January 9, 2007
Progress on the Baby Dale
I'm both pleased and disappointed in the progress I've made on the baby Dale. I'm pleased because I think my colorwork has improved dramatically, but I'm disappointed because it won't be done on Saturday for the baby shower. This sweater is for my best friend Ashley. It's her first baby and her husband is Norwegian. I made the sweater an 18 month size so the little guy can wear it next Christmas when they go to Norway to visit Torstein's family (and hopefully it will fit a year from now). So, there really isn't any need to get it finished in time for the shower, except I wanted it to be done. Grrr.
I finished the colorwork on the chest and have a few inches of white stockinette to finish before I can start the sleeves.
There's no way I can get the body finished, two sleeves knit, steeks cut, and the whole thing put together by Friday. I told Ashley (she actually picked the pattern, so this isn't a surprise gift) and she's fine with it. The little guy is due in late February, so I want to have it done and mailed by then (that's the new goal).
I'm hopeful that the roads will be open tomorrow and I'll be back at work as usual. However, it was really nice to be home putzing around today. It's amazing how much I can get done when I set my mind to it. That was a good reminder for me. Now to just find the right professional fit and all will be right with the world. Have a great day, and if you'd like some snow, please let me know. I'm giving mine away for free if you'll come pick it up.
January 2, 2007
New Year's Knitting
I have had a lovely New Year's holiday weekend. I spent a lot of time at home, which you know I love. I didn't nap, but I knit and that is the ultimate in relaxation. I'm quite pleased with my progress on the Baby Dale. I've started the design on the chest.
I think my stranded skills are steadily improving. I'm seeing more even stitches and less puckering as I go along and my gauge is about the same on the one and two colored portions. That is indeed progress.
Travis and I went cross-country skiing on New Year's Eve. Travis skate skis and he's trying to teach me. I've been 3 or 4 times, but this is our first outing this year. Holy crap, it is hard work. Either that or I'm a fat slacker. But, I think I'm finally starting to get the rhythm of it. Again, progress. Riley had an excellent time playing in the snow and he got a good workout. People are always amazed that he can keep up, but he really doesn't have any trouble. Those legs of his might be short, but he's fast. I would like to try to go once a weekend or every other weekend because it's good exercise and that's the only way I'll get better. We'll see how that works out.
Now, let's talk about what 2007 holds. I'm terrible about resolutions, but I always try to start the new year off with some goals - things I'd like to change or make more time for in the new year. This year I have a couple of "goals." I want to exercise more. I know. A typical resolution. But, I've signed up for Curves because I can go over my lunch hour 3 days a week. I went last week and it seems like a pretty good workout for 30 minutes. I'm also going to try to eat a bit better. My problem is that Travis is extremely active all day and so he can eat a lot of food and burn off a lot of calories. He needs way more food than I should eat and he likes foods with more calories than I need. There's no way I'm going to cook one thing for him and another thing for myself. I'm lucky if I can get one meal cooked, there's no way two would ever happen. So, I'm rereading my French Women Don't Get Fat and I've signed up on the website. Right now I'm keeping track of the food I eat and I can already tell I eat a whole lot of carbs and sweets. So, I'm sure that is going to have to change. But, the keeping track part is a couple of weeks. I'm thinking about speeding that up and doing the Leek Soup next weekend.
My second goal is to improve my photography skills. I thought about starting a photo along or joining an existing one, but as of right now I'm going to do my own Project 365. There's a Flickr group, but I'm just going to do it on my own and see how it goes. To that end, I've finally set up a Flickr account (I think if you look for Unwind you should be able to find me, but I'm not sure. I haven't got the whole thing figured out yet. That link should work, but let me know if it doesn't). I'm just going to post a picture to my account every day. I'd love it if you would stop by once and awhile and let me know what you think of my photos - constructive criticism is a good thing. Hopefully the photos improve as the year progresses.
My fiber goals are pretty simple. I'm going to try to spin every Friday evening. I usually spend the evening at home watching television and I figure it will be a good time to work on my spinning. I'm afraid that without a set evening I won't ever make time for it, so I'm setting a time and we'll see how it goes. My knitting goals are to knit as much from my stash as possible. I have yarn for a couple of great sweaters, plus I want to make finishing Butterfly a priority. I'm going to join Rebekah's Yarn Focus Challenge as some support for this goal. The first installment is for 3 months and I think it's starting soon. There will be some lace knitting in the new year because of the Victorian Today KAL, but I have yet to pick out a project. I will have to use one of my free days during the Yarn Focus Challenge to buy yarn for the project I ultimately choose.
So, that's it for me. Thanks for sticking around through my rambling post. Happy New Year and may 2007 be a truly wonderful and productive year.
Posted by Stephanie at 6:00 AM | Comments (18)December 26, 2006
The Start of Something Good
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and you got to spend the holiday with those you love most. We had a lovely weekend with Travis' family. The time was too short, as usual, but nice nonetheless. It was a very relaxing weekend, which is just what I needed. I spent some time shopping, some time knitting, and some time cooking. All my favorite things. Oh and let's not forget the time spent eating - that was indeed a large portion of the time. How was your Christmas?
I started the baby Dale sweater over the weekend. I just have to tell you that it really helps if you read the chart the right way. Before you roll your eyes at my stupidity - it really wasn't that obvious. The charts are labeled with letters - Chart A, B, C, etc. And the labels are on the sides so that the letter is right side up if you look at the chart horizontally. However, you're supposed to read the chart vertically. Go figure. Anyway, despite the slow start and the chart-reading challenges, I made some nice progress.
I'm on the plain white stockinette portion of the sweater, so that should go quickly. I am going to try to dedicate most of my knitting time over the next couple of weeks to this project because I'd really like to try my best to get it done before the baby shower on the 13th of January. Just as an aside, I did get a bit of the second knee high done over the weekend - those times when mindless knitting was much more practical than anything that requires 5 balls of yarn. I turned the heel and have started on the never-ending leg. I imagine I'll be done by 2008.
Travis plowed and blew snow for about 4 hours today. We haven't gotten any more snow than we had last week, but I think the wind has blown every bit of snow in a 2 mile radius into our driveway. I'll have to take some pictures of the snow mountains we now have - they're quite impressive. Hopefully the wind will settle down a bit. Snowy, windy roads make the drive to work a real pain in the ass. Not that work itself isn't a pain in the ass, but crappy roads make it oh so much worse. Sigh. 2007 and all it has to offer is just around the corner. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for something good. Tomorrow I'll have a report on a couple of the goodies I got from Santa and the family - one of which should make this blog a little nicer place.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:24 PM | Comments (21)September 18, 2006
Baby Raglan
Then Baby Raglan was seamed on Friday night and you were right - it looks like it might fit a baby.
Project Details:
Pattern: Debbie Bliss Raglan Sweater
Yarn: Louet Gems Topaz in Neptune - just over 1 skein
Needles: US #8 Addi Natura circular
Thoughts: This is a really simple, very cute little sweater. It is knit flat, but could easily be converted to knitting in the round. I was in too big a hurry to figure out what I'd need to do to knit it in the round, but seaming something that tiny is really quick. The Louet is very soft and easy care, which seems a necessity for a new mom. I am a bit worried about the size of the neck, but the stockinette stitch rolls nicely, so I think the neck could be rolled down to provide a little extra head room.
The baby shower was on Saturday and the mom-to-be loved the hat and sweater (and the onesies - more on those tomorrow). Baby showers are very foreign to me, but it was fun to look at all the tiny clothes (plus there was cake!). I worked at the yarn store again on Saturday. I'm having fun with it and I didn't buy anything (well, I bought a book, but it's one I special ordered last week).
Yesterday was cold and windy (cold as in about 40 degrees with a 20 mph wind - cold). So, I stayed inside and did some spinning and baking (banana muffins and test batch #1 of the chocolate chip cookies). I know. Shocking. Spinning. I spun a couple more of the sample colors I have (I'll take some pictures and show you this week). I want to ply those together and then I'm going to start on the coopworth I bought in Estes Park. I also knit some on the Kimono Sweater. I'm getting closer, but still not done. Purly's gonna kill me. This week will be dedicated to television and knitting (season premier week, ya know).
Posted by Stephanie at 9:39 AM | Comments (18)September 15, 2006
Looking Good
The baby sweater is on the blocking board. This was indeed a quick knit.
I'm a little concerned about the proportion of this thing. The sleeves seem way too big - they're wide! We know that I don't anything about babies, but it doesn't seem right to me. Look at the sleeves compared to the body of the sweater. What do you think?
So, now that the baby knits are done (I'll seam the sweater tonight), I'm back to knitting the Kimono Sweater. I really need to dedicate some time to that project because it needs to be done in a couple of days. Jeeze - time just flies.
And, for Eye Candy Friday I have another sunset picture. The fires in Montana are making the sky smokey and hazy, but it makes for good sunrises and sunsets.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:41 AM | Comments (21)September 13, 2006
A Baby Hat
I finally finished the baby hat before work this morning. I stayed up late last night and got everything but the little I-cord done. But after it was finished I had to bring it to work and show it to the ladies here who know a thing or two about babies because I'm pretty sure this sucker isn't fitting anything! It is tiny.
That box it's sitting on is 4 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches long. Tiny. The moms and grandmas and aunts around here all assure me that it will fit a baby because, in fact, they really are that small. I'm reserving judgment until I see it for myself.
Project Details:
Pattern: Purly's Baby Hat Pattern
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull in Ivory (0020)
Needles: US #2 Addi Natura dpns
Now I'm starting the raglan sweater. It might be pushing it to get it done in time, but you only cast on 50 stitches or so and then work for less than 5 inches before you start the raglan shaping. On size 7 needles. I should be able to do it. Right?
Thank you for all the great cookie recipes. Travis is going to be in heaven - and maybe people will quit telling him how skinny he is after he tastes them all. If you haven't submitted a recipe, you still have time - until the 25th. Oh, and if you have a great cookie recipe that isn't chocolate chip - send it along - it will count for the drawing. I may just have to enter cookies in all the categories. If I do, there will be prizes for all the "winning" recipes.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:14 AM | Comments (23)September 11, 2006
Not Just Another Monday
I woke up this morning sad and less excited about work than usual. I'm sure a lot of you feel the same way today. I can't believe 5 years have passed already. Time really does march on.
This weekend was busy, as all weekends are, and less was accomplished than I had hoped. Saturday, Travis and I went horse trailer shopping. Good times. Let me tell you. We were "just looking," but it still took all day. And my dear husband has yet to see the trailer he wants. So, looking will continue. I realized Saturday evening that the baby shower is next Saturday - 1 week. And I haven't started the baby knits. Crap. So, I put the Sundara sweater aside for a little bit and started the hat.
I couldn't find a great color (I wanted a dark blue - navy or indigo because the yarn I got for the sweater is a nice lightish blue (not exactly baby blue, but lighter than royal blue), but of couse I couldn't find anything like that, so I had to go with ivory. I hope it will be ok.
Yesterday Riley and I went to our first FlyBall practice. Riley had a great time and they thought he was a natural. I think we'll be doing that on Sunday afternoons - good exercise for Riley and something to keep him entertained. When we got home from practice Travis was there with a load of hay. So, I helped him unload a lot of really heavy hay bales (We're talking somewhere around 135 bales that each weighed about 80 pounds). Luckily I got to play with the hay hooks.
I just threw the bales off the end of the trailer for Travis (which involved way to much packing bales for my arms to be pleased this morning). He had to carry them into the barn and stack them, but he's good at that kind of stuff. Look at this hay stack.
If you look really carefully at the top right of the picture, you can see Isabelle hanging out in her new cat condo. She's quite pleased with it and decided we didn't mess up the barn too much (she rules that place with an iron fist).
I hope to finish the baby hat today and start the sweater tomorrow. I'd better get crackin' because I'm sure even a baby sweater takes a few days to knit. I really hope the knitting gods are feeling generous this week.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:22 AM | Comments (13)June 14, 2006
A Baby Kimono
The Baby Kimono is on its way to its new home, set to arrive tomorrow.
I wrapped it and the burp cloth, some super cute little booties, and some onsies in a box and sent them off to the mom-to-be. Mom-to-be has been confined to bed rest for the remainder of her pregancy, and she doesn't knit! I don't know how she's going to keep from going crazy. But, I sent along some books - fiction and the puzzle variety and some lotion to cheer Mom-to-be up. Personally, I think a little bed rest would be pretty cool. I could catch up on my knitting, watch some serious tv and movies, and catch up on my sleep. Of course, I'd want to be able to decide when I'd had enough and I was ready to get up, but you know, I'm pretty sure I could swing it for a day or two (or week or two?).
Tomorrow morning at 6:00 (yes, a.m.) I'm off to Estes Park for my first spinning class. I Map Quested all of my destinations and hopefully I won't get lost. But tonight promises to be super busy. Why oh why do I always wait to do everything? I need to do some serious laundry, and pack when that's done, pack Lennie, get gas, go to the bank, help my Mom pick up stitches on her Noni bag, water all the flowers and make a list for Travis so everything doesn't die while I'm gone. I swear I do this on every trip I take! I'm driving myself crazy. But, the good news is that I got my big work project done, so I can be gone for a couple of days without feeling guilty or worrying about getting fired.
I doubt I'll have computer access while I'm in Estes Park, but if I do, I'll post all about my class. If not, I'll have lots of pictures and info to share when I get back. Oh, that reminds me. I need to charge my camera. Yipes.
Posted by Stephanie at 2:42 PM | Comments (18)June 13, 2006
Stripes 'R Us
Today's post is brought to you by Stripes 'R Us. It's an entirely stripey day here at Unwind. First up, we have the completed Mason-Dixon Knitting Burp Cloth.
In reality the colors aren't quite that neon. They're a nice medium blue and an apple green - Peaches & Cream cotton. This is a really simple stitch pattern - just garter stitch with a slipped stitch thrown in on the right side to keep things interesting.
And, as requested, here's the back:
In other stripey news, one Oak Rib Sock is done:
Best of all, it fits! I made my mom try it on because I wasn't sure about the length (luckily the rib provides lots of stretch for a good fit in the width department), and she reports that it is "perfect". So, I've cast on for the second one. I'm taking the sock with me to Estes Park this weekend. I imagine I'll be able to fit a couple of rows in over the lunch break or something and will hopefully have a bit of progress to show next week.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:31 AM | Comments (13)June 6, 2006
Thank You!
Thank you all so very much for your wonderful comments on Hourglass. You guys really know how to make a girl feel good! And as it turned out, your generosity was the high point of the day. This was waiting for me when I got home last night.
The renters down the way started a grass fire that got a bit out of control - the fire department came and evacuated people from the houses (but Travis and I were both at work when it happened). The really scary thing is that it got close to our house.
The first picture was taken just down the hill from my house (a couple hundred yards maybe) and the second was taken just outside my yard. It's disturbing to think that something like that can happen when you aren't home to do anything about it. The horses were all locked in the corral and Riley and Isabelle were home alone (outside, but still). I just have to think that one of the neighbors would let the horses out and take care of the dog and cat if a fire got too close. So anyway. In the end a fire will be good for the grass in that particular pasture.
Sunday I cast-on for a baby sweater for my cousin's baby. She's due in August, but the shower is the same weekend as Estes Park. I'm trying to get a couple of things knit to send since I won't be there.
It's the baby kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting in red peaches & cream cotton. It's knitting up quickly and I'm already considering other things to knit. What do first time moms want for shower gifts? I haven't a clue about such things. Any advice would be most appreciated.
Have a great day, and again, thank you for all your wonderful comments on Hourglass.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:20 AM | Comments (19)
