Finding those snippets of time

It's wonderful having talented members in my family. My daughter plays for a symphony (percussion) and my husband takes pictures for the symphony. That means I get to go to rehearsals. Sitting, listening to a Disney medley brings back fond memories of the countless hours we spent watching the videos. Hard to believe that she is almost 26.

Waiting

My husband laughs at me with all my knitting bags and projects. It is a great way to pass time while waiting. I have worked on hats, scarves, shawls, and now skirts. As I sit in the waiting area for his for latest eye surgery, I am thankful for something to do with my hands.

What was funny was that the nurse before surgery noticed my knitting. She remembered that I had been knitting with black. Here it had been 1 month and she remembered. Of course that shawl project is still in the works but I knew that the lighting was poor for black yarn.

Creative endeavors

Long time, no see (or write in my case). So I am very fortunate to quilt with a group of ladies that are very creative. I am always in awe of their technical skills with quilting but I love to see how they are branching out in creativity. This is a perfect example. Our challenge is using buttons. Here is a quilter that makes the most exquisite hand appliqué quilts. For her to branch out into a whimsical quilt is inspiring (and who doesn't love 'A Christmas Story' and the famed 'major award'. My quilt is done (just need to get a picture done).

#11 2nd Sock Syndrome

I love having my own knitted socks but always hate having to start all over for the 2nd sock. With the sock yarn challenge from Skacel, I finally tried knitting 2 socks at once for the May challenge. It is going well-only have about another inch to go. The problem....can't seem to find the project. Oh well, that can't keep me down.

The June challenge was a top down pattern with gusset stitches. Gusset stitches terrify me. I always seem to have gaps. So I watched the video (which helped immensely) and finished the 1st sock.

As you can tell, I can be done for about 5 weeks and enjoy 1 sock. I broke my foot 3 days after school got out. I have started the 2nd sock (so at least I can alternate which sock I wear).  When I finish the anklet, I really need to find those almost finished pair of socks.

Happy knitting

#10 Dyeing roving

So trying to catch up with blogging, I am adding many items that are in the works. At the dyeing party, I had a beautiful roving. Luckily for me, the weaving teacher was there who is an expert on fibers. She is thinking merino (yum). So I have plenty to spin this summer on those lazy days before I get back into summer school/beginning of the school year. I did notice that in some areas, there was some matting. We shall see when I spin. It always seems to happen in the green area.

#9 Dyeing yarn

So being a teacher, I read different educational blogs. One teacher/trainer had written that she would read a book a day for the summer. The only way she was going to meet this goal was to read a variety of books, including picture books. So, how could I tie this in with my challenge...

Part of working with fiber is the joy of creating my own. When I went to my weaving guild in June, we had our dyeing party (you should see the look of my kindergartners when I say I am going to dye :)

The lady who hosted is in the middle of splitting her house between her son's and her new digs in Arizona. She was cleaning out and giving away lots of good things. One of the things I scored was a wool-mix yarn. I have no idea what it was but I figured, if I didn't like it, I could always make it into a scarf or bring it to our 'Dog' party in January.  So what do you think-knit or give away?

The Wall

Sometimes it feels like the wall is high. I am working on the latest sock challenge from Skacel and I have hit the wall. I guess I was smart to knit the pair at the same time. I just wish I could just finish them. Having 2 diffent patterns (front and back) for the leg is killing me. So what else to do but start a mindless pattern. I started a pillbox hat for Special Olympics. I have already made 2 hats (only 8 more to go).

Of course putting off finishing the socks is going to get me in the end. The next challenge comes on June 1st.

Happy knitting my friends.