12/4/08

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

Had a great Thanksgiving, so thankful that my whole family is still here and reasonably healthy. What else is really important? Of course, the economy improving wouldn't hurt!!! ;-)

Have gotten some of my WIP or UFO's finished. Of course, then I develop startitis, so I still have a bunch of on going projects.

This is the Cable Pleated Skirt from Lanas Puras. It fits great, has a little flare that makes it flattering. Now I just need something to wear
with it. I used the recommended yarn, Lanas Puras Melosa Fingering. It is a very soft, lightly twisted single ply yarn. I wouldn't use it for socks since it felts, and I am too lazy to hand wash my socks. But I really like the feel of the skirt. The only change I would make if I reknit it, is the cables alternate which way they twist. I don't think soul, who hasn't knit the pattern would know that. I would twist all the cables the same way so I don't have to keep track of which one goes which way.





This is the Interlacements Beaded Scarf, I bought it originally as a kit. This is a second one, with my yarn and beads. The yarn is Scout Swag, don't recall the color (it was part of a sock club, I think), and can't find the label right now. This is a pretty mindless knit, even with the beads, once you get the bottom loopy beads done. It takes one skein of sock yarn and like 2,600 beads.






This is the detail of the bottom of the scarf. With all the beads, if you need a weapon while you have it one, you can just hit your attacker with the end!!!

You knit it in two halves, starting at the looped bead bottom, and then graft it together in the center.





This is the Simple Yet Effective Shawl, it is a free internet pattern. Easy to knit. I used one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock yarn, alternated the end I was using every 4 rows. I was able to run the yarn up the side so there were no ends to weave in (YIPPEEE). By using sock yarn instead of the recommended chunky yarn it is more scarf or accent shawl size. I love the colors!!!






These are my standard toe up, K3P1 gusset heel sock, based on Wendy Knits generic toe up sock pattern. Yarn is Lisa Souza What-A-Melon. They were knit from both ends of the skein at the same time. Notice the difference in color from one end to the other of the same skein.







I have also been working on some secret Christmas present items, that can't be talked about yet!!! So don't even ask!!!

I have read two books. The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith. As I said last time, it was written in the 1950's about the 1920's but so much of it applies to today. It really is a lesson in "if you don't know history, we are destined to repeat it". It isn't a very long book and not a real technical book. The layman can read it with ease.

Then I read one of my nephew's (12 yo) young adult books (I like the YA books!!!). It is Atherton: The House of Power, it is the first book of two, I think. It is a boy in a fantasy world that is in 3 levels. He is the only person on the whole world that can climb from level to level. It has some vague similarities to Gulliver's Travels, without as many underlying lessons. I want to read book 2, but I will get it for my Kindle!!! ;-)

Have I mentioned how much I love my Kindle!?!?! ;-)

I finished up my tax class. I really enjoyed it, but am glad it is over, and I have my life back.

This weekend, I have a bunch of folks coming over to knit and quilt for the weekend. I think we are going to have about 12 folks. It will be loads of fun. I have a HUGE pot of soup cooking for Saturday nights dinner.

Exercise/Weightloss: Don't even ask. January 1st if coming.



Did I mention that I have Siamese Twin Scotty Dogs? Blue collar is Chad, pink collar is Chelsea. They are litter mates and even at 9 years old, they are still "joined at the hip". They have never been separated for more than a couple of hours. When I took them to be "fixed" when they were 6 months old, I asked that they be put in the same cage. And, no, that are not the least bit spoiled!!!

Chat later
Susan