"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

8/30/12

Army Green Treads

I have a FO! The Treads fingerless mitts are done.




Army Green Treads Fingerless Mitts

Pattern: Treads by Victoria Ann Baker (made for KnitWits)
Size: Ladies Medium

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific Solid in Dark Army Green
Content: 60% acrylic/40% Superwash Wool

Needles: Addi Turbo Lace Circular size 5.

Cast on: June 28, 2012
Completed: August 22, 2012

Comments: I've modified the pattern a bit. The original design has individual half fingers knit in stockinette stitch. I decided I didn't want that and did an inch of 1x1 rib instead. I bound off with the EZ Sewn Bind Off for extra stretchiness so they'd be easier to put on. These are a little snug, but very comfortable mitts. I love the stitch patterns used in them-linen stitch and lateral braid. I would make these again, and again. A good KIP project too.



Do you like the hand? It's sort of a rubbery plastic. These can be purchased at Beauty Supply stores for just a few dollars (or Amazon.com). I paid $4 for mine. They are used to practice putting fake nails and nail polish on, so the fingernails are a little weird. Unfortunately, they only come in Left. But I think it's better than my flat cardboard hand for modeling. I will save my cardboard ones for blocking.

Close up of Linen and Bilateral Braid stitches.



The palm side.



Yup! I really like these. Well written pattern.


~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a pic of the Apple pie I entered in the fair. It won nothing.



The girls were sleeping on one of my knitting machines earlier this week.



They've grown quite a bit. Almost double in size. Cashmere is getting very daring, climbing and jumping all over the place. Yesterday she tried jumping from the top of our 5 foot cat tree to the couch. She missed completely and landed, bang!, on the floor on her hind end. She wasn't hurt, but very embarrassed. My daughter said last night, while Sweet Hubby and I were away at a party of sorts, Cashmere practiced getting on top the cat tree and jumping on the couch over and over. She was never gonna miss again!

Merino is not quite as acrobatic as her sister. She plays for hours with the cat toy with the spinning balls inside. She has intense concentration. She also likes to watch her sister flying around here.

Monday was 'return the entries to the owners' day at the fair. It was an all day affair. We arrived at the building at 9am and proceeded to take the whole display down. Then we set up tables and arranged all the entries by dept and last name of the owners so it would be easy to find entries as they were needed. We closed the doors at 7pm. Then we had a meeting (which I wasn't expecting, by the way, and was just a little peeved about). So, for now, the fair is done. There may be one more wrap up meeting (I hope) with the fair coordinator, but that won't happen for a month or so. I've started working on next years entries already. Here's where I am on the Cute-as-a-Button mitts.



I need to find some suitable buttons. I will look in the massive button stash. I'm sure I can find something appropriate in there.

Live long and prosper. \\//

8/26/12

My Fair Results

I won blue ribbons on everything I entered except my photo and my apple pie. They got nothing.













There's a story with this shawl. The judges loved it. In fact, they pinned the Grand Champion ribbon on it, but we had to tell them I am ineligible for that ribbon because I entered as professional. Professionals can not win Grand Champions. So they gave it to another entry (in my opinion, it deserved it more than my shawl). They put a gold star on my judging sheet instead. That gold star means more to me than any ribbon could.

Now, on to beading.

























Strung necklace with lampwork focal bead



This is the one I never took pics of. I could have sworn I blogged about it! I will have to rectify that.

Last, but not least. My Poinsettia Tree Christmas stocking.



 That's everything. Now, to start work on next years entries. ;-)

Live long and prosper. \\//


8/20/12

WIP's and Cuteness

How about an update on what I've been working on in the knitting department? I have turned to brainless knitting because I've been so busy. Can't concentrate on anything more complicated than these.

First off, I finished the pieces for the furry baby hoodie.



Need to block it and sew it together. Next is the Treads mitts. Haven't gotten very far on them because the pattern was on my phone and for some reason every time I wanted to work on them, I'd left my phone at home. I printed out the pattern and stuck it in the bag it's living in now, so I predict progress.



While taking entries in, there were periods of nothing happening. I knit during those times. Since I'd finished the pieces on the yellow hoodie, and I forgot to take the Treads with me, I decided to start a pair of fingerless mitts for Knit Wits.



I found the pattern on Ravelry. It's called Cute as a Button Fingerless Mitts and it's a freebie, if you're interested.

There, now that I've gotten that out of the way, it's time for KITTEN CUTENESS! Yay!

There will be a lot of pics of my new babies. They stay like this for such a short period of time.

They have figured out the couch is a great place to sleep.

zzzzzzzzzz...

Ruthie is a great place to sleep too.

more zzzzzzz...

Someone assembled this little one incorrectly.

zzzzzzzzzzz...

Ruth and Cashmere seem to be bonded. She sits down, Cashmere shows up in her lap. She seems to not mind the knitting going on either.

knit knit...zzzzzzzz...

A kitten face palm!

Hey, I'm trying to zzzzzzz here!

That is enough. Don't want to get overloaded on cute. Could cause diabetes and tooth decay, I'm sure.

About that apple pie contest I was going to enter at the fair. For some reason I got it in my head I had to take the pie in on the 20th, so I spent half the day yesterday baking pies. The pies aren't due until the 25th (glad I checked my planning book before going to the car). Now I have 2 pies to consume, and only 3 of us live here. I'm taking one with me to Rathdrum Knitalong tomorrow. They can help me out. I guess I will be baking another pie on Friday, the 24th. In a way, I'm kind of glad, because I just figured out what I've been doing wrong on the crust and now I can make a perfect one for the contest. Mmmmm, apple pie.

Live long and prosper. \\//

8/19/12

The Cuteness Got Us

So, we were going to wait until after the fair to bring the kittens home. Shouldn't have gone to see them. It's okay though. We've figured out a way to keep them safe while we're not home. I've got Cables wire kennel. We can put them in there with a little litter box and stuff. They will be quite comfortable.

So, when I got there I was expecting two black and white kittens. One was black and white. This is Cashmere.



This is the back of her head. I love the coloring of her ears!



She has quite a sunny personality. She's very cuddly. Wants to sit in a lap and snooze, or purr, or play, and doesn't seem to be afraid of us or Cable. Ruth has fallen head over heels for her. Cashmere was in her lap most of the afternoon and evening.



Her sister is Merino. Merino is a bit camera shy. It was hard to get her to sit still long enough to take a picture. As you can see, she's not black and white. She's black and grey.



I have never seen a cat colored like this. Her face, ears, and legs are silky black. The rest of her is a sort of rough-yet-soft heather grey. Completely different texture than the black fur.



Merino is very shy and skittish. She has spent most of her time hiding under the couch or the recliner. She is also protected and comforted by her sister. If she's feeling insecure she cries and Cashmere comes running to save her. It's pretty clear that Cashmere is the dominant one in their relationship.

We coaxed Merino out from under the recliner with the promise of food. They both were very hungry. They have healthy appetites.



They have ear mites too. We've got some medication to get rid of them. These kittens were born on a farm to a wild mother. When they were old enough the lady we got them from took them in and tamed them so she could find them new homes where they will be well taken care of. We have all fallen madly in love with the sweeties. Even Sweet Hubby. He was going to go into town to the bike shop yesterday, but when he saw the kittens he changed his mind and stayed home.

I think Cashmere and Merino are going to make wonderful additions to the family.

Live long and prosper. \\//

8/18/12

Coming Soon to the Parkarosa

Kittens!



I stole this photo from the Craigslist ad. They are both female, 9 weeks old now, and siblings. I will pick them up on the 28th, after the fair since I'm not home much during the fair. I think I need to be here until they are properly introduced to their new home. I am so excited. It's going to be fun. I've been thinking of names. First I thought of Knitsy and Purlette. Ruth doesn't like those names. So now I'm kicking around Cashmere and Merino, since my current cat is Chenille. Gotta keep with the knitting theme.

I have this weekend off. So glad because I need it. Yesterday was a grueling stressful not fun day. Some of the Superintendents of the other depts in building 3 are extremely difficult to work with. That, and I'm dealing with the attitude of  "We've been doing it this way for 10 years, so that's the way it's done." It's being done wrong. It needs to be changed. I am going to have a LOT to say at the after-fair meeting, let me tell you. Whoever is in charge (and after 3 years of doing this, I get conflicting names as to who that is) is not planning anything. It was chaos, confusion, and downright stupidity yesterday. Frustration, anger, stupid politics, aggravation--on top of that a metal non-insulated building in 93F degree heat. I did a lot of this.



I was so exhausted when I got home I couldn't get out of my recliner once I sat in it. So, tell me again, why do I love this job? Maybe it's the challenge? Anyway, we managed to finish the knitting part. Other depts were not done yet and returning today to finish. I plan to drop in on Monday to see the finished job and put up some signs I forgot about. I'm not going anywhere near that place today.

My plans for today are laundry, gardening, and seeing if we can go visit our kittens. If we can, I will take pics.

Until then, live long and prosper. \\//

8/17/12

My Fair Entries for 2012

Thought I'd post what my fair entries are this year. Every year I think I don't have anything to enter, and by the time entry days arrive, I discover I actually have quite a bit. This year was not any different.

I have 4 knitting entries.

The Butterflly Shawl



Fingerless Mitts



One pair of socks



and a baby sweater



I have several beading entries.



Not that I did more beading than knitting. I didn't. I just gave away most of the knitting I've done this past year.
















and a necklace that apparently I've not taken pictures of yet. (Been busy!) Interesting. I made it a few years ago, but never entered it because it had problems. I took some of it apart and redid it this year so it would be better. I've learned new stuff since I made it. I will have to make sure I get some pictures of it. Anyway, I've entered it in General Crafts-Jewelry because it's more a strung necklace rather than bead weaving with a needle.

 I entered this stocking.




I'm doing the Apple Pie contest too. I turn the pie in on the 20th. This is something new for me. I've never entered a cooking contest before. But, every time I make an apple pie I get rave reviews, so I might as will give it a try.

Judging day was yesterday. I'm so glad I'm not a judge. It's a very tough job. When it gets down to choosing the Grand Champions, there is much fretting and pulling of hair. How to choose? Glad I don't have to. I know the results on all of my knitting entries, but will post about that later.

Today is set-up day. We set up everything on display. I will be exhausted by the time I get home tonight. Don't want to cook dinner after that's for sure. Usually all I want is a soft recliner and a bottle of pain killers. Hmmm, will have to think of something.

Live long and prosper. \\//