We're Getting Closer!

You know, to finishing Will's sweater. :) Eight inches of ribbing and about 6 inches of stockinette and I'm still into my second ball of the Aracania Nature Wool. This isn't a great picture of the color, but you know, winter lighting. This is the same yarn that I bought back in June and posted about on June 18. Good stuff. Kelli likes. :)

Hmmm, and isn't something else going on today? Something like, oh yeah! It's almost Kelli's birthday. :)

That wasn't it? Oh, you're right, Happy Halloween! More progress tomorrow!

All Kinds of Fun!

Grandma bought me a gift card for Barnes and Noble. I happened to make a beeline wander in there tonight. I bought YARNplay by Lisa Shobhana Mason. I'll see you all on Tuesday night.

la la la la la :)

I think Grandma Carleen would understand.

I haven't finished her shawl. I will not get it done by the Day of the Dead KAL date of Nov. 2. But I think that she would understand that I've been devoting my time to knitting for Kristi's babies. I think that she would also approve of the fact that I finished the third teddy bear tonight even after learning of Kristi's very sad news. I want Baby B to have his teddy.

I also think that she would want me to knit some hats to donate to premature babies on Baby B's behalf. I hope that this will be ok with Kristi. I know that many of us who read her blog were crying today when we heard the news. I don't feel much like blogging tonight. I wish that I could reach out to Kristi across the miles and share her pain.

Ahhh! My KTS2 Spoiler Strikes!

Dear Kelly,

You are one of the craziest most cantankerous orneriest knit bloggers. (And sneaky, did I mention sneaky?)

But that's ok, because I still love ya. :) First you sent me that little teaser of a mug. Just a little hint of all the goodies to come. And then, and then, you sent me this huge box of goodies.

Not just any goodies either. Really tasty goodies like Caramel Twist tea, Spiced Chai tea, Maple Blueberry tea ( in a cute little tin), and this super yummy looking Long Island Strawberry tea. (I can't wait to try it.) Plus the tea infuser, and you must be completely psychic, because I did not have one tea infuser to my name. And it doesn't stop there, because you sent me Walker's shortbread cookies, which I have never tried, and I was wondering how they tasted since they are your favorite. (Yes I WAS reading your blog on a regular basis before you became my swap partner.) Oh and did I mention the funny little leprechaun keychain? I will admit that he scared me at first, but he's growing on me. (Did I mention he sort of leapt out of the box?)

And my goodness, the magnetic notepad, the notecards, and the sticky pads (how did you know that I love those????) are so cute. But were you done? Oh, no. You bought me a candle, and knit me a washclothe(?), and you got me the teeny sock blocker keychain (have you been reading my thoughts? Seriously, I almost bought this last month!). Yet that still wasn't enough, you bought me yarn. Great yarn.

Yarn that I was coveting secretly. Who doesn't want some Fleece Artist? Peter Rabbit Fleece Artist, no less? Is that not perfect? Knitter Bunny, Peter Rabbit. Huh? See where I'm going with this? And the colors of the Pattons SWS and the Peter Rabbit are dead on. Love them. Love them, love them, love them.

I must say, though you are the orneriest, sneakiest, hint droppingest, craziest, most cantankerous swap partner I have ever had (ok, you're the only one, lol), you've got to be the most generous swap partner a little gal in Indiana could hope for. I don't think I need to tell you how much I appreciate your generosity and the time you must have put into this, but I will.

I love you. Do you want to be my sister? I'll gladly give my brother away. ;) Oh, and can I come to Cananda to visit? You know, when it's a little warmer. lol

Gratefully in your debt,

Knitter Bunny

What's Going On?

Well, last week I bought some candles online from my favorite, absolute favorite candle maker, Swan Creek Candles. My beautiful, fragrant, and clean burning candles came in and I have been enjoying them for the last few days. I love them so much I wanted you all to share in the bounty. They are 100% american soy bean wax with lead free wicks and long burning times. Can't say it enough, I love them.

On to other business, in knitting news I have started a second bear for Kristi's Dutchicans. This one will be the same color with a different scarf. I finished the palm of the first lacy glove and knit one and a half fingers. I need to reknit the tip of the first finger though.

I'm going to completely miss the DOTD KAL deadline though. My shawl is still in its beginning stages and in no way will be done by my birthday.

But since its my birthday next week, I'm headed home for a little party on Sat. And I'm not going to leave you all out. I have yarn, yummy yarn, and a contest for my birthday. I'm going to start it sometime this week and end it the day before my birthday. And it will be simple, so simple you'll laugh (and I hope to laugh too.) :)

Wee Knits

One more sweater and a wee little bear finished for Kristi. :)

Sadly, I also had to work on a paper and didn't have time to work on much else today.

Hopefully I'll be able to get one of the lacy gloves finished that I started at the Feast of the Hunter's Moon. Plus, I'm planning a pair of socks for Will. Then again, I need to finish the DOTD KAL shawl and Will's sweater. Looks like I'll be busy for a while. :)

Hope you all had a great weekend, Rhinebeck or no. :)

3 Years Ago Today

I brought home this sad sweet little 10 month old smooth collie mix. His name at the shelter was Christopher. He weighed 28 pounds and was severly underfed.

He was sweet and the only dog at the shelter that didn't bark. He sat patiently in his cage while dogs all around him were yapping. He was well-behaved and wonderful when I took him into the yard. I fell in love with him instantly.

He came home with me that night. And the sad thing is that my wonderful, beautiful puppy was almost euthanized. He was a week away from death when I took him home. To this day I still don't know why he was in the shelter for so long and why no one took him home. He is smart, intelligent, and gentle. He is the perfect dog for me. It must have been fate. :)

First night home and the only toy he has never destroyed.

I love him with all my heart. It was rocky going at first and my mom was totally against my having a dog, but he is her "grand dog" now. I can't imagine life without him.

First Christmas together.

I have great Christmas pictures and fun summer pictures and he has destroyed more frisbees than I can count.

My last room mate giving him a bath this spring.

He hates getting a bath and he barks at the dryers at the groomers.

Beau pretending to be a bird dog in October.

I love all of the quirks, like acting like a hunting dog. Nosing under my hand to get attention and giving me that "why are you sad?" or "you're happy? I'm happy!" look.

Beau this spring.

Beauregarde Hamilton, I love you and all of the laughs we have. Happy Anniversary.

Bunnies!

First off, I'm opening with bunny pictures. Hello bunny butt!

See, I even have a few litters.

Aren't they just cute as little bunny buttons.

And looky here, a nice picture of the scarf.

Plus, a finished Dutchicans sweater! Details can be found at the Dutchicans blog.

I Had A Great Post

Until Blogger ate it twice. I don't feel like fighting to get my pictures up again tonight, but I will recreate my fantastic post and put them up tomorrow. I even had bunnies and a good picture of the scarf and a finished Dutchicans sweater!

I know! Can you believe all of the stuff that I was going to pack into that post???? sigh

I'll just have to get cracking on it tomorrow. Right now I'm too tired to even knit straight, though for some odd reason I can still purl straight. Go figure.

Now **YAWN** I'm off to bed, but I promise bunny pictures and all of that other stuff tomorrow.

Oh, Mom's basket with my scarf sold for $75 at the auction tonight, not too bad eh?

Coincedence? I think not!

****Note to self, remember to check Swap website before posting. My spoiler is so good. She still didn't reveal herself. She's like, super sneaky too because she had this mailed DIRECT from Amy King, which explains my mistake in assuming that my spoiler was Amy. She's almost too good. grumble grumble, all excited, grumble, wrong person, mud on my face, grumble grumble, attribution to the wrong person, grumble grumble. ;)

And you know what else just tips this into the "twilight zone" a little farther??????

I was looking at this exact mug today and debating whether or not to order one. Yeah, I was. How freaky is that?
I was maybe squealing a little bit and jumping up and down with the mug clutched to my bunny loving chest. Just a lot. I might have scared Monica's friend Mike, a little lot.

Man Spoiler, you are good. Truly amazing. Like maybe you're psychic or something. And I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!!

Tiny Tot Sweater Numero Dos

I have the body done, only two sleeves and the neckband to go. Isn't this cute? I love how this little sweater knits up, so easy, and the whole top down thing is amazing! And I haven't used hardly any of the Plymouth Encore. I still have two balls of this that I haven't even touched! So I can make the little ones three differently colored sweaters.
I know this is another crappy picture of the scarf, but I wanted to show you the finished product. The little cables are adorable and I can't believe how much softer this is after a quick bath. I mean, the alpaca silk blend was wonderful before I washed it, but it is so much better
now.

Anyway. I'm hoping to post again tomorrow night, but I have to finish the newsletter and I may not be able to. sigh We'll see. I'm also hoping to finish the Dutchicans sweater. So maybe I can work on the shawl, you know the Day of the Dead KAL shawl, that shawl that I haven't worked on in weeks. sigh

So much to knit, so little time. Do you ever want to just take the day off and do nothing except knit? Do you feel like that every day? Do you get distracted with everything except knitting even when you take the day off to knit? Yeah, me too.

Wanna See What I Do in My "Spare" Time?

Sorry that they are so dark. Inside, fall, early morning, you get the idea.

I even found the fiber bunnies in my walk around the barn.

Plus I finished Josh's socks on Friday night.

I also finished the scarf for Mom's auction, but it's still blocking and I want to try shooting it in the light outside when I might have a shot at a decent picture. Since I only had the curtains (which I'm thinking about ripping out because I was crazy to attempt them in the first place), Will's sweater (I did two rows this weekend, I swear!), the gloves that I started at the Feast of the Hunter's Moon, and my Day of the Dead KAL shawl (which I've given up hope of finishing by Nov. 2) on the needles, I started another baby sweater for the Dutchicans.

I know. I'm a little crazy. I don't care. I would rather finish the sweater for the Dutchicans' than attempt the shawl at the moment. I have a newsletter to edit and polish for the state rabbit club that has to be in to the printer by Oct. 20 and a midterm exam on Oct. 23. I'm going to a costume party on Oct. 21 and Home for an early birthday party on Oct. 28. Plus I'm throwing a shindig for myself on Nov. 4 with my friends and some food and some good movies.

So a busy Knitter Bunny won't be at Rhinebeck. Happily this doesn't mean there won't be yarn. More later on that. ;)

Squee!

My eBay purchases came today. On the one hand I'm sad that the seller was selling part of her stash, but on the other hand. . . SQUEE!

Spunky Eclectic in Toronto Stripe and Bloomin' and Scout's Swag in Appletini

And my stitchmarkers came today too.

Aren't these little stitchmarker tins adorable? And look at how cute these little stitchmarkers are!

Socktoberfest 2006 Stitchmarkers

Plus some Sheepie Stitchmarkers and check out that last stitchmarker.

It's really blurry in this picture, I did my best, but sadly the blur gnome is on the loose again. See there? Right there? Those squiggles? It reads "Kelli~ Knitter Bunny." Personalized stitchmarker. Right there. All for me. sigh So happy.

The Scarf That Won't Be Photographed

I've tried. I really have. It simply does not want to be photographed. I did the best that I could and I'm sorry its so dark.

This is a disappearing cable pattern that I have accidentally on purpose altered as I knit this scarf. I'm thinking of calling it Falling Pathways. This is Alpaca With A Twist Landscapes "Fire Island" a 70% alpaca 30% silk yarn.

Sorry about the short post, I promise longer posts this weekend. Would you all like to see some pictures of the bunny show?

Pretty Fishy

Don't you love this? It's my new knitting needle holder. It's not meant specifically for DPNs, but that's what I bought it for. I love how they all fit in here so snug and happy. Well, except for the ones I'm using that is. :)

I bought this on eBay from Ehwa Aprons in case you're wondering. Very good prices, very nice needle case.

There has also been progress on the Josh socks. Not as much knitting as would have been done though because I've been working on the scarf for Mom. I promise pictures when it's a little farther along.

Off to do some homework and a little knitting. And lucky me! I'm on vacation Friday.

I Know What You Did . . .

Last Thursday. Cheesy I know. :) Mom called me to see how I was feeling as I was sick on Monday and Tuesday. She mentioned that Donya was asking for donations for the professional fraternity auction and Mom didn't know if she wanted to put something in. Cue the good daughter Kelli offering to knit a scarf like I did last year.

So I trucked down to my LYS after work on and perused the shelves looking for a yarn that was "fall" colored. I couldn't find anything that really spoke to me until I saw the Alpaca With A Twist Landscapes in "Fire Island." But wait! I have that yarn at home. No need to buy more.

But if I don't buy anything isn't it a wasted trip to the LYS????? Of course it is. So I bought this instead.

Yummy. 100% Alpaca. 665 yards in black. I had been looking for this yarn after I bought a stash reduction hank off of eBay. It's Prime Alpaca grown in the high Andes of Peru. ( and no, that's not Peru, IN either!) This yarn has been in LYS for months. It's been staring me in the face and I was too dazed by all of the colorful yarns to notice this little piece of heaven.

Now let's skip forward to Saturday night, because I finished the first sock for Josh and started the second. No second sock syndrome here!

This is Knit Picks Memories in "Fly Fishing." Sorry for the dark picture, fall and all that.

And a little birdy told me that she might have gotten her bunny. :) I want a post with pictures!!!!

so tired

so very tired

No more pictures, sorry, forgot to take them even though I had the camera. And yes, it was fun and smoky and hot and there were so many people dressed in period clothing I felt a little frumpy. lol I bought a pocket for my costume and I'm thinking it might travel with me more often, talk about great for walking while knitting. It was great!

I did finish the first sock for Josh and cast on for the next. I'm working on a scarf for Mom for her auction donation and I need to work on my sadly neglected shawl for the Day of the Dead KAL.

I also managed to buy some yummy yarn last week and haven't had a chance to share. I'll do my best to get a picture of it up tomorrow night. I'm on fall break, so no class. I still have to work, but I don't have my Monday night class.

Hope your week starts out well.

To the Feast!

The Feast of the Hunter's Moon that is. :)

I was demonstrating tatting lace today, but I did manage a few pictures. I'm putting a few here on the blog and you can click the link to go to Flickr to see them all.

I also started some lace gloves for the demonstration. Hopefully I'll have more pictures for you tomorrow.

10 Knittery Things

That you may not know about me. (And taking Grumperina's cue) If you knew two or more of these leave me a comment. I'm curious to know if I've put these on the blog and forgotten.

1. I taught myself to knit from a Lionbrand book. It wasn't pretty.

2. I wouldn't buy myself "expensive yarn" (over $5.00 a ball) until I had been knitting and crocheting for two years. What can I say? I can't explain why I was so cheap.

3. I am now something of a yarn snob having subjected myself to cheap ass yarn for the first two years that I knit or crocheted. I don't use acrylic, nylon, fun fur, etc. unless it is a dire emergency like being stuck in the middle of a cornfield with no yarnshop in sight and the only thing I have to knit with is pencils and a sack of Wal-Fart brand "fuzzy fur." Even then I'd almost rather NOT KNIT.

4. I'm not an adventurous knitter. I don't even like most of the trendy patterns (have you seen a clapotis at the bunny ranch? I didn't think so) that are being knit now. I'm stuck in my own little time warp looking for patterns from the good old days like some stylish 40's or 50's era feminine yet assertive knits.

5. Fair Ilse. Remember how I bought this kit and this yarn and I was going to make this Fair Ilse hat and mittens. Still haven't tried it. (You may also remember my goal to try intarsia, Fair Isle, and cabling before the end of the year? Eh, I'm working on it.)

6. I don't really like patterns. I hate carrying around the damn book or the sheets or whatever they're on. I prefer to just know the pattern (or make it up) and go. This has only bit my ass a few times so far. I predict it will continue to do so. (So maybe I cast on for Josh's socks 4 times before I got the correct cast on with the right number of stitches. I only had an inch done the second time before I frogged it.)

7. I don't like to knit for myself. I like to see my handcrafts on others. I love giving presents. Sadly my presents are not always appreciated. (You asked for hunting gloves without the trigger finger. I used MY handspun. I don't care that it wasn't "even" enough for you. DEAL with it. No, wait, you aren't getting any handknits ever again. You don't appreciate my time. cough cough *Brett* cough)

8. I have never used Lorna's Laces, Malabrigo, Koigu, Scout's Swag, Opal, Kid Silk Haze, Regia, or a number of other very well known yarns. Why? I don't know. I buy for other knitters, but I can't seem to buy it for myself.

9. I have what constitutes less than two rubber maid bins of yarn. I am both ashamed and delighted by this. I'm ashamed because it seems like such a small stash. I'm delighted because it seems like such a small stash. (I have this thing with leaving yarn to marinate for too long. Use it or lose it!) This may also be contributed to the fact that I am often compared to Will's mother. Who, in Will's opinion, always has way too much yarn lying around. (The mother load really. Boxes of it. So many boxes even she doesn't know she has those boxes. So many boxes that Will THREW SOME AWAY and she never even noticed. Will is not allowed to touch the stash.)

10. I don't like sheep. There I said it. I don't like sheep, and yet I harbor an unnatural affinity for wool. I also have this sick desire to knit sheep. A lot of sheep. An entire herd of sheep knit from wool to scatter about the house. Why don't I like sheep you ask? Um, I may have grown up around a lot of sheep.

My Socky Beginings

In the spirit of Socktoberfest, I thought I'd answer the sock questions from Lolly for y'all.

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I think we all know about this. lol I failed at creating socks three times before I finally finished my first pair. I first attempted to make socks in August of 2004, but completed my first socks in May of 2006. I taught myself and miserably too. It took seeing all of the great socks that were on the blog sites I frequented that made me want to try again.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My first pair of socks is the pair that I made in May for Monica. They haven't been worn much so they still look pretty good. As for the second pair, they weren't meant for Monica originally.

What would you have done differently?
I'll tell you what, I'd make a DAMN gauge swatch that's what and a good one, not the little bitty one I tried to get by with. ;)

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
I haven't tried too many sock yarns yet. Of the ones I have tried, I have to say that the Sleeping Dragon Yarn is really nice.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
Double Points all the way baby! And five of them too. As for crochet, you can crochet socks?????

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
Hmmmmm. I like the flap heel for some things like baffling the muggles at a rabbit show. For ease of knitting, I would go with the short row. I like not having to pick up stitches. What can I say? I'm a lazy ass knitter sometimes.

How many pairs have you made?
Let's see, two pairs of Monica socks, two pairs of Kelli socks, one pair Dad socks, one pair Mom socks, one pair Grandma socks = 7 pairs so far (did I miss any?)

I'm off to work and planing my next pair of socks. Need socks for the Nephew*.

*Josh is not really my nephew. He just calls me Aunt Kelli because his mom and I look somewhat alike and someone asked if I was her sister. (We are not related, at all. Not one little bit. We all got a kick out of it though.)

Thus I was dubbed Aunt Kelli by Josh and his sister, Jackie. It's fun being a "most favorite and beloved non-biological Aunt." :) Did I mention he has size 12 feet???

Two, Two, Two, Two Gloves

They just kind of grew, you know? I was in to the "zone" last night and didn't stop to blog, but I do have a finished glove to show for it.



Modeled by the lovely Curtis. :) What a sweetie, eh?

Short post again tonight. Promises of a more interesting post over the weekend. ;)

Glove on Parade

That's right, only one. It's my own design because I couldn't find one free on the internet. So its a little wonky, but not too bad. I still have one to do. I'm thinking of posting a pattern once I get the kinks worked out.

And while I'm thinking about it have you seen the colorway that Scout created for Socktoberfest? It is so cool! I am coveting some of this yarn.

I've been a bit under the weather most of the day, so I'm going to make this one short. Have a good evening!

Socktoberfest! October Means Socktoberfest!

And in honor of Socktoberfest I am flashing my entire sock yarn stash (tiny isn't it?).

What yarn do I have you ask? (Ok, you didn't, but I'm sharing anyway.)

In no certain order:
3 skeins of bright blue Sundara yarn (meant for socks for Will)
1 skein of Trekking XL in orange, blue, and white
1 skein of Lionbrand Magic Stripes in purple, black, grey, and white
4 balls of Jojoland sock yarn variegated greens, purples
1 skein bright orange sock yarn (eBay purchase)
2 skeins of Knit Picks Memories in dark green, blue, and tan
2 skeins of Fortissima Sokka in a blue and grey
4 skeins in various colorways from Fearless Fibers (eBay purchase)
1 skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sportweight from that crazy woman Kristi of Red Dog Knits because she felt this insane need to give me yarn since I had the Harlot sign a book for her ;)

She just baffles me at times. :)