Picot edging is the devil

... at least when you are doing it with fingerling weight yarn over a large area! So I started working on the edging for Giselle yesterday, and worked on it pretty much all day. So far today I joined one sleeve flare to the top portion. The first time I did it I realized I had it positioned wrong, so I had to rip it out and start over. That's what I get for working on it at 7:30 am after very little sleep. It looks pretty good I think, but this edging is killing me with its painstaking annoyingness!

It will look a lot better when it is blocked, because I am still having a lot of curling issues. At least Cassie seems happy with it.

Random stuff

Well, since the olympics are over I thought I would do some small projects that I had been wanting to do for a while. So I made one of these Swiffer cloth thingers, and I really enjoyed knitting it. I used my knit picks harmony options needles for the first time and it felt really nice. It was a quick and easy knit and I am totally going to make a bunch more of these things since I have a lot of random Sugar N Cream yarn I got on clearance. I think I may be able to get 2 cloths out of one of the super size skeins.

I also resurrected my old dishcloth that was one of the first knits I ever did. I added a crochet border around it this week.

And now I am back to working on Giselle here and there, with a little bit of spinning thrown in. I still haven't finished spinning my "Mandy" roving and finished that yarn yet.

I did it!

After cutting it really close and staying up all night on Saturday night/Sunday morning, I finished my sock put project in time for the closing ceremonies. Here's a pic of the FO - Monkey socks.

And here is what I received:

I'm pretty proud of it because this is the first pair of socks I have ever completed and I learned some new technique along the way. I think the socks came out great. I will definitely make more with this pattern.

I cast on for one of the Swiffer cloths that I have been meaning to make, but I didn't get very far on that yesterday because I was way too tired. I also spun another section of the "Mandy" yarn I had been working on. Not sure what I will do today yet.

I loves me some roving

The last shipment I've been expecting showed up in my mailbox today :) I ordered from Mary Jane's Attic (http://www.maryjanesattic.net/index.php) who were very friendly and helpful.

I chose 2 roving colorways, the "Punkette" superwash merino and the "Rainbow" superwash merino. Unfortunately I found out that the "Rainbow" was sold out, so instead I asked for the "Purple Maize" corriedale.

"Punkette":
"Purple Maize":

I also ordered the "DIY Spin Kit" because it contained the spindle used in some of my favorite videos by Megan LaCore (http://www.youtube.com/user/theartofmegan).


What's really cool about this spindle is how versatile it is. I had no idea until I received my package and read the included booklet that it comes with 2 whorls. You can choose to use it as a top whorl setup or a bottom whorl. It also says you can use one or two of the plastic pieces at a time -- one if you are spinning singles and 2 if you are plying or making heavier weight yarn. I think that makes this an excellent purchase for a beginner because it lets you try out different things. It says on the package that the total weight is 2.2oz so I assume that means with both plastic whorls attached. I've not tried it yet but it feels good in my hands :) The kit also comes with a bag of assorted fibers.

I also received a little sample pack of misc fibers that I can play around with. Yay! =)


I picked up the new fall issues of "Interweave Knits" and "Vogue Knitting" magazines while grocery shopping today. I'm looking forward to browsing through those.

It's been a really busy past week. My husband had an outpatient surgery and I've been busy getting everything ready for my kids to start school this week. As a result, I've not gotten much knitting done on my socks and I fear that I may not actually get this second sock done by closing ceremonies. Next weekend will be a busy one so really I need to do most of my work before Friday afternoon. I need to get my butt in gear.

First hand painted roving!

My order from Spunky Eclectic (http://www.spunkyhats.com/) came in today! I ordered 4 oz. each of their handpainted BFL in "Kites" and "Mandy". They are absolutely gorgeous!

I can't wait to start working with them, but part of me is afraid because I don't want to mess up... =/ I guess I have to just jump in and start somewhere.

I also got the other book I had been waiting for to come back into stock at Amazon. There's some really cute stuff in here.

Now I just have to decide if I feel like knitting or spinning tonight.... choices choices. =P

Halfway there!

I finished my first sock this afternoon and I am thrilled! Got to do the kitchener stitch for the first time and I think I picked that up pretty well. Here's some pics:

Now it's off to cast on for the second one...

All kinds of goodies!

Today was a great day as far as things and stuff go. It started off with the delivery of my Knit Picks order. Yay!! I got the Harmony sock dpn set and the Harmony interchangeables. And a little bottle of Kookaburra Wool Wash.

Then I gathered up a bunch of coupons and we took the kids to do school shopping. On the way down to the mall we stopped at the Stitching Post because I had read on Ravelry boards that they were having a yarn sale. Sure enough all the yarn was 30% off. Also 25% off on books but I didn't have time to really look at those. I ended up getting 3 skeins of Cascade sock yarn and this random skein of Interlacements rayon/silk.

Left to right: Cascade Heritage in "Dark Sunset", 5601 (black, I think), and "Londonberry", Interlacements "Hawaii" Renaissance Pastel.

While at the mall I went to Yankee Candle Company to use a coupon I got in the mail and ended up getting the best scented candle ever "Purr-chouli". I got 2 of the jars and one votive since they can only be gotten in the fall and patchouli is my favorite scent. And how cool looking is the jar...

After the candle place and school clothes shopping we went to Borders so I could use my $20 gift certificate I got in the mail today. I got a spinning book and magazine that I was really happy with. I love getting free stuff.

Lastly, and perhaps best of all, we got Wii Fit!! I'm so excited! We've been looking for one since they came out and they were always sold out. We went to Best Buy to get Madden '09 and happened to see a bunch sitting there. Now if I can just find a copy of Mario Kart for the wii I'll be set...

On to yarn.

Well I didn't get any knitting done today as a result of being gone all day. My handspun from last night was nice and dry on the hangers so I wrapped them up into tiny skeins and took some pics.

I can't wait for the wool I ordered to come in so I can spin some other stuff. Gotta read through my new book and magazine too. And try plying some of the corriedale I have. So much to do.... so little time.