Fish Lips Kiss

This has been a good knitting week.  I am getting closer to finishing these socks (and I have already begun a new pair).  My knitting slowed down as I decided to start a new, to me, kind of heel. 

This heel is called Fish Lips Kiss can't you see why?  I made a lot of mistakes while learning how to do this but I think, if it fits well, I will use it again.  Anyway, this heel can be purchased for $1 on Ravely and then there are YouTube videos.  I would read the pattern, watch appropriate video and try to do what she just demonstrated.  Sometimes I could and sometimes, not so much.  I have another pair of socks ready for heels (the black and white ones) so I'll start on them this weekend, before I forget all I have learned.

I have also been knitting on my tunic but since it does not look much different, only longer, I didn't bother to take a picture.  I hope to be able to show the back and front almost done, soon.

Today I got new tires on my car.  Our son-in-law works at the dealers and he had seen my tires last week.  He told DH that he either needed me to get new tires or he should get more insurance on me.  (We did have a talk about that).  Anyway, before we left the lot I put the top down and drove home in the most beautiful weather.  I can't knit while I am driving but I think I will carve out a little "on the road" time this weekend, it really felt good.  Gari

Design Wall & On The Needles

It took some doing but I finally got April's Tiger Lilly block put together.  It is not quite like the designer's plan but it is as close as I was going to get.  I call it "making it my own" rather than "I just couldn't get mine to come out like hers."  I have gotten a little over half of the stitching done on this Deco Gardens block and still have to stitch the Gingerbread Man. 

And in-between cutting, fusing, and stitching I have been knitting.  Besides the two pair of socks I have going I have begun my tunic.  The pattern is basically easy but the yarn is turning out to be as brilliant as the picture indicated.  I have to keep going doing the stockinet stitch for 15 to 15.5 inches so it will be showing up for some time.  The good news?  This sweater does not have sleeves.  I hope to have more done by Friday. 

As usual I am linking with Patchwork Times.  And I hope you all have a great week.  Gari

Gingerbread Men and Deco Flowers

 

 


 It took me a while but I am finally working on my BOMs for April.  See that crease in the fusible: it came from a fold and is the fusible separating from the paper.  I was really annoyed but after I drew the pieces and cut them out it settled down.   

 

 
 
 
 
 

So, with a little hunting around for interesting fabrics, April's Gingerbread Man is ready for stitching.

So finally, here is my Design Wall.  All four of my Gingerbread Men, all together.  Someone on the Fat Cat Yahoo group asked if anyone was making these so I am going to share this picture to show that, at least so far, I am and I'm keeping up.

 

 

And then, after some knitting time, I got back to BOM work.  I have the yellow fabric fused to their pieces so now I need to finish the green pieces. You can see the picture of the Deco Garden's flower for April but, as always, my choice of fabric may make mine look a little bit different.

 

I will be linking with Patchwork Times and then back to work on my BOMs. With any luck I will have them both done soon so I can start something new. :-)

 

Have a great week,  Gari

Socks, Socks, deSocks, and a Tunic

I am so pleased at how these socks are turning out.  The pattern is called Monkey Socks and can be found at Ravelry.  I like how the stitches lean back and forth.  Even though I know it happens  because of how the pattern is written, I still don't know how it happens. 

I'm not as far along with this pair.   They are the ones I am working on in the studio and I didn't go over there for two days this week.  But I still love this yarn and how bright these socks are going to turn out. 

And here, to my disgrace, are the socks I am ripping out.  They had really turned out nice but way too small.  So I let them sit for a little over a month and today I began the ripping process.  I'll probably do it a little at a time cuz I would rather be knitting than ripping .... wouldn't you?



And why would I even consider starting a new project?  Because I saw this tunic in a Lion Brand ad and couldn't resist.  (and no, this isn't me although I certainly wish it was)  Anyway, as soon as I saw the ad I printed out the pattern.  And then I decided I wanted it to look just like the one in the picture (only a little bigger) so I sent for this:

Isn't this a beautiful box? I love the colors and can hardly wait to get started. Of course this may slow down my sock knitting but I don't really need the tunic or the socks until next Fall so I can take my time and enjoy the knitting/yarn ride.

I will be linking with Patchwork Times on Friday and then I will be knitting, sewing, knitting, etc.

Have a great weekend and see you next week.  Gari

Progress on all Fronts

My monkey socks are coming along even though I have had less knitting time this week: I am almost done with the third round. 

We finally got ready to move my cart to the bedroom, not an easy undertaking for two 70+s, both of whom have bad backs.  But after a few days of moving almost everything in the bedroom, we finally got it done.

Because of the strenuous work we were doing, and our ages, we took several breaks.  DH used his breaks to watch the movies he downloaded.  My breaks were to rest in the studio and begin a new pair of socks.  I really like this yarn, a hand dyed done by the owner of our recently closed yarn shop.  It is a soft yarn that feels very strong.  It is good to have a studio project again.  And I may even start a third pair since I now have my comfortable bedroom chair uncovered and ready for occupancy.   

 

I don't know how everyone else keeps their needles but I have found that mine are all over the place.  To make matters worse, as our LYS was closing everything was on sale and I tried to stock-up on whatever I thought I might need and that especially meant needles.  And of course that meant that my needle problem increased and I needed to figure out a solution.  I decided I wanted to get a small card catalogue: each drawer would hold a different size needle set(s).  However, card catalogues, whether small or large, are VERY EXPENSIVE.  Then last week I found this little chest of drawers.   

My plan is to segment the drawers by either 4 or 5 so I can have either 12 or 15 different sizes, each in it's own little space.  I am going to label each section and try to stay organized.

And on a clearly non-knitting note, today Taco Bell returned to our small town.  About 3 years ago the old one closed because the owner of the building wanted to raise the rent and wouldn't make needed repairs.  We have mourned the closing and today cheered the brand new building, new owners, and the tacos I like the best.

 

Friday I will be linking with Patchwork Times and then I will be sewing, knitting, sewing, and knitting all day long.  Hope you all have as much fun as I will be having.  Gari