Knit Shui

Knit the Vote! 2008

I am a terrible blogger!  I confess and I am also terrible with Ravelry.  I haven't posted my projects... Oh well maybe someday... 

I would like to start a KAL for the upcoming US presidential vote.  It will help to get us through the election and horrible commericals on both candidates.  We are bombarded with the media...so to help us concentrate and to plain & simple "get through it"...Let's "knit the vote" by knitting a pair of patriot socks. 

II have to figure out how to start this KAL...suggestions are welcome.  I plan to start after the conventions.  I also think that we can keep all political views to ourselves and simply knit.

Stay tuned! 

Update

Hello friends,

It's been a while.  Thought I would drop in and let you know that I'm alive and knitting.  Sitting here enjoying Jack Johnson on my Nano and taking a little break.  My current knitting projects are socks...love smooshie from Dream in Color...also knitting simple sweaters from lovely yarn.  The tunic from Morehouse Farms is almost done and finally on the last stretch of knitting a ribby cardigan out of Donegal Tweed.

I'm going to start a little silk drawstring bag out of Debbie Bliss silk for my daughter to carry on her wedding day.  Which is coming up fast. 

Hey Lori...I love your sweater and the mittens are great!  Hope school isn't getting in the way of knitting !  You've joined my world of "lack of time to knit".  I've been using my travel mug you sent me from Alaska. 

Actually I leave work and head home to knit...I quickly throw something together for dinner, clean-up and spend the rest of the evening knitting.  So I do have time to knit...stop complaining so much! 

Okay I'm off to knit...see you soon.

Sweater Weather!

It was snowing this morning.  It's cold, wet with a rain-snow mix.  It was the same weather last year on this date because I closed on my house one year ago today.  It was similar weather and I had to drive out to the country in the dark in bad weather.  I couldn't even find my new house. 

It's been a great year!  I love living in the country...especially when my knitting friends come over to knit and have lunch with me.  Thanks!  The sunsets are awesome! 

I have been knitting and will post photos soon.  I don't have high-speed internet so it makes downloading a challenge.  I've been spinning a little more lately and I'm still looking for a new wheel...can't decide between the Majacraft  The Rose or the Schacht Matchless. 

Yarn from Michigan Fiber Festival

The Michigan Fiber Festival was wonderful this year.  I missed it for the last 2 years because I went to Rhinebeck.  I was at the festival all day Sat and the weather was beautiful!.  I bought lovely yarns, some "made in michigan", met lovely new knitters and went to a fabulous yarn shop in Holland - Friends of Wool.  I would love to visit that shop again soon.  Spent a few days at the Castle in the Country with a few knitting friends...it was a great weekend.

   

Here are a couple of the new yarns I purchased.  On the left is Shepherds Wool and on the right is Blackberry Ridge.  Both are very soft and just beautiful wool.

Here are a few more items from the festival:

Beautiful natural "organic" wool from Marr Haven and a little cormo to spin from Foxhill Farms. 

And last but not least my favorite tv show:

Have a good evening!

WIP and other things

List of items:

• Second sock
• New knitting bag
• Cute green frog for knitting notions
• Blue cable vest back
• 
• The pattern is from Fall '07 Knit and Style magazine, called "the Cable Vest".  It's a very simple pattern - using Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran.

I think I am going on a vest kick for a while, the last two sweaters....the sleeves ....!!

Friday Night

It's summers end and the madness is slowing down.  Working in the playground industry makes  for one crazy non-stop summer.  We have numerous community built projects which is sorta like planning a wedding or I should say planning around 8 weddings a summer.  It's crazy but in the end the kids have a new playground to play on and that makes it alright.

So... I will be blogging more in the up coming days  and finishing all the projects I started during the summer.  I had a bad case of startitis.  I'm thinking about going on yarn diet...just thinking about.  I'll post all the new yarn I have purchased  this summer in  the next few  days.   Lovely yarn at the Michigan Fiber Festival!

Here's sock #5.  Knit from Gems Quartz -size 2 needle...60 stitches.  I am pretty happy with this sock.  I did not use a pattern....just knitted the sock.  I even turned the heel without instruction...with a little help from a good knitting friend , Elizabeth (thanks for your infinite wisdom) and the cable pattern from Stephanie (knit-around) .  All in all it was knit without a written pattern.  I did the kitchener stitch in the car coming back from Buffalo without any instruction.    I think I finally know how to knit socks!  I cast on it's mate yesterday and am happily knitting away on sock #6.

I signed up for Mama-E's Year of the Sock club and am anxiously waiting for my first package.  It should be here soon.

Cute sock or what???

I may try the afterthought heel on sock # 9 or #10. 

New topic:  The Dalai Lama

I have decided that I love the Dalai Lama.  Now I will never discuss politics or religion on my blog.  The Dalai Lama is a wonderful  (holy)person with kind and good thoughts.  I've been reading his book: The Art of Happiness at Work.  This has been a rather difficult summer.  I would like to retire but I am too young (not that young) and I can't afford it. I read in his book that if you can't change your job/life  - to change the way you look at it.  Or in others words ...change your attitude.  Now this is not a new concept and I've heard it before but when the Dalai states it so simply, you know it's the right thing to do.  I have decided this what I will do and it works.  I am much happier.  I made as many changes as I could like cutting down hours and so on.  And I decided that I will do something encouraging, helpful and maybe even uplifting to someone in my office everyday.  I have turned my whole job around!  Try it!

Well it's friday night and we have the long weekend ahead....What are you working on???

See you later,

K

New Post

I need to post something!  I'm sick of the wedding photos :) 

I've been taking a sock knitting class at Knit a Round (see side bar).  It's been great. I've been knitting like crazy to keep up with the class.  Photos to come later.  The class is going to continue on throughout the summer as a "Summer Sock Group".  Anyone in the Michigan area that would like to join in  - please email me.  We will start after the 4th of July

List of current knitting projects:

   1.  Pink Top Down Sweater  - Bingo Merino Wool

  2.  Lacey Cardigan "Victoria"  - Light Blue Touche'

  3. Cable Socks - Gems Quartz

  4. Fairisle Sock - Blen of Silk & Bamboo (lovely)

  5. Teal Gansey Cardigan - Silk & Wool

Whats on your list?

Weddings, dresses, flowers...what fun!

I usually don't post anything "personal" on my blog...but I can't resist showing my daughter's  wedding dress.  We bought it last weekend and she looks absolutely gorgeous in this dress!  (better than the model in the photo - please excuse my boasting!)

The photo as usual isn't clear but I think you can get an idea how lovely it is!

They haven't decided yet but I think this is going to be the bridesmaid dress:

Finally!

It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday!  The weekend flew by with a wonderful visit from my kids.  We worked in the yard and sat on the porch and yes...I did get in some knitting time.  Almost done with the blue sweater...yeah! I can't wait. 

I've joined Pam's Bucket Brigade and here is the start of my bucket bag:

Looks like a hat!  I was very close to ripping it out to add some interesting yarn along with the Lambs Pride but I guess I'll keep it as is.

What do you think?

I've made some wonderful sock yarn purchases. This is "Smooshy" sock yarn from a local knitter:

And here is "twisted"  100% merino sock yarn ...fabulous! Both purchased at Threadbear.  And....I also received a $20.00 gift certificate from them today.

Thanks Rob & Matt!

Update

I feel like I'm in the "dog days of knitting"...the sleeves for my blue cotton sweater are killing me!  I make it through a few rows and need a break from the  boredom.  All my new sock yarns are crying out.  I just look at them in the lovely basket and continue my sleeves like a good little knitter.

Wow don't ask me why...

but my photo appears to be clear and quite big.

My friend Pam has started her blog...it is very good as I knew it would be.  Check it out...

Okay break is over...back to the lovely blue sweater.  It's got total control.