Finished -Ugly- Socks!

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Heather

With Baby Man back to his old self, I’ve been able to get a bit more time to knit and cross stitch.  I’ve been busy with socks (yes, more socks), Castles in the Air, and even a couple of special gifts.  I’ve also been mourning the loss of my nsLNS, Golden Threads, which made the news of their closing official today.  quanta has been kind enough to grudgingly agree to let go down next weekend to say goodbye and check out the sale… and maybe spend some money.

I put the finishing touches on my Pretty Comfy socks the other day.  And while they are pretty comfy, I think they are kind of ugly too.  The yarn pooled really strangely on the first one, and then the second one striped nicely on the leg and pooled weird on the foot.  All this even though I used the same needles, had the same tension and started at the same place on the colour repeat.  At least they are comfy to wear.

Pretty Comfy Socks

Pretty Comfy Socks
Yarn: Cascade Fixation in colourway 9843 Purple Passion

Now I’m working on another pair of socks, again using Fixation.  (Which is super comfy but a bit annoying to work with because of the elastic.)  This time I’m trying two socks at once on two circular needles.  I’ll keep you updated with how they are progressing.

I’ve also been working on some dishcloths and occasionally on the Lotus Blossom Shawl, but I don’t have any pictures to share yet.

On to cross stitch!  I’m slowly plugging away at Castles in the Air.  I’m about 3/4 of the way through Part 2 now.

wip-castleintheair-part1-may282009

And, since yesterday was TW Wednesday, I finished up the lattice backstitching on the front of Delightful Dragon. I had hoped to have it done by the end of the month, but because I am working on a gift, that is not going to happen.

wip-delightful-dragon-fob-by-teresa-wentzler-may282009

I’m going to be putting the last of the beads on the H Fairy this evening, and will have a final picture of her to show soon too.

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Updates, Comments, and TUSAL

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Heather

I thought that today I would address a few comments and other things that I have popped up over the past couple of weeks.

First, thank you to everyone for the well wishes for Baby Man.  He is almost back to normal now, and I was even able to escape for a little while yesterday.  Daddy and baby had a nice afternoon while Mommy engaged in some retail therapy in an attempt to regain her sanity.  Seriously, this first illness was tough, but thank goodness it turned out to be so benign.

Next, as to my Stash Stitcher vow.  It isn’t so much an issue of being able to afford things, or of more or less losing my nsLNS.  It is more like I have recently realized just how many things I have already that I really, really want to finish. And then I keep adding to the list and it feels like nothing ever gets done.  I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed by everything.

And, with my knitting habit, we are starting to run out of storage space.  We live in a lovely, largish condo, but a condo is a condo and there isn’t a lot of room to store piles of yarn, yards of fabric, and stacks of floss.  And that isn’t even mentioning the kits under the bed and the charts in the filling cabinet that is bursting at the seams.  I’ve considered trying to “borrow” some space in Baby Man’s room, but his toy collection is too big.

Seriously, we all know that I’m likely to break down at any moment anyway.  Enchanting Lair has a few designs due out this year that I may want, and I found an X’s and Oh’s design at the spring CreativFestival that I’ve been thinking about ever since.  (It’s the Colours of Canada Sampler, and the best picture I could find of it as waaaay at the bottom of this page.)  Goodness knows what other designers are planning on bring out.  So, you know, I will do my best and try to clear some of the designs I most want to complete as quickly as possible.  But I won’t punish myself too badly if I have a small break… 🙂

And, as for my knitting, I really appreciate all the comments on it.  I’ve only been knitting since September, so I’m still a real beginner.  But, I’ve found that in a lot of ways it is like stitching.  I just need to follow the directions, look up every stitch I’m not familiar with, and be brave!

Since it is the New Moon, it is also time for the Totally Useless Stitch Along.  (You can find out more information here.)  I bought myself a lovely new jar a few weeks ago, without realizing that it won’t make for very good pictures.  It looks lovely sitting on my desk, though.

tusa-may242009

tusa2-may242009

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The 50 Project Failure and a So Long

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Heather

A while back I signed on to take part in a 50 Project Challenge. Essentially, I pledged not to buy any more patterns, and very little other stash, until I finished 50 projects. Well, I’m a total failure. I’ve bought a bunch of patterns, knitting and cross stitch, as well as all the materials I needed to make them. Seriously, I suck and I feel super crappy about it. I want to say that I won’t do it again, but seriously, that is dumb too.

Now, when I originally wrote this post a few weeks back, I said that I was going to try a 10 project challenge.  Things changed today, though.  I found out that my not-so-LNS is seriously downsizing.  The owner has sold the building and will be doing most of her sales in the future through the web only, along with some by-appointment-only sales at another location.  So, essentially, I have lost my main cross stitch supplies source.  There are a couple of other LNS nearby, but this one was special to me.  I’d been going there almost as long as I have been stitching, and they had seen me move from beginning stitcher to an advanced stitcher. The owner had helped with fabric suggestions and colour substitutions, and never once questioned me when I bought a design that wasn’t my normal style… well, okay, maybe once.  She is a wonderful lady who has done a lot to add to my stitching pleasure.

So, today I paid her for the things I had ordered that she had in stock and used my store credit to pick up a couple of things I had been eyeing.  Then, bad me, I bought a few supplies from an online shop (things my nsLNS didn’t have in stock).  And now I am declaring myself a Stash Stitcher.  That’s right, for the foreseeable future I am using what I have already bought.  Exceptions are TW designs, the JCS issues I need to finish a series design I am working on and the ornament issue, things for gifts that I don’t already have a design for (weddings, babies, etc.) and the CreativFestival classes.  And, since I don’t have a full collection of DMC, I may occasionally need to buy some of that too.  Otherwise, I’ll do my best to make substitutions from what I already have.

I know, I can hear quanta and my parents thinking “Yeah, right.  Like this will ever happen.”  Maybe it won’t, but I’m going to try.  Goodness knows I have enough kitted up to keep me busy for years and years.

So long my favourite needlework store, not good bye.  I will miss you.  I do take some comfort from knowing that you will be around in some form if I need you.  Best of luck!

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Busy Fingers

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Heather

Before the Baby Man got sick, I was actually moving along very well with several of my projects.  In fact, over the weekend, while he was just feel blah rather than bad, I even finished two small designs.

Black Hatter by Sue Hillis

Black Hatter by Sue Hills
Fibres: DMC
Fabric: opalescent Silkweaver Solo
Button: included with chart

I Love My Cat by Brittercup DesignsI Love My Cat by Brittercup Designs
Fibres: DMC, WDW, Crescent Colors
Fabric: Silkweaver Solo
See notes on colour substitutions here

Not bad for a weekend’s worth of work, eh?  I also put in a little bit of work on Christmas Treasures and Lily of the Valley Fairy, but not enough that it is worth sharing pictures.  If Baby Man keeps getting better, I will hopefully have some progress to share by the weekend.

My next pair of socks is moving along pretty well too, despite the fact that it took about 3 tries to get guage (and I ended up with the first needle size I tried…) and also the fact that I had to rip it out when it was 3/4 done because I realized I was doing the decrease in the second part of the pattern wrong.  Seriously, how annoying is that?  Anyway, here is the nearly done #1 sock, horrible colour pooling and all.

wip-pretycomfysocks-may212009Pretty Comfy Sock by Debbi Young
Yarn: Cascade Fixation in colourway 9843 Purple Passion

The sock is pretty comfy, but I hate the colour pooling.  Judging by the way it looks, I think it would pool regardless of what sock pattern I used.  I’ve got a bunch more Fixation to use for socks and a few other things.  But, I think I will be sticking to their solid colours once I deplete what is in my stash.  (Yes, this is an awful picture.  Sorry about that.)

The Never Ending Blue Shawl of Doom is done!  It still needs to be blocked, so the edges are rolling.  It looks pretty nice, if I do say so myself.  The variegated yarn makes it a bit difficult to see the pattern in the centre, but I think that is okay.

Pentacle Shawl

Pentacle/Pentagram Shawl by Maria Merlino
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Millefili Fine in colourway 282

And, even though yesterday was TW Wednesday, I didn’t do any stitching on Delightful Dragon.  I didn’t do any stitching at all, actually.  I’m still a little (overly) concerned about Baby Man, so I wasn’t able to concentrate well enough to stitch.

Here is the long promised picture of Baby Man wearing his Manly Baby Kimono.  As you can see, it is a little big for him, but he still looks super cute. 😉

Out and About in the Manly Kimono

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Sick Little Man

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Heather

At 16 months old, I know we’ve been very lucky that the Baby Man hasn’t had anything more than a runny nose. But, this past weekend he came down with a fever and just wasn’t acting like himself. I took him to the doctor yesterday morning, and she was very concerned about what I thought was just a simple rash. It turns out that it may be a sign of a blood infection! So, after more than an hour at the lab and six attempts to draw his blood, Baby Man and I returned home to wait for the test results.

Thankfully, we didn’t get a call last night, which means that isn’t the problem.  We will hear this morning if there are any other problems, but I’m pretty sure he is already on the mend.  He ate almost a full, normal breakfast and played a little bit before laying down for a nap.  He usually doesn’t nap in the morning, but I expect he is still a little unwell and in need of some rest.

I learned from this that maybe I’m a little stronger than I think I am. When the doctor said that it could be something serious, my heart dropped and I wanted to cry, but I carried on.  I held him tight when they tried to take a blood sample.  I tried to comfort him when he spent the afternoon crying.  I wanted to give up and cry too, but I held on until he fell asleep.  Then I went to sleep too, because I was just so exhausted.

I have a new respect for parents who have a child with a serious illness.  I barely managed to hang on when all Baby Man had was a fever.  My heart still hearts a little, but I’m so glad that I was able to comfort him, and that I had quanta to comfort me in turn.

Learning to Eat

Here’s a little bonus picture of Baby Man last week, learning to use a spoon.  Good try, little man!

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A Box of Buttons

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Heather

I’ve been a cross stitcher for many years.  I think I did my first (stamped) piece some time around 1991 or 1992, and very quickly afterwards moved on to counted cross stitch.  I tried regular embroidery a few times, but discovered I wasn’t very good at it.  I’ve also tried my hand at sewing a few times, but I’m pretty much just able to manage simple things like draw-string bags and ornament finishing.  I’ve also done a little bit of scrapbooking, but I’m not overly fond of it.

In the past eight months I’ve added a couple of new hobbies: knitting and crocheting.  I love the precision of knitting and the speed of crochet, but neither bring me as much joy as cross stitch.  (Although, there is something super cool about wearing socks you’ve made yourself.)

Getting more heavily into these hobbies, and increasing both my yarn and fabric stashes, has helped me feel closer to my paternal grandmother who passed away when I was in high school.  She was the one who tried very hard to teach me to sew and crochet and all those other things long ago, but I wasn’t a very good student and didn’t have much skill.  I think that she would be very proud of me now, knowing that her time did not go to waste.

One thing that I lack, though, is a box of buttons to rival my grandmother’s.  Honestly, I can’t remember how she stored them, but I do remember running my fingers through what must have been over a hundred buttons of all different types.  My button collection is made up of those extra buttons you get when you buy sweaters.  They are stored in their plastic bags in my jewelry case.  How uninspiring.

My grandmother’s collection took a lifetime to build, so I suppose mine will too.  It is a shame, though, that the buttons on clothes today are often so cheap and plastic. They don’t seem to have the charm of all those mother-of-pearl and Bakelite and shell buttons that my grandmother had. Nonetheless, they are good start to a button collection that I hope will one day, many years from now, inspire my own grandchildren.

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Birthday Gifts!

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Heather

Last year I complained a few times about not ever getting stash as gifts for birthday, Christmas, etc.  This past Christmas, my parents did buy some stash, much to my delight.  And, for my birthday this past weekend, I was completely spoiled!  In addition to going out for lunch/movie/dinner (while my parents babysitted), and allowing me to buy Heirloom Stitching Sampler last month, my lovely husband bought me all my books on my Chapters Indigo wish list, which included Joan Elliot’s Bewitching Cross Stitch and Socks A La Carte.  The rest of the books included a stunning Tarot deck (Mystic Dreamer Tarot), Tarot for Writers and The Soul of Creative Writing.  Yeah, I was totally spoiled.  And I’ve also updated my wish list in case he is moved to be so generous again. 😉

My parents also bought me stash–three Victoria Sampler charts and the thread pack for two of the charts.  They gave me W is for Witch, S is for Stitcher and Sring Garden Sampler and the thread packs for the two alphabet samplers.  My dad also completely surprised me by making me a yarn swift.  (Here are the directions he essentially followed.)  How sweet is that?

Birthday Gifts 2009

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I won one of the Cross Eyed Kat door prizes from The Needlework Show. My chart, Oak Tree Biscornu arrived on Monday.  What a nice way to cap off a lovely weekend.  All of this made turning 32 just a little bit easier.

Now, on to what I have actually managed to get done this week!

First, the Never Ending Blue Shawl of Doom is nearly done!  I have three more rows of the centre design to do and then about another 15 or so rows of plain filet to do to finish it up.  It will need a good blocking to uncurl the sides.  Since it is cotton, we will have to see how that goes.  I will share a picture in a couple of days.

I finished up the drawstring bag, but forgot to take a picture of it.  It still needs to be lined, but my mom has my sewing machine foot pedal. (Long story, that.)

I’ve also put in some time on my Lotus Blossom Shawl, but lace is slow going and looks like nothing while it is being worked on.  I’m on row 29, which means I am 3.1% done according to to Jessica Rose’s Shawl Progress Calculator (see the side bar).

Lotus Blossom Shawl - May 12, 2009

For cross stitch, I’ve done some of Nora Corbett’s Lily of the Valley fairy.  I’m using more of the Silkweaver Solo that I used to do Letter H.  She is turning out just lovely.

Lily of the Valley - May 12, 2009

And, lastly, for the past couple of days I have been working on Christmas Treasures Collection by Victoria Sampler.  I guess I was just in a VS mood after getting all those charts for my birthday.

Christmas Treasures - May 12, 2009

This week I plan to continue on with the Lotus Blossom Shawl as time permits (lace knitting and toddlers do not combine well).  I’ll work on Delightful Dragon on Wednesday, and Lily of the Valley or Christmas Treasures for the rest of the time.  There is also the blue shawl to finish up, and a super secret project to think about starting.  I may be using wool for that, which means I’ll need to wear a mask and gloves.  But, I think the final project will be worth it.

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