economy worries

The present economy situation is so frightening . Everything is crashing down like dominoes one by one. The worry about my kids, my retirement and all the whole country makes this lump in my throat permanent..

9/23/08 Stinky's new blankie and KDO

see Stinky's new ugly blanket !
don't you love the big run that popped up after washing !

I spoke to a vendor at Knitter's Day Out that sells Plymouth yarn and she said she won't even carry this in her shop because it catches on everything and has no bounce- just limp! She encouraged me to contact Plymouth so I did. This is what I wrote:

I recently purchased around 15 skeins of your Oh My yarn while on vacation in North Carolina . This yarn looked so soft to make things for my first grandchild due . But I will never buy this again . I had to give the baby blanket I made to my cat it looked so limp and caught on everything. What a waste of money and time!My lys does not sell your brand but have heard good things about Encore.I bought some of that with patterns but not used yet? do you use that foam insert in all your yarns..sort of made me feel cheated with the amount you get.

This is their response..SO what do I do drive down to NC and find my receipt somewhere where I spent way too much for this yarn?? No -no just chalked it up to a learning experience to never ever use Oh My Yarn again!! Stinky does love his new blankie so that makes me feel less disgusted...

Dear Kathleen,
Thanks for your message and especially your interest in Plymouth Yarn.
We were surprised to hear about your experience with our Oh My! yarn. Plymouth Yarn stands behind all its yarns 100%. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we ask you to contact your yarn shop of purchase for complete satisfaction. Encore is one of our best selling yarns and has been for more than 20 years.(my issue is not with this ; have not tried it yet)
Very few of our yarns have the foam insert and the reason for this is to support the yarn and to help keep it intact.
Sincerely,
Pattie

now on to the fun stuff

Knitter's Day Out is my favorite knitting event. It is cheap, not too far away and takes place in the fall weather . To top it off I get to spend precious time with my best friend and sister who got me hooked on knitting in the first place. Sorry -I was having too much fun with so much to carry to use a camera.

Knitting skills have improved vastly since the first KDO 3 years ago. This year no problems were found with the classes and understood everything that the teacher was saying. The first 2 years were a struggle but always learned many new things.

My shopping was limited as trying to use stash and save for next month's knitting cruise but still came home with a few things. My sister gave me this beautiful yarn she hand dyed . It is being used to make a baby blanket. She also lent me a few books with baby patterns that look like future projects especially the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino one.

This Everlyn Clark book was purchased too..http://www.knittersreview.com/article_book.asp?article=/review/reading/070906_a.asp

Knitter's Day Out/Simon

This weekend is the Knitter's Day Out Weekend. Two of my knitting friends and I are leaving tomorrow to go Friday night this year. Friday night classes have been added this year and I have one called Sock Party. I signed up for that a long time ago during my time of socks but have not completed a single pair this summer . I am interested the baby socks by Wendy Johnson in the recent Creative Knitting Magazine .

Sat I have a lace knitting class and then all afternoon to check the market out. Not sure if that is good or bad with trying to use up stash and cruise coming up soon. We are staying at my sister's and having one big party( think wine) so should be another great knitting adventure.



The Plymouth Baby blanket I made with the Oh My really is ugly now. I washed it tonight as it is machine washable in delicate cycle. A huge run is all the way down the blanket...so frustrating with all the time and money. I am not sure why this happened? It should go in garbage but will go in cat bed to make it softer just because I hate to waste all that money.



The slow Bee Mystery shawl has been pulled out to start again.Damn next time - leave some notes to myself about what the markers mean and where exactly I left off . I spent a few hours on Ravlery and reading past clues to get this straight. I am too tired to even start it but will try when I get back. I have to find the mental stamina to get back in the swing of it.



Sad news- one of the black pug puppies I bred died this week. The poor owner, Nicole is feeling so awful telling me tha the was th ebest dog she ever had and how she misses him so much. His name was Simon and he was was only 7 . Buddy was in ths same litter.She sent me pictures of him and he looks Magoo.

stash form NC

Thanks Sue for the pattern . The small size will be made because they only had one ball of this .

so here is what I found at the Knitting Addiction Store
This Plymouth Yarn called Jelly Bean planned to be used for a Baby Surprise Jacket
3 piece Baby set using Blue Sky Organic Yarn
this is to make a blanket ..The yarn is very soft and washable for babies so that is why it was chosen but hate this stuff!!! It is limp and has no bounce to it .I don't know what gives on why this blanket looks very tacky like with gaps and obvious places where new yarn is picked up. I am embarrassed to give it as a shower gift. Maybe it is me?
and what is this hidden inside the yarn ball? Every time I hit one of these it annoys me thinking It is deceiving thinking there is more yarn than provided. #%^! Ugly blanket ends up costing over 60$!

How can fall be here already?

Just got back from Whale Head - North Carolina late last night. It was a nerve racking drive going down with strong winds and trees blocking some roads but after we got there it was just perfect. What an ideal place to go in September with no crowds, lovely beaches and dogs welcome on the beach and at many rentals. DH was golfing while I walked, sat on beach and did some knitting. oh yes- Spent a small fortune on baby yarns and patterns at Knitting Addiction in Southern Shores, NC. The store was very bright and open with ladies were friendly and helpful!

I started Pea POd 3 different times and each time it did not seem right with lace pattern not showing or stitch counts off.. Finally I go to Internet at local library to search Ravelry forum. Seems others were having a the same problem so I put it off till I was home and could use computer. Instead -I started a baby blanket which was supposed to be mindless knitting.
More on that later this week...

Now= today it is cleanup time here with dog hair all over, no groceries, tons of wash and serious need to get to Weight Watchers!!! NC had sunny hot weather and now returned to damp fall weather . It seems weird to have leaves turning colors and falling while I just was walking on a sunny beach yesterday.

off to NC- with hurricane warnings/Pea Pod

Doing the final packing for the beach today. Hurricane Hannah may cause complications but we are heading south no matter what. All the pet arrangements have been made so taking advantage of the week being pet free. This place allows pets but now with the possibility of evacuations - we don't want to worry about an animal .

Trying to decide what knitting to take has been my morning task:

• A single sock started long ago

• the beaded bracelet almost done

• finally will start the the Pea Pod Baby Set in a green Hempathy . Two projects in Ravelry used this yarn so we will see. This Hempathy yarn was purchased in green and white in Saratoga , NY a few months back with no particular project in mind but they had an adorable baby sweater using this yarn- before I knew about expected grandchild.
  

Name
Pea Pod Baby Set
Pattern
Pea Pod Baby Set by Kate Gilbert


Needle and yarn
Needle
US 5 / 3.75 mm
Yarn
Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy
How much?
2 skeins = 306.0 yards (279.8m)
Colorway
Sage
Color family
Green

//

groups
Interweave Knitters
About this pattern
Pea Pod Baby Set
by Kate Gilbert
from Interweave Knits, Summer 2006


About this yarn
Hempathy
153
by Elsebeth Lavold
DK / 8 ply Cotton, Plant fiber, Hemp
I remembered seeing this adorable pattern in Interweave 2006 but when I went back to find the pattern it was not in the magazine. I looked on line where is was supposed to be but was not there anymore. Luckily- by some miracle - I had downloaded the pattern on my old computer although I don't remember doing it!

Goddess Anniversary Shawl done

done blocking.....have to fix very bottom scallop where grafting was done but otherwise mistakes will not show up and it is very pretty. Thinking little baby hands may get caught in this so perhaps it will be a shawl for me..(: yep- those mistakes pop right out but have to focus on whole shawl

I just blocked this early am and deck had lots of shadows .

Stayed up to 1am till this border was done. This shawl's border border took days to complete. Most of my knitting summer was spent on this shawl. This is an amazing feat for me!

.

Yarn used :

2 skeins of Knit Pick Gloss Bare

size 6 needles

Clue 1 B

clue 2 B

Clue 3 B

Clue 4 A

Back to school- NOT- let the fun begin

After teaching 33 years this time of year still brings that nagging feeling that summer is over and back to the craziness of teaching. After 2 years of retirement - I still need to remind myself that summer is not over and that this is really the best time of year with warm days and cooler nights.



So to celebrate summer not being over - first week of school will be spent at the beach in Outer Banks NC where it will be cheaper, less crowded and we can bring a dog! I even found a knitting shop ( love Ravelry) located there called Knitting Addiction. I will go there while DH goes fishing or golfing.



To extend the summer vacation even further my knitting group is taking a Norwegian Cruise Oct 12 to Canada/New England. It is sponsored by the Embraceable Ewe Shop Hamburg NY. Picture over 70 knitters swarming yarn shops in Halifax and Boston!

Life is wonderful especially being retired. Only thing missing is a paycheck...

Stinky loves lace

Every time this Goddess Mystery Shawl KAL is out -( which has been a really long time) Stinky wants to sleep on it. As it gets bigger there is more space for him to get comfortable.Trying to take this picture was a challenge because he immediately pounced right into the middle and wanted to stay there. After this post I must remember to get that old afghan ( removed for wedding cleaning)that I had on his chair so maybe he will go there instead. Those nails can be hazardous to lace.
Now with this Goddess Mystery circular shawl the knitted- on edging was very advanced and overwhelming with provisional cast on and using another needle but with Ravelry forum and yahoo group I figured it out..sort of! After being about one third done I realized the second rows are supposed to be all purls . Reading the chart showed knits but the written directions must have said purl. DUH!!!!I am not one of those knitters that has the patience to pull days worth of work out when very ready to be done with this shawl. The garter border will work- right?.

With blocking this should look 100% better and maybe the incorrect border won't be even noticed. Just one more week of finishing up the border which takes forever even though pattern is memorized by now.

wedding wind down- sigh!

matching just married shirts...from me....

Bride , groom , pug and all their stuff left just now. What a whirlwind of excitement this week! Now back to knitting and getting my knitting supplies and projects organized. Everything is hidden in closets and who knows where?

wedding dress story

More wedding photos-( sorry they won't rotate for some reason)

The wedding dress was really- really too expensive like 3,800!!I know - crazy! The week before my daughter took it to a dry cleaner in Middletown Ny to get steamed because after getting altered it needed it.. It came back full of wet looking spots. The cleaners admitted they did something wrong..she was really upset bu tgot over it...

more wedding shots

Here is where the ceremony took place.What a cool place to get married withlots of entertainment ... People in their kayaks and rafts watched..A couple of guys were swimming with nothing on..cars honked as they went over the bridge..
Here is Liz wearing the Forest Canopy shawl I made her. Thankfully -It was such a nice day she did not need to wear it.She was so thoughtful to include it in the pictures.

wedding -WONDERFUL!

yeah the wedding of my beautiful daughter took place yesterday and everything went smoothly.. food , friends , family and weather made it perfect.. My daughter had everything organized and the tents and setting looked fantastic..16 young adults ended up staying over here last night.. they danced partied way into the night..

5 more days till wedding-yikes

Weather reports for Sat look good. Last few days have been really damp and cold here. Hope for the wedding it is warmer and no rain. Today the tent people came to set up and it was pouring rain. Good thing is they don't leak!

My daughter is home now and doing last minute arrangements.. Today was final visit with caterer and a stop at bakery. Tomorrow we will set up tables and chairs that were dropped off with tent. Linens and dance floor will come Thursday. Port a pottie comes Friday..check , check , check off our lists...
Knitting is still the Goddess Mystery Shawl. I am on the final Clue 5 which is a knitted on border which will take forever! 1/12 done and will be lucky if I can finish it in 12 days ..I am ready to be done with this ....

collective twist

check this out http://twistcollective.com/

weekend excitement

practice run for wedding day hair...at Apple Day Spa in Honesdale, PA


The bridge on Sat right before hail storm. Those cliffs in background are our property and house is hidden. I had to chase some stupid kids off them as they were jumping into the water which is very shallow and has dangerous rocks protruding....
Deck covered with hail!
they were marble- sized!



Another exciting weekend getting final chores accomplished for upcoming wedding. I sat and knit while Liz had her practice hair done for for wedding . She looked beautiful and now she is relieved . This is t\not where she lives so it is a new beautician.Thinking back on my wedding none of these things took place and things were much simpler because of it.


Saturday we had such an amazing hail storm here come from out of the blue. Marble sized pellets were pounding down and bouncing all over.

SO -What's up with knitting??
Sunday my friend Nora and I took a class at 4Corners LYS in Narrowsburg, Ny. We met some new knitting friends that connected thru Ravelry and started an adorable pink knitted bead bracelet. With chatting so much not much knitting was accomplished but that didn't matter one bit.
Maybe it will get done today. Last night I was snailing along on Goddess Mystery Shawl. Not much progress on that with my daughter being here to hang out. I can knit anytime but when your kids get older your time alone with them gets limited and even more precious.

wedding FAVORS /sick Stinky

These pralines from http://www.leahspralines.com/ New Orleans are the wedding favors.

The label will be personalized and they will be larger. New Orleans and pralines are special to us.We owned a time share there and shared wonderful family memories .One of our wildest New Years with the kids was celebrated in the French Quarter. The last time we were all there was a week before Katrina.

Poor Stinky got his shots Wednesday and has been sick ever since. I am waiting for the vet to call me back. Poor guy is in hiding , not eating and cries in pain when I pick him up. After I called this am he did come out and used the litter box and was looking out the window for a bit at the birds ( his normal activity) .So while I am waiting for them to call back he seems to have improved. I hate the thought if having to put in in his carrier and drive all that ways to further traumatize him. Tomorrow they are closed probably but will ask if I can wait now. DH said I shouldn't have taken him in for shots if he is an indoor cat but he does sneak out once in a while.

We took 3 pets in on Wed for a tune of $576 ! They want to clean 2 of the pugs teeth for over $ 500 each- not now .They make you feel guilty if you don't but that is an awful lot of $$$.

Molly needs to go on a diet (beside teeth cleaned ). I KNOW already.we both have to stop snacking. She ( and I ) are too fat and it is not healthy so when SHE barks and begs I will ignore her.

lace break- felted purse

A vacation was needed from lace work .

It was a nice break making an easy felted purse with bulky yarn that was part of a Sunday knitting class at 4 Corners Yarn Store in Narrowsburg, Ny. Anything is easy now after this summer's challenging lace marathon.

The colors ended up a little wild. My original plan was to make a conservative plain purse with the tweed black yarn but yesterday the idea came to make it longer so needed more yarn so added color from stash.

Now all rested up a d something actaully got finished so ready to get back to lace .

Hey, teach!

This new pattern posted in Knitty caught my eye. The name and style are adorable. No way can it can be started now but will put it in my queue......http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTheyteach.html

dogs in wedding- hilarious

Carmella -the bride..
Buddy's outfit modeled by Carmela (adustable velcro will make it fit chubby Buddy)

My daughter is having her pug and Buddy in the wedding party , AUGUST 16TH. My step- grandchildren will walk them in the procession to the ceremony.

She is getting marrried right here on the river with no church so ideal for the dogs. My mother is somewhat shocked about the whole idea of having dogs in a ceremony with no priest . I love it!