Socks and gloves

One more pair completed for the 11 in '11 Knit-along on Ravelry. The pattern was interesting, some beading was involved, but even though I went down a needle size, they came out very large. The designer suggested I block them with emphasis on lengthwise, rather than width, and I shall give that a try.

Another pair of slipper socks completed and number 6 are on the needles. I also started the third pair of the Knit-along mitts.
And then I cast on another one, because I should be designing a few more fingerless gloves for the book proposal, but I am the Queen of procrastination. One pair is off to the tester, yarn and beads provided.
Hope she likes it. The tech editor found some spelling mistakes....oops, that's what happens when you are in a hurry, lol.

I have all these ideas, but I hate putting them on the computer. For me typing up a pattern is torture. Usually programs are not designed to follow MY logic.....so I end up with spaces where I don't want any, half deleted sentences...you get the idea.....I don't know which button I pushed last week, but suddenly everything looked like alien writing. sighs
Going out tonight....watching Nitecrew again and having some fun. I just love to watch people....You wouldn't believe how many of them don't seem to have mirrors at home.

If any of my followers (all 11 of them) would like to be a secret test knitter, drop me a line. Maybe having people lined up will make me work faster.....or not.

Socks, socks and more....socks

What can I say....I test knitted this pattern for a lady on Ravelry and I swear, she put something in the pattern that makes them addictive.
I helped Nici out and knitted a pair for her Mother in law, then my youngest requested some "sunshiny" ones. Enter Michael's Yarn Sale and a 25% off-your-entire-purchase-coupon and you get socks, socks and more socks.
You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/two-movie-slipper-socks
So far I made 4 pairs and pair number 5 is on the needles. It doesn't help that the Charisma Yarn form Loops & Threads comes in absolutely lovely, luscious, gorgeous, scrumptious colors. Easy knit, fast and like I said: addicting.
Give them a try. I bet you can't resist them either. And they make great, inexpensive gifts.
As soon as I figure out what she sprinkled into the pattern, I'll let you know.

So....so....well, see for yourself.

My darling daughter hand spun some yarn. I got her the roving last year from etsy and she made this wonderful yarn out of it. I am even more tickled that I got the first batch! I knitted some fingerless gloves from it (of course, what else?) and thought plain stockinette stitch would show off the yarn best. The photo doesn't really do it justice. Once the weather clears up around here ( about June, I think ) I shall take gorgeous pics of a gorgeous glove. Until then:


I started on the second pair of my 11 pairs in 2011 Knit along. Wonderful lace weight gloves. I kept complaining the whole time that they were too big. Went down a needle size ( now I am knitting with 00; I feel like James Bond) and they are still kinda loose. It would have made for a lot less complaining if SOMEONE would have mentioned that they are knitted from hand to cuff! Sheesh! Now it all makes a lot more sense.
The book proposal is still in the works. Some patterns are currently being test knitted. Secretly of course. In an undisclosed location.
I am hoping that I will get everything sorted by the end of January.
Got off early again from work today. Instead of doing something productive I decided the kitchen needed cleaning. Yay procrastination!
Darling daughter is going out tomorrow and has her younger sister helping her to find the perfect outfit. I'm not sure if I should laugh or worry about this.......

Knit Along!

A new Knit Along in the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics on Ravelry. 11 pairs of FGF's in 2011!! I am loving it! I got the kit for some awesome color work gloves from my daughter Nici for Christmas and I started on 01/01/2011 five minutes after midnight. (My 13-year old says I need a life, but what does she know...).Here's a pic of the first glove finished on 01/03/2011.

They even look cool from the inside! LOL.
I still plan on proposing a book and I am currently working on some patterns.
I had this great idea where I would incorporate beads into the pattern. On the first and third round of a purl stitch that pretty much runs for five rounds in the pattern.
 (Every round does not work. It makes it all bulgy. Ask me how I know..lol)
And the beads showed up wonderfully! On the inside of the glove.....Back to the drawing board.
Test Knitters will be needed. But it will be like a CIA operation. Read pattern, memorize and eat it. No evidence is to be left behind. And if you speak about it, you will disappear. Just like that.

I am also determined to finish the Agatha Cardigan I started last year. Here's a picture.



Now...how did I make that work?
Never mind. I am a lot farther along in the knitting. I ever so gingerly tried it on and it fits perfectly!!!!! I am so excited to finish this one.

I am also participating in another test knit for some long FGF's with the option of knitting fingers. They are really cool and I will post a photo when I have the first one finished.

My friend Cozy Spirit's yarn was on the front page of Etsy!!! That's awesome.
I had quite a few sales last year and already a custom order from a repeat customer. Those are the best. It means you are doing something right.
I bought some awesome yarn from a fellow Etsian last year. You should check her out if you get a chance. Here is the link to her shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/Toplyfiberarts?ref=pr_shop

Please check it out. Her customer service is great and the yarn is so squishy soft and just mmmmmmmh. If you know what I mean. Guess where I will spend part of my next paycheck...lol.
Speaking of work....it is achingly slow at the dentists office. Lots of cancellations, a lot of people have lost their jobs and therefore their insurance.....whole afternoons and days are empty in the schedule.
Sign of the times I guess. I have more time off to do my crafty stuff. Which is nice, but doesn't pay the bills....yet.
Working on that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!!!!
 This will be my Mantra for the year 2011:

Eierlikoer!

Yeah...that's a German thing. It is a liquor made from raw egg yolk, lots of sugar and whipped unsweetened cream. Throw in some evaporated milk and some Everclear and you have yourself a German Christmas tradition.
My daughter helped me find my Mom's recipe, so I made it yesterday. Yum!
I rewarded myself with a small shot glass this afternoon for finishing and casting off the three shawls at a time.
Here is a pic.:







All unblocked of course. The space I usually use is currently occupied by a Christmas Tree, so I have to block them one at a time.
They were really a fun knit and so quick, too. I will definitely make more of these. Here is also a photo of the first one blocking:

I just don't understand why these photos never end up where I would like them in the text. And I dislike it very much when I have to ask my 13-year-old how to do something on the computer.

So I rewarded myself with another little glass after washing the first shawl, and another little one after I got done putting it on the blocking board. :)

My basket with unfinished knitting projects is looking strangely empty now. But I have promised myself not to cast anything new on until the First of the New Year.
I will probably change that, if I get myself another little glass of....well, you know, lol.

Yesterday I saw Nitecrew again, with a different singer (the front girl of the band 4More, don't know her name...). She is pretty amazing.

I wish all of you Happy Holidays (whatever you celebrate) and a Happy New Year. May all your resolutions hold stead fast and be successful.
Thanks for following my antics through the year 2010. See you next year.

What was I thinking???

First some updates on the knitting. Socks for EX are hibernating. Might finish them for Son-in-law. Here is a pic of the three shawls I'm knitting at the same time. I have two repeats finished and have only the border left. Then I have three gifts for ......hmm....whoever pops up that I forgot, I guess.
They are turning out really pretty. I might make more in the future. Maybe four at a time???



The test knit completed for Ravelry's free test knitters has turned out really nice too. I was supposed to knit three repeats of a baby blanket named "Estonian Princess". Designed by http://www.ravelry.com/designers/sami-kaplan FabuKnits. It is really easy. Her patterns are written so perfectly! You can't go wrong. Let's see if I can insert another picture:

I can't believe that actually worked!!! LOL. Usually I have the hardest time adding more than one pic. Hence all the fancy four-split pics.
Anyways......
Now we get to the kicker. I am really going insane. I have requested a proposal package from a well known publisher, because I would like to write a book.
Okay...okay...stop it. You can quit the giggling and snickering at any time now....
I really think I could pull this off, though. Lots of work to be done. I had no idea a proposal is so much work. All the info they need. So I bought a book on how to get your book published. Very good advice and I never thought of it this way: If a publisher spends oodles of money to get your book published, you better make it worth his time. So I'm working on that one. If it all falls into place,  2011 is gonna be MY year. Yes!!!


My friend Jean is trying to set me up with her brother. All the stuff she has told me about him is just awesome, but then again...maybe she's trying to sell him, lol. I will meet him Friday at Starbucks.

Tomorrow I go with Nici and her friends to the Great American Casino again to see NiteCrew. Cool cover band and the keyboard player is cute!

Maggie has two weeks of winter break now and is just devastated, that she will be separated from her best friend for THAT long. Aaaahh, teenagers. I remember it well.

I just volunteered (yes, you read that right) to help Nici with her Christmas knitting list. Damn! I should really lay off the mulled wine.

Testing, testing.....

Aha!!! I knew you were out there! I can hear you breathe!
Anyway....testing a pair of socks which is a "sekrit", because they are considered for publication somewhere. And they don't like to have the design plastered all over the place in advance. Lots of cable-ing involved, but lovely pattern.
I gave my friend Patty the  gloves today that were a mystery knit-along and came out way to big for me. They fit her like a glove (pun intended, lol) and she absolutely loved them. I'm all giddy inside. Here is a pic of the gloves:



I am also in a test knit for a baby blanket (no...NO!!!!! I'm not going to be a Grandma!!!! EVER!!!!). The pattern is based on Estonian lace patterns and just "daahling". I will keep going in pattern and turn it into a lovely wrap. Pictures will be posted when I have more than one repeat.

My "Cable-Lacey's" have been accepted by KnitPicks and the pattern is up for purchase.
The "Five Gables" are in the final consideration stage with a "one-pattern-a-day-calendar" and I am insanely proud of that. They will let me know in January if the pattern has been chosen and on what day the pattern will appear.

In the final testing stages is a new pattern of mine, called "goosebumps. Here's a pic:

I poked a hole in my left index finger today.
My skin is rather dry in the winter and having to wash my hand in my line of work 5000 times a day doesn't really help.
So the skin finally cracked.....lol.
Too much is going on for one post, so I shall update in the next few days.
See ya!