Here We Go Again!

Ok, I have been busy knitting alot of things...Oh Yea and getting ready for school to start and for me to go hunting with DH!. I am looking forward to my trip up north with him again. I have a few knitting project already picked out to bring with me.

DD is taking part, first semester in The Bronte Creek project. It is a leadership program that focuses on the environment. She will earn 4 high school credits and learn alot. She is really looking forward to it.

DS is going to go back for one more year of High school as he would like to take 2 more sciences and a math. He figures that if he takes those credits then he will have NO problem getting into Memorial university for Oceanography / Marine Biology. He is going to go to the school that he went to for grades 9 & 10. That school id about a 1/2 hour drive from where we are now but he wants to take music as well and they have a Wonderful music program and very inspiring teacher as well! So who am I to argue!

I have repaired - darned - sewn a pair of Highland Dance hose for a dancer, that had numerous holes and a few split seams. I couldn't match the colour of yarn so I had to spin a few yards in order to fix them.

I have also made a few more hammered copper shawl pins for our Etsy site, SKWD Creations.

My knitting group is in the process of doing a Shawl KAL. I decided to knit the Aestlight Shawl in a dark blue yarn that is really nice. The yarn is Curious Creek Fibers Wasonga in the colourway Old Kinsale. I received the yarn from the WoolGirl Sock Club. The pattern knit up VERY fast. The center triangle is straight knitting (garter stitch), It doesn't get any faster than that. We started the KAL on August 20th and the goal was to have 5 inches of our respective shawls done by our next gathering (2 weeks later), well I am done. I will definately knit another shawl for this KAL, as the Aestlight one was too quick in my mind. Lovely, but quick!

The one I want to do is La Cumparsita. One of the others in my knitting group is doing it and I absolutely love it. I want to wear it for my DH's Christmas party. I think it would look stunning with a black dress. The colour that I want to knit it in is Veronica, a black/purple/pink colourway by Dizzy Blonde Studios.

I also started a pair of socks. The pattern is written in Finnish. It is called Bombadil. One of the girls in the Sketchy knitters made them and translated the pattern. I like how they are turing out. They have trailing leaves on them.

I also started a plain sock for DS's friend. They are in a self striping yarn.

I finished the Clapotis. It turned out okay. I ran out of the original dyed yarn and had to use part of the make up skein but unless you are looking for the difference you will never notice. I did okay with regards to attempting to match the kool-aid dyed yarn. I am pretty impressed with myself! I made the clapotis a bit longer that the pattern called for. It is not as wide as I thought it was going to be when I blocked it. I may give it to someone for a christmas gift. I haven't decided yet. Either way I am happy with the way it turned out.

I will try to post a few picutres either today or tomorrow.
Keep on Knitting!

August Already!!!

Well here I go again! It has been too long since my last post. I have been busy again though...blah, blah...not what you want to hear...oh well sorry!

Here goes....

The socks that I was working on last post for DD's friends mom are done and gifted. She loves them. She was so shocked that I would consider giving her a pair of knitted socks....I love to knit them and then give them away. I feel good inside...so in reality I am selfish for doing it since I get something out of it too! I will post a picture of the completed socks tonight.... The pattern was Copper Penny socks from the book Knitting with HandPainted Yarn. I changed from the Blackrose pattern that I started with. I didn't like how it looked with the yarn. The yarn was Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 in a lovely red, pink and yellow colourway! The yarn was very soft and I enjoyed knitting with this yarn.

The next pair I knit was for DD's Friend, D. He made a comment to me one day that IF I wanted to knit him a pair of socks that he would love them forever.....I told him probably not for a while and when I found out that he had size 13.5 feet. I figured it would be a LONG while! LOL But the suck that I am I decided to knit his pair next...OMG do you know how long it takes to knit a 13.5 sock....TOO BLOODY LONG!!!! But since I gave him the pair on Friday, I don't think he has taken them off! He really likes them too. The pattern was Barcelona by Helen Waites. I only knit the pattern on the leg portion of the sock, not the top of the foot. The yarn was ONline SuperSock 100.

I have no trouble knitting for people who are appreciative. It really does make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

I also started a Clapotis. I do believe that I am the last person on the planet to knit one of these...

I am using KnitPicks Gloss yarn in the sock weight. It started out as being the colour Porcini, but I decided that I wanted it to be a purple colour...so I Koolaid dyed it. It is a heathery burgundy colour with some dark purple bits and brighter pink bits. I am happy with the colour that it turned but I was an idiot and only dyed 3 out of the 4 skeins (don't ask...). I tried to dye the lone skein and it came close but not quite, so I think once I have it all finished I will over dye the Clapotis a darker purple...since that was what I originally wanted in the first place. Neither picture is really the true colour. I am making great progress on it. I believe that I am 8 repeats into the main section. It is a very quick knit, with just enough interest to keep you awake.

I am trying to get this done before my next Sketchy get together as we are starting a Shawl KAL. We are all going to do a different shawl but we will have to be accountable to each other in order to get it done. I can hardly wait to see what everyone pick to knit, and the yarn that they are going to use. I am going to knit the Aestlight Shawl using Curious Creek Fibers Wasonga in the Old Kinsale colourway. It is a dark blue yarn that looks so rich and feel so soft.

Also, since my last post, my 2 kids have been on and returned from their 17 day canoe trip in the Temagami area with their Youth Group. There was 15 of them in the group this time and my 2 were amongst them. They had a blast. Unfortunately it rained a good portion of their trip but then being teenagers I don't think that hampered them in any way shape or form. They canoed about 250kms over the 17 days. They had rest days and paddling days, but mostly they had fun days. They were so tired and dirty when they got home...I couldn't tell where the tan ended and the dirtline began! *LOL*

While DD & DS were away, DH was on afternoon shift and that left me alone every evening. So I went visiting. I was at Della's house a few evenings, we worked on the knitting machine, trying to make the highland argyle socks for our dancers. Della came over to my house and we got a few things cleaned up and moved around. and I had a Sketchy Knitting night. The time passed quickly but was enjoyable and I got alot accomplished...

Well that is about it for now.
Happy Knitting...

Grad, Knitting, Driving and Life in General...

This post is going to be picture heavy...sorry but alot has gone on in my world this past month and I have to show you.

First off...DS Graduated from High School! Yea!!! Grade 12 is done with...Woo Hoo! He received a scholarship award from the Burlington Lions club for community service. What a surprise for him. He was thrilled. (So was Mom! *LOL*)

Now on to the next part of his life...except that the next part includes doing another year of high school...Oh well, he WANTS to do this. He needs a few more science credits to be accepted to the university he wants to go to. So I say 'YEA!' for another year of high school. Saves me a few dollars this year! LOL

Now for the Knitting...

I have been busy and here is the proof...

I received my WoolGirl Sock Club kits. One of them went MIA so Jen sent me a new one. It is gorgeous! The yarn is Curious Creek and the colourway is Kinsale. The blue is Beautiful!

The other kit that I received was the 'It's Raining Cats & Dogs' theme. It was a really fun kit as well. The yarn is Dream in Colour Smooshy and is a brindle sort of colour similar to Tigers fur. The goodies that were also included are great! What fun Jen must have had putting these together!

I received a pair of Air Raid socks as my Death socks for Sock Wars and a friend loved them so much I had to knit her a pair! Here they are. They are knit using Malabrigo sock yarn and a 2.75mm Addi Circular needle. I love them and I know she does too!

I also wanted to try the Insidious pattern from Sock Wars, so once I died I decided to give them a try. Here they are. I knit them using KnitPicks Essential Kettle Dyed yarn in the gold colourway. They turned out pretty good. I like the 'strong' heel that the pattern uses. These were the first cables that I have ever done on a sock...

I also decided that I wanted to try to knit a shrug. So I decided to give the Cropped Raglan Sweater a try. I really like this and it was very easy and fast! I knit it out of dish cloth cotton. It is soft and I figure that it will wash like a rag, which in my world is a good thing! I even got to use my shawl pin that I made.

I also reknit the button band on my Mr. Greenjeans Sweater as it wasn't sitting right. It is blocking right now. The girls at my Sketchy Knit Night helped me to fix what I needed to so it would look okay. I love those girls!

DD's best friend's mom is going through some trying times right now in her personal life right now and I wanted to do something for her. A little while ago she commented on a pair of socks that I was knitting and how much she liked them so I decided to knit a pair for her! I know hand knit socks can't fix all the problems in the world right now, but if we keep on knitting them maybe one day they will! At the very least they make someone smile.

I am using Fleece Artist sock yarn in a colour that I picked up from Linda's Craftique last Saturday. The pattern is Blackrose. It has a little bit of a lace look without being too busy.

Last Saturday was a crazy day in my world. I think I drove all over Hell's Half Acre then. I had top be in 3 places that day. I was supposed to go to Chatham for a Highland Dance competition to seel dance shoes but Della didn't have anyone to look after her dogs for the day. And it was going to be a LONG day! So I volunteered to stay home and tend to the hounds. She went with her DD. They had a good networking day.

DH went to his brother's annual golf tournament in Guelph. They call it 'Puke and Putt 2009'. It is the 14th annual one and with a name like that you can guess how much fun they have.

I was also going to meet up with Kirstie from my knitting group at her LYS and visit there for a while.

So here's how my day went...I got up and drove DH to Guelph for 9:30ish (about an hour drive) then headed back to Oakville to tend to the dogs (mine included). (about an hour drive). I hung out with the hounds (Hasia, Betty, Lucy and Tiger) about 2 hours and got some knitting done. It was a nice sunny day and we sat outside...well I sat, they ran and flopped!

I got a call from Kirstie saying that she was leaving her place and that if I wanted to get ready soon she would meet me at the yarn store. That was about 2ish. So I left the dogs and headed out to the next city over. (about a 20 minute drive) I arrived a bit before Kirstie and met my Sock Wars assassin, MarionK. Apparently it is common for people to hang out at their LYS on a Saturday. What a great afternoon I had. There was coffee and cake, great company, as well as the Yummy yarns. It doesn't get any better than that! I think we finally left at about 5:30ish. I know we closed the store.

I headed back to check on the dogs and to pick up my Tiger....After staying with the dogs for about 45 minutes I got the phone call from DH telling me it was time to head back up to Guelph (another hours drive) to pick him up. So I called Della to tell her that I was leaving the dogs alone again (she was on her way home at that point) and headed out to my home to drop off Tiger.

I got to Guelph about 8:30, stayed for about a 1/2 hour, said 'Hi' to everyone that I knew and we, (DH and I), headed home (another hours drive). We got home around 10ish. I was done! I had a great day but I figure I drove about 350kms. I am glad that the golf tournament only happens once a year. I much prefer being a passenger in a vehicle as I get to knit. This driving alot sucks!

This is a picture of Tiger the next day! He was so tired after his day of visiting his girlfriends that he couldn't hold his own head up...he had to use his hedgehog...LOL

On that note...I have rambled enough...Happy Knitting!

Where Has June Gone?

Ok, here we are more than half way through June and the weather is still crappy! WTH is going on...

I have been crazy busy this month...we have had tattoo practices, the actual tattoo, school functions, knitting night, work, dance classes, a dance competition and just about every other evening out of the house. I would like school to be over, dance classes to be done and my evenings to be my own again! Soon, very soon....

This coming weekend we are out at a family surprise function and then next week is knitting night and DS's Graduation from High School. There has been a bit of a kerschmuffle about knitting night as most of our little group will not be attending on Thursday...due to different reasons, (mine being DS's Grad!) so we have decided to switch ourt evening to the Wednesday evening. WOO HOO!! That means that I get to go this time! I really hate missing it. It's funny how much you notice when you miss it.

Well this past weekend DD was involved again with the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton, Ontario. She was one of many tattoo dancers who did an excellent job!

Meanwhile, Della and I went to Windsor on Saturday for a dance competition....we went to sell Ghillies. Our company, The Tartan Ghillie, was asked to attend to sell the dance shoes. The dance competiton was a small one but held in a lovely setting. It was at Fort Malden in Amherstberg.

I did quite a bit of knitting as well. I am on the sleeves of my Mr. Greenjeans sweater and have turned the heel on the Insidious socks. I have also knit the June square for our Sketchy group charity blanket. I even knit an extra May square and learned to cable without a needle! THAT was very exciting and way quicker!

Happy Knitting!

Grad, Prom and Knitting, of Course!

Today is Tuesday...I am not feeling very creative but I thought that I should probably update my blog!

Quite a bit has actually happened since I last blogged.

DS has been to Prom in May and the Grad Dinner and Dance the other evening. He went with the same girl to both events. She is a friend of his. They had a good time at Grad and a funny time at Prom. Grad is run by the teachers and school and Prom is run by the students....One had supervision and the other...not so much! There were apparently kids at Prom totally smashed...so much so that their limo ride home left! Not my kid...he drove my vehicle and was responsible. So were his immediate friends. I was very proud of them!

Here is a picture of DS dressed for his Grad Dinner and Dance. He is turning out to be a good looking, responsible person. (well almost!)

This is DS & his date for Grad D & D

This is DS and his date for Prom. They look really cute together!

On the knitting front...I have been working on the Mr. Greenjeanssweater for me! I am using Cascades 220 in the Ruby colour. The picturee is really off with the colour. It is a deeper cooler red. I love it.

I am to the point wehre I have to decide if it is long enough for me so I decided to wait till tomorrow's Knit Night to get some opinions from the Sketchy Girls!

Hugs & Kisses Socks....I FINALLY finished them for DH. I started them back in April but ran out of yarn as DH has wide feet. I emailed a few people on Ravelry and got 2 responses ffrom people who were willing to send me their scraps of the same colour yarn. Man! I LOVE Ravelry for things like that. There are some Wonderful Knitters out there who are willing to help you even if it is just with a scrap of yarn! Gotta love knitter!

The Socks were knit using Cascades Heritage Paints yarn in the Thunder colourway using 2.5mm Addi's. I modified Cookie A's, Milo pattern from her new book, Sock Innovation. I only used the back X & O ribbing from it. The rest of the sock is plain ribbing. They fit DH really well.

I also started the Sock Wars sock pattern Insidious. I like it alot and was tempted to give it a try as my killer socks but decided that I wasn't up to the challenge of the left and right socks being different. So I started it the other day! I am using a semi solid yarn from Knitpicks. It is Kettle dyed fingering yarn in the gold colour. I will post pictures later if I get a chance.

Tomorrow evening is my Sketchy Knitting Night. I am really looking forward to it! Ilike getting together with the girls, we talk, knit and laugh!

Well that is about all for now.

Happy Knitting!

We Have Knitting and Death! *LOL*

OK, So I haven't blogged for a bit BUT I have been knitting ALOT!

The date above is wrong too...it is May 20th, 2009. I started this on May 12th but didn't get it finished so Ignore that date!

I finished a pair of socks from the book '2 at a Time Socks'. The pattern is called Twilight. The yarn is Fannie's Fingering Weight in the colourway 'Grapes on a Vine'. I loved how this yarn looked in the skein but when knit up...not quite as much. Don't get me wrong I like these socks but the colours were more intense when it was in the skein form. I do like this pattern. I didn't get alot of pooling and it was really easy to remember the pattern. Fast too!

NEXT...

I knit 2 hot water bottle covers for a friend. One for her and the other for her son. They are both knit using left over yarn from my Christmas gifts. One just has a few stripes on it and the other has a dragonfly on it. My friend Loves and collects Dragonflies...who am I to judge, I collect all things Moose! *LOL*

DH's Durrow Sweater Is finished!

I had to modify the neck and make it a bit smaller. I followed the pattern and it came out like a boat neck...NOT something DH would wear but after I fixed it. It is just fine! Now we are waiting for the cooler weather for him to wear it. I really like the sleeves. They were my first cables. I think I did okay on them.

Next...is Sock Wars. I killed, then I died!

I knit a pair of socks for my target who lives in the next town over. I started Friday evening and finished in them VERY late Saturday evening. They were knit using TOFUtsies yarn in the colourway 930. The pattern was designed by the person running Sock Wars and is called Barcelona. It was a fun, quick knit!

AND Finally I received MY Death Socks from my assassin who just happens to live in the next city over as well. I think I was the only participant that had the opportunity to hand deliver her targets socks and had her assassin hand deliver her socks! I made the First kill and died the next day! LOL

My Death socks were knit using Malabrigo Sock Yarn in a purple colourway. The pattern is Air Raid...another pattern designed for Sock Wars. They are lovely socks!

That's it for now!

Happy Knitting! To those in Sock Wars....R.I.P.

Mom...Forever in my Heart!

Today is my Mom's birthday. She would have been 67 this year. Instead of celebrating, I am missing her dearly. She has been gone 17 years now. She died of ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease). It is a Horrible way to die. They say it is like being buried alive in your own body. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

I still miss her every day...she was one of my best friends, someone I could talk to about anything. We used to go to craft stores and the different festivals together. She taught me how to sew, knit, do a variety of other creative things, as well as all the things a mother teaches her daughter. She truly was an amazing woman.

I was 25 when she passed. I have come to the conclusion that no matter how old you are...you never stop needing your mother. There are so many things that I want to ask her and that I could learn from her.

My son was 9 months old when she died. He was the light in her eyes. We would go and visit 5 or 6 days a week. My mom would light up when we arrived. She couldn't talk but we found our ways to communicate. Grunting and blinking eyes. She loved holding my son, she could watch him for hours...

Unfortunately she never got to meet my daughter...she would have liked her, in fact I think my daughter is very much like my mother...I find it kind of humourous that my mom died telling me that I couldn't just have one child...and then I have another and she is JUST like my mom.

Most days I believe that everything happens for a reason, I don't always figure out that reason...my Mom passing away forced me to make some changes in my life. That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger....well, I have shoulders of steel!

The last 17 years have been hard for this girl without her mother. I have been at the bottom of the barrel and am now holding my own! I lost everything I once had, with the exception of my children. I believe that my mother instilled in me a strength that I didn't know I had until after she died. Its funny how that works...You truly don't know what you have until it is gone...I miss You, Mom...Every day!!

I now tend to watch how other people interact with their mothers. I have come to the conclusion that most people don't appreciate their moms. They don't have the time to spend with her or they don't treat her the way she should be treated. This Mother's Day I want everyone who still has their mother around to REALLY look at your mom and appreciate her and all that she does...some day your mother will be gone too!

And for those who don't get along with their mother...try! Think about it...it really is a short term problem! Once she is gone you can't get her back to say what you want....It truly is final!

On that note I want to wish all the mothers out there A very Happy Mother's Day!