Thanksgiving redux

Yes, it's almost Christmas, which means it's time for me to post a few photos from Thanksgiving! I got onto a plane and flew down to Florida to see all the relatives on my birthday and was *pleasantly* surprised with quite warm weather, it was much warmer than it had been in Atlanta and I really enjoyed my stay!



We had an ice cream social with all of my family - and this was my cake!



And here's the family!



This is me and my grandmother - she looks pretty good for 92!!



and me and my great-aunt Irene - she's only 90!

They're the main reason for the Florida trip.... I've been traveling to see the grands over Thanksgiving for quite some time now, except for last year when I went home to see the new parental homestead, but it's important to keep in touch with the family! I have the best relationship with everyone and I like to say my family IS crazy, but in the best kind of way possible!

It's been a long summer.

It's been a long, long summer - almost too much to talk about really. Lots of icky personal drama which is resolving itself now, the biggest thing is that my hours got cut back at Dad's Garage, so now I'm only doing the book-keeping (which is fun - really!) but it's not cutting paying the bills... and with the economy being the way it is, I've not had any luck finding a new job and I'm still looking.

Anyway, there has been some knitting, but with the depressing summer, not very much... I did go into Knitch the other day and had knitting group with everyone which was lots of fun. Regan (evilsciencechick) was there showing off a cute hat that was too small for her - somehow it landed on my head, and all of a sudden I have a cute new hat!!



Also, you might note, I am wearing a shrug I knit this summer - the Dream in Color Classy Shrug - I used Knit1Crochet2 Temptation, so it was a stash-buster for me...

This past week has been a busy knitting one for me - I've knit a pair of Fetchings for my grandmother and I do have to knit another pair for my great-aunt Irene.



They live in the same assisted living facility and I'm going to knit exactly the same ones for auntie Irene.... so they won't be jealous of each others' presents!

Also, I cast-off a baby surprise jacket last night. It does still need to be seamed up, but I've a photo of it:



I do have to knit another one of these as well - they're commissioned works and I need to finish them up....

Lots of knitting to be done before Christmas - I need to knit up some presents for the family, but my plan is hopefully to have some quick knits and I'll get them done in time....

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be keeping the blog updated in a more regular fashion. Talk to you soon!

Lacking photos... but Finished Objects!

OK - I DO have finished objects (yes... that's PLURAL!) for you... but I am lacking photos, because technically... they're not blocked... but the knitting is finished and all the ends are woven in and everything!

FO #1 - Marina out of the "Noro Joy" book by Jane Ellison. Very easy knit - took 3 skeins of Noro Taiyo - I used the color #6... super fancy colorway names! And it's a cute vest with 4 buttons... I did not swatch, cause I live on the edge (and I've lost 12 pounds), so it's a bit big... I am hoping that blocking will help it out a bit otherwise I may have to start over. I am OK with this. This is my first project with major seams, so I took it into Knitch on Monday and the super-fabulous Marissa helped me out with it - and I bought 4 small black buttons that still need to be attached. :)

FO #2 - Cropped Cardi by Blue Sky Alpacas (Amy O'Neill Houck designed the pattern). I bought the pattern from Knitch on Sunday cause I've been ogling their shop sample. Also I had 15 skeins of a magenta-pink sport weight in my stash that was originally going to be a sweater, but it's been marinating in the stash for a while, and I figured this would be a good thing to knit. The pattern used the sport weight DOUBLED and it's knit for the most part on size 11 needles. This is a SUPER easy project! I started it on Sunday night when faced with the seaming challenge of Marina and I finished it last night! I totally could have finished it on Wednesday night but got sucked into reading Ravelry forums which totally slowed down the knitting. There is actually NO photo for this at all because the knitting went so quickly. I do need to buy a large button for it and perhaps crochet a loop to hold it closed, but it's really cute and I do need to have a photo taken... maybe that will happen on Sunday during knitting :)

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend! I am working today and tomorrow, but it's been quiet here so far today!

FO's - no pictures...

OK - So I've finally finished a few things, and because I am SUPER lazy, I took no pictures, maybe tomorrow... I just got excited about finishing things off!

Finished - the everlasting bagstopper! Super easy summer knit.... I sewed in the ends and then drawstringed the ribbon... I like the ease of drawstrings and couldn't find my sewing thread, so I took the easy way out! The knitting has been finished for a while, and I couldn't stand it looking at me 95% finished, so I finished it off tonight!

Also finished - 1 Azure sock (pattern from Knitty)... knit out of Panda Silk, this one lonely sock is a shop sample for Knitch. If I can't make it by tomorrow, I know I'll be by there on Sunday for knitting, and I'll take it with me then. No modifications and it's pretty cute. Not sure if it was the best match between the pattern and the yarn, but gosh darn it - it's finished! Ends woven in and everything.

I also spent a good 2 hours on the phone with my mom giving her a good intro to Ravelry (she's FairSea02 over there)... she's had an account there, but got a new job in late winter/early spring and hadn't had any time to do anything there, so we got a project entered and went here and there and I think she may have even joined a group or two! By the time we were finished I was pretty tired, but obviously, I still had enough energy to get some things out of the way....

Also I must say that my thoughts are with Claudia (BavGirl on ravelry) this week... she had been working in Germany and found out her husband had a heart attack and passed, and had to come home to take care of everything. I cannot imagine her grief during this time... she did post that she's still not quite sure what the final plans are going to be, she's waiting for some of his family to arrive to make the final details. Claudia, my thoughts are with you.

Surprise Sunday Post!

Hey there... I did really mean to post the other day, but Leslye came home on Friday and she's feeling so much better now. Also, we've had a very busy week at the theatre and I did start exercising so I've been a bit tired! But, true to form, I went to the sunday knitting group at Knitch and made some progress.... and a couple of purchases!

First off - I'm knitting Marina out of the new Noro book "Joy"



Don't you like it? I'm using the yarn called for - noro Taiyo, color 6. How do you like my swatch? Just kidding, I finished up the back, and cast on for the left front and knit about 3 rows before we all had to leave. But before we left, I did buy 2 skeins of yarn....... what can I say? They CALLED to me!



A skein of Saucy superwash in the color "Marinara".... and....



Yep - Handmaiden Casbah in Blackberry...

yummy!

Mom socks photo!

Yep - mom knit socks.... and then sent them to me to let me know she was thinking of me! And they're my favorite color! PINK!

That's all I know about them - so if you can identify the yarn or anything, let me know!

Because last week didn't suck at all...

My blogless room-mate Leslye shattered her right kneecap tonight at our opening night of the World Premiere of "Song of the Living Dead: The Musical".... and had to be taken to the hospital right after intermission... (the show went really well otherwise - we were totally sold out, it was awesome, and the audience JUMPED to their feet for a standing ovation at the end of the show.)

Anyone want to sage my house??

But on the other hand.... my mom sent me some "thinking of you socks" for all my troubles last week... I don't have a picture yet, but hopefully tomorrow, I'll get one... or maybe two and post them.

On the other hand... or perhaps foot... I do have a FO for you...



Pattern: Ampersand
Yarn: Socks that Rock - mediumweight in Eggplanted for a shop sample for KNITCH!
Magic Loop on Addi size 3's.

Offhand I can't remember anything else, I may have to check my notes. It was a super quick knit and an easy pattern - I may have to make a pair for me someday.

OK - now I'm done.... must off to bed - there's work to go to tomorrow.

GO ZOMBIES!!

Home again

Jiggity jig..... Home again after a weekend in Charlotte! Bought some yarn, meet some peeps and had a restful time. Aimee was kind enough to take a picture of me and my finished Clapotis, so here's a picture for you!



YAY! Brooks Farm Four Play in Gingerly... 3.1 skeins. YAY.

And now back to watching Deadliest Catch!

A no good very bad week

Such is my life this week... so much more than 1 monday, definitely a weeks worth or more shoved into a very small time period. I am single after almost a year, but I have the very best of friends. My roommate called out for Shrimp Fried Rice when I came home crying - and when I got to knitting on Thursday night, there were cupcakes and wine waiting for me!



That's the remains of the second cupcake and the second glass of wine I had - before I had to go back to work. I would have pictures of finished objects for you - cause I started out this week finishing up 2 projects and binding off a third - but life has interfered and I'm driving up to Charlotte to see Aimee who conspired with Kim of Knitch fame to shore up my sagging spirits with sugar and wine.

Friday FO and shop sample knitting!

As promised, I have a FO to show off to you - and I don't want to hear anything about where the other one is, there definitely has been a serious lack of FO's here at OliviaKnits. I am happy to have finished 1 sock, much less a whole pair! And at the same time, this is something off of my Mission Possible 2008 list so I feel like I've been accomplishing SOMETHING recently!



Pattern: Elfine Socks by Anna Bell (free pattern!!)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Pale Pink (1 skein per sock), leftovers, yes, but I haven't weighed it yet.
Needles: Addi Turbo size 1's... Magic Loop (called for by pattern)
Notes: This pattern was actually my second pair of Toe-Up's. The pattern calls for Magic Loop as well and a short row heel. I put the sock down sometime last year, so this one has been in my WIP's for quite some time. I can see the change in gauge from my knitting from last year, so when I cast on the second, I'm probably going to have to do the foot using 0's, and move up to 1's when I get past the heel.

And on to the next thing! I was at Knitch last night, for the Thursday night group and Kim had some new yarn that she needed shop samples knit up from and since I have nothing else to knit on (wink, wink) I picked up 2 skeins of yarn. Both are sock yarn and Kim said she didn't care what pattern was used as long as it was a free pattern. So I have some quick thinking to do, cause I'd like to cast on at least one sock perhaps even today! But that's not really what you guys want to see is it - you want to see pictures of the yarn don't you??



Any guesses?? OK - here they are!



Panda Silk by Crystal Palace

AND!!!!!



Yep - Socks that Rock! Eggplanted is the colorway!

They sent her a box this week with all different types of yarn, and Kim let me grab this one to knit up a sample for the store! I can't wait! Kim said she placed a HUGE order, but it hasn't arrived yet.... there goes the yarn diet!

WIP Wednesday

Hey there,
I thought I would try and keep up with the WIP... and maybe by Friday I'll have something that's finished to show you, but I make no promises at all.



This is the Everlasting Bagstopper - pattern off of Knitty.com.... No progress since this photo, but it's coming along very nicely. I'm knitting it using Peaches & Creme instead of the hemp yarn called for, but as this project for me is a stashbuster, that's what I had. The yarn is white, but I couldn't get a decent picture with a flash, so I had to leave the flash off.



This is the April sweater of the month from Knitch, my LYS... I bought the yarn, Manos silk, and the pattern came free. It's a top down raglan, with the top part of the bodice being a lacy stitch. The jury is still out on this one, I'm finally getting a hang of the pattern, but we'll see... I have made a couple of small mistakes, that I might have to start over, but I've got to think about it a bit more.

Mainly what I've been working on is my Elfine socks. I picked them back up again this past week and have been making quite a bit of (photoless) progress on the first sock. I am thinking I may do ONE more pattern repeat and then do an inch of 1x1 ribbing and be done. The original pattern has 2-3 rows of garter stitch as the bind off, but I think I do like the ribbing on the top of socks much better. I do promise if I finish up the first sock to make sure I get a picture of it for you.

Until next time!

Random Photo Monday

Some pictures I took recently and thought I'd share with you!



Teddy drinking out of terlet in my bathroom.... he was a cute kitten and somewhere in the past year has grown incredibly!



A purple Iris from a couple of weeks ago - all the flowers are gone now on my irises... but they sure were pretty!



And finally - one of my amaryllis... these still have blooms on them, but they're definitely at the end of their run, but I do have a few more around the yard, and some of the other ones are bloom later than these ones.

Negative Progress

I declare today to be "negative progress day". I tried to finish off my clapotis last night only to realize that I did not have enough yarn. I might need 15 yards to finish it, so when I left today to go knit at Knitch, I left the clapotis in Time Out! Then while I was at Knitch, I frogged my Wicked sweater - I lost the pattern and I wasn't too happy with it... and I had begun a sock, but wasn't happy with it either and frogged that as well.

You win some, you lose some.

The return to blogistan

Hello there and sorry for the very long delay! I wish I could tell you how exciting my life has been these past 2 months, but I would really be making it all up. I went to Pittsburgh for my Great-Aunt's 90th birthday and took a few pictures, but they're still loaded on the camera.... and then I kind of fell into a super-funk. I'm really not sure what did it either, it might have been the 4 skeins of sock yarn I took with me to keep me busy (instead they just mocked me and stole my mojo) or it could have been the weather, I'm just not sure. Things have taken a turn for the better - spring has sprung and things are blooming, and I am no longer forced to blog from my office! My old laptop decided to start slowing down, and my dad decided to take pity on me and bought me a "new" (reconditioned) MacBook... so I am actually blogging from my knitting room! I am hoping that this will help me to blog a bit more often....

Talk to you soon!

FO Wednesday??

OK - I'm going to go ahead and post my FO today instead of waiting until Friday! Mainly because I'll be travelling up to Pittsburgh for the weekend - it's my great-aunt Irene's 90th birthday on Saturday and we gotta have a party!! And on with the knitting!

New Socks!



Pattern: Southwest Socks by Wendy Johnson (free pattern on the Loopy Ewe website!)
Yarn: Fiesta Boomerang in Plum Pudding
Needles: Addi 2 (40inch)
Mods: Magic loop instead of DPN's - but otherwise no mods.
Notes: Great pattern - well written.... and a SUPER fast knit. I cast these on last week Monday and finished both socks by very late this Monday! I'm going to take them with me up to PGH - as it's supposed to be quite cold up there this weekend...

Also - new YARN!



Yarn: Toasty by Numma Numma
Color: Brunch for Beth
Bought at LYS - Needle Nook in Atlanta.
Notes: Needle Nook is sponsoring a joint sock contest with Numma Numma. Buy a skein of sock yarn AT Needle Nook and design a sock before 7/4/08 - all contestants will win copies of all entered patterns and the grand prize winner also receives 4 skeins of sock yarn! (that's the overview of the contest - I can get you more info if you all are interested!) This means I'm actually diving off the deep end and going to try and design my very first sock! YAY (I'm terrified!) Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Have a great weekend! I hope to post next week and give you all an update on the family - as well as the traveling knitting!

FO Friday - one day late....

Sorry! I totally meant to do this yesterday and somehow time just kept creeping away from me... and then of course - today there were meetings... and more meetings...

But I do have a couple of new things to show you!!!



That's right - NEW SOCKS!!
Pattern: Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks from "New Pathways for Sock Knitters" by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Mediumweight in Fairgrounds (this was part of the BMFA Sock Club 2006 - I didn't care for the pattern and so it marinated in the stash... but funny enough - that pattern ALSO used Linen Stitch to show of the variegations!)
Needle: Size 2 for the cuff - and the rest Size 1 Addi Turbos
Mods: Standard Toe instead of Whirlpool Toe - otherwise no mods
Notes: I am finding the heel a bit strange - with the new "pathways" and all - I am beginning to think I may have knit the length of the foot a teeny bit too short, but I wore them on Wednesday and they are a really great sock!



And a Calorimetry for you as well...
Pattern: Calorimetry from Knitty.com
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Velvet Grape (leftovers from the sunflower tam)
Needles: Denise 6
Mods: Knit on smaller needles with worsted yarn - haven't put on the button yet...

That's it for the week - had a bit of an off morning this morning, but all seems better now :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

WIP Wednesday

OK - I actually started 2 things on Monday and I've got pictures for you (can you believe it?)

First up:



Double-Knot Cable Scarf by Dawn Brocco - I bought this as a kit off her website in 2005 sometime and decided to drag it out and get working on it as scarf season is almost over! The yarn is from her line and is a Targhee Wool and the color is called "Cyclamen Pink" and yes - it really is that color.... And as you can see, I haven't really gotten that far into it yet.... but I'll drag it around with me until it's done!

The second is...


These are the "Southwest Socks" pattern by WendyKnits - I found it as a free pattern on the Loopy Ewe website - (fantastic place to buy Sock Yarn - if you go there, let Sheri know I sent you!!!!) and the nice thing about these socks is that they're knit out of Fiesta Boomerang - which is a sport weight.... so they're a pretty quick knit! Maybe I'll have a new pair of socks to take with me to Pittsburgh next week :)

And if I can remember, I'll post a couple of FO pictures on Friday!!!

ETA: new FO pictures - not going to finish these socks by Friday!!

FO Friday

Alright - I know I left you with a teaser on the last FO friday - but I remembered I didn't want to spoil the surprise....

But the gift has been given - so I can totally share with you now!



(sorry for the bad picture!)
Pattern: Manly Socks
Yarn: Brooks Farm Acero - color MA41 (variegated blues)
For: Eric!
Size: 12ish
Mods - Magic Loop
Started - December 1st-ish and finished Feb. 10th or so, although the bulk of the second sock went by *really* quickly (for once!).

And one more:



Pattern: Dashing (Knitty)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Quattro (blues again)
For: Eric!
Size: Large
Mods: Size 6 needles and magic loop - also subbed the 220 for the called for yarn and all worked fine - knit both in less than 24 hours! So it's a super quick knit! I may have to make some for me as well!

And a picture I really meant to post last week - but this is a photo of the beautiful flowers I got for Valentine's Day!

WIP Wednesday

OK - here it is! I'm working on a pair of 'Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks' out of the new Cat Bordhi book.... and I really can't wait to put them on for the first time.... garrrr...



or perhaps you might want a closer look??

m3.static.flickr.com/2380/2264167324

linen stitch is nice - isn't it?

And just to prove I don't knit all the time.... a photo I took of our "Fun Day" - hiking up Kennesaw Mountain on Tuesday....



That's Lena, Amber (Linnea right behind her), Jamie (standing) and Tim (sitting).... I took this right before I passed out from not being able to breathe!!!!

More pictures on Friday - I have a FO to show you!

WIP Wednesday

OK - I do have a few things on the needles this week.



I did this on Sunday/Monday - all I need to do is sew the two sides together and felt it (and then put in the zipper) and I'll be done with it! A cute and very quick project! Also - it's my very first fair isle! I highly recommend something feltable as your first, so you can felt out any mistakes - but here's a shot of the back side. Not too bad if I do say so myself!



I am also working on a pair of socks (OK - just the first one currently!) out of Cat Bordhi's new sock book - "New Pathways for Sock Knitters". It's the Bartholomew's Tantalizing Sock pattern and it's going along pretty well. I don't have a progress shot, but I do have a shot of the yarn I'm using.... It's 'Fairgrounds' by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I got it in the sock club from 2006 - and I didn't really like the pattern that came with it - it was basically an ankle sock, and I'm just not a big fan - but the funny thing is that the original pattern uses the linen stitch and so does the pattern from Cat Bordhi!

FO Friday

YAY! More Finished Objects! But first off - a photo from last week - Leslye's Hedera's!



Pattern: Hedera by Cookie A. from Knitty
Yarn: Pagewood Farms Sock Yarn in "Meadow" bought at Purl's Emporium in Asheville, NC
For: Leslye of course!
Started November 2007 and Finished January 2008
Mods: Knit by Magic Loop instead of DPN's - otherwise no modifications!

And for this week - my first adult sized sweater!



Pattern: Back to School U-Neck Vest from "Fitted Knits" by Stephanie Japel
Yarn: Cascade 220 Tweed - Pewter
For: Me!
Started October? 2007 (may have been September) and Finished January 2008
Mods: None!

I finished this on Sunday after knitting frantically all afternoon at Knitch. I think I may have actually tried it on 6 times in 4 hours - just to make sure! All in all, this was a very easy knit - even as a first sweater. It's knit in the round up to the armholes - and having no sleeves, the only seams are at the tops of the shoulders.

And - one last photo for you all. Taken a day or two after it snowed last time... I think you may like the..... SNOW CAT!!

FO Friday

Well, I finally finished Leslye's Hedera's and she loves them bunches! I did actually take pictures, but of course, they're still ON the camera... ooops! In other news, I have been knitting pretty industriously on my u-neck vest from fitted knits and unless things go awry, I may actually even finish it this weekend! Then onto the second sock for E., and then who knows....

I did join the Mission Possible 2008 group on ravelry, and once I finish the vest, I'll actually have knocked out 3 of the 12 projects! With MP2008, you list 12 projects that you want to try and finish by 12/31/08... so I feel pretty good so far with my list, although it did take me a week or two to figure it out....

Here's a picture I owe you guys of E's Fuzzy Feet - in action!



Not exactly the best picture ever, but he loves them!

Snow Day!!

Oh my goodness - I thought things got crazy here when it rained - but apparently that's nothing compared to when it snows! E. said something about "water-soluble intelligence" when we spoke and he's definitely right about that! And just to prove it - a picture:



This is at work at probably 4:30 or so - and as of right now, it's still snowing... they're predicting rain for the morning, so it won't last, but I'll enjoy it for the evening.

And a work in progress photo for you of the Hedera's. I cast on the second sock probably Thursday or Friday and picked up the gusset stitches yesterday - it's amazing the knitting you can do when you're actually PAST your deadline!



And one last photo - a very belated one of E's fuzzy feet.... I am happy to say he wears them all the time! I may even have to knit some for me!



And - Friday even more pictures.... I can't believe it either!

FO Friday

OK - I meant to post on Wednesday but work exploded all over me and kind of disrupted that idea... but since I am posting today - I also present actual photographic proof! Go me!



I give you ONE finished Manly Sock. I know it's not a pair - but at least one is finished, right? And this would be the other thing that exploded onto me. I finished this one up, kitchenered the toe and then realized I wasn't going to have enough to finish the second one. Luckily, I called Brooks Farm and they actually had ONE more skein of this yarn and as of this morning it *should* be on it's way to me.... and if not today then I'm sure they'll send it out on Monday.

Also:



Some finished washcloths! All from the Mason-Dixon Knitting Book - I actually worked on these probably about a year ago and NEVER wove in the ends! Well I did that on Wednesday and now I can really call them FINISHED! YAY!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

WIP Wednesday

Bet you thought I forgot.... well, I almost did (and then I had to have a bowl of sorbet).... So here is the very most recent progress pic of the very manly socks....



I turned the heel yesterday and picked up the gusset stitches today and will hopefully get some real progress done on this sock... E gets back home on Sunday and it would be great to be able to give him his first sock (of the pair). He did call last night and told me he was very glad to have his felted slippers with him! Apparently KC is quite cold right now.

It's pretty cold here in the ATL as well - I'm pretty sure it didn't get above 32F today, and if they said it did, well they LIED! Cause it was DAMN COLD! Luckily tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer and we'll be back to 60F this weekend... It'll be awesome!