A parade of FOs

That's Finished Objects for all you muggles out there. And muggles, in this context, means non-knitters. I finished quite a few things here recently. Actually, I don't know that I even mentioned starting any of them.

Yarn: Koigu from this post, no I don't know the colorway, sorry!
Pattern: This great pattern from Wendy
Needles: Knitpicks metal needles in size 0
I love this yarn and I love this pattern. It was magic, it was knitter's crack I tell you. I haven't been the same since. The color is a darker than shown, actually, the color in the linked post is much closer.





Squares for Kay for Oliver's American Blanket with the leftover yarn from the socks. The top left I made stockinette with a garter stitch border, 'cause I just love the way it looks in stockinette, but I wish I hadn't bothered. It still wants to curl, and I think all she is getting is garter stitch squares. What do you think?


Eyelash scarf for Mother in Law
Yarn: 2 balls of Bernat Boa in Blue Bird
Pattern: just garter stitch till I ran out of yarn, I think it was 15 stitches across

She asked for an eyelash scarf like is in all the stores right now and I actually had this yarn in the stash from a swap on craftster. (If you haven't been there before, watch out, it is a time sucker) It wasn't the funnest knit, but I found that I had better luck if I didn't look at it while knitting, couldn't see the correct strand anyway, so touch was a better bet. It was fairly quick though.

Now, on to sewing, and maybe To Much Information for some of you.

Can you tell what this is? How about I fold it up?

I bet now you can guess. I've been using cloth pads for a couple of years now. There are many reasons to use them, environmental(disposable pads sit in landfills just like disposable diapers) , health reasons(I've read different places that say disposables are bad for you, no, I'm not looking them up for you), cost (one cloth pad costs about the same as a box of disposables, they pay for themselves before to long), plus they are quite cute don't you think? But the best reason to use them? They are so much more comfortable! Nice soft flannel instead of plastic, and no glue to somehow get stuck to you! That doesn't just happen to me does it?

Anyway, I've been working on these for a while. Doing a swap with someone on craftster for a couple of stenciled tee shirts. Hopefully she'll be ready to trade soon. I'm going to keep at least one.

One of the duckies, I think, isn't that fabric adorable? There are actually 8 here, I stacked them up.

Sock monkeys on a sock knitting bag! Finally made one after saying I could for so long, plus Ann was telling me I needed to make one. Sometimes I need that. I started and finished it in one day! Hooray! Mark the calendar!


Course, it isn't without mistakes. For some reason the chalk (I've used it before with no problem) I marked the pockets sew line with would not iron out like it is supposed to. So I tried to wash it out, still no luck. Gave up on that and tried to iron it dry....yeah, not a good idea. I never said I was an expert sewer! It scorched the fabric a little. But it is still cute and good enough for me. I need to make one for Ann though, I should ask her what fabric she would like. Star Wars maybe? ;)

I had a good day Sunday, so of course I was punished for it on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday was just awful. Didn't feel up to getting on the computer or knitting. You know it is bad when I can't knit! Just sat and stared at the TV. I know there are a few of you who might not know what I'm talking about, so if you want to hear the saga of my headache, read my first post here.

Well, we will be spending tomorrow with both our families, should be fun. Hope your Thanksgiving will be the same!

Do the Hop!

The Yarn Hop was lots of fun! Two of the ladies couldn't go with us at the last minute, but we had enough enablers anyway. Lots of yarn was bought, and almost every store gave us a little gift for being hoppers too. We managed to hit all but two stores on Saturday, but unfortunately we lost two more ladies on Sunday. Techpriest found the camera after we were already in Wichita, so while I don't have any pictures of the actual Yarn Hop, I can at least show you pictures of all the goodies!

Twist - Wichita
My new tattoo! My mil and nephew were here Sat. and he told me "That's a temporary tattoo you know." I said, "No, really? I have two real ones and didn't figure that out!" sheesh! The picture was taken 4 days after I put it on, so maybe it is more like semi-permanent. They sell them on their online catalog.
Jitterbug, Kingfisher. I tried so hard not to buy anything that Yarns sells, but I started shooting pictures and realized that they do in fact sell Jitterbug. Opps! I don't think they have this colorway, and if they do, please don't tell me about it! The guilt might kill me!
StitchKeepers, size 0-3, 6 in. I really like this. You slip one end over your dpn's (with sock in progress on them) stretch the band to put the other end on. The caps are even purple! I haven't lost a stitch since I started using it!

The gift Twist gave us, little coin purse to put stitch markers, etc in.

Heritage Hut - Wichita
Just some notions, and yes I know that Yarns probably has them too, but I never think of buying them there!

Yarn - Hutchinson




Knitty Bits Sock Yarn from Two Windows Dye Co. Local dyer, loved her colors! Ann says I stole this skein from her, don't listen! I picked it up first and clung to it like a baby clings to its momma! It is mine, I tell you! The second picture is much truer to the color.

Yarn actually gave us the best gift, look at all this stuff! Upper left is their newsletter, right of that is a very nice pencil bag, lower left the back of their business card(it is a little graph to keep track of the needle sizes you have!) a measuring tape, sample of soak, little scratch pad and a stitch marker.

Close up of the scratch pad and stitch marker. The pad says, doing my part to keep the yarn industry rolling. Aren't they are both cute?

The Shivering Sheep - Abilene



Fleece Artist, Origin. I love that splash of purple in between the brown and sunflower yellow!

Brown Sheep wool wash, 2 oz, was the gift from the Shivering Sheep(don't you love that name?)

Yarns: Sold and Told - Salina, my LYS



J. Knits, Pueblo. I really wouldn't have named this Pueblo, pueblos are sandy colored, aren't they? I bought this colorway half because it was so different than the other skeins I had bought. Though I still love the colors, I just am pulled more to the dark blues, greens and of course purple! So this is a nice change.

The gift from Yarns, measuring tape that is also a keychain.

The Newton Beadery - Newton



The gift from the Beadery. A 20% discount coupon good till the end of the year, but not during the Yarn Hop. Clever of them, wasn't it? And a sample of soak and a sample of foot cream.


So, now I think I have plenty of wool wash and measuring tapes! But still not enough sock yarn, no matter what Techpriest says! :)

Hopping with Anticipation!!!

The Yarn Hop is tomorrow! I'm so excited! I'll leave McPherson at 7:15 am(about where the 135 sign is)to make sure I reach Yarns in Salina[the second star to the north(well, it is a magical place!)] at 8:00. Karla is opening at 8 just for us, so we can get our passports and some muffins and coffee! Then the 7 of us will HOP (hehe) into Ann's car and head all the way down to Wichita. The rest of the day we will head north as we feel like it.

With a few well placed hints(they were subtle,really! Quit laughing!), I received my birthday money early from two different sources. So I have more money in my purse than I have in a long time, and I don't have to feel guilty for spending it! Techpriest can't believe I'm going to spend it all on yarn. And I might not, but am considering buying yarn for Rogue. But if I want to spend all of it, I can!! Very exciting.

Hopefully DH and I can find the camera tonight. We have just been so busy we haven't had any time to look.

Hope you have as yarny a Saturday as I will!

Cheers!

I've had pictures uploaded for about a week for a big long post, but I just haven't managed anything more. I keep coming up with other stuff I want to talk about though, so I finally gave up on getting that other post done first. Here is a bunch of random junk.


1. NAIS
National Animal Identification System Plenty of bloggers(at least on my bloglines) have already talked about this and if I try I know I'll never get this post finished either. So, short and sweet, the government is trying to pass a law that will require every farm animal(down to pet rabbits) to have a id tag(which is cost prohibitive). The cost of tags and other equipment will probably put most small farms out of business. If the neighbors animals get sick they can not only seize your neighbors animals, but yours too. That is the basics, if you are interested here are some sites. Hopefully it is enough to get you started.
Small Meadow Farm
Homesteading Neophyte In her sidebar she has a list of NAIS sites.
NONAIS A very big site
Prairie Dreams

2. Oliver's Fund
Oliver is a handicapped child that needs a new wheelchair. They are asking for afghan squares(yes, I plan on knitting some) then they will raffle off the afghan. I have read Emma's(his mom) blog for a while now and really enjoy. I can't link directly to the post so here is her blog and it is the Nov 1 post. This just in, Kay from Mason-Dixon Knitting is going to be a clearing house for all of the squares in the USA. Nov 7 post

3. Fuller Family Farms
I don't think I've mentioned the Fullers yet. They are a single mom with 6 kids providing wonderful milk, butter, eggs, bread, soap, lip balm and all kinds of great stuff. All farm fresh and free range! I love all of their products I've tried. We have eaten much better since I met Chris.
Here is her online store and blog.

4. You Make Me Smile Award
Holly gave me this award, wasn't that nice of her?

The designer of this award gave it out to 10 people with this in mind: “I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement.”

Ok, now I'm supposed to pick ten people huh?

• Florence Knitingale
• Marianne's Knotminding
• Celtic Memory Yarns I love her stories and her pictures of Ireland
• Sugar Bunny Boulevard
• Prairie Gumbo
• Prairie Dreams
• Blue Ridge Knittery
• Knitting in the North
• Stumbling Over Chaos
  
• Sheepish Annie
  

Sorry no descriptions, it just isn't gonna happen.


5. Any Firefly fans out there? Check out this wonderful fan video!
Alright just go check out this guy's whole site, if you like sci fi stuff. Great song about Heroes and Dr. Who and Star Wars and, and all kinds of great stuff! Here is his list of videos.

6. While Techpriest's Dad and nephew from New Jersey were here the whole family went down to Wichita and ate at Kobe's a Japanese steakhouse, you know, where they cook the food right at the table and make a show out of it? Great food. Most of us stayed outside during the wait and found a place the kids could play ball. Techpriest finally comes outside and we all get excited 'cause it is time to eat, right? Nope, he came outside to tell us Kirstie Alley is in the waiting area!
Yeah, that Kirstie Alley! He had seen her come in and thought it looked like her but couldn't be sure. Then he heard her talking and thought it really sounded like her. Finally, someone brought their kids up to meet her and he knew it actually was her. She did grow up in Wichita, so it isn't totally unbelievable. We didn't disturb her in anyway, well, 'cept for staring at her out of the corner of our eyes. Though it was really close with DH's mom. She hauled the kids over to look at the fishes which was real close to Kirstie Alley. "No, really, you want to see the fishes!" I did think about hauling out the camera to prove to you all that I did actually see her, but we all figured she wanted a quite night out with family.

I think that is it, since Techpriest can't remember where he put the camera. When he does, I have something to show you!