SOTS3 starting off much better than its predecessor

When I determined to knit lace last winter, I signed up for SOTS2 and spent 3 weeks on the first clue then 2 more weeks trying to catch up. I was never able to finish the clues on time until the very end. I blamed it on being on vacation, I blamed it on Rebekah, I blamed it on being in the car while knitting...everything except the fact that I was learning how to read at the time. Since then, I have done a few other KALs and learned how to read charts and most of all, my lace fabric. I learned how to identify when I made a mistake before I had to frog or tink. Actually, when I started this shawl, I was amazed that I only had to tink about 20-30 stitches a couple of times to correct a mistake. I didn't have the numerous mistakes I encountered the first time. I was excited!

I already love this stole and I don't even know what it looks like! I just know that the first clue took only 3 days to knit instead of 3 weeks!! I finished it tonight and took a couple of pictures. They aren't that great because I'm at work and the lights are fluorescent and the background is a rough towel, but at least it's done!! Now I need to finish my Baudelaire sock so I can get it done by Friday morning to qualify for the Ravelympics WIPSwrestling.

Speaking of Olympics, is anyone else a little mystified over some of the judging inconsistencies that have been going on? Chinese girls who fall and still medal over others who do not. Ties that go in favor of China. Chinese girls whose birth certificates say they are 12 but whose passports say they are 16...all smells a little fishy to me! Anyway...Michael Phelps is AMERICAN and goes to University of MICHIGAN!! Can't make his medals Chinese any way you cut it.

Knitting Baudelaires in style!!

Tuesday night I had a WONDERFUL opportunity! My Dad won a raffle for the Pepsi Party Suite Tuesday night at the Tigers Baseball game. I have never seen the suites and it was awesome!! Jim wasn't well so he stayed home with the kids while I watched the Tiger game and knit socks in true luxury that I probably will never experience again. I finished one sock and started on the second sock while watching the game and eating! We had a spread to begin with Chips, veggies and dip, hotdogs, sausage, and chicken. During the second inning, we were treated to Pizza. During the 7th inning, we were given desert. Plus, the fridge was always full of Pepsi products to drink. This suite was right up from the first base line. It was a great view and wonderful time. There were 12 of us all there to watch the game, plus a TV inside the suite that we were able to watch Michael Phelps swim to another gold medal. On top of this all, the seets were padded and comfortable to knit in! It was such a treat. I will be spoiled now and always remember this. We are supposed to go to a game tonight. I know I will be comparing the nose bleed seats to the suite life! The guy in the picture is my brother...the DOCTOR. He's married though. This is Brian and Jennifer and Lyle (friend of my Mom and Dad), perusing the chips and veggies.

We had a great view of the game as well. I can't get over how much we enjoyed that game!! Even if they did lose.

Today, I tried to get my little helper to hold up the finished sock so that I could take a good picture of it. She was having none of that! She had better things to do with her time!

She learned this little trick from her brother!

Gearing Up for Secret of the Stole III

I finally had time to swatch!! I have been watching in lace envy as others swatched and posted getting ready for SOTS3. I've been waiting for this one since DK finished up the last one (Savannah). I ordered some lace yarn from an Etsy Independent Dyer Beyond Basic Knits. I Love this yarn. I originally ordered it in purple Ice Queen which is gorgeous, but I decided to order some more yarn from BBK and I ended up getting the pink from them. I also ended up getting 2 skeins of Superwash sock yarn from them--Black Cherry Soda and Frost Bitten--They are gorgeous! When they sent my order, I got a coupon for 5$ toward my next order. Great Seller!! The colors are gorgeous. What do you think??

I plan to use the Black Cherry soda to knit a pair of Monkey Socks during the olympics. That will be my Ravelypics contribution.

I am still working on Casablanca although it has been slow. I have been assigned to CCU and ICU at work but ended up in the ER even night because of their low staff levels. Working the in ER leaves no time for knitting. It's been really slow knitting! But I will get there. I really like this stole and am looking forward to completing it.


The picture is crappy, I didn't put it on blocking wires and pin it out. But you get the idea and the story being told in this clue 4. I think that's what really impresses me about this KAL, the story in the knitting.

Baudelaire Beginnings

Last night at work I was used as a sitter. Can you believe paying an RN with 21 years experience to sit with a confused Alzheimer's patient in the CCU? They really didn't need me in the ER and the CCU didn't need me either except that I held more experience than the 3 other nurses put together. But I am a pool nurse and can be told where to go and what to do. So I accepted the position of sitter and aide to CCU for the last 8 hours of my shift. Guess what you can do for 8 hours while watching a confused patient sleep and helping him up to the chair, back to bed, up to the chair, bed, chair, bed....KNIT!! I finished my first Baudelaire sock and listened to 4 episodes of Lime and Violet. It was a long night but productive for knitting. How many people get paid full wages to sit and knit for 8 hours? I did a little search for stretchy bind offs because I can't stand the Sewn Bind offs (fiddly) and found this one on Grumperina's website. I have permission to use it here.






Work 2 sts in pattern (either knit or purl). Move yarn to back (if the last worked st was a knit, this is already the case). * Transfer the 2 worked sts to the LH needle, and k2togTBL. Work 1 st in pattern (move yarn to back if it was a purl), * repeat between *.


I have learned many things from her website and this is just another one! If you need to cable, check out her site to learn how to do it without a needle. I love it!!!







This is a really nice bind off with a nice edge. I think it went well with my sock. I really like these socks. Socks that I like I finish quickly and this first one only took 3 days thanks to an ideal night last night. I haven't cast on the second one but believe me I will. I just need to get back to Casablanca before I get too far behind in that one!!










I think the cables and lace make these socks really sexy. I can't wait to work on the next one. I'm even planning to do a pair of monkey socks after all the talk about those! I like the lacey stuff!

Long Time, Little Done

Wow!! Time is flying here!! I can't believe that July is half over, where did June go?!? It seems like just yesterday that we were at the 4th of July parade!

I was going through my projects and realized that I have so many things started and very little finished!! How sad. I had to take time off from the KALs that I am in and finish up my Booby socks that are a gift for a friend's Birthday. I was able to get them finished on Tuesday night.

I had a little trouble getting my "model" to cooperate for the pictures!

I also finished up clue 3 of Casablanca last week but didn't find time to lay it out for pictures utnil now. My little helper is in bed...I added in one extra "window" for a few extra rows. I probably won't need the extra lenght, but I like how this is looking and it is so much fun to knit. Anne (Catlady) is such a fun designer. Her clues all tell the story of how and why she designed the clues. I am loving this. I'm working on clue 4 but it isn't done yet. I'm officially behind since clue 5 is out today!!!

On another note, I have been going to Physical Therapy 3 time a week for a tendonitis in my shoulder. The therapy is working. But sitting there, doing 10 mintues on an "arm bike" and looking out the same window at the same trees then 5 minutes of stretching and 10 mintues of bands...gets a little monotonous. So I dug out my little Sansa mP3 player and loaded a few episode of Lime and Violet. They are hilarious to listen to while you are doing therapy or knitting on break (I can only watch so many Law and Order Re-runs at 2AM). I am happy to admit that I love the Yarn Porn but have not succumbed to ordering any new yarn. I am desperately close to ordeing a skein of Socks That Rock, but I haven't so far. I have been listening to the older episodes and found myself casting on these...

I spent a few days listening to Miss Lime talk about her Baudelaire socks that I had to cast on my own with Brown Sheep Wildfoote in Blue Blood Red. They are really fun! I have never done toe up socks and tried the figure 8 cast on that was recommended. I did not like how it left a gap of stitches once the first row was knitted after the cast on. So I frogged and tried Judy's Magic Cast On. This was so easy and turned out beautifully!! No gap! I can now say that I am liking the toe up. I can try them on so easily for the proper fit.

Well, that gets me caught up for the time being!! Just in time to be getting ready for SOTS 3!! I love taking part in DK's KALs. I learn so much and she has gorgeous patterns. Ands I enjoy trying to figure out the puzzle of the mystery with each clue. I will be using stash yarn this time. I have to decide between Knit Picks Shadow (pink) or Zephyr (cassis) I have time to decide. I'll probably swatch them both and then decide.

Wow, sorry for the long post, but it's been a while!

Long Weekend (for me)

Jim had a class to go to on Saturday and Sunday. Leaving me to myself with Rebekah most of the day. I had a 4 day weekend to be able to take care of Rebekah. IE...Rebekah napping = Quality Knitting Time!! I finished clue 2 of Casablanca on Saturday night while watching Casablanca on DVD. I can't believe that I never watched the movie before.

This KAL is turning out out to be a delight to knit!! It just flows from the needles and it looks gorgeous. I don't even mind stopping to put the beads on.

Trying to block this thing out for pictures today was a little tough!!

I also did some work on Mystic Meadows, some people have finished this one and I'm still on I worked on the second clue!! I worked on the Goddess Anniversary shawl but after finishing clue 2 I decided that I hated the yarn that I was using for this KAL. As a result I frogged the whole thing and am going to start over tonight.

On Thursday, Julie came by to celebrate her birthday with us. We had cake and barbeque and a couple of fireworks. We had some fun playing on the trampoline too.

Happy Father's Day Jim!!

We went to the Tiger Game on Sunday for Father's Day and Kids Run the Bases. Except for the 1 hour Rain Delay we had a great time. The Tigers won the game (with very little help from Todd Jones who almost lost the game as closer) there were 2 home runs. Rebekah loved it and was cheering and waving (although,not when Mom had the camera ready). It was a non knitting day and we really enjoyed the whole day and Jim got to run the bases with Rebekah. All in all, it was a great Father's Day for a great Father!!

It was a great day, but long. Rebekah loves her big brother and decided she had to watch TV with him. It's too cute to pass up!!