It's A Heat Wave

Wow things have really warmed up here. Mid 40's may sound cool to some people but to me it sounds like a heat wave after the bitter cold we had last month. I am going to try to enjoy the warmth while it lasts. You never know when the cold and snow will be back, not that the snow is completely gone. It's piled up so high in some spots (from snowplows, blowers and shoveling) that I swear it'll be there till July. There are some seriously huge mounds of snow out there in some of the parking lots.

We managed to get the root canal issue straightened up and it looks like everything is going to be alright and it's scheduled for this Friday. I was a little worried I was going to have to do the unthinkable and put a skein or two of Wollmeise out on eBay. Do you know that Wollmeise generally goes for around $100 a skein....totally crazy, I know! I don't know about you but I'm not going to pay that much for wool/nylon sock yarn no matter how pretty it is. For $100 it better be special yarn like qiviet. Shoot I wouldn't pay the $50 for a skein of Sweet Georgia yarn (this was the lowest price I found it for after she stopped dyeing yarn) even though I really wanted to try it. I still haven't gotten any of that come to think of it. Oh well! Anyway, I got side tracked, back to what I was saying: thankfully the Wollmeise is safe, the insurance is going to pay for 60%, and we have enough to cover our portion so life is good. Wish me luck!

I have been doing a little knitting. As if there is ever a day when I don't knit! Although I haven't finished any super exciting things.

The first dishcloth of 2009 for Monthly Dishcloth KAL.

 

I'm trying to knit every cloth this year. It's a twice a month KAL with a small handful of rows each day so it shouldn't be to hard.

My socks are making good progress.

 

They are just a basic toe up sock. I've found that casting on two at time socks is much less fiddly when you go toe up. The yarn is Red Hearts sock yarn Heart & Sole.

I finished my Urban Necessity Gloves (Ravelry)(non Ravelry).

 

I really like this glove pattern. It's a quick knit and the fingers were really easy. They're a tad fiddly to work on 6 inch dpns but not impossible. Kinda makes me wish I would have bought the short little glove dpns I saw when I first started knitting. I think they were about 4 inches long. My gauge is a little tighter then the pattern states instead of the 21sts per 4 inches I'm knitting them at 24sts per 4 inches but even with the gauge issues I'm still only knitting the Medium and it's turned out perfect.

I still haven't started the swatches for Shawn's hoodie but I have plans to get those started soon, which is why I added it to my Ravelry projects page. I've also started a hat for Kaity with the yarn from the hat I frogged. The pattern was just way to slow and tedious. Kaity wants a new hat and with the way I was going I would have been lucky to finish for next winter. So I'm going to knit a watch cap for her using both yarns. I'll post a pic when I have more to show.

I'm also working on a test knit for Woolgirl but obviously I can't show that so you'll have to settle for my one and only pitiful yarn acquisition.

 

It's a skein of Opal Brasil, color 5001. I've been wanting this one for quite some time and I found someone destashing on Ravelry before I went to the dentist and found out about my tooth issues. Luckily for me I still have my 7 Deadly S(p)ins club and Yarntini coming in this month, my first Lord of the Rings sock club and Yarntini next month and my final Deadly S(p)ins shipment and Yarntini in March. I'm in no fear of running out of yarn. Thank goodness for the stash. :~)

I've decided to do more charity knitting/crocheting this year. I've picked to knit/crochet Snuggles for my local animal shelter and I want to help a local animal adoption program raise money by making things they can sell. They don't have a shelter, all animals stay in a foster home until they are adopted. They get donated blankies, animal toys, bandannas, and I even seen some potholders that they sell. It doesn't have to be pet related it just needs to be something that will likely sell. They use this money for medical treatment for the animals.

The Snuggles aren't an issue. I have plenty of patterns to pick from and tons of acrylic in my stash and a local wally world to acquire more if I run out. My issue right now is trying to decided what to make that the animal adoption program can sell. I was thinking maybe some dishrags. Does anyone have any ideas?

Happy Crafting!