New projects!

I needed some new lightweight summer projects so here are my new ones:

Illusion dishcloth:



cup cozies:

Yikes! Over a year!

Okay, I have been very lax in updating this and my other blogs, so I will need to do better! I'll have to catch up on what I've been doing.

First, I went a little nuts on the swaps on ravelry! I have done over a 100 so far. I was doing 7-10 a month for awhile! That's just crazy....I get obsessed over things, can you tell? lol So now I've cut back to 1-2 a month and that's much more manageable and realistic.

Second, I learned how to use DPNs! Well, sort of. I can finish something off with them, but I have yet to master casting on with them. Here's a hat I did on them for charity.



Third, I have gotten involved in the HPKCHC group. A knitting and crochet group that does Hogwarts with yarn! It's so fun!

card swap

Did a postcard swap with some buddies over on ravelry.com and this is what I received. Not sure why the pic is sideways....

Ravelympics

I was lucky enough to be able to compete in the ravelympics this year on ravelry. It was knitting Olympics in conjunction with the Olympic games. You basically pledge to do a new project or technique and there are lots of teams and events in relation to the Olympic events. I competed in several events and managed to complete 6 projects--4 full projects and 2 WIPs.



I won the following medals as a member of Team 10in2010. You can see my projects at this page labeled with "ravelympics."






I can't wait till the next time!

Catch up!

Been very neglectful lately!Even though I'm online a lot, I never seem to remember to post on my own blog. What has got my attention, you may ask?

Well, the first and foremost would be ravelry!!! Love it and am now addicted! I am on there posting in my groups, chatting, looking for patterns, whatever. I'm also addicted to swaps! Swaps are where you sent stuff to someone in the group and get stuff in return--usually based on a theme or at least a price range. I did 12 (yes 12) in the last couple months of 2009 and I'm signed up for a dozen more in the next few weeks. I'm in a couple pools--those are different. You sign up for a group that is centered around a reality show where contestants leave each week (like Survivor), you are put with a group of people and each person is given 2 contestants. Person with the winning contestant gets stuff sent from the other "losers."

Stemming from my new interest in ravelry is my quest to become a better knitter and not be so scared of everything. I learned how to knit in the round (taught myself) and have made many cowls. Here's a couple:




Lastly, I'm online on Facebook quite a bit. Always interested in what everyone else is doing and saying....

Knitting poem

A Knitters Night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me was unfinished knitting not under the tree. The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care 'cause the heels and toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, but I had not finished the caps for their heads. Dad was asleep; he was no help at all, and the sweater for him was six inches too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I put down my needles to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tripped over my yarn and fell with a crash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow reminded me how much I still had to go. Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise, I thought it would wake both Dad and the boys.
And although I was tired, my brain a bit thick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick!

What I heard then left me somewhat perplexed-ed, for not a name I heard was what I expected. "Move Ashford; move Lopi; move Addie & Clover; move Reynolds; move Starmore; and Noro - move over!"

"Paton, don't circle round, stay in the line. Come now, you sheep, you'll work out just fine! I know this is hard being just your first year, I'd hate to back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing, eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a'grazing.

And then, in a twinkle, I heard at my door Santa's coming across the porch floor. I rose from my knees and got back on my feet, and as I turned round, Saint Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toes and his cloths were hand knit from above to below. A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back, and his toys were all stuffed in a aran knit sack. His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace, a beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile, and the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle. The backs of his mittens bore an intricate cable, and suddenly on one I spied a small label.

SC was the duplicate stitch on the cuff, and I asked "Hay Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied "Ho-ho-ho, yes I did. I learned how to knit when I was a kid." He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man, and I laughed to myself for I'd thought of a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped in the air, the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair. He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two; for the first time I thought I might really get through. He put heels on the stockings and toes on some socks while I sat back drinking scotch on the rocks!!

So quickly, like magic his needles they flew, that he was all finished by quarter to two. He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free, and over his shoulder he looked back at me.

And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon "Next year start your knitting sometime around June!"

- Author Unknown

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Ravelry fall hat swap

Look at the goodies I got in the fall hat swap

60 scarves in 60 days challenge!

Was looking for a way to donate to a charity this year and this is perfect. Go to this blog for all the details and make sure to particpate! Let me know in comments what you did! I will make sure to keep you updated on my donations.