Jenning Streets Yarns again!

Ok, Ok...I went Jenning Streets Yarns the other day. I couldn't help it. I really love the shop, the prices are very reasonable and Linda is just so gosh darn friendly! I remembered some Navajo Yarn there and have this Sante Fe Ruana pattern I think would be fantastic together. Sooo, here the start...yes, another project. The Navajo yarn is Churro. I really love the feel of it. It also has a great sheen. Can you believe only $8.96 for 190 yds? It's hand spun, hand dyed, and knits like a dream. If your ever in Fort Worth, you just have to visit Linda. She's awesome. She did, as always, bent over backwards to help me my selection, laying all the different colors out for me to compare, and helped me decide on what colors would look good together. (The photo colors are a bit distorted.) She's never pushy, just helpful. She even happily wound every skein without my asking, then wrapped my purchase carefully in tissue. It really impresses me that she is friendly to my rambunctious 18 month old grandson. While we don't let him throw yarn balls around, he's still quite loud and full of life. She amused him with peekaboo as she happily wound my yarn. He really likes her. You know, my dad always told me that if a baby likes someone, they're usually pretty good people.

Anyway, the Sweet Dreams Throw continues to grow. I have the first of five rows well on its way, about 3 feet long. It's so soft, Aidan loves to pet it. I have a feeling the little guy is going to rob me of it when it's done. He loves soft cuddly things. Anyway, I'm liking the Fibonacci Number Twist. I decided on combinations totaling 34, which can be 34. 13,21. 13,8,13. for the

color changes. That's clear as mud, right. I'll put it in more detail after I finish. I can see it in my head, and I think it will be exactly as I imagine. (Yes, I'm different...always have been.) The throw is my mindless knitting thing. It goes with me when I go out and know I'll have somewhere to wait. It parks beside me when I'm trying to knit and watch tv. I'm alternating between the 3 projects so I work on all projects every week. Mostly on my nights off. It's nearly 4:30 am, and I am wide awake! (Forever stuck on night shift!) I'm still working on the Mohair shawl as well. I figure to give it a serious workout tommorrow night if I don't get called in.

Went to Joe's Crab Shack today with 2 of my girls. The bucket of crab actually looks like what they advertise on TV. It was really yummy. We also got to watch them dance to Carwash. Dinner and a show...

Mohair Fan and Feather Stole update.

Well, the Mohair Fan and Feather Stole suffered a bit of a set back. I lost count of the rows and just about frogged the whole thing. Yeah, Yeah...patience is virtue. The person that came up with that didn't try to frog back 5 rows of Mohair and then figure out just where the heck in the pattern your at. I was mad at it and refused to pick it back up until today. Now thanks to a chart I made on graph paper, I now check off the rows and know just where I'm at. I'm normally not such a scatter brain, but then there's Aidan... In the first picture you'll notice Aidan is wearing said stole in Superbaby fashion. While I'll admit originally it was Nana's idea, well, he liked wearing it and didn't want to give it back. Notice the disgruntled look on his face as Nana is begging him to let her have it back now! Anyway , I can now keep up with it better thanks to the chart, especially with a 17 month old who interupts my knitting everyso often for various requests. (He thinks Nana should focus on him and his new truck!)

I still think the mohair is strange stuff. It feels and looks more dense than what you would think from the skinny little thread nestled inside of all that fuzz. It just amazes me. It's now finally back on track and growing. I'm half way through the second ball of yarn now and by the time it's finished, it'll be about 70 inches x 24 inches. Not a bad size for a stole. It'll be for a gift, if I can part myself from it!

Aidan's first Playdate and Fibonacci.

Yesterday was Aidan's first official playdate with a group from Meetup.com. Oh the fun he had! It was at a waterpark in Arlington. He was a bit scared at first, but after a while, he was running with all the other kids. Now just look at that little face! He had so much fun! I have enjoyed my vacation time with him. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than spend it with my Aidan. Yes,

Aidan and knitting...the perfect vacation!

Nana took the time to knit on her Sweet Dreams Throw with the Fibonacci Numbers variation. Ah Fibonacci! I can't make up my mind if he was truly a genius, or maybe just neurotic. I'm using the Fibonacci numbers 5,8,13,21,34,&55 for the color changes. Now comes the big decision ... randon or patterned. That's still in the deciding stage. I love knitting this though. No pattern changes, just plain ole mindless knitting. Knitting the throw in longs strips makes it totally portable to playdates. I'm using Knit Picks Suri Dream, and it's really a dream to knit with. So soft, so light. It's so cuddly. Knit Picks really out did theirselves with this yarn. I'll wait until it grows a bit more to post a pic.

Clapotis...It's finished, really finished!

It's finished, finally! 2 months in the making...TAAA DAAA! My clapotis in Tonalita ! Yeah! I love it! The nurses at work are trying to talk me out of my clapotis. One even wants to borrow it to take to Lake Tahoe....are you nuts? See all those stitches? No Way! It's snuggly, soft and I love wearing it late at night when it gets a bit chilly on CV ICU! Now to finish the Mohair Feather and Fan shawl! Next project I'm casting on...my kimono top in Cherry Hill!

WoooHooo!

Oh gee, I started yet another project!

See the pretty Baywood Hand dyed yarn Joanne from Baywood Yarns sent me for doing a survey? Isn't it pretty? And it's sooooo very soft. I choose the color for Aidan, my grandson. I thought I'd make him some socks and maybe a cap. Yeah, you know what I did. I couldn't stand it and cast on last night. I have a mystery light shawl clue 1 to start too! Yikes, I am simply going to have to knit faster.

But in my defense is a pic of Aidan at the park today. Now who couldn't resist knitting this darling little boy a pair of socks and a cap? Not this Nana, he's my boy!

And thus far the Baywood yarn is really knitting up nice! I've got it on 2 size 1 circs. The colorchanges are soft and muted, and I'm definitely going to have to order some more from her.

Well, eventually I'll be posting some complete projects. I'm knitting as fast as I can!

Mohair Fan and Feather Stole started.

Ok, I found a neat pattern in Knit Picks for the Fan and Feather Stole for the mohair I bought at Jennings Street Yarns. Nice this is really a nice easy pattern! Only one row you really have to think about. The 1st,2nd,and 4th row is either knit or purl straight across. The 3rd row that you have to think about is really an easy pattern that you can remember without carrying the instructions around. What do you think? I love, love the colors. Is it for me, or shall I gift it? I'm hoping I have enough yarn to do two maybe? I love fuzzy Mohair, it's soooo pretty! I have some Suri dreams from knit picks that almost looks like mohair, but much softer. I'm thinking about doing an afghan in the same pattern for my bed. I love knitting, so many yarns, so many patterns!

Ok, I'm am neglecting my Clapotis. But only a little. See, it's growing! I'm a Gemini, I get bored easy. Ahh, but I'll finish it, I am determined! I know I'm not the only one with a pile of ufo's, from what I understand, it's part of the knitting disease. UFOs, growing yarn stash. Yes, I am becoming a knitting addict!

Ok, so I'm fickle!

Ok, regarding the Mystic Light KAL and my yarn choice. To your left, my swatch in Bamboo. I went down a needle size and I'm really loving how it looks. To your right, my yummy mohair I just purchased. Well, I love the way the drop stiches look in mohair, the fuzziness of it all, but I wasn't happy with the way the cables turned out. The cables get lost in the fuzz. Notice they are in the same colorway? Yeah, I am a creature of habit. I really love the colors. Anyway, after buying all that mohair, I love the bamboo after all. Will I return the Mohair? No way! I really love it and I will just find something else to do with it. I have 720 yards of it, I'll figure out something! Something lacy, and definitely a shawl. Anyone with a good idea, let me know.

This KAL has really been a challenge. I'm learning to read a chart, and this is my first cable stitch ever! Notice I didn't say how many times I frogged it? Let's just say it was a few times and leave it at that. For the shawl, I am definitely using a bunch of life lines. (Also why I'm not using the mohair, I've discovered Mohair is not frog friendly.) I'm not a real experienced knitter I admit, but no guts, no glory. I am determined to complete this KAL!

Yarn Snob?

Oh, Oh! There, I said it! Yarn snob! Now just how did this happen? Me who abhores above all, snobbiness? I pride myself on practicality, and simpleness. You won't find diamonds and jewels in my jewelry box. I drive a Nissan Frontier,(Yes, if I find a steal at a yardsale...no problemo!) I usually dress in jeans and a tshirt, but I do have some dressier shirts if needed. Most of my wardrope consists of scrubs. But there I was at Hobby Lobby, sticking my nose up at...cringe...
acrylic yarn.

Ok, here is what instigated it. I'm on the Yahoo group for the Mystic Light Shawl. I had some Bamboo yarn that I thought would be lovely, but didn't necessarily love the swatch I made. So off to Hobby Lobby because the LYS is not open. Um-hmm. The only fingering weight yarn I find is either acrylic or cotton. Not what I had in mind. No to dis any advid acrylic yarn lovers out there. I have a store bought acrylic sweater I wear constantly and it's like a timex, takes a licken and keeps on ticken. In all due fairness to me, could anything feel nicer than knitting with a nice Alpaca wool or that special yarn with a bit of silk? Do we not pain stakingly look for that all so special yarn to take home that we ooooo and ahhhh over, petting it gently?

Yeah, I was at the LYS as soon as I woke up today. Got there just at closing time. I really love Jenning's Street Yarn! Now you talk about falling over yourself to help you find the perfect yarn! They truly understand, it's not just a yarn purchase, it's an investment in perfection/love. Linda took the time to find out what I wanted and what for, my color preferences and tastes. She poured over all the possibilities and patiently allowed me to make my choice. She didn't just try to rush me out the door, or try to sell me the most expensive thing there. She was more concerned I loved my selection, and even did a project cost comparison of the different yarns I was interested in without my having to ask. Hey now, that's service! They are even patient with my over active grandson. No, you just don't get that kind of service at Hobby Lobby, now do you? Nor do they lovingly wrap your yarn in tissue. I love this shop! They have a little knit together every 3rd Sunday too. I've went once and plan to keep going. Someday when my schedule at work straightens out, I'd love to take some classes too. (No, Linda didn't pay me for this ad. They just really give great service.) There are other nice shops around me too, but this one is just extra special. I can go there in my jeans and tshirt, no make up and yeah...basically a mess, and get the same treatment I'd get if I went in all decked out. (Just because I look dirt poor doesn't mean I don't have yarn money!)

Back to the point, I purchased a yummy Mohair, fingering weight yarn that, surprise, is the same basic colors of my bamboo yarn that I love. I am now knitting the swatch, and I love it! Wow, my first experience with Mohair. I never knew! And hey, I was thinking maybe a shell with bamboo yarn with a matching Mohair shawl! They colorways are that close!

Doesn't anything beat the perfect yarn? I don't think so...well, besides my grandson Aidan. Nothing beats him!

Past completed objects.

I thought I'd post some my other complete projects. First is Aidan in his bamboo yarn hat and booties.

Then there is his strawberry hat. It doesn't fit anymore either, but I have it put up to show him someday! I'm thinking about doing him a meathead cap. (Looks cuter than it sounds.)

So far I'm still working on my clapotis. I'm on the 7th repeat of the straight rows. I'm also knitting some hand dyed yarn for a needle case for my Harmony double points.

I bought some Bare bulky weight from Knit Picks and some Jacquard Acid dye. And used the instructions from this blogspot:

http://spinningathena.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-dye-wool-and-not-have-it-end-up.html

And this is what I got. I love it! And it was so much fun, I bought enough yarn for my daughters to dye. Check out my daughter's yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home_and_hearth/

Anyway, I plan to felt my needlecase and am basically following the pattern in the book, Fabulous Felted Hand Knits by Jane Davis; knitting needles case on page 72.

I can't wait to post the finished product! I think once felted, the colors will tone down some. If not, I still love it.

Well, that clapotis isn't going to knit itself, now is it?

Clapotis

Ok, I know the clapotis pattern has been out quite awhile, but let's just say it's new to me. I am really enjoying this one. I knit like crazy so I can get to the drop stitch row. There is just something very satisfying about dropping that stitch on purpase! I'm using Trendsetter Tonalita, and I really enjoy knitting with this yarn. I love watching all the rows of color as I knit along. Got the yarn at Jenning's Street Yarns.

I just got my Knit Picks Harmony set in! Woo Hoo! You know, the pics just don't do them justice at all! They are beautiful, and so smooth. The points nice and sharp. I ordered two sets, plus two of the 15 & 17. I also ordered the double points. (Yes, I splurged big time!) But it's the last set I'll ever have to buy, so I felt it was well worth it. I have the Options set, and already love them. I don't really knit with anything else.

I also got some new yarn. First up in Cherry Hill Oceania in Country Garden. Yummy! I want to either knit a lace shawl or the Fan kimono pattern in Vicki Square's book, Knit Kimono. (I'm half japanese and have a kimono fetish!)

I also got some Knit Picks Suri Dream in Hand dyed Wildflowers. It's soooo soft and cuddly! I got it because I thought it was pretty, and it has surpased my expectations! I love Knit Picks, can you tell?

And my last show and tell is my Fibranatura Oak in Icee. It's really soft to the touch too. This maybe for a present, so I'm not telling. I purchased this yarn at Jenning's Street Yarns, the best yarn shop in Fort Worth!

Well, off to work on my clapotis, and then to start Aidan's jacket sleeves.