Sunday, August 10, 2014

YOP Week #5

(Whoops!  It's week #6....I missed a week...you all didn't..lol)
 Humor me please while I show a few pictures of the "grand boys"....breakfast is WAY too early for me but I managed to rustle up oatmeal for these growing youngsters...........

unfortunately this is what happens when you feed them! LOL! 
They have way more energy than Grandma but occasionally they slept....LOL!
They're actually very well behaved and we had a great time but it will take me a few days to recover...ha! ha!
I was surprised that I got any knitting/crocheting done but in the afternoon my daughter took the older one to the pool and to the beach while the little one napped and I babysat.  It was too hot for me and I don't do water much (except baths).
Before they arrived I had finished my first sock.........and a BIG shout out to Minding My Own Stitches who gave me some advice about the length and caught me just in time.  I followed her advice (my sock guru) and it worked out perfectly and fits like a dream!  Thank you SO much as it would have been too big if I had followed the original instructions.  If you want to know her measuring technique for length just check out her comment on last weeks YOP post. 
I have not weighed the sock and the remaining yarn to see if I have enough for the second sock....it's a "nail biter" that you will have to tune in next week to find out.  Meanwhile everyone please say a prayer that I have enough!
My yarn arrived that I ordered from Knit Picks.  I should have taken a picture of it all in the box but I was so excited I forgot.  This is just some of the Dishie washcloth cotton yarn.  This is my favorite and pretty much the only one I use for cloths anymore.
 I started Kay's Tess D'Uberville   shawl and what fun shawls are to knit.  Now I know why you all are always knitting shawls and I'm pretty sure I will be too from now on.  I'm using a Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in I forget what color but I will update my project page today with all the info.  LOVE!!!!
The older grandson (just turned 7) wanted me to teach him how to knit so I thought I would start him with the spool knitting like I had as a child but he quickly lost interest but by that time Grandma was "hooked"!  This is what I should have used for my chair pad I-cord....so much easier on the hands and I am using a worsted weight and getting the same size as I did using needles and bulky yarn..go figure?  Secretly, I'm glad he lost interest otherwise I would have had to go back and buy another one for myself. LOL!
I also managed to get my #2 size preemie hat done for the first week of August....so far I'm staying on schedule.
Lat night I started one of 3 dish cloths for my son's house warming present. I'm using this pattern and each cloth is a different pattern and a different color.
I frogged my earlier rug start up as it was more place mat size.  I was able to get the same dye lot in some additional yarn and made it twice as wide as the first one.  Grace is watching (see her little paws in the picture?).  She's learned not to bother my yarn although I can tell she is VERY tempted! Ha! Ha!  This is not an easy or fun project as you have to manually place each stitch over the very large P size hook.  It's not that it's too tight either but you go in the back loop of each stitch and the yarn is soft.  If you went through both sides of the stitch like you would normally maybe it would be easier but that's not what the pattern calls for.  Do any of you have an easy pattern for making a rug?  If it was enjoyable I would make lots of them as I need them myself but at this rate this may be the only one I ever make.
Well, that's all for this week but I should have 2 more new projects cast on next week as I have all this yarn....I just can't help myself!  I've missed you all this past week and can't wait to catch up with everyone.  I hope you are all "fine and dandy".
Happy Trails!




18 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed your post this week.. cute boys. Your projects look great and I am in love with your heart patchwork quilt in the background x

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  2. Some fab projects, and I love your new dishcloth yarn........I love knitting dishcloths and giving them as gifts. Sounds like you had a lovely visit with your grandsons.

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  3. I am SO relieved that the sock fits! And glad I was able to help! Honestly, one of the most common beginner errors I see is knitting socks too big. Although, I think that's exactly what I did this week, so maybe it's not just beginners!

    As far as running out of yarn, I tend to knit faster when I'm stressing about running out - there's no scientific reason for knitting faster to save yarn, but it seems to work for me :)

    Look at all those gorgeous colours for dishcloths! I find cotton yarns very tough on my fingers so I don't do a lot of dishcloth knitting.

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  4. Oh look at the boys, cute or what and I love the pulling faces pic, those make the best ones :)
    Yay to the sock and isn't Minding my own Stitches just a hive of info for sock knitting, amazing she is!
    Ohhhh lovely colours for cloths and I do love the pattern you picked for your son.
    Haha welcome to my addictive world of shawl knitting, now you see my love affair.

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  5. It looks like you had a fun visit! They are a hand full at that age but so much fun. Wish I could knit well enough to make a shawl. I can crochet a little! lol Sweet hugs, Diane

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  6. Looks like you had fun with the boys, they look so cute and cheeky! Congrats on the sock, isn't Minding My Own Stitches just great?! I'm going to try socks this year as well (wish me luck), now I have you too to ask for advice ;-)

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  7. Good to hear from you again, I knew you would be busy with your grands and what cuties they are! I hope your visit was perfect and yes it always takes a bit to recover:)

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  8. Yeah I've been bitten by the shawl bug too...yours is looking good....and yes minding my own stitches is a good guru to have...

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  9. So many lovely things on the go... Well done!

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  10. YAY! Your daughter and grandsons are here. They are handsome and funny. It's amazing how fast they grow and dang, kids eat more. My girls are always hungry. I'm like didn't I just cook and wash the dishes? Hoorah on sock victory. I need to see what she said; I totally concur how she is expert guru. Please show what you do with that i-cord snake. My eldest had fun making those but my butt was too lazy to sew them up into something.

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  11. Oh, and I love how that shawl ties in the back! When I watched Candleford to Lark Rise on Hulu, the women wore their shawls like that.

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  12. Oh your grandsons are so sweet. I love the pic with them asleep under the blankets. Aren't kids cute when they're asleep?! You never cease to amaze me with all your projects and how much you get done each week. Your sock turned out just perfect...here's hoping you have enough yarn for the other one! X

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  13. So many lovely things in progress..well done
    Sweet hugs xx

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  14. Your sock turned out so nice. Looks like you have many projects going on. Cute photos of the kiddos too.

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  15. Hi Sam, glad you were able to spend time with your daughter and grandboys. They sure are cute. Looks like you have been busy making all sorts of things while I was away. Good for you! Dishcloths is one of my favorite things to do. Instant gratification and something to give away. Teacher gifts this year will be a washcloth, soap and hand lotion. Have a great week. Tammy

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  16. I'm so glad the sock turned out well. The shawl is looking fabulous. I taught my son to knit a while ago, and although he gets bored quickly, he often returns to do another row!

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  17. YaY! Happy for you that you had a good visit with your Grands!
    Oatmeal is good breakfast food....it sticks to the ribs!!

    Love how the sock turned out.... crossing my fingers for you that you have enough for the second sock.

    All your projects look like they are coming right along. A nice way to finish up the summer, with some presents for your son too.

    Smiles :)

    K.

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  18. Great projects and well done on all the progress despite babysitting! Love all those bright colours on the dish cloth yarns - I so wish Knitpicks delivered to the UK, I'd buy yarn there all the time! :)

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