Duck Races, Quilting & Knitting

And their off!

Here they are paddling along minding their own business. #5's in the lead, followed by #3 (pink) and #2 (green)

OK, so #5 may have been a little tipsy to begin with, but it looks like #3 & #2 were also. That's still no excuse for #4 to cheat.

I was so upset, I forgot to get a picture of the winner. HAH!

Oops, actually I did. He's over in the lilypads on the left, laughing at the floundering #3 & #2. The fish, thinking this is some new food are zeroing in on him. Luckily for him, Lu swished him out just in the nick of time. Isn't Lu's Pond gorgeous though?!? What a lot of work, but so peaceful.

Here is the cheering squad.
And the brave few who decided to brave the rain.

OK now for the quilting segment of our broadcast. :o) Last night, I finished all of my 4x4 blocks of my Ocean quilt. I actually got 1 turtle appliqued. Still 25 more to go, but I did get them all cut out. The thing I did discover is that you should never use a calculator with a faulty display to determine how many blocks you really need. I needed 144 blocks total. I had 8 different colors. So using my trusty calculator, I determined I needed 13 blocks of each. WRONG! That darn display wasn't working right. The 3 in the 13 was really an 8. I needed 18 blocks. Well, I don't have enough fabric and can't get anymore, since I bought this stuff several years ago and they were Hobby Lobby bandannas to begin with. Oh well, I finally decided that instead of 36 16" blocks, I settle for 25 and put a white border around the lot to make it the right size. The upside is that I don't have to do anymore triangles!!

Here is some knitting news I forgot to post. Go figure right! (sniff, sniff) Sheldon left me! (sniff, sniff) But only because he thought Dawson would be a much better pal to have around and play with. See here they are already getting acquainted.

I just knew what Dawson was thinking too. "Hello my new little friend! Now how do I get you in my mouth? And which part do I chew first?"

On the regular knitting front, I've been really struggling with not liking anything I've been knitting lately. I was working on a shrug. I've ripped it back 3 times because I didn't like the way it was looking and started a new pattern each time. I've settled on top down ballarina shrug that ties in the front. We'll see if I finish it or not. Still not 100% happy with it. On the bright side I've decided to start a new pair of socks. (Please forget the pomatomus ones that are still sitting on the sticks waiting to be re-sized) I found a new pattern on Ravelry called Komet (Ravelry Link) and I have the perfect light purple cotton yarn to knit them in. Going to start them this week.

Playing Catch-up

I can't believe I've been so quiet. Things have been happening, I just haven't felt very wordy this last month.

With my mom's help, I got everything moved downstairs to the new sewing room. God I have too much stuff! Especially fabric! I always "knew" I had a lot, but it wasn't all in one place like it is in the basement. So now I can SEE how much there is. I have decided that for any new projects I start, I need to start using at least 80-90% of the fabric from my stash. It would be much better if I could do 100%, but sometimes you just need a little something that either you don't have or you don't have enough of. I still have a lot of organizing to do, but I actually did some sewing. Luckily I didn't have to cut anything, because the cutting table is piled high with stuff that has to be sorted. But it's a start.

I went to 2 quilting retreats this month. The first was at the Tecumseh YMCA Camp in Brookston, IN. (North of Lafayette) It started on Thursday and finished on Sunday. I checked out a new quilt store in Rossville, called Rossville Quilts. In November they will be having their first anniversary. It was a very nice shop. I was impressed with the wide variety of fabric that she stocked. Most shops you go into, lean towards one type of fabric usually based on the owners preference; whether it's brights or it's thimbleberry/civil war type prints. This shop had a nice variety of both. It was really great because everyone was able to find something that they liked.

I worked on 2 quilts while I was at Tecumseh. Didn't get either of them done, but I made progress on both. The first was my Lillibet's Garden quilt. I was working on the machine appliqued flowers in the center of the quilt. I decided to make it smaller, because it's a king sized quilt and I only need a queen. That means I get to leave off the outer boarder strips with it's many flowers and vines. Yeah! less applique to do. I got all the flowers sewn (12) and I got the flowers and vines appliqued on one section of the center areas, before I got tired of it and switched to my other project.

The other project was a "guild" project. There were at least 8 if not more of us there doing the same quilt. And none of them even looked remotely alike. It is called Mexican Tiles and was designed by Kay the QuiltDiva. Mine of course is kind of on the bright side; go figure. The main fabric is yellow with pink flowers. The center of the flower is kind of turquoise and there are some green leaves in the background. So my supporting fabrics are turquoise, bright pink, light pink, lime green, dark lime green, bright yellow and white for the background. Sorry no pictures yet. It is made up of basically 4 blocks. There is 1 star in the center, surounded by Snail Tails blocks, 80 flying geese and then a 4-patch in a 4-patch block. I got the center star and the 4-patches done while at Tecumseh and finished up the Snail Tail's blocks at my second retreat. I have about 20 flying geese which need the second wing and then I am done with all the little piecing and can start laying it out to piece the whole thing.

I had thought to give it to my BFF McKelle for her daughter Brenna, but Brenna's grandma beat me to the punch. So it will either go into the "top box" or I will finish it for my retreat quilt since it is only a twin size and I don't have any twin beds at my house.

My second quilt retreat was at Camp Fredenswald. It is a menonite camp up near Cassopolis, MI. My Tuesday night quilt group has been going there for at least 10 years now. It is a really nice camp. The beds are extremely hard though. I saw another quilter bringing a 'eggcrate' looking mattress pad, which I am determined to bring next time. As mentioned above, I worked on my Mexican Tiles quilt, but I also worked on a Mexican Stars wallhanging. Carol of Carol's Quilt Cottage was conducting a class on the 3-Dimensional techniques that Annette Ornelas using on her quilts. There were 4 of us doing the Mexican Stars pattern and 1 doing the Victorian Tablerunner and 1 doing the Tulip Bells Tablerunner. We all got the projects pieced, but only 1 of person got the 3 dimensional applique done. And it wasn't me either.

I finally figured out what to do with my toe-up socks that I started when I was camping this summer in Ludington. I have both feet done, but I just couldn't find a cuff pattern that I liked. I tried 4 different ones, including a mock cable that I had been wanting to try, but nothing looked good. I decided last week to just to a simple K3,P1 ribbing. And I love it! I think the variation of the color was just masking all the patterns. The ribbing is so simple, yet it looks great. I had about 1 1/2 inches done on one cuff, when I switched it over to a circular needs so I could try it on. I wanted footie type socks. But it still isn't long enough. I figure it needs to be at least 3 inches if not 4 inches long. When I switched it to the circular needs, I had to switch sock #2 to the straights, because it had been 'waiting' on the circular. So instead of switching #1 back to the straights I just went ahead and started knitting on sock #2. I have about 1 inch done. When it gets done, I'll go back and finish #1.

And last but not least, I decided I needed a change. So I got my hair cut and colored last night. I am no longer blond. I am now a brunette with carmel highlights. I really like it. I stopped by Liz's place on my way home to get a second opinion. She liked it too. It is SHORT too.

This was taken last night when I got home.And this is my 1st attempt at copying what the stylist did. OK, she was better, but I still love it.

Sock Troubles

I am currently working on my very first Toe-Up Sock. I had planned to do the Crossed Ribbing sock from the book "More Sensational Socks" by Charlene Schurch.

I did the easy toe cast on where you do a provisional cast-on and basically knit a small rectangle, pick up the cast on stitches and pickup stitches along both ends. Had no problems this. At this point, the only problem I had was of my own making. I had determined I would need to end up with 72 stitches after the toe increase, which turned out to be WAY to many. So I backed down to 64 and that was still too many. I finally ended up with 56. I breezed along until I got the foot done and was ready to start the gusset. Pardon my saying this, but Ms. Schurch's book doesn't include any mention of a gusset. Maybe she assumes since this is Book 2, you have Book 1 (which I don't) and that explanation is in book 1. I have no idea, but I wasn't sure how to proceed. From the instructions it reads as if you knit the foot section as long as you need it and then proceed to the heel flap/shortrow toe. Thankfully I have other sock books. I dug one of those out and figured out how to do the gusset. I was going to do a short-row heel, but I must of missed the part where it said "stop here if you're going to do the short-row heel, but proceed past point for a heel flap". Anyway, I made my gusset section too long and determined that I really really didn't want rip out a 1-inch section. So I went ahead and did a heel flap. It turned out wonderfully. I tried it on last night and it fit like a glove.

Now I've run into another dilemma. I have decided I don't like the original cuff pattern and want to try something else. I tried one last night, got 4 rows in and determined it really wouldn't show up well with my variegated yarn. I really wanted to do a cabled or mock cabled pattern. But after knit club last night I went home and since I was too impatient to wait until today to look on the internet, I settled for the Grapevine pattern from the "More Sensational Socks" book. It's kind of a lacy pattern. Well last night I was satisfied with it, but I have slept since then. And this morning I have determined that I really do want to do a mock cable pattern. So at lunch today, I plan to rip back the pattern yet again. I looked and found a couple mock cable patterns on Ravelry this morning, that have the correct number of stitches or at least use multiples of 8. Now I just have to figure out which one I want to use. Because I really don't want to do any more ripping on this sock.

I just hope that the careful notes that I have been taking will make sense to me when I do sock #2.

Here are 2 photos of my sock. The second is a close-up of the heel flap.


PS I finished my Liz's Magic String Grocery Bag. And here are the photos for that. I have a picture of it before it gets unraveled, but that is on another dig. camera and has yet to be downloaded.
Now I just have to remember to take it with me to the Grocery Store!

Flowers, Projects and a new Room-mate

Well I promised photos of my Peonys and here they are. I have 2 Peony 'bushes' for lack of a better term. I had 13 buds on the one near the house and only 2 buds on the one in the back yard. I love the smell of the Peonys.

This shot is my favorite one.

This is the lone bloom on the back 'bush'. Even though there were 2 buds, the other one doesn't look like it will do anything. According to the neighbor who gave this plant to me, this flower is the "old style" Peonys. I think she said it had something to do with how full or how many petals each bloom had. Anyway this is the first year that it has bloomed, so I am anxious to see what it looks like. I looked this morning and it is about 1/2 open. When I leaned down to sniff it, it looked as if it had some kind of cocoon in the petals. When I tried to look closer, a giant greyish spidery looking thing uncurled itself and tried to hurl itself at me. Luckily I know how to jump fast and scream to scare it away. Yeash!

And I got my Cross-Hatch Lace socks finished! They turned out great and they are real comfortable too. Only they are too hot to wear right now.


Now let me introduce you to my new Room-mate. I picked her up on Monday night, but she hasn't yet told me what her name is. As we get better acquainted, I'm sure she'll get over her shyness and tell me. LOL!

Yes, as you can see I have purchased my first spinning wheel. Last year I learned to spin using a drop spindle. I like it, but had my heart set on getting my own wheel. However, even the used ones just seemed to be way out of my price range. I was at the Elkhart Farmers Market Fiber Festival last Saturday talking about my yearning to own a Ashford Traditional, when Charlotte Wolf told me that our friend Liz M. had one that she had been trying to sell. Very reasonable price too. I immediately called her up and made an appointment to see her. And the rest is history as they say.

These are the accessories that came along with it. 6 large bobbins, 4 small bobbins, a lazy kate for the small bobbins and spinning head for the smaller bobbins.

I tried it out at Liz's house, but wasn't able to do much when I got home as I had to mow the hayfield that is my yard. But I will soon.

Success!

I got the gussets done on my Crosshatch lace socks. For both socks. Then I decided what the heck, let's try the 2 socks at one time thing. So I loaded them all up and "success". Yeah! I was able to do both of them without too many problems. I have successfully completed 2 whole repeats and am working on my third. Here are a few pictures to show you what they look like now.

And I had the wild idea to try them on. Boy was that tricky with both of them on the needles at the same time.

And even better success, I went clothes shopping yesterday with my friend McKelle. I was looking for an outfit to wear to the wedding of my friend Teresa next weekend. I didn't think I would find anything, because I waited to the last minute. And you know when you look last minute, you can never find the right outfit. I was kind of torn: 1) I wanted a new outfit because it is a special occasion and I hadn't bought anything really snazzy in a long time and let's face it, I lost 30 lbs and wanted something to make me feel pretty. 2) but if I didn't find anything that was just right, I have some dresses in the basement that I had bought before I gained the 30 lbs and knew they would fit, even though I really didn't want to wear a dress.

We started our shopping experience at Kohls. I found a pair of dressy black capri's and a blouse that I liked, but neither of them really fit 'well'. They would do, but they just weren't "THE" outfit that I wanted. Our next stop was Avenue and I hit paydirt! I found a pair of dressy black capri's that fit me perfectly and 4 blouses that I liked. I knew as soon as I put it on, which one I would be wearing to the wedding. 3 of the blouses were black/white and the 4th was black/tan. Although I liked the black/tan one, I put it back because it kind of had a fall feel to it. Of the 3 left, one would have required a little tayloring, which I had no time to do and really didn't feel like doing to a $40 shirt. So that left 2. I bought both. The one I am going to be wearing is a crinkle shirt (no ironing!!!), buttons up the front and has 3/4 flaired sleeves. I love the fact that where the pattern turns from mostly white to mostly black hits right at my waist and gives the illusion that I actually do have a waist. Here is a photo of them hanging on the bathroom door.

Isn't it just fabulous? I love it!

Sock Progress

I got the cuff on Sock #1 of my Crosshatch Lace Socks done. Instead of starting the heel, I decided to set that aside on a pair of bamboo needles and start the cuff for Sock #2. Once I have the cuff done for that one, I will add #1 back onto the magic loop needles and see how successful I am at finishing them both at the same time.


Also, I got a copy of the Cul-de-Sac vest pattern from the fall 2003 Knitters Magazine that I have queued on my Ravelry page (moonlightserenad). I started working on the gage swatch at lunch, but I will have to frog it, because I didn't have the right size of needles with me. But I wanted to knit something, so I just when ahead an 'pretend' knitted. Just so those of my friends who aren't on Ravelry can see it, here is a picture of the one made by Michelle (alwayscastingon).

Magic Loop Socks

Here is the progress on my first pair of Magic Loop Socks. This is the Crosshatch Lace pattern from the book "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. I'm really liking the way this colorway is turning out. It is Grandmothers Flower Garden and the yarn is Socks that Rock-lightweight by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I have finished 2 repeats of the pattern. The sock in the book has 8 repeats, if I have counted correctly.

Magic Loop Socks

I started my next pair of socks today using the magic loop method. I have only done 4.5 rows on sock #1, but so far everything is going real well. I am using the Addi Turbo needles in size 1 (really 1.5) with a length listed at 47 inches. I am knitting the Socks That Rock yarn that I got from the Michigan Fiber Arts Festival last year. The pattern I am using is from the book, "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. It is a Cross-Hatch Lace sock. I'll post pictures tomorrow, as I am at work today.

PS: I delivered the RPM Socks yesterday to McKelle. And I got to see the progress they are making on their house. Her and her husband, Eric, have been building their own home for the last year to year and a half. With a lot of help from her Dad, Mom & Brother. I am amazed at the progress they have made. All the painting is done. The hardwood floors are down in the kitchen and the cabinets are hung. The counters will be delivered soon. Her cousin was supposed to be there today to lay down the flooring in the master bathroom and he will install the carpeting when it all arives. The master bathroom has this tub, that I just drool over. It fits in the corner, and is about the size of a small jacuzzi. Awesome. I just love the house. It has this wonderful wrap-around deck/porch. Eric even installed speakers into the roof of the porch, so you can have music outside. It is a really cool house. I know she is chomping at the bit to get into. But I'm sure they'll be in sooner than she thinks. I'm thinking early spring.