Whew! What a day!

School all day and then the kids had dentist appts and had to take the daughter to Michael's to get a solar system kit. I found some yarn in a clearance basket though. Three skeins of red cotton ease for $2 each and an unlabeled skein of fisherman's wool for $5. Whee! Next we have to go to "Open House" at The Liam's new daycare center.

I had fun recyclying a sweater last night.

Here's how. First you take a cotton Liz Claiborne sweater that you bought for $.99 at Goodwill.



You very carefully snip the seams until you find the one thread that you can just pull and the whole thing comes apart.

You'll end up with this.



Then you put your loose end in the ball winder and crank away.

Sleeve + Ball Winder =



Lather, rinse, repeat for the rest of the sweater parts and you will end up with this.



The noodle looking stuff in the left side of the photo is the yarn that was wasted. This sweater happened to have serged shoulder seams so there was a little bit wasted. But still quite a bit of yarn.

I got a new toy!!!

I was going to borrow a ball winder yesterday but the girl forgot it and it would have been another week before I saw her again sooooo....



What did I ever do without this??? OMG. (Yes that's the Liam peeking out behind there)

I'm hoping to get my Madli yarn wound today and maybe start tomorrow night after school.

I need to go now, I've been having so much fun that I haven't eaten lunch and I'm feeling a bit weak. LOL

AHH..some quality knitting time

I sat last night with the boys and watched The Wizard of Oz. Are you a good witch or a bad witch??

I worked on a cotton washcloth out of some yarn that I recycled from a sweater I got at Goodwill. My family reunion has an auction every year to try to help get money to pay for the next years reunion. Yeah, I know...we're weird. I thought I might knit up a bunch of washcloths and make a gift basket with some different soaps and bodywashes or bath salts.

Here's what I did.



I'm really liking that pattern and I think that's what I'll do for the gift basket. The yarn is a cotton/ramie blend and is incredibly soft. I'm going to run it through the washer and dryer and see how it comes out. (Yes I know I haven't woven in the ends yet....sue me)

I took a photo of my madli yarn. It's navy blue Marino/Silk.



I had to lighten the photo so you can see that its blue. I'm thinking this is going to be really pretty. Now to get it wound into a ball. I get to borrow a ball winder tomorrow. *gathers up all the hanks that need to be wound*

Our RAOK Ring is growing and everyone is having a wonderful time. I'm really glad that Kae and I decided to do it. I manage to peruse the ring everyday and I enjoy reading everyones posts.

I am trying to think of ways to make my blog more interesting. I am one of those people who is intimidated by writing things. I can have wonderful thoughts in my head, but something gets lost between my head and the keyboard. I am going to be working on making my blog more witty and more fun to read. It may be hard because of the school situation, but I am going to do it!

Speaking of school, one of my books is on CD-Rom. I put the cd in and do the autorun and it says loading and then just sits there. Its a book from NSSPress. If anyone has had any experience with these could you give me some hints? I've registered at the site, but haven't got the authorization email from them yet. I'm fairly sure my computer meets all the requirements listed on the back of the cd case. *grumbles* I just want to print the first chapter so I can read it.

Ok..I need to get out of my jammies and clean off my desk. I'm sure I'll be back to bore you more later.

ack..so tired

School. Um..what can I say. First full day went good. I'm exhausted. No knitting done today either.

I got my yarn for the Madli Knit along but I don't have a ball winder. I think I'm going to go beg at the LYS on Saturday. Maybe if I buy something they'll wind it. I don't mind doing small amounts of larger gauge yarn by hand..but 1500+ yards of lace weight?? That's a disaster waiting to happen.

I'll take a photo of the yarn tomorrow. Its beautimous. Its Merino/Silk in Navy blue.

I'm off to read my Grammar and Composition book. (yeah right...I'll be going to bed and I know it)

More tomorrow when I'm not dead on my feet.

D-Day

Today is D-Day. I start school tonight. I got the financial aid check yesterday! WOOOHOOO!!

I just realized that I didn't knit a sitch yesterday. What's up with that??

I mailed out a RAOK yesterday. We'll just say it's got a LOOONG way to go!! Someone along way from me expect a package in 7-10 days. (That's what the lady at the mailing place said)

I also sent out some RAOK'S by email last night. I'm having sooo much fun with this.

THIS is totally cool, even if it is in German and I couldn't understand a word.

Since I have to leave around dinner time for my class, I've already got dinner in the crockpot. In case you're wondering, this is what's for dinner.

From Recipezaar.

The Only Pot Roast My Family Will Eat #36233

1 roast (I prefer Chuck Roast)
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix (any flavor variety you prefer)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
baby carrot
onion, quartered,any variety (I like to use Pearl Onions myself, since I am the only one who will actually eat an onion in my fami)
1 large potato or 3-5 new potatoes
extra wide egg noodles

4-6 servings Change size or US/metric | 8 hours 5 minutes 5 mins prep

Change to: servings US Metric
1. For Crockpot preparation (the ONLY way to fly!): Combine soups and water in crockpot and mix well.
2. Season/score the roast with salt, pepper and Adolph's tenderizer.
3. Throw it in the crockpot.
4. Add to pot as much carrot, potato and onion you and yours will want to eat.
5. *Note*This can all be done the night before if your fridge is large enough to hold your crockpot.
6. Then in the morning, just take it out of the fridge and plug it in.
7. Turn heat to low and cook 8-9 hours or until you get home from work (mines starts at 8 am and goes until 6 pm).
8. Cook egg noodles according to package directions and serve drenched in the gravy!
9. You can also make this in the oven, but it's just not the same!
10. However, if you must do it that way: Preheat oven to 375.
11. Mix soups and water in roasting or 9x13 pan, add everything else (except noodles!!) and cover with foil and cook for 3-4 hours.

A quick birthday present

Today is my son Christopher's 1st grade Teacher's Birthday. I whipped up this boa scarf for her last night.



Please ignore the mess in my sewing area. I haven't made it around there to organize yet.

I start my first day of school tomorrow evening. At 6 pm I will go to my "Critical Thinking" class. Then on Thursday I have Grammar and Composition, Geography and Government. My student loans were all srewed up and I haven't gotten the money yet. My tuition and books were paid for by the Pell Grant, but I need the loan to pay for my daycare for Liam. I am beginning to get rather frustrated with the financial aid department, but I'm keeping my cool.

I had a weird dream early this morning. I dreamed I was getting Christmas presents from the Osbournes. Yeah...as in Kelly and Jack and Ozzy and Sharon. The person next to me got a whole box of neat stuff but Liam woke me up before I got to open mine. BUMMER! Now I'll never know what I got. I remember that the wrapping paper was bright pink and had glittery white polka dots on it.

Ok..well that was probably quite the scary glimpse into my mind now wasn't it?

Oh yeah..the aran sweater. I ripped out the sleeve and started over and it's going well. So far no mistakes, but increasing in a cable pattern is a biaaatch. I was reading ahead about the neck and I think I'm totally confused now. That will show me not to ever read ahead again.

The cross stitch is going well also, I'm nearly done with the first 1/4. Yaaay!!

I took this picture of my cat yesterday.



I think he's pissed about something. What do you think?

So...do you think I obsess much?

I finished the front of the toddler aran and started the first sleeve.



Lets play spot the boo boo. I can't believe that I did that. I'll have to frog it.

In my frustration I started a cross stitch project. Its for my kitchen.


Thats the upper left 1/4 of the design. The colors are a antique grape color, a dusky green, burgandy and a blue. (I think my camera washed out the colors)

Oh...and I acquired a bookcase yesterday. I decided that I would use it for some of my fiber stash.



The top shelf is Merino/Romney for the Zen Mitten Exchange. The middle is some cormo the dragon hair and my kool aid dyed fishermans wool. The bottom is some yucky fiber that I'm going to use in an SCA felting class next weeknd and my books on spinning. On the top is a basket with my spindles and some of the yarn that I spun.

I am NOT taking pictures of my yarn stash. It's not that I have so much..It's just not arranged as I would like. I would love several more of these bookshelves for my yarn, I just don't know where I'd put them.

The Results of the Kool-Aid dyeing experiment (photo heavy)

I inadvertantly joined Project Kool Aid! This was really fun and didn't take too much time or energy and was pretty easy. I may do more soon. I have one more skein of Fisherman's Wool and I think I'm going to try to hand paint a skein.

Well here we go! All images are clickable for bigger photos.

These are the pots with the yarn on the stove.


Arctic Green Apple


Berry Blue

Black Cherry


Grape


Cherry


Orange

Next we have the yarn skeins drying in the back yard.


The chery and the grape skeins


The arctic green and berry blue skeins


The orange and black cherry skeins.

And VOILA!! The finished skeins.


Top row left to right Arctic Green Apple, Berry Blue, Black Cherry
Bottom row Cherry, Orange, Grape

Friday is to DYE for

I am currently up to my elbows in Kool-Aid. Yep..I succumbed to the temptation. I have a pot of green and blue on right now. I am taking pictures and will share them all when I'm done. *grin* It's fast fun and easy. I think I like it.

So for now you'll have to be happy with the photo of the yarn I just spun and plied. It's the dragonhair roving from down below (merino, lambs wool, silk and angelina)

Here it is out in the back yard drying.



Here is a closeup for the colors. It's really georgous and I don't think the camera does it justice. I'm guessing its about a worsted weight with some thick and thin spots. This skein is 60 yards and I have about 2/3 of the roving left.

The FIBERRAOK Group is really getting going. Everyone is having fun, some people have already recieved little gifties (myself included, Thanks Nannette!!) and its just blossoming. I haven't had the cash to send out an actual gift (yet- but I will be sending one next week) so I have been sending out a "have a nice weekend" e-card every Friday. It's alot of fun.

Sorry for the lack of posting

I have been kind of under the weather. And to top it all off I had a drug interaction problem yesterday and I'm still getting over that. Have to go to the college tomorrow to pick up books so I wont be around much then. Hopefully I'll have something good to post about on Thursday.

See you soon.

Stash enhancement rocks!!

Kae needed to destash so I helped her. It came today by Fed Ex. Didn't know they delivered on Saturday.

Oh boy am I in love!!! (All images are clickable for a better view)



This is some dragonhair. I'm not sure of the colorname. Its part silk and wool and has sparkly bits in it. I couldn't resist...see what I've spun up already?? LOL



Black dragonhair. This one is shades of grey and black with rainbow looking sparkles in it.



And finally blue dragon hair. This is several shades of blue with silver sparkles.



I'm not sure what kind of wool this is. I don't remember, but the colors are just amazing.

Here's a closeup.



Wanders off to spin some more.

Remember that tiny little puppy??

She's not so tiny any more. Remember this photo from when we brought her home??



Here's a photo I took yesterday.



Sorry...she didn't cooperate for the photo. Same dog, same doggie bed. Just bigger doggie. LOL

I finished the back of the toddler aran sweater last night.



I cast on for the front and did all the ribbing last night and realized that I had used the wrong sized needles. Dammit! Frogged it all and re cast on and got the ribbing done again and one pattern repeat. I have just started the third pattern repeat. I really like this pattern so far and I'm loving the yarn. The Topher (6 year old) has asked for one in red. I'll have to get hunting for red yarn.

OO..the RAOK list is sooo much fun!!

I just got a RAOK from Nannette!! She sent me a copy of the fall issue of Cast On magazine. I have been wanting to check out this magazine but have never seen it around here at all.

Thanks so much Nannette!

Off to have a Dr. Pepper, look at my new magazine and plot what I'm going to send as a RAOK.

I am conquering the sweater

I think maybe one more row to the armholes, but I can't find the pattern book. *grumbles* Anyone know where it is??

I'm really liking this pattern now that I figured out where the screw up is. The pattern wasn't clear and it seemed like there should have been an extra P1 on row 5 of the pattern when there really shouldn't have been one. I've got it all sorted out now and I'm going strong. What you see above is what I did yesterday and one repeat this morning after ripping it back to the ribbing yesterday afternoon.

I was having so much fun with it I haven't even worked on my sock.

It's that time of year again

The kids started back to school today. It's just me and the Liam at home. There's tons of cleaning I could be doing but I just want to sit and revel in the silence.

I am to the heel flap on my making waves sock (pictured below) I'm really enjoying it. I think I have figured out the problem with the aran sweater and I'm going to frog back to the ribbing and start over. Need to really get that going and finished soon.

Next week I'm going to order my yarn for the Madli Along. I think I'm going to order the Merino/Silk in color 326. I should have plenty for the shawl with that. I may order the beads for the beaded scarf and my as yet unfinished trinity stitch shawl too.

There's lots of things going on around here. On the 24th I go to orientation for school and start my first class on the evening of the 25th. There's no turning back now. I am a student.

The FiberRAOK group is growing and geting lots of positive responses. Please note there's no deadline to join, you can join anytime. The more the merrier and we'd love to have you.

Just to prove I really can do cabling

I started my Making waves sock from the six sox knitalong.



I think this is going to be a nice sock. I was weird and I got some Sinfonia Mercerized cotton. The pattern is going along smoothly and its turning out really nice.

Just in case you haven't been there yet. Go HERE. Just do it. You'll be glad you did.

Somethings rotten in Aran land

I'm working on this sweater in the size 2 for my Liam

It should look like this



It's looking like this



(click for larger) I think there's something wrong with the pattern.

A FO to report

Click for a bigger picture. These are for a friend of mine who charted a design for me for counted cross stitch. I had fun making them and I like that they don't match up exactly. It's weird, they are exactly the same size but the pattern makes one look a bit bigger than the other. I hope she likes them.

I spent the afternoon in the park watching the fighters and did a little spinning. I need to get started spinning the merino/romney wool for the mitten exchange. I have a bunch to do, but I've been practicing so that I don't screw up the good wool. I'm not very confident about my spinning abilities. I think if I had more people closer to me who could critique me, I would feel better.

Well, after this long weekend I am exhausted so I'm going to sit and knit for a while. I've started an aran sweater for Liam and its giving me fits.

YIPPEE YIPPEE YIPPEE

Carmen won her first SCA rapier tourney this afternoon. We were at Lughnasad. She fought for the first time at the same event last year and came in second place. Today there were only two youth combatants, her and a 17 year old boy who she's fought before and NEVER beaten. They were fighting in a Swiss 5 tourney. What that means is they fight five matches with five different weapon styles, single sword, sword and buckler, sword and cape, sword and dagger and case (two swords). She won the sword and buckler and sword and dagger and won the case to win the tourney. She got lots of loverly prizes when she was called into court and announced the winner.

Dumbass mom forgot to put the batteries in the digi cam so the only pics that I have are in her lil disposable camera. You'll have to wait for photos.

I'm a proud mom today!

I just thought I'd share

We are getting ready to go out to lunch with my parents for the Daughter's Birthday. This is something we do for all birthday's. Gramma and Grandad take you to lunch at the restaurant of your choice. She chose applebees. She is 14 today. Its hard to believe that 14 years ago today I was in labor. Man I'm getting old. LOL

If you want to send her birthday wishes her blog is HERE, and her email is geebaloo AT yahoo DOT com. She'd love to get ecards and things.

Not much news on the knitting front. I'm done with the gusset decreases on the sock and working on the foot. Still boring stockinette on the slit front tank and boring garter on the Sonnett. So...no photos for you. Nyah!

Our RAOK group is growing and getting members. I'm sure this is going to be great fun.

Well, need to go get the clothes on now and get ready for lunch. More later.

Look what I just found.

When I was a kid I used to love the show New Zoo Revue. I also liked Electric Company, The Great Space Coaster, Captain Kangaroo and scores more.

I came across the New Zoo Revue website and found a neat video.

Emmy Jo Learns to Knit

Its a quicktime movie so you'll need that to view it and it takes a bit to load. Be patient.

Also August 6 is my daughter's 14th Birthday. :)

Happy Birthday Carmen!!

A Sad (and too early) Morning

I am awake due to a bad case of acid reflux and found that we had an escape during the night. Ham-Ham has flown the coop. I am currently hopeful that he is curled up and snuggled under the sofa and we'll find him sometime later. (when the kids get up)

Though the cat is looking rather smug. *eek* I don't want to think about that. I'm sure the boy will be devastated when he wakes up and finds out. Please think good thoughts that we find the lil bugger.

On the knitting front. I've cast on Sonnet. I'm throwing caution to the wind. I have no idea if I'll have enough yarn. What I have, the label is gone and all I know is I have a buttload of it. I'm finally almost done with the second sock. Turned the heel and finished the gusset decreases. Still working on the front of the cotton slit front tank. OH..and I cast on for the beaded scarf out of the alpaca. OH MY!! That stuff is soft! Knit on size 5's and seed stittch its going to take me forever to knit the required 17.5 inches before I start the beading. LOL

Please go HERE. Join us!!! It will be fun I promise.

A new fun webring

My friend Kae had a wonderful idea for a webring for fiber lovers.

It is called FiberR.A.O.K. For those who don't know, R.A.O.K stands for "random acts of kindness". Basically you send things to people for really no reason.

We thought it would be a neat idea to link all the fiber arts type bloggers into a R.A.O.K. group.

I made a page for her about it and you can view it HERE. There is a webring with a code you can put on your blog. (see my sidebar for one example) and also a yahoo group where you input your information in a database. The yahoo group is members only and you must be invited. It's also not listed in the yahoogroups.com directory. If you wish to join please email either Kae or I and we'll invite you to the yahoo group and we can get this thing up and running! I think this could be great fun!!

Join us!!

Pardon the dust..I'm remodeling

Getting a new look here at Casa KnitSteph. Hope to have things back in order in a day or so.

I lost all my comments though. *wonders what I did wrong* And for some reason there's huge spaces between my posts. *scratches head*

OK! Now all my comments are showing up on each and every post. Anyone have any ideas??? (comments are now fixed) Still can't figure out the extra spaces thing. Theres something up between the top spacing between the image and the spacing between each post. I have got it reduced about as much as possible.

But I'm really liking the new look so far!

A little brain storming

I have been thinking about the shawl. I don't like the fringe much either.

I drew up a little idea in Paint. (I suck at drawing)



Click for a bigger view.



how bout that for the bead?? (details - Czech pressed glass beads, amethyst, curved leaf, 14x9mm)

It may suck. Oh well.