UFO's

Isn't this little guy adorable? He's the newest member of my Lamb Collection. He's from the people who make Soy Silk and he's made out of Soy Silk and he is SO SOFT! Lovehim, lovehim, lovehim! I got him at a wonderful LYS.

I made a list. I never make lists. If I make a grocery list, I forget it when I go to the grocery. If I make a "To Do" list, I don't do a thing on it, I do something totally different. So, this new list is just a list, but I'm really hoping to work it just right. I'm going to post it here so that maybe, every now and again, one of you Scrappy Knitter readers can pop into this blog and ask about one of the things on my list. Got that? Okay, here's the list:

1. Harry Potter Scarf
2. Kauni Sweater
3. Norwegian Sweater
4. Aiden Jackson's Sweater
5. Rib Warmer
6. Red Vest
7. Striped Vest
8. Goddess Knits KAL Shawl
9. Mr. Greenjeans Sweater
10. Hemlock Ring Blanket (brooklyntweed)
11. Log Cabin Afghan
    
12. Swallowtail Scarf
13. Ene's Shawl
14. Recipe Shawl

Isn't that scary? For some reason (attention deficit?)I get very bored very fast with my knitting choices. Why? What is so hard about finishing one project before going on to another? Beats me, but if you know, share, please!

The oldest UFO on the list is the Harry Potter Scarf. The Baby Girl asked for that way back, like in high school and she is now a junior in college! I HATE working on that scarf. Its a circular needle that's too short, doesn't bend and you just go round and round for 16 rows, then change the color and go round and round for another 16 rows. But, that's got to be finished! The last 3 items on the list are things I've just started in the past few weeks and am working on a little every day. I have to set up some type of schedule to add in my UFO's. Most just need to be put together, buttons put on or a small amount of knitting to be done. A few, like the Norwegian Sweater, made me mad so got put away. It's all done by chart, black and white, and one of the stitches was off and I couldn't figure it out. So, some need lots of work, some need very little.

I've been knitting since I was 6 and I don't remember having more than one project going at a time until I found all the wonderful knitting sites on the computer. Now, I'm not blaming anyone here, I'm just saying, if I didn't see all the gorgeous yarn, beautiful patterns, amazing knitting projects that all the folks are doing on Ravelry, Blogs, Knitty, I would be very happy working along on my child's boring Harry Potter Scarf until it was done, then go out and buy some more boring yarn at Walmart (who'd have thunk that all that gorgeous yarn you see in the magazines can actually be bought in a LYS or online, right at your fingertips?) and knit something else till it's finished....... That's how I used to knit. My Grandmother always told me I couldn't start something new until the something old was finished. I never did, till about 4 years ago. Sorry Grandma, I'll try to remember that but so far it's just not working!

So, my goal (never had goals in my life, and if I did they didn't work)is to TRY and finish one UFO a month. Maybe that'll motivate me to finish them all fast enough so that it doesn't take me 14 months to finish.....that's over a year! Wow!! Let's also hope that I don't add anything to this list before atleast a few things are finished! There are so many beautiful patterns popping up that I want to do. I've already got yarn and pattern for this beauty, and this one. I think I need AA for Knitters. Is there one of those somewhere?

This is my newest toy. I bought it to take with me to Boston but of course, it didn't come in time. I, for some reason, can't get Ravelry on my Blackberry (don't laugh) so thought I'd get this. It's 9"! And pink! And I just love it! The Baby Girl has had it on the couch and in her bed while she's recouping, but once in awhile I get to play with it again. Does everything the big laptops do but mostly geered for surfing the internet and e-mailing. Awesome little gadget. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini 9" and because I ordered it in pink (lots of colors to choose from), $5.00 went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

This silly little pug was chewing on this bowl that I had on the floor to hold my yarn while I wound it. When I was done she decided to start playing with it and with her head in it, she fell asleep! The reason I looked down at all was because she was snoring but it sounded funny. Yup, sounded like she was down in a well. Nope, she was down in a cool whip container. Love that pug!

Thank you for the well wishes for the Baby Girl. She's doing very well, eats EVERYTHING, and goes in Thursday to have her stitches out and for a checkup. She is soooo enjoying being able to eat real food again. She was getting quite tired of Slim Fast, mashed everything and soup. I've loved having her home and babying her (as much as she'll let me).

Happy Knitting!

Surgery, Medical and otherwise

Yup, left here at 5:15 a.m. to get the Baby Girl to the hospital for her 8 o'clock surgery and I backed right into her friends truck. NOT happy! 'nough said.
Pretty sad, but I love what they did to her hair. She has really curly hair, like banana curls, and I'd say someone liked playing with it cause usually after this it's tucked up in the bandages to stay out of the way. She had 5 stitches on each side and the incisions are where they'd cut if you had a face lift. So, if she ever does, she won't have to worry about new scars, they'll already be there.

We were home again by noon! She got up this morning and took her meds and ate pancakes! HALLELUJAH!!!!! Lets hope this is the final TMJ surgery for this child.

I'm battling the extremely thick pollen and have a wonderfully painful sinus infection, so, I'm finishing my tea (an actual tea bag cup of tea, imagine that? first time ever!!!) and going back to my chair. The pain has got to go away sooner or later.

Happy Knitting!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggitey Jig

Now, if this post was written by my friend Stringplay, she'd look up that poem and have it all written out here for you, but, since it would take time from my knitting I'll let you look it up. LOL Google is my best friend.

I'm home. Boston was AWESOME! Spending 4 days in very close proximity to your hometown in the dead of winter is more fun than I could tell you. AND, we had a mini blizzard the day we left and I had to sit on a plane and watch it be deiced! 15" of that beautiful white stuff I got to walk through, kick, shiver in and fly back to Atlanta in. I wasn't "scared to death" but I was thinking "how weird is this. I hate to fly (used to), always said if I had to sit on a plane while they deiced it I'd just have to get off." Well, I didn't, sat right there in my seat and never once thought - what if. I even knitted while on the plane. I NEVER have been able to do anything while on a plane except pray, A LOT! Great time, great time. I'd love to show pictures but I have a slight problem with that too. My adorable son took some great one's too, but I got home, took the smart card out of my camera to have the pictures printed at the store, decided to wait till I went to my oldest daughters store (less crouded) and now I don't know what I did with the smart card. I know it's around here somewhere. So, when I find it I'll be sure and plaster my snow pictures all over this blog.

Okay, yes, I do knit. So, here's the knitting of late:This is Ene's Shawl by Nancy Bush

from Scarf Style
I'm doing it in Knit Picks Shine Sport. I want a big, big shawl to wrap around myself when I'm cold, reading, sick, and it has to be big enough to wrap a pug and hotdog in cause if I have a blanket they have to be under it too. And this Shine Sport is cotton and modal so it won't make me itch and it's super soft.

This one I call "Waiting." But it's actually a recipe on Ravelry by Orlane and it's a really fun, easy pattern and I'm doing it in some DK weight cotton that I have, again cause I can't stand itchy yarn. Why "Waiting?" Well, the Baby Girl is home for Spring Break and she goes in Thursday to have her jaw operated on again. This is the biggy; incisions on both sides, just in front of her ears, they're taking out the cartilage and sanding down the bone/hinge of her jaw because she has bone spurs! It's still outpatient surgery but they said it would take longer and there's a longer healing time, so, while I wait, pace, worry, and pray, I'll knit "Waiting." Send good thoughts our way for her, she's really suffered with this thing long enough.

So, aside from all the things I don't have pictures of (like the beautiful Boston snow storm), that's about it. I'm staying home for awhile, need to do some spring cleaning, give the honey and the pug and the dachshund some attention, then I'll be going again, I'm sure. But, for the next several weeks I'm staying put.

From a Scottish Yankee, Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Are you making corned beef and cabbage? Got mine all ready to go in the pot! YUM, I can smell it already.

Happy Knitting!
PS Here's a special hello to an "old" online friend who also has heart problems. Here's to you kid! And here's hoping your heart is fine!

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

These are some of things I worked on while on my 2 week vacation in the freezing cold state of Florida. Broke the all time record for the coldest night 3 nights in a row! Good thing we have Northern blood in us.

I'm calling this Emerald Beach Shell Diving Shawl. It's almost the same color as the Gulf of Mexico water and the place we stayed was Emerald Beach. Not sure if you can see in this picture, but there's pink size 6 seed beads in it to represent the shells we found.

Pattern: From LYS but named Emerald Beach Shell Diving Shawl by me
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy (my new FAVORITE yarn) from same LYS
Needles: Denise Circular size 10 1/2
Beads: pink seed beads size 6 from the Beadwrangler

I'll post another picture of it when it's done. This one's not quite finished yet.
Need another vacation to gether done.

This is a free Ravelry pattern and I love it! Loved making it and love the yarn.
Pattern: Thermis
Yarn: Mongolian Cashmere
Needles: size 7 KP circulars
Soft and cozy

I sure do get alot of knitting done when I'm in the sunny state of Florida. I could sit on a beach and knit for ever and ever. Not on the first week of the trip, that was so cold we walked to stay warm (and I lost 5 pounds!). The second part of our trip was in the Panhandle, on the Gulf side, that was nice for about 2 days.

Here's a pair of quick Mary Jane Slippers. This too is a Ravelry pattern. I'm really enjoying all these quick knits. It's nice to actually finish things.


I also made the oldest a Ponytail hat like the one I made the Baby Girl {here}. She's supposed to be sending me a picture of it on but I think she's a little busy with 3 kids, college and a new job.

I've started a couple of cowls, another scarf and hope to finish the shawl from above. Leaving tomorrow for another mini vacation so maybe when I get back I'll have time to post pictures and tell you why on earth someone that lives in the warm (75 today) sunny southeast could possibly need cowls and scarves. Stay tuned.

And Happy Valentine's Day! And Happy President's Birthday Day! And a VERY Happy Birthday to my favorite man in the whole world. Happy Knitting!

Pretty in Red

My favorite color! This was the most relaxing scarf pattern ever! I started it on our trip and finished it within the first 7 days. I've always wanted a red scarf. This one was perfect.

Started: Jan 19, 2009
Name: Pearl-Barred Scallop Scarf (free download from Ravelry)
Yarn: Cabin Cove Mercantile 100% Superwash Marino
Amt: 400 Yards
Needles: Size 9 Lantern Moon
Finished: Jan 26, 2009

Our trip was totally freezing but we had the best time ever. We went shell diving, ate shell fish, and sat around and watched the water, some of us knit, some of us napped. Great vacation!

More pictures next time. Getting ready for another trip but I'll try to get pictures and post them before we leave.

Happy Knitting!

A New Sheep Added to the Flock

The label said "Quilt Sheep." I do know how to quilt, I've made quilts, so, he had to come home with me. Looks good sitting on the back of Ruby, huh?

I'm headed out of town tomorrow for my annual trek to warmer weather. Until this week we've had warm weather here this year, but, I want to go to warm weather where you can see salt water at the same time. So, we've packed up and are ready to go. I still haven't been able to get my laptop fixed but I will have my Pinkberry with me so I can read my mail. Just wish I knew why I can't get Ravelry on it. I'm going to miss that, no new patterns to look at for 2 weeks! Ouch!!

Hope you're all staying warm (it was 21 here this morning) .

Happy Knitting!

It's Still a Mess

The Baby Girl is on a trip with her University Chorus group to Michigan and she asked me to make her a hat. The hat I referred to in my last post is kicking my butt, so I gave her this one so her ears wouldn't freeze up! It's the Colorimtry hat from Bonne Marie at ChicKnits and was a lot of fun and really fast to make. I did make a few changes, like not doing about 1/2 of the increase rows. She likes is and it covers her ears, so that's one more skein of yarn out the door!

The yarn is almost done being organized, but I've run out of room in the closet. I really hate having this mess. From this day forward I WILL NOT BUY YARN UNLESS IT'S FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC! Alot of this yarn I bought when my LYS went out of business but now, looking at patterns to use it up, there are very few people using these yarns for anything. I guess I'm going to be knitting alot of scarves, hats, mittens, wrist warmers and such. BTB suggested afghans, so I think I'll use the heavier yarn for that. We live in the South, where the temperature so far hasn't dropped low enough to wear a sweater, never mind hats, scarves and all that. Jeesh!

This is what BTB gave me for Christmas this year. It's a sheep! He is the cutest thing and he's holding an ear of corn. Oh, and the TV? That's my new flat screen TV to use with my Wii Fit. Makes walking that walk alot prettier!

Happy Knitting!

PS Marissa, thanks for stopping by. I couldn't e-mail you cause I don't have your e-mail. Nice to meet you though. Stop by again.

And now the mess

Mess #1 Sorting it all! (on the table)

Mess #2 - Socks and Lace weight only (boxes under the little Holly Hobby Wallhanging)


Mess #3 All counted, inventoried, bagged and ready to go back into the closet. (large pile of totes)

Someday! I hate this blogger stuff. The pictures never go where I put them.

Stay tuned! and Happy Knitting!

I Am Not An Organized Person

But I am determined to be an organized yarn hog. If I can't see it, I don't know I have it, so it's all coming out of the plastic totes and going into ziploc bags. Stay tuned for more pictures. The Baby Girl is leaving us again tomorrow, so I have to find something to keep me busy.

More tomorrow. I'm determined to have this done by the end of the weekend! Wish me luck

The box furthest from the camera is just sock and lace weight yarn!
The box closest to the camera is all my single skeins or leftovers.

These are waiting to see if they have some matching friends somewhere
and some are favorites that I don't want to pack away - I like looking.

Happy Knitting!

It's not a Resolution, Really!

Big plans and big things happening around the Scrappy Knitter household. Oh, hope you all had a great New Year's Eve and New Years Day. We sure did. Ate all that "bad for you stuff" like chip and French onion dip, buffalo wings, bagle bites, pizza, cheese/pepperoni/cracker tray. Yeah, all that yummy stuff I'm not supposed to eat but, we did have a veggie tray. Only problem was someone I know likes it so much all the good stuff was gone by the time I got to it. We just won't mention any names (it was the oldest child of mine, but, no names).

Anyway, the plans. I've started working on them but forgot all about pictures. So, tomorrow I will see if Mr. BTB will take some of the mess I've made, that will eventually, I hope, turn into a much more organized system. Doesn't that just make you all wonder? Hang in there, I'll really try to get those pitures up tomorrow.

That's it, gotta run. The Baby Girl is leaving the nest AGAIN to go back to school on Saturday and she's in dier need of a nice, warm hat for a trip to Michigan she's taking next week. So, I'm off to make her the cute little Paperboy hat shown here on Ravelry.

See you tomorrow. Happy Knitting!