Sunday, October 26, 2008

Good & Plenty

Fall has absolutely arrived here.  We live in the the woods and there are many beautiful deciduous trees.  This means in the summer we have a very leafy view and when autumn shows up and the trees lose their leaves, our view changes dramatically.  Yesterday, this happened in about twenty minutes.  We sat in our kitchen, watching the wind and veritable snow storm of leaves and now we can see further into the woods.  Beautiful to watch the transformation.DS3_2867

Knitting my Trick or Treat Swap socks was great fun.  They remind me of Good & Plenty candy.  The Good & Plenty socks are knee socks and the cuff can be worn either up or down.  They are knit out of Socks That Rocks, Medium weight in Rhodonite.  The colorway isn't available currently, it appears. They are knit top-down and each sock weighs about 100 grams. Left over was 68 grams from one skein and 72 grams from the other.

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The Good & Plenty socks are on their way to my Trick or Treat Pal and I am a bit sad to see them go.  Hopefully she will like wearing them as much as I enjoyed making them.

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Comments

Oooh! I bet she will. What a gorgeous color!

She HAS too! You made knee socks - you are the best pal ever! they totally look like good and plenty - the big box.

OMG! They were for *me*! I *love* them!!!!

Oooooo, they are sure pretty....Charlie says...
Love those Good and Plenty's!

Who wouldn't love those socks? They're beautiful.

Now you. I'm catching up on you and I can't even leave a comment on your post about turning 40. I guess I'm late and everyone has gone home from the party by now, huh? heh

Lovely knits. Beautiful You. So many socks. Smooshalicious sweater.

Happy New Year. :)

KT-how are things going? LOVE your Good n Plenty socks and was admiring the gorgeous view of the woods! Hope you and Lisa decided that yes, you need to be at camp again this year!

Miss you!

Hugs,
Leslie

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Cute socks! Nice work!

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Wednesday, October 01, 2008

The Circus is in Town

They are finally done!  DS3_2819

Shoe size: Men's14/15

Yarn: Socks that Rock Heavyweight (Better part of TWO skeins)

Color: Henpecked

Needle size: Addi #3. 2 circsDS3_2827

These are freaking HUGE.  They are a gift for a very tall friend, who threw down the gauntlet when he said: "Oh no, you don't have to knit me socks".  Riiight.

I knit the entire first sock then realized I did not have enough yarn to complete the second one, so I ordered more.  And of course, though the same colorway, the second was far more intense than the first.  This would be why on just about every single yarn label on the planet, it is advised to buy enough yarn at one time to complete your project. So I ripped back the toe and the foot AND the gusset AND the heel flap and reknit them with the second skein.  Then I knit the top of #2 with skein number one and the bottom with skein number 2.  Balanced.  Phew!

Anyhow, they are done and to be gifted today. DS3_2826

And if they don't fit, he can darn well frame them.

Comments

Yay! You finished the socks!! They are so well done and absolutely gorgeous! It still amazes me how you do that! Love, Mom

I thought you would never finish those things. I bet you did too. If they don't fit, he better have the good grace to wear them anyway.

I just had a terrible thought - what if they're too big?

Great socks! I've been wandering around the blogiverse these last few days thinking about sock camp and visiting all my friends' blogs. Hope the boys are fine and all is well in your life right now. Things are fine here in Iowa. Hugs to all and Happy Knitting, Alice

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Foe, Faux, FO!

Often, I labor under the impression that my knits have to be superstars.  Tricky, show-off knits.  Usually, when I suffer this delusion I find myself not knitting but rather fretting about what I could or should be knitting.  These thoughts do not promote productivity or calm. It is just plain exhausting.

Part of my time this past summer had been spent knitting one of the most poorly written patterns that I have ever encountered. It was not a difficult pattern, just really truly frustrating (a decent tech editor would save the day), and it has sent me running for the simple.  In the round, stockinette with lovely hand painted or hand dyed yarns are terribly satisfying right now.

Done is better than perfect and warm is much better than worrying.  I LOVE this sweater.

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Yarn: Manos del Uruguay

Color: 118

Skeins used: 8

Needles: Knit Picks Options, wood size 10

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There is no pattern for this sweater, just features and measurements that please me.  The extra long neck, the very fitted arm scye, and the very long ribbed arm cuffs with thumb hole all tickle me.  DS3_2801

A Redefined Superstar, I'd say.

DS3_2810

Comments

Done *is* better than perfect. That said, it looks pretty darn perfect!

It looks perfect.
You look perfect in it !

Your sweater is beautiful. I love it! And, I love the thumb holes. It's the 2nd sweater today that I've seen with thumb holes and it's making me want a sweater with them too!

Oh, sweatergasm! That is one beautiful sweater!

Love it for real. It's like it has a built in scarf!

Also, should you ever choose to rob a bank in the Wild West, you'll be all set.

Looks SO pretty and comfortable. Nice job!

Ooooo, I'm envious! I've never finished a sweater before. It's very lovely!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Deep Negotiations

Last Tuesday was the first day of school.  Upon returning home, my newly minted Kindergartener and Second grader demanded to know how far away Halloween was.  Both then promptly began running around planning our Halloween Party (which up till that moment, I did not realize we were having) and rooting through the garage looking for streamers for the house.  They both wanted to decorate the house RIGHT THEN and leave it up until Halloween.  We have had several planning meetings and will be making a trip to Ben Franklin to eyeball what we might want for the party.

Last night, talk turned to costumes. Sketches were drawn, logistics were discussed and Angus was convinced that being a fire truck (not fighter- truck) again was not the best course of action.  I have made fire truck costumes in the past, very successfully- who said studying sculpture in college wouldn't be helpful? So the fire truck nixed, I tried to sell him being a sky scraper.  He nixed that.

Angus has been learning how to knit, so as a lark I suggested that he go as ...

A Giant Ball of Yarn

Loving the idea, Angus started drawing sketches.

The show stopping question:

Me: "Angus, you really need leg holes- where are the leg holes?"

Angus: (teary) "No, Mom, I do NOT want leg holes.  No way, Jose!"

Me: "Well, how do you expect to trick or treat?  You want Mom & Dad to roll you around the  Neighborhood?"

Angus: "That is perfect, Mom!"  (pause, scratches forehead) "Or you could just build a steering wheel into my giant ball of yarn. Yep, I think  that would be better.  Thanks Mom!"

Comments

Oh yes, a steering wheel will work PREFECTLY! You better get pictures of that!

Seriously though, what about a wagon to drag his legless self around in? More room for candy too.

BOO!

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Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Forty is the New Forty

Ten years ago, I turned thirty and the seven days later I got married.  To say that I was out of my mind nervous, crazy, and excited is understatement.  Turning 30 weighed heavy, heavy heavy on my brain, so much so that I made everybody swear that I was 29 at the wedding, not 30.

wedding11

 

My husband of ten years (we say HA! to all the nay sayers!) is even more wonderful than the day I married him.  I do not regret my choice for a second, though when I married him it was a huge leap.  Yes, marriage is always a leap and my personal leap seemed rather large even by marital leap standards.

Turning 40 has been fantastic.  Nary a qualm.  For a minute I thought maybe I was pushing the thoughts away and I was wrong.  From where I stand today, life is sweet.  Being a wife and a mother is soul satisfying in a way I never knew it could be.

Love you all to bits-

KT

Comments

A happy, happy birthday to you, KT! (...and a happy anniversary in a few days.) May life always be as sweet for you both as it is today.

*H*A*P*P*Y* *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!

Happy anniversary too. Wishing you many more years of happiness together, as a couple and a family.

You look so beautiful in that photo.

Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! Here's to a fabulous and fantastic year (or fifty!)

Happy Birthday Sweetie!! And Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.

I think 40 is going to be great. I'll see you there in 5 weeks or so.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!! And Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.

I think 40 is going to be great. I'll see you there in 5 weeks or so.

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! Wishing you many more years!

KT, you strike me as ageless!

I am a few years ahead of you, my age and kid ages both in sync, and I totally agree with you about 40 and after. I am totally where I want to be in my life, with the people I love; maybe not everything is perfect, but I'm loving the ride.

Happy Birthday/Anniversary/general merrymaking!

: )

happy birthday and happy anniversary all in one!

Happy Birthday! Happy anniversary! Happy everything! Sounds like an opportunity for a party to me!

Monday, May 12, 2008

much better

DS3_1536

The most beautiful flowers from the three guys.  Between the colors, the textures, and the variety of flowers, I am beside myself. 

Yesterday I was treated to flowers, handmade cards, a corsage made by a seven year old and breakfast in bed.  Angus scrambles a mean egg.  Duncan told anyone who would listen that he buttered the toast with the BIG knife and stirred my coffee  A LOT so it was EXTRA delicious just for MOM.

Then a great and remarkable thing happened- nobody rushed off.  We were all doing our own thing, together.  Someone was on the computer, conversation distance from someone else who was knitting while staring at the flowers while two small someones weaved in and out.  It was delightful.

DS3_1528

STR (shocking, no?) Medium weight (shocking, yes!) in a Rare Gem which was purchased at camp. While each Rare Gem is well, rare- I was able to score 2 skeins that were very similar.  Perfect for knee socks. 

Thank you so much for all the encouragement last week for my nerves and Angus' health.  Your well wishes and thoughts really helped prevent what was sure to be an enormous anxiety attack. We are all much better this week, which is good because I could use a little boring right about now.

 

Love you all to bits.

Comments

sometimes boring is just what the doctor ordered. that particular rare gem is lovely.

Boring is awesome. I'm so happy y'all had a good day.

Awww... that sounds like such a lovely morning! That photo of the flowers is gorgeous!

Why is it that people are afraid or almost embarassed to seek anxiety help, when the advantage of regaining control of their life can be realized.

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Saturday, May 10, 2008

Now THAT is how a swap is done!

Oh Darlene! Darlene, Darlene, Darlene- you are a doll.  Holy Moses, that gal gives GOOD sock swap.  My May Day Pal is Darlene of Yarn Collectors Anonymous (and AKA Crazy for Yarn in Alabama) and she is wonderful.  Poor Darlene has been positively fretting that my package was lost.  When she shipped it from The Great State of Alabama on May One, the said it would be 7 to 10 days.  Ten days on the nose. And worth every second of the wait.

I want to go slow so as not to miss anything, because there  is a LOT and also wanting to go fast because I am SO excited!

 

First the haul, minus the socks because as really great the haul is, the socks are magnificent.

Clockwise from 9 o'clock (let's see if I can actually pull this off):

A great lined notebook- clearly meant for knitting notes while on the go!

Sticky notes & a magnetic note pad- more note taking- good idea with the Mama addled brain!

Cute sheep card.

A very well hidden napkin caddy with great Orange Parrot Tulips on them.  Darlene those are one of my ALL time color/flower combinations.  You nailed it.

Coffee!  From Birmingham.  Oh how I do love Alabama.

Trekking in color #135.  Perfect!

The Trekking is next to 2, TWO really great tulip themed draw string bags- perfect for the on the go sock knitting!

Some beautiful stitch markers from Alabama Fiber Dreams.  They are small and perfect for socks.  Plus they are lime green & orange.  So me!

Then tissues with flowers, a super cute watering can key chain, flower seeds, a soak sample and some note cards. Very needed- all.

A very pretty and dare I say ladylike coffee cup.  I will take care that she will not get roughed up by our Pacific Northwest brutish coffee cups.

And finally some STR Medium weight (Yay! Medium weight!  I have enough Heavyweight to sink the Titanic, so variety is welcome) In the color "Mesa" which I have never seen before.  It is well documented, my love of STR!

DS3_1519

 

 

And now, my friends.  Calm yourselves.  Breathe in, Breathe out.  You are not prepared for the absolute perfection that are my socks.  Darlene you are a marvel!

 

 

DS3_1515

 

 DS3_1516

 

Thank you so much Darlene.  I am positively overjoyed with my perfect colors, perfect fit, perfect length socks.  They are a thing of wonder and I could not have picked something more perfect for myself.  Thank you for all your care and kindness. You have my heart.

Comments

Indeed....I am SOOO relieved your May Day Pkg. has FINALLY arrived!!! With such a bad day Wednesday I truly wish it had arrived that day.....but glad it arrived before the start of a new and hopefully much better week for you!! I'm glad the socks fit...always nervous about that part...and glad that you like the other goodies!!!! I truly enjoyed putting together this pkg. for you and so glad that you like everything!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!! :)

Wow! What an amazing package!

Happy Mother's Day!

What a beautiful Mothers Day Weekend you had!! Such a lovely package and socks and you really know someone is into details when they're drawing precious little flowers on the Outside of the box! Congratulations on a very special swap package and pal! XOXOXOX

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Early Morning, need more coffee

Good Gravy, I am exhausted. Craig is traveling- back Friday.  Angus' diabetes is acting a bit crazy these days.  He is fine and safe and hopefully this rough patch will be short- lived.  He numbers were high last night and even the fast acting insulin I gave him didn't seem to help. 

Been up since 4am, fretting, administering insulin, testing blood sugars, drinking coffee and well, fretting more.

Too tired to knit even though I could use a bit of a simple repetitive task.

Today would be a perfectly wonderful day for my May Day Swap Socks to show up.

Here's hoping!

Love you all to bits.

xoxoxo

Comments

I am so sorry you have had such a rough start to the day!!! I hope the pkg. arrives today too and hope that it will brighten your day!!

i cna't help much with the blood sugar issues, but know that you and yours are in my thoughts...i hope your may day socks arrive soon!

Hugs and Coffee and Naps and Kisses for You All. XOXOXOX

Poor baby. What a way to start the day. Try to make time for a nap...hugs

Blech. Hang in there, Angus!

Friday, May 02, 2008

The Big Reveal

Thanks so much for all the fun guesses about Mom's true age.  She is tickled beyond belief.  Her birthday isn't until May 18 but she is starting to celebrate tonight with a party thrown by some of her dear friends (whom I adore) in her honor.  Apparently they have been cooking for days and it should be quite the affair.  Wish I could be there, sadly I don't have the freedom to hop a flight to Los Angeles at a whim. Right- children, fever, husband out of town, diabetes.  Crap!

We have a Winner!  Actually, there were two correct guesses Jill & Frieda!  (Jill please email me with your 411 and preferences at kt at theeislers dot com- Frieda- I totally know how to find you). You will both receive a skein of BMFA Knitters Without Borders and an additional skein of BMFA in a weight  & color of your choosing from the stash.

And now- drumroll........................................................................

Hold onto your hand knit socks- my Mom is turning..........................

 

DS3_0976

 

SEVENTY!

 

She is truly beautiful and amazing.  Her outsides are not nearly as wonderful as her insides. May we all look half as good at 70.  Mom, you are a wonder and we love you. 

Comments

And here I was so worried I would offend her by guessing 65, even though she looks so much younger.

Happy Birthday, KT's Mom!

I think you passed that wonderful smile on to your daughter....

Wow! Your mom looks AMAZING! Truly, may we all look even half as good at that age.

Happy Birthday, KT's Mom! Congratulations, winners!

Only my beautiful, talented daughter could think this up! The contest was such a giggle and I had such a good time reading all your wonderful comments. Thanks, ladies, you are very much appreciated! Love, KT's Mom

I'm sorry, but I must demand a copy of the birth certificate...there is NO way your mom is turning 70!! WOW!!!!!!

Tell us her secret!!!!

Congrats to your mom!!!

Oh my gosh. I'm with Darlene. Isn't there some kind of carbon dating process we can use or research the newspaper announcements or anything?? No way is she 70!

A Very Happy Birthday to you, Mom. How lucky for you KT (and your kids!) to have such a beautiful Mother and Grandmother. :)

NO FRICKIN' WAY!!! She looks younger than I do, and I'm told I look much younger than my 48 years. I repeat: NO WAY!!!

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Thursday, May 01, 2008

Buzzing Around

My May Day Sock Swap package is off, winging its way to parts East. How's that if you are trying to figure out if I am your Sock Swap Pal? Especially since just about everything is East of here. I fought the urge to ship it next day air, which is a strong urge in me. (As Emily will attest to.)

Clicking through the finished socks on Swapper's blogs, there are sure some real beauties.  It is exciting to know that a pair are on their way to me.  Which ones will they be?

 

DS3_1478

 

This wee strip of holes makes me happy beyond measure.  In my knitting skill set, there are many things I can do and yet lace has always seemed elusive and confounding. I managed to find a local class during school hours and today was day one.  A great thing about this class is three fold. First, we were not assigned a class project but rather were allowed to pick whatever lace project we wanted.  I picked The Flight of the Honey Bees Shawl by Sharon Winsauer for Alpaca with a Twist.  Second great thing about this class is the instructor, Becky (Ravelry Link).  And third, I am using some righteously beautiful yarn. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Laci in a mystery colorway that I purchased in Scappoose at Tina's stash sale in November.  Score!  The color is perfection for a honey bee pattern.

DS3_1480

Don't forget, Mom's contest end tomorrow, Friday May 2 at Noon PST. 

Leave your guess!  Good luck to all!

 

Love you all to bits- KT

Comments

Oh the lace. I can't wait to see a little more - the color is so yummy!

Okay now. I swear I thought the person in that picture with Birthday Boy was YOU. So obviously you're only like, what... 17? And your mom is really 40?? OH my gosh.

Oh, the Honeybee shawl is beautiful! And the colorway is perfect! Could it be Oregon Red Clover Honey??? Can't wait to watch your progress!

Honeybees! Cool! I love how sock camp makes you post a bunch.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Step Right Up!

DS3_0976

Don't forget about the FUN contest!  Here is a picture of my Mom who is having a Milestone Birthday this May.  Guess her age, on the nose, and win a skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Knitters Without Borders" in Lightweight plus another skein of BMFA STR in a weight & color way that is the winner's preference (plus other fun goodies).

Just leave a comment by Friday May 2, Noon PST.

And thank you to all have left guesses- Mom aka Charlene is totally tickled by your interest!  And she was VERY bummed that she couldn't pose a  guess and win the yarn herself.  No cheating, Mom!  And we will have none of that having your friends comment to win the yarn for you! (Her LYS is Jennifer Knits in Brentwood- so I am on to all of you!)

And if you are not Mom or part of her posse posing for Mom, you could win something out of this beautiful cabinet (which might be significantly more full after camp):

DS3_0777

So, come on- Step Right Up and give a guess.  If you know shhh and one guess per customer!

Step Right Up, leave a comment with your guess!

 

Love you all to bits- KT

And Mom- no faking!

Comments

Happy birthday to your mom. I'll guess 65?? She doesn't look it though.

Girl, I know that is not your mom in the picture I'm looking at. :)

Hi KT I will guess 70. I don't think she looks it though at all.I was going to guess 65 but someone beat me to it.

OK, I'll guess 60. You know, since 65 and 70 are already taken and I don't think she's older than that!

Monday, April 28, 2008

A little graft, a little soak and into the box they go and a wee contest

DS3_1459

My May Day Swap socks are done! Except the grafting.  The yarn is BMFA Sapphire in Heavyweight. Perfect Spring morning socks, when there is still a bit of a chill in the air.  or if you live here, great for when it is dumping snow in late April.  Here is hoping my pal will like these and that they fit! There was much gnashing of teeth and ripping back in terms of fit.

Each time I knit a pair of socks, I find that I internalize another piece of the sock puzzle which is completely invigorating. One of the actions which I find truly energizing(regardless of the item) is ripping out and reknitting it. Which not only did I have to do that several times on the above socks but on these too. Must finish giant socks!

Camp was wonderful.  It was much harder this year to be away from the boys, though we all have pulled through in fine form.  I find that I want to tell you more about camp and as it is incredibly experiential for me, this is proving difficult.  Great fun is apt but not terribly descriptive.  It was great fun all the same.

Duncan is home with a fever and whine today, so lots of knitting whilst wiping of a little nose (not with the knitting!) and giving comfort.

*********

In the hold on to your horses department:

My Mom was tickled that her photo popped up on the blog AND she gave me permission to tell her age.  It is going to be a contest!  Guess my mom's age, on the nose- it is a milestone birthday- and you will receive 1 skein of Blue Moon Knitters Without Borders in Lightweight (not yet available on their site), plus one more skein of Blue Moon Yarn (weight & color tbd by winner's preference) and other various goodies.  Leave a comment by Noon, PST Friday May 2.  And if you know shh.....Also, if there is more than one correct guess, we will do the name in the hat thing.

One guess per customer.Good luck!

 

Love y'all to bits!

Comments

Now that I can see what fun sock camp is, I SO want to go next year!

Hmmm, I think your mother is turning 60. ;-) Or... I could be completely wrong.

My guess is that your mom is turning 65 only because that's such a big milestone and because *you* don't look your age either, and I'm thinking you come by it honestly! But she looks like she had you when she was about 12....Totally.

I'm sure that's not the case though. (the having you when she was twelve part)

It's snowing TODAY in southwestern Wisconsin. Grrr. It's almost May, and the last frost day is usually about now. This winter just won't go away.

Miss you, m'dear! I loved meeting you at camp!
Hey, I have a contest coming up tomorrow, and one of the prizes is remarkably similar!
; )

Hope small Mr. is feeling better soon.

Well, looking at your Mom, I would have said 50, but then you said you were turning 40, and I'm thinking your Mom wasn't 10 when she gave birth to you, so I'll go with 60. (or maybe 65... dang. Can I have two guesses? No? okay, 60, because she doesn't look old enough to be 65...)

Ok, just because everyone else is guessing 60, I am going to say 65. I know, it is going to cost me yarn, but maybe I'm right and your Mom looks incredibly good (which she does, be happy you get her genes!! ;))

She has to be 21!

Hey, I wanna see your sock monkey!

Congrats on finishing the socks! They look great! I can't guess as I know the answer! Bummer!

Just thinking about you and started browsing around. Miss you. Had no idea you are an incredible quilted besides an incredible knitter! Wow!

Give Angus & Duncan a hug & a love for me.

I think she is turning 70 - though if I hadn't read the build-up, I would have guessed 60!

i'm guessing 65. your socks look absolutely lovely. well done!

As you mentioned "milestones" I am going to go with 60.

Oh my, that picture of Mom is waaaaaaay back there! She's beautiful and you look so much alike! I guess 65 because she doesn't look that old!

Your MayDay socks are lovely and so snuggly - and yes - the sock monkey. Must See. :)

Hmmm - my guess is 61.

Hello. Better by far you should forget and smile than you should remember and be sad.
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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Off I go...

  Tomorrow morning bright and early I am off to Sock Camp.  The car is packed, permission slips for field trips signed and children hugged and kissed.

We had Duncan's big 5 year old birthday party on Saturday and it was wonderful.

DS3_0971

Here is a super cute if a little dark picture of my Mom & Duncan.

This year is really a year of milestones- Craig & I will be married 10 years, Duncan turns 5, I  turn 40 in August, my Mom turns "X".

We FINALLY sold our house in Virginia after almost 12 months on the  market!  Yea!! Angels singing!

 

Love to you and hopefully I will blog from Camp.

 

If you are reading- THANK YOU!!

Love -

KT

Comments

~Sock Camp!!! How fun.
~Take 40 in stride. It's no big deal. ;-)
~Congratulations on the sale of your house! I'm sure that relieves a huge amount of stress.
~Now... 5 is a milestone. ;-)

Have a great week at sock camp.

What a beautiful happy picture!! Love this. :)

Have a super wonderful time at Sock Camp (envy envy envy) - and Congratulations on the sale of your House! Hooray!

Sounds like a great start to a banner year, KT!!

Duncan looks grown! I know you'll have a great time at sock take lots of pictures!

What a great picture! Duncan is adoreable and your mom looks about 30!! It was so great to hang out with you again at sock camp. It was a blast. Hugs.

This has been really interesting but how do I bookmark this? I tried Digg but do I have to sign up first?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

And now we are 5

DSC_4134

 

Today my baby turns 5.  What a cacophony of emotion.  It is thrilling that logic and reason are starting to creep in and heartbreaking that there are no babies in the house.

Every Friday Duncan gets out of school at noon, so we have some special time just the two of us.  Each and every Friday he says, as he gets in the car: "Mama, can we have a Gluten Fest and then go to the fabric store?"  So off we go for pizza (we are a gluten free house- big brother has Celiac) and about half way through lunch, Duncan says to me :"Mama, do you think the fabric store has anything new for my stash?"

And yes, he has a stash.  If you were wondering what the stash of a barely five year old little boy looks like, here you go:

 

DS3_0791

(motorcycles, dolphins, firetrucks, police vehicles and crowns)

 

But he does have some mighty big shoes to fill (this isn't all of it- trust me)

DS3_0780

Happy Birthday Duncan.  You have my heart- always.

Love to all of you- back with much to tell.

Comments

Aww - Happy Birthday Sweet Little Duncan! *smooch*

Happy Birthday Duncan! Hope 5 is a blast!

Happy Birthday, Duncan! Didn't you just turn three yesterday?

It melts my heart that he has a stash!

Monday, February 04, 2008

Miters Ahoy!

For quite awhile I have been stewing, coordinating and just generally dreaming about making a mitred blanket ala Mason Dixon. Yarn has been being stashed for about 7 months (BMFA, STR Heavyweight). This may very well be a year long project, which is fine by me. Or I may zip zip through it, which is also fine by me.

.

There are a few questions that I have been working on that I would love input on, if you have any. The MDK pattern says to cast on 72 stitches. I would like to make mine bigger. Is it just a multiple of 3 that I need? Others say just cast on any odd number of stitches. Which formula do you use? Have you altered the basic recipe? How?

Please, I need the scoop!

Second, I was thinking that it would be feasible to cast on 144 stitches, put a marker between stitch 72 & 73 and treat them as 2 separate miters though they would be joined. Instead of 2 squares I would get 1 rectangle, or half a square. This would literally cut my seaming in half. Clearly this needs to road tested to see if can go from concept to really cool technique. (Scurries off to knit furiously.)

Oh, I feel like such a clever little bunny! It worked- Look:

You just need to remember to twist the constrasting colors on the wrong (private) side so that there are no holes. This is great! Only one long seam per large square. These colors I used are for test drive purposes - I just grabbed what I had wound up.

This pleases me WAY more than it should, but we all geek out on something. Uh oh, I think I just rained on my own parade. Having just read the entire Madness category at the extraordinary January One, I realize that my method will not give me as much freedom to switch squares around. Not sure how much this matters to me, I'll have to ponder that.

Also, I am contemplating what kind of rules I want to follow- I can already see that without them I will go completely around the bend and then feel awful because I didn't do what I wanted to do- knit the blanket that is. So far each square will have a single main color and there will likely be main color repeat. It did cross my mind to have only one or two main colors throughout the entire blanket and 4 different contrast colors per square.

It is already apparent to me that this project will be eating me alive. No complaints, though.

Comments

LOL! I didn't call the project MADNESS for nothing. Good luck! ;-)

I have no input other than: I like the purple and lime together!!

Oh, I wish I had some helpful advice. Although it looks like your doing great on your own. I do love Mason Dixon Knitting - I made the log cabin blanket this past summer (two months at maybe an hour or two of knitting a day) and am now working on the baby blanket version. Keep up the good work!

Oh, it looks beautiful. I can't wait to see the whole blanket.

I think your idea is great. It gives more flexibility than the four squares in one that is on the Mason Dixon website. Love the colors in the sample shot.

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

I made someone's day

First and foremost- Ravelry ate my brain. Holy crap. In a good way. Holy crap. Enough said. Well all most enough said, I am lookiewhatimade over there.

Lots of knitting going on here. I am determined to finish this sweater- scroll to the 19th- before I go to sock camp this year. Here are the colors I am going to use for the tartan:

The pattern is Tartan Jacket from Zoe Mellor's Colorful Knits for You and Your Child. This is the second time I have made this sweater, here is my first version of the tartan:

I wear this sweater constantly and it has stood up to wear so well for about 9 years. I blogged about it here. I should mention that the color chart is as knitted and it not the same as photographed in the book. In my current version I will knit it as photographed in the book in STR Heavyweight Bluemoonstone, Lemongrass & Sunstone- the main color is Lover's Leap.

The bottom sweater (the original) is in Magpie (moment of silence) for the body and Lambs Pride for the tartan.

Last but certainly not least, I was awarded by both Emily & KT the "You Make My Day Award". Thank you ladies I love you both muchly, you have both made me laugh so hard, and care so much. You two have made my life a much more beautiful and inspired place.

Instructions are "give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

Okay so, without further ado and pithy commentary (and in no order, other than how they came into my brain):

January One Hola Chica! This one rocks it about as hard as one can. Heart as big as all outdoors. And a tot on the way. Some people were just meant to be parents. The knitting and level headed-ness are awesome,

Angry Chicken The one and only. 3 little ones and SO productive. Shame!

Posie Gets Cozy Clover Meadow and beautiful crafting? Get out!

Yarnstorm If you sleep with her book under your pillow you will have the sweetest dreams.

Six and a Half Stitches Sublime. Structured and dreamy simultaneously. Quite a feat.

Hop Skip Jump The animals? Divine! And awaiting a baby boy any moment.

Hello Yarn In my dreams, I aspire to be her.

Amuse Bouche Yummy food and lovely pictures.

Gerrie Congdon Such dedication and what an eye. Sigh.

Bemused Jan is such an inspiration.

Say la vee Too good.

Pea Soup Just perfect- and the view? Stunning!

Knitiot Savant My Secret Pal. Nough said!

Emma Very Happy Belated Birthday, you wonderful woman !!

Special Bunny Blvd Such a lovely gracious human. And the mothering? And the productivity? Oy. I am in awe.

There are so many more folks that I wanted to give this award- I was supposed to limit it to 10 but splurged on 15. Thank you, for the award and for making my day!

Love you all to bits and pieces!

KT

Comments

I'm honoured, thank you!

And I must just say, I love that you dreamt about Jane's Allotment Quilt.

Last night I dreamt about dyeing yarn. It's so good to have this blogging community and know that someone else understands.

Wasn't picking just a few the hardest thing ever? I am glad you bothered to find the instructions - I totally forgot to include them.

I've opened most all of your picks to peruse - there are lots I haven't heard of.

As always, you are too kind! Thank you for making MY day!

Thank you, how kind of you!

I love you ya know.

I think that is the greatest compiment I've ever had in my entire life. I will treasure it as I do you. :)

Hugs and kisses dear friend.

I love you ya know.

I think that is the greatest compiment I've ever had in my entire life. I will treasure it as I do you. :)

Hugs and kisses dear friend.

I love you ya know.

I think that is the greatest compiment I've ever had in my entire life. I will treasure it as I do you. :)

Hugs and kisses dear friend.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Part Two


Here is what I decided to do...


Weigh knitted sock and leftover yarn from cake #1


Done! 196 grams


Weigh cake #2.


Done! 200 grams


Rip back sock to heel.


Done! Look!



Then I will add about 3 more inches to the leg of this and then switch to cake #2 for the foot. So the leg will differ from the foot yet both socks will be the same.


Scintillating, no?

Comments

Sounds like an excellent plan to me!

Trust me folks, if you got the chance to touch these babies, you'd wish YOU had size 14 feet so's you could steal 'em away from this vixen-y knitress!

Gorgeous! heh Sorry about the double comment on the prior post! Too little too late, looks like. Sounds like you'll be very satisfied with the end results and won't have to reknit the entire sock. Whew! :)

You Made My Day! Go tagging iffen ya want. (see my blog for details)

Hasta Viernes, chica!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Like being pecked to death by chickens

When I went to Sock Camp last year, a very good family friend came out from the East Coast to help take care of the boys. Really an awesome, giving move that left me free to go to camp and not worry. As a thank you I said I would knit him socks- appropriate, in my eyes. And then I forgot.

Long story short, I remembered and then our friend said: "Why don't you just knit me a scarf?" To which I replied: "You may indeed get a scarf in the future, but I AM going to knit you socks!" See our friend has size 14 feet. This was a challenge I was not going to hide from. I was going to rise to the challenge and then gloat and brag and make everybody listen to me rattle on about how I knit size 14 socks.

It is still my intention to do that and in order to torture you all, I need your help first. Ha! It is a lot like Brutus asking Julius Caesar :"Hey, could you sharpen this for me?"

Here is the rub: In 2006, I bought 2 skeins of STR heavyweight in Henpecked (at the same time, thank you very much). Do you like how I made it sound as if that was all I bought ? (kt- be quiet!)*cough* I took one skein and made it into a cake, then made that cake into a very nice sock, with my very first short row heel, nonetheless. The heel was ripped 3 times but no holes! So last night I took the second skein, wound it into a cake and in the midst of winding started to feel a wee bit queasy.

Here is the yarn left over from the sock (wish I had made the leg longer), next to the second skein. See the problem? What do I do? Please weigh in.

As I see it here are my choices:

A) Frog the whole thing (which I am willing to do ) and then intersperse the two skeins in the new pair.

B) Frog to the ankle, knit foot in the new skein. Knit other leg from skein #1 & from ankle down from skein #2.

C) Just knit sock #2 from skein #2 and be done with it. (this option appeals to me the least)

It just makes me madder than a wet hen when you can't unsee things.

Love you all to bits.

ps: I only have myself to be upset with. If I had actually thought about it I could have known this was going to happen, as I can see clearly in this picture down) Smacks forehead.

ETA: Choice A should read- A) Frog the whole thing (which I am willing to do ) and then intersperse the two skeins in the new pair. I just can't get the formatting to behave- sorry!

Comments

Do what is in your heart to do ! It may take longer, but you will be happier.
He's a really good friend then ? !!!

xxx

Hmmm. Maybe the dye-pattern just looks different because it is in a smaller ball? If you did frog and start over, you could make the leg longer like you wanted to - but that is going to be some crinkly yarn after all this time. Maybe you could start the second one to evaluate the difference and then make a decision? Emily = not all that helpful. :D

Good on you for thinking to use heavy-weight.

My vote: Option "C". No looking back. You loved him then, you love him now. He will love the socks until they wear out and then cry just a little every time he sees those worn out socks in the sock drawer (as I do when I see the first pair of hand knit socks I ever had but can't bear to throw away). Knit on! XOXOX

My vote: Option "C". No looking back. You loved him then, you love him now. He will love the socks until they wear out and then cry just a little every time he sees those worn out socks in the sock drawer (as I do when I see the first pair of hand knit socks I ever had but can't bear to throw away). Knit on! XOXOX

Just a little test

Making sure our blogging software is still working.

Comments

Post me some pictures of the KTs together already!

Monday, December 31, 2007

A helluva a year

We moved cross-country for the second time in three years, back to a place that I thought we had left for good. We are thrilled to be back and have settled in rather well. The boys love their school. And it is only six minutes from the house.

Craig loves his new job, which is at a company that has been very good to us in the past.

It was my supreme pleasure to go to sock camp and make many new friends. April cannot come soon enough so that I can go again. SO EXCITED.

I have met many lovely bloggers in the flesh: Jessica, Ryan & TMK, Cousin Tom (eat your hearts out- he is one AWESOME monk!) The other KT (who is moving here!!!!), hung out with the gals from Blue Moon at the stash sale (serious crushes all around), and kept in touch with some of my fave bloggers .

Plus I have been teaching knitting to Duncan's class 4-6 year olds. We have been doing finger knitting so far and are soon to move onto needle knitting. The best ones at the finger knitting? The Kindergarten Boys. They are seriously fierce. Teaching finger knitting to four year olds? A special kind of Hell.

On the not so pleasant side, we have had 8 kabillion bouts of Pink Eye, a Thousand bouts of Strep, Angus vomited more times in that single day than he had in his entire lifetime (vomiting when you are diabetic is serious business.. insulin is administered to combat food- food comes out of the body but the insulin stays in and you get very low blood sugar which can result in seizure or coma), a surgery for Duncan, a endoscopic biopsy for Angus, one ER trip for me and one for Duncan, which involved 2 hospitals and a rush hour ambulance trip across a floating bridge. Who knew that strep could present with abdominal pain and that an appendix could be so hard to find via ultrasound? A diagnosis of Celiac Disease for Angus, which by the way is a COMPLETE ASS KICKER. There is gluten in EVERYTHING. I seriously wept when I found gluten free stuffing cubes at Whole Paycheck at Thanksgiving. I had no idea how much I was dreading Thanksgiving without stuffing. And it was great!! I thought there was going to be no gravy either and the potato flour saved the day.

There were many icky hairy things about 2007. We are holding many good thoughts for 2008, I have my creative goals roughed out, we seem to have somewhat of a handle on our medical issues (I still think that if the software business ever tanks we could get a gypsy caravan with a sign reading "The Eisler Family Traveling Side Show of Medical Oddities and Semi-Misfortune ").

There are two happenings in early 2008 that give me such joy and hope for the world. Both this gal and this gal are going to be welcoming children into the world. We may have a fighting chance yet.

If you have stuck it out this far, a special treat- Angus picked out this yarn for me to make him socks- it is BMFA Sherbert in Heavyweight with Ruby slippers heels and toes. Knit on size 3's. 6.5 sts to the inch. How can you not feel happy when your 7 year old boy wants pink socks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!! MUCH LOVE AND PEACE. NOW GO FORTH AND KICK ASS IN THE SPECIAL WAY THAT YOU KNOW HOW. SHOO! GO FORTH AND KICK ASS!!!

Love you all to bits and pieces-

KT

Comments

Happy New Year to you!

Happy New Year to you! Here's to 2008 - a year with no Medical Surprises. Seriously, all summed up like that it sounds like The Grapes of Wrath (Steinbeck is clearly overrated). What an odd blessing to have moved to a town where you can get Gluten Free Stuffing Cubes (sounds like something astronauts eat)! To raise a gluten free kid down here, it would be carrots all the way bay-bee. MWAH

Those socks DO rock! He is a happenin' dude if ever I saw one.

2008 is going to be full of adventure--the good kind, not the medical kind. I think you 'uns have punched your "medical-stuff" voucher for the next ten years or so.

Can't wait to get there and knit there and laugh and snort and chortle and giggle there! See ya soon! MWAH to the Grumpy One and the BoundingBoys.

Wishing you all the very best for 2008 !

glad you came home to roost in the pnw. it has been a pleasure getting to know you and i am looking forward to seeing you at sock camp!

Oh my friend - I hope this year is positively BORING for you!!! ;-)

Thank you for always being in my corner. I really appreciate it. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you all (and only) good things for 2008, K.T.!
Ok, I'm going forth to kick ass...right now!!

Happy Happy Wonderful Healthy New Year to you and the kids and husband and everyone in your world. :)

XOXOXOX

'08 will be spectacular for you! I know it.

And if you start your caravan, sign us up. I know how to juggle. :-)

We were just thinking about you, and here we are mentioned in your latest entry! It was so nice to meet you when Cuzzin Tom was here. It didn't hurt that you wooed me with piles and piles of beautiful yarn.

Best wishes for 2008!

-Ryan

Hi - came across your blog by happenstance and read about your son's Celiac diagnosis. After about 2 years of undiagnosed problems, the docs finally realized I had Celiac. I was 11 and I'm now 34. Hang in there, it will get easier for you. There are WAY more gluten free foods now then there used to be. (It was no fun eating PB&J rice cake sammiches in the school cafetieria, believe me!) And best of all, it won't be long before your son is back to feeling like a healthy kid again. Good luck as you start getting used to the new GF lifestyle. It's a bit of a learning curve but it's well worth it.

I love the socks I can only dream I will knit a pair one day.

great post , really good view on the subject and very well written, this certainly has put a spin on my day, many thanks from the USA and sustain up the good work

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