the Alan Gregory series.  I really like this series since it takes place in my home town.  I love knowing exactly where the landmarks are!
Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  Did you know that Tin Can Knits is doing a 12 days of Christmas?  One pattern will be free everyday until Christmas.  Visit their website daily to find out what is available.

I should be working on the collar of the Maisie sweater.  But alas, I'm not.  I finished the right front and when I laid it all out together I noticed that I made TWO very significant mistakes on the left front close to the armpit and shoulder.  No problem right?  I'll just rip it back to the bottom of the arm hole and work to the shoulder.  Yeah.  Right.  Have I mentioned how much I don't like this yarn?  It's not easy to rip out and it's even harder to pick back up the stitches.  I ended up ripping the whole thing back.  Ball one was easy to rip out but ball two got so tangled that I just threw it away.  I have plenty of yarn.  I started over.
I am still reading A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont.  Don't bother reading it.  I just got the notice from Amazon that my library loan is about to expire.  This will be the third time I have to check out this book just to finish it.  I feel like I should just let it go, but I've only got 100 pages to go.  I kind of want to find out how it ends, but I have struggled with this book from the beginning.

I'm not sure what my week will bring next week with work and last minute shopping.  I want to wish all of you a safe and Merry Christmas!  Enjoy your time with family and loved ones.  I hope Santa is good to you.

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  Once again, knitting has been slow,  I've been working on the silent auction sweater.  I did manage to knit up a little cup cozy for Miss C's teacher for the Christmas basket.

Teacher V is a coffee drink.  I always see her with a mug in her hand, so I thought it was only fitting to knit her a cup cozy.  The pattern I used is Cuter Than Caribou which is a little ironic because we are also giving her a Starbucks mug and gift card.   Caribou Coffees are few and far between here in Colorado.

I've been reading slowly as well.  I have been reading a Breathe of Eyre for weeks now.  I just have a hard time getting into it.  I read it, I put it down, I read it, I put it down.  I'm also reading The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah.  I had a hard time getting into it as well, although once I'm reading it I like the story.   I must be in a reading funk right now.  Which is too bad because I've got a lot of books I need and want to read.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.

I worked frantically last week to finish this blanket for my cousin's baby.  I was able to meet that sweet baby this past Saturday.  I had a layover in Minneapolis and they came to my hotel with this beautiful new baby girl.
Thanksgiving morning between attending to all of the timers I had going for baking I hid ends.  I wasn't going to spend time weaving all those ends so I just tied knots and then hid them under the double crochets  I made this blanket using a crocheted basketweave with three strands of yarn.   I basically used all of my baby yarn stash- there was one very tiny ball of baby blue yarn left- so I called it done!
There was practically no reading this week.  I did finish The Escape, the audio book by David Baldacci, I was listening to.  I haven't started another yet.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday.