knittin' cacher

Seattle Update, Finally!

2009-10-02T15:28:00.004-07:00

The reason I came to Seattle in the first place: My baby, Clara Rose, graduated from Mariner High, with Honors. She sang a duet of "over the Rainbow", the IZ version and it was the highlight of the whole ceremony! I couldn't be more proud of all my children. And, I get to see them often. It does my heart good, I can tell you :)

I have been having a busy summer here in Seattle. I had to move twice and am staying now in a house with 4 other women, 5 dogs and one cat. It is an adventure! I really am having a good time, for all the chaos that my lifestyle involves.

My job at the Fiber Gallery is very wonderful. I work mainly on the weekends and fill in when others are on vacation. I get to teach some of the classes and am the resident "right handed" crocheter. So I have been doing some wonderful crochet for the shop as well as on my own.

I went to one of the local kntting groups, the Capitol Hill Knitters of Doom (group on Ravelry) and met some really nice gals. Two of them met me at the shop the next day and we had a great time hanging out. Then, yesterday, one of them came over and we did some dying! Here are some pics:

So, I have to get going for the rest of my day and prepare more for the crochet class I teach this weekend. Best to all and now that I am back on Ravelry, you can find me there, too! Hugs, KC

Updates and movin' on

2009-05-19T11:49:00.006-07:00

Well, it has been a long time since I updated my blog. I just got to the point where everything I had to report was upsetting, but now the future is more settled feeling and looks brighter!

I moved out of my house, and feel much lighter.
I have my two dear dogs, Hershey the brown toy poodle and Lucky the schauzer mix. We are staying with my friends Jill and Lura until we go to Seattle in early June.

I visited Seattle in the early spring and it felt like HOME again. I got to see my actress daughter in her high school play and met up with some new friends and got to hang out with them. My oldest daughter and I went to our favorite yarn shop and I got to see my brother and my son as well. The trip confirmed for me that I was wanting to go back to Seattle longer term.

After toying with the idea of getting a trailer to live in and tow behind my Volvo, I decided to rent a room in a house in Mountlake Terrace. It is a suburb in south snohomish county, half way between where my kids live and where my friends live and easy access to everywhere. It has a big, fenced yard for the dogs and a nice living area and bedroom for me. My landlord (a young computer programer) will be my housemate and there are other housemates in the downstairs of the split level. So I am hoping that it all works smoothly. But at least, for now, I have a place to land for a month so I can look for work. (I got laid off from DR H the home builder, in Dec, 08)

I am finishing up my tenure as knitting guild president and have found someone to take the membership responsibilities! This is a huge load off of my mind.

Living with J and L has been a good learning experience. I have begun weaving and have learned alot about keeping an organized home from watching Miss Lura and her sharpie pens and lables!

I have done some small knitted soap sacks for the ladies who helped me this year in the guild. Each one is a bit different, but basicly, I cast on 25 or so on size 8needles with dishcloth cotton. I do a few rows of seed stitch, K1, P1 and then P1 K1 on the opposite row. I slip the first stitch purlwise and on a purl row, knit the last stitch so that I get a chain edge.

After the seed stitch I add a row of eyelet for a drawstring, k1, yo, k2 tog across. If the numbers don't come out even, oh well! Then purl back and do several rows of stockinette. Knit one row, purl the next.

Then I throw in some more lace holes for interest. I like the one with the three holes that lookes like a violet or a heart or on the diagonal. Just have fun. Knit for a total of 4 inches or so (more if you are using a big bar of soap) and then bind off.
Leave a long tail after you bind off. Fold sack in half and sew up with the tail the bottom and the side. Crochet a chain, knot the ends and thread it through the eyelet row.

These sacks are quick, fun and neat to use. They hold an expensive bar of soap that you want to stay dry until you use it, or little bits and pieces of soap that you want to use all the way up. The sack works as a washcloth and can be washed after the soap has run out. I rinse mine off after every use, but hey, it is soap in there, how dirty could it get??!

Now that I am back up and feeling good, I will attempt to keep up the blog and let everyone know how I am doing as I travel! KC

A Good Day Sept - Oct.

2008-09-26T12:50:00.006-07:00

I have been neglecting my blog all summer, because life has been busy. I have my daughter living with me now and she is working full time, I have my girlfriend here too, as well as taking in two housemates! We have a full house, not counting the extra three cats and two dogs that are part of the family now. I love it.

As you know, the market as been tough and it seems that it is not getting any easier as so many of the banks and lenders are having such trouble. The future is uncertain in that regard, but I realized today: I have yarn to last me 2 to 3 years, at least! LOL

It is the simple things that keep ya going, ya know? Like looking forward to seeing fall leaves on my cruise of the west coast. We leave tomorrow. Like knitting with soft yarn in a great color. Like selling a house every now and again. So all is well in my world as of right now.

I took a look at my UFO's and decided which ones to continue with. I made a list of gift knitting and swap knitting. I also made a list of things I can knit to sell. I am having my knitting and spun yarn juried in November so that I can sell things at the Tucson Museum of Art Sale at the Weavers and Spinners guild booth. I know that the profit is small, but the joy is large.

Enjoy your fall season everyone. Ours is slow in coming but by Halloween we should be basking in 70 degree days and 45 degree nights. Another reason to love Halloween!

The head picture is of some yarn I spun in a Spin a long from the ravelry group Spin Big! I had a blast drum carding the batt and spinning a thick, even single! Great progress in my hopes to spin Malabrigo like yarn!

Great Gratuate!

2008-06-22T11:00:00.003-07:00

Had a great time with the kids up in Bellingham WA and Sharayah Graduated with Honors from the Psychology Department! Enjoy, More later...
This is an example of WHY people move to the NW. ONE DAY in 20!

Me and my three great Kids!

New Tattoo!

2008-06-08T07:34:00.008-07:00

Well, I finally took the plunge and got a tat on my lower back. I had been thinking about it alot a few years ago, but put it on hold when I learned from my daughter that they were called "tramp stamps". Put a damper on my enthusiasm. Well, with all the changes that have taken place in the last 3 months, I got the urge again to get another tattoo and felt that if I got one that you couldn't see with clothes on, that it wouldn't really be a TS, so here she is:

The dragon is my protector power animal and the spiral is the source of creative energy and spirit connection. I went to Maggie May's in Tucson and had Steve, their main artist help me with the design. I decided after seeing this picture, that he really has a special passion for his work!

Notice I am attempting to Knit! Hahaha! I got a few stitches in and realized that my tension would be waaay too tight if I continued. LOL So my friend AarYn helped to distract me while Steve was working on me.

Well, on Tuesday I am off to Seattle, then Bellingham, to attend my daughter Sharayah's graduation from Western Washington. She is being honored as the top student in the psychology department as well as graduating Magna Cum Laude! I will have lots of pics for the blog when I get back. I am also going to meet Hoptoad (Ravelry name) for some geocaching while up with my brother. Really looking forward to it! Sorry that I haven't done more blogging in the last few weeks. Life has been hectic, but happy. Sales are still going well and my financial future looks brighter by next month! Hugs to all, Kc

Learning to Weave!

2008-05-17T07:56:00.007-07:00

Jill spining in the background
Lura, my weaving teacher.

This is my true begining into Weaving! On Tuesday,with my dear friend Lura's help, I got a warp on the warping board and got the table loom threaded. It did take a while, but I enjoyed the process, which, I understand is a really good thing!

Then, a few days later, I went back to Lura and Jill's house and got the warp tied on and began to WEAVE! Yes, really, folks. All I could do was sing "I am a weaver now" The checks began to appear as if by magic, and it is so fast! I think I am going to be hooked, if I am not already!

It was so nice to be there and all three of us kept chatting. Jill is my spinning instructor and now to learn weaving from Lura, I am twice blessed with such good friends. and they only live 5 minutes from me!

On the work front, things are going well. We are still selling and my company was number 1 in the Tucson market for home builders for the month of April! And a third of those numbers were ours, at our subdivision! Now, if the houses will close...I can get paid!

I will be going to Cats on Sunday night with Jill, Lura and a new friend, Chris. I have never seen the musical, just know some of the songs from Choir and such. Really looking forward to it. I am going to scoot out of work early and meet everyone for dinner and then the show. I am really pumped. Life is good. Hugs to all, KC

Trip to Show Low, or My friends are Aces!

2008-05-07T17:13:00.008-07:00

I took off in a rented Mazda 5 on Monday afternoon. Fortified with Chocolate and water and a full tank of gas, I left my worries and bald tires behind, along with the desert heat.

The drive up was fun in the sporty sedan and as always, I enjoyed the scenery. (sorry, didn't think to stop for pics). Let's just say that the drive up has similar vistas to the Grand Canyon, but if you stop to do much looking, you stand the chance of getting behind a Walmart Truck and going REALLY slow! I did get a lot of zip in the passing lanes, they are right about the Zoom,Zoom on the commercials.

I stayed with my BFF Marilyn, who happens to be a Shaman. I got a lot of time to just be, and got some spiritual clearing treatments that were really beneficial. Marilyn and I went shopping on Tuesday and went to two thrift stores, two high end country style gift shops, the yarn store and the quilt store! I have purchases from each one, of course!

My favorite purchase was at the St.Vincent dePaul's: A soft as butter, wonderfully worn, Black Leather Jacket! I call it my "alter ego" biker chick coat!

Tuesday night we had a girls craft night where I worked on a beater for my drum, Marliyn painted on Coyote gourd rattles and Minda sewed some leather medicine bags. Barb kept up company and we all had a wonderful time.

As with all friendships, I got to learn something new about Marilyn this trip. She Loves to Weed her yard! Here she is enjoying her favorite past time!

The picture at the top is aview from her deck. Really a slice of heaven on earth.

The ride home was quick and I picked my car with the new tires on it and home I went. The dogs were glad to see me and the cat dissapeared as soon as I fed her. Cats!

I am going to give some more time tonight to the Amanda Hat, just so I can finish it. Not crazy about the pattern stitch, but the color of Malabrigo is outstanding. I haven't gotten my malabrigo swap yet, so I must have someone who is waiting for everything to come in before they send it. I need to check Rav to see if my swapee enjoyed her package. She got it and didn't post before I left. Back to work routine tomorrow. All is well.

Happy May Day

2008-05-01T07:58:00.006-07:00

I have been extra occupied this last 4 weeks, but I have something to show for it. Mr. Greenjeans is done! This picture is pre-blocking and I think it looks Great! And it fits just right, too. I have it soaking in the sink and will lay it out to block before work.

My dogs, Hershey & Lucky are waiting anxiously with me while it soaks....

My Cat, Minkus, is not so enthused!

But they are my household now. I am single as of middle of March. My life partner and I went our seperate ways back in March and we are both doing just fine, if not better. We remain friendly and are trading dog sitting. She took Molly and Willie to live with her and I kept Hershy, Lucky and Minkus. She is living nearby in one of the furnished rentals that she owns and I will living here.

I continue to look forward to my oldest daughter, Sharayah, coming to live with me in July and I will be flying up to Seattle to attend her graduation in June from Western Washington University.

My work life has become wonderfully busy as well. I wrote up four contracts last Sunday. I haven't been that busy for sooo long. And my sales partner, Joan, wrote 4 over Saturday and Sunday. So the future is very bright financially, which helps my piece of mind soo much, as you can imagine.

I want to thank a special Ravelry friend, Spinknit aka Leanne, for her love and support. She and I have never met, except through Ravelry and yet we are so alike it is nearly spooky! She has been a rock these last several weeks as I would pour my heart out on the message post and she would respond with kind and gentle truths. Breaking up hurts, but the hurt passes. There are good days and not so good days, but day by day I will become stronger and better and more myself than ever before. And this is coming to pass. Thanks, Leanne.

Well, I had better get Mr. G out of the soak and block him so I can get to work on time and sell a few more houses! Hugs to all,

Fibers Through Time was Fabulous!

2008-04-08T10:10:00.007-07:00

Some of our class. Anne Fletcher is showing her hand spun and how she split a roving and used each color in differend skeins.

I got back Sunday night and got the garage arranged better for a dye studio. I was so excited to begin dyeing roving to spin! I worked yesterday and wrote two contracts, Yeah! So today and tomorrow, my days off, I can concentrate on fiber and house cleaning :)

In our Color in Spinning class, the teachers were Jill Holbrook and Mary Snyder. We spent the first day carding 20 samples and blending colors to create a rainbow for our notebook! The only bad thing was all the fiber in the air made my allergies so bad that by the evening I was drugged up to the max and had to go to bed at 8 pm! Not like me at all! But the next day we spun hand painted rovings in different ways so my nose was much better. This is Mary showing us how to Handy Ply. It is like Andean plying but you don't go around your middle finger both ways.
www.knitty.com/issuewinter05/FEAThandyplying.html

We helped each other alot and I made several new friends. Marty (in the puppy shirt on my right) showed me how to wind a small skein on my foot!

We learned how to fractally spin our fiber for subtle striping and also navajo ply which gives a 3 ply yarn that has more color definition because you use just one bobbin and ply the yarn to itself. Image a large crochet chain, if you will.
I knit mine up and will make a small bag out it. The top is the fractal section and the bottom is navajo ply. I plan to embellish it with sea shells and drift wood for a beach scene. It really reminds me of the beaches in Washington where I grew up.

Also on my list of things to do today are weigh in at Weight Watchers and get my yearly mamagram. Then I will come home and get to some dyeing (I Hope!) Hugs to all! KC

Happy Spring!

2008-04-02T08:21:00.004-07:00

Today is the first day I have begun to heat the pool. I am having some out of town family over this morning and promised the little guys that they could swim. I am going to take advantage of it myself, too. But Horror Of Horrors, My Pool Basket Ball is FLAT! This is a Major Breach! I have to go buy a pump, 'cause the one last summer broke.
For a flash back on pool fun, here is pic from September. Gotta Love a pool when it is over 100 degrees. Today won't get that hot, but hopefully up to the 80's so it will be fine for the boys. Me, I may whimp out unless the sun is beating down :)

That is my daughter, Ravel Rayah, (Sharayah) with the ball and my son Shad.

Last ditch efforts

2008-03-30T09:52:00.005-07:00

I have been madly crocheting the handspun shawl that I am putting in the Fibers through Time Gallery. It is a great pattern by local fiber guru, Kathy Withers of Unique Designs. I was hoping to finish last night and block this morning, but of course, my friend Murphy showed up and said HA right in my face. I am about 4 yards short of yarn to finish the last row. I think I can spin more to match. going to give it a go here in a moment, but thought I would let you all know how it goes.

Had a great time with Sharayah here. We knit and watched movies and she participated in our Gansey study group and came home and knit nearly the entire teddy bear sweater in the following days! The girl is amazing!

She is back in Bellingham,WA now for a few more months to finish her BA, then she comes to live here, YEAH! She called yesterday and told me it was snowing up there. She was so dejected and is so looking forward to being here in the sunshine, it was rather sweet.

E is for Exact!

2008-03-12T09:18:00.006-07:00

I was having trouble coming up with an example of E, until I dyed my Bare sock yarn from Knitpicks to match my Apricot Malabrigo. I would say, that for an hobbyist dyer, I got an EXACT match on the wonderful peachy color! My yarn is on the left and the Malabrigo is on the right. What do you think? Pretty good, Eh?

I ordered more of the Apricot so that I can knit up the Sunkist pattern that is on Ravelry. It is a cropped top down sweater that I am going to alter to have some open lacy texture. Malabrigo is a wonderful yarn, soft and warm. The pattern will help me have a sweater that will be easy to wear in the summer here in all the cold air conditioned places. And, of course, I will have socks that match! Too Cool.

I am making good progress on my Mr. Greenjeans sweater, but I don't think I will have it done in time to wear it for St. Patty's. I have to finish the second clog for the class I am teaching this Saturday first. then I can concentrate on Mr. Greenjeans. Then I have to crochet the shawl for Fibers Through Time by April 3rd! I must love the excitement that deadlines bring, or else I am an Excitement Junkie!

I will keep you all up to date as I can. My best friend comes tonight for a short visit and then Saturday my daughter, Rayah, comes for 10 days! Woo Hoo! I love having company, especially when we have our cleaning gal coming on Friday. LOL Plus I have the whole weekend off.

Hey, another thing to let you know, I can go back to a 5 day work week next week! I will have Tuesday and Wednesday off every week and boy, will I love it! I can go back to my Tuesday weight watchers meeting in the morning and I can go to the Weavers and Spinners guild meetings on the 4th Wednesdays! I just have to trade with my partner to be able to go to the knitters guild on the third Thursdays.
It will be so great to not have to work 7 to 9 days in a row anymore. Halle Lu :)

First Class a Success!

2008-03-06T08:43:00.003-07:00

I really enjoyed teaching the fiber trends felted clogs class yesterday! I had two students and both got a good start on their first one. I had typed out the first 6 rows to be more readable with only the numbers for the women's medium. I really recomend this to you all. If you need it, I can email it to you.

To keep us relaxed, I brought my ipod boom box and played music from the movie "Emma" as well as some soundscape background music. And I brought some girl scout cookies. We drank tea and had a great time! We meet again next Saturday to go over the cuff and double sole and felting tips. Then I can join the spinning group there afterwards!

I got my first shipment of fiber from Spunky Eclectic's fiber club yesterday! It is South African Fine and is really soft. I will add a picture when Blogger let's me. It is on the blink right now. The colors are pink, yellow and a very subtle lavender.

Almost Malabrigo March!

2008-02-28T08:40:00.004-07:00

Here are some photos of the swatches that I have been working on for Mmmalabrigo March for the Ravelry group. I will be participating in the Mr. Greenjeans sweater KAL
The yarn I am knitting it with is the Malabrigo worsted Merino in Emerald Blue. I got it from www.yarnzilla.com. They have great customer service and I recommend them, plus the shop owner is participating in the Mr. GJ KAL, which is a fun bonus for me!
The purple swatch will probably be for a hat KAL as well. The Malabrigo group in Ravelry is hopeing that with everyone casting on at the same time on March 1, it will push Malabrigo Merino up to number one on the Ravelry Yarn List!

I also finished Clara's Quant headband. I am really ahead with her birthday, which is toward the end of March. Her main present is already up in Everett! I just love internet shopping for long distance gift giving, don't you?

I have been battling a nasty cold that turned into infection this last week. Now that I am on antibiotics, I am feeling much better. I did get some knitting done while I stayed at home, but I had to rest alot and as well as feeling yukky and coughing constantly, I went through an emotional wringer. I got mad and cried and acted out. Being sick really can get me off my even keel. I am glad to be almost back to my happy go lucky self, today.

I also want to thank all of you who check in regularly to this blog. I know I don't respond to each post, but I want you to know how much your comments mean to me. They always make me smile and give me some good things to think about.

D is for DONE!

2008-02-20T07:58:00.007-07:00

I finished the Noro vest! It steam blocked just great. I will show it at my knitting guild tomorrow and then take it to the shop to try to get students to sign up for the class. I think it will fit my daughter just fine.

D is also for Dragon. Here is my favorite guardian!

Tomorrow after guild, a few of us will be learning how to decifer EZ's rib warmer pattern. I am making mine out of cotton. I have knit a multi needle gauge swatch and washed it. The cotton really moves, stretches and relaxes when washed! The pattern calls for size 9 needles and 4 stitches per inch with yarn doubled. I think my best needle size to get gauge may end up being size 6!

ABC along

2008-02-16T14:55:00.008-07:00

I found this group on Ravelry and decided to play! They started in January, so I am a bit late, but here are the first three letters to get me caught up:
A is for Amethyst and B is for Bird. This is the hand carved Bird that Ann got at the gem show last week. It is so lovely in our living room.

C is for Chiminea. We love having a warm fire burning on the back porch this time of year.
Cis also for Chakras. I feel it helps me to meditate on the different chakra's to align my body/mind connection.

EEk! I Steeked!

2008-02-15T11:20:00.006-07:00

Well, I sucessfully sewed and steeked my noro vest! And I sewed up the sides and did the 3 needle bind off at the shoulders. It is amazing how Fear keeps a good knitter down. This is my first time really putting a garment together. So now I can really say that "I am a Fearless Knitter" Enjoy the pictures of my process. And,yes, that is a dirty vodka martini beside my sewing machine, with nods to EZ.

I am now knitting the ribbing around the neck edge, which did need to be restarted, as at first, I kept going in the round, rather than turning and going back. This will help create the overlap in the front for a nice finished look, I think.

We had a nice, quiet Valentines day here. We stayed home and watched "Becoming Jane" which is about Jane Austin's early life as a writer. I do reccommend it, but be warned, we both cryed buckets at the end.

Hope you all are well, and I want you to know that I do appreciate the few loyal readers who comment. I haven't forgotten our comment drawing. I will be coming up with a new one very soon! KC

Good spinning!

2008-02-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some of the pics of my weeks spinning. I really have appreciated having my spinning to relax me when the vest went south. I am getting better and am excited to start knitting some small projects with what I have. I am also thinking I will knit a swatch with the hand dyed commercial for the Mr. Green Jeans! Tell me what you think.
I have Monday and Tuesday off this week and will spend both days at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. It is a huge, city wide event that is so much fun. On Monday, I will go with two beading friends to the bead shows and on Tuesday I will be with Ann and a new friend, Tonya, and we will do some of the rocks and imports as well as some beads. I hope I won't be tempted to buy too much, as I have most of my purchases from last year sitting in my bead drawers! I just love knitting too much right now to take out any bead projects. How do you handle having multiple craft loves?
Have a great week and hug a knitter this week! KC

Back on track

2008-02-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, with the help of Sharayah, I decided to go ahead and continue knitting the noro vest the size it is. She had a great insight, that I wouldn't want to be bitter about the vest if I were to rip it and re-knit it. It is so true.
By accepting the vest as it is, I will no doubt knit on it quicker and since it won't be for me, I will get a chance to "learn" on this one, and tweak the next one that I make that will be for me!
I have been spinning a bunch the last few nights too, and hope to show you some pics. I know we skipped the comment drawing in January, and I hope to re-invent another type of contest/freebie this month, but don't quite know what I want to do. Thanks for staying tuned and until next time, Knit with a smile! KC

Happy and Sad, Frustrated and Mad

2008-01-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hi all, It seems that January has gone by so fast and I have accomplished some things that I had set my mind to and not others. Such is life and I don't want to dwell on all the minutia that doesn't make much difference, like not cleaning out my closet of summer clothes. Instead let me share with you my seeming accomplishments and my other challenges related to knitting.
As I have said previously, I am going to be on the class schedule in March and April at my favorite knitting shop in town, Kiwi Knitting. This is a major exciting thing for me.I will be teaching a vest made of noro silk garden, the felted clogs from fiber trends and knitting with your handspun.
I have been concentrating very hard on getting the Noro Vest knit up for the class example. I am behind by a week from my original goal of having it done and now I will be further behind. Here is why:
Today I finished binding off for the arm holes and went to count my stitches. You know, you count your stitches when the pattern puts them in, right? I was so surprised that I had only 70 stitches after doing the proper amount of decreases, when I was supposed to have 84. I recounted. I counted my rows of decreases. Finally, I counted the cast on number with the help of the easy to read stitch pattern of 4 x 1 rib. I only had 90 stitches, not the 100 I needed to fit me. I sat, stunned and open mouthed for a full 2 minutes. Then I remembered: I had re cast on to be sure that the color on the bottom would be continuous. I didn't do the right number that second time. I still can't believe that I made such a bone headed error.And it was due to my being a prideful knitter. You know what I mean. I want people to say, "Wow, you made that!" Not, "Oh, did you make that yourself?" Plus, I feel that I have angered the knitting gods by not finishing my brother in laws d*mn toe socks.
So, the poll today is "What should I do with the vest?" Please leave a comment as well, with your experience and strength.

A Few good Sales

2008-01-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your comments and encouragement Annie and N! I have sold two houses in two days since I wrote my last blog post! I knew I was due. Sales are like that. Both are quick closes and will boost the bank which is good. I love what I do, but the up and down nature of it does get to be a drain sometimes.
I had a bad night last night due to doggie sickness. I went to an extra early Monday sales meeting and I was really tired. I have learned what my limits are, as my friend Joan said today. "You're old and now you know you limits" I gave her a playful slug in the arm and she quickly recanted the "old" part! But truely, I will no longer go more than 10 days in a row. Tomorrow is day 12 and I feel like I won't know what to do with myself on a day off. My car seems on auto pilot every morning 30 minutes down to Sahuarita. I was so low on gas the other night, that when I filled up it went to 17 gallons rather than 16 and cost me $50 bucks. Ah well.

It has helped that I have the pleated vest coming along really well. It is heavely to knit and I just did the decreases for the back arm holes and have several relaxing inches of stockinette for work knitting. I also bought myself a little cube basket at Fry's to keep one knitting project at work all the time. It is dark green and hides under my desk. I have the supplies for a pink baby sweater for a co-worker ready in there. It was part of my "can't get gauge" problem last week, but now I have the smaller needles with it to do another swatch.

It will be nice to get settled in my work space in the coming week. Today I spent a while at the other office writing up another sale, so I still felt split. But since I could sell one of those homes today, I did. I loose the right to sell all 3 products on Wed. when I am officially the full time site person for my section. It will be fine and I will enjoy putting pictures of my kids up!

Happy knitting and I will try to take pictures this week of us cleaning the cotton for spinning!

New Years Swatching

2008-01-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long stretch at work. Today is my 10th day in a row. And I haven't sold a house yet. Go figure. People that consider my homes are also considering resales. Or if they really want my home, they have no money or poor credit. I am due for several in a row at this rate.
On my days off coming up (Wed & Thurs) I will get to be around knitting friends both days. Wed. some of us are getting together to talk about the upcoming knitting guild elections and then work on cleaning some of the great cotton my friend Joe gave me in Nov. Then Thursday is the knitting guild meeting with a special speaker. Then lunch out with a new friend. I will probably stop by the yarn shop too, and speak some more with the owner about the classes I will teach.
I began swatching for the top down sweater by Pure and Simple in Silky Wool by Elsbeth Lavold. I didn't have the right gauge so still need to do some more with that. I realized that I have two needle sizers and one is less accurate, so I may have to dump it. The reason the swatch didn't look right is the needle I thought was a six, was a seven.
I swatched for the pleated vest from Blue sky alpaca and got gauge and began, but decided that I need the large, not the medium. So yesterday I ripped back, cast on a few more stitches and got the dcenter ribbing done. I just love knitting with that yarn! Then I grabbed a larger needle for the stockinette and have done a few inches, but am not on gauge. My swatch has no notes on it. I listened to "Knit Science" podcast yesterday about gauge and she mentioned the trick of putting the needle size in code in the swatch by using yarn overs! I will be doing that in the furture!
I have not done any spinning for weeks and I miss it, but I just feel compelled to keep knitting so that I can get something finished! My hope is that by the end of this month I can have several projects going strong and some good spinning done. I think all of this swatching is making me a bit blue, cause I can't get it right and I have sooo many needles, but don't ever seem to have the RIGHT one when I need it.
Well, on the positive side, I have met a personal daily goal I set for myself for 4 days in a row. And yesterday I borrowed the book "7 habits of highly effective people" and reading that will be good for me.

New Year's Clogs for Paul!

2008-01-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Yay! The one "Late" Christmas project that I promised myself I would do is done! I knit up the large men's size of the Fiber Trends clog pattern in ultra alpaca red and green for my best friend, Paul. I gave them to him pre-felted and then put them in the wash while we had a nightcap. They fit and he Loves them! Here he is with his dog, Whinnie, who comes with him to visit and gets to play with our pack. Whinnie is also the bathing beauty on the pool floatie in the previous post during Sept. "Summer Fun update".

My theme for this new year is gratitude. I am grateful that I have a happy home, a great life partner, wonderful children and fabulous friends. And it seems that the hardships of 2007 are behind us. Ann's vaction rental business is booming and I now will have my own sales site to call my own and be able to sell, sell, sell! And to top it off, my favorite yarn store, Kiwi Knitting, has asked me to teach some classes this spring! Man, I am so excited! As Paul has taught me, "Thank You God and Associates"!

So now my knitting will have an extra focus of class preparation, which I hope to take advantage of to knit things I have been wanting to, like the Pure and Simple top down sweater and a vest out of Silk Garden! Stay tuned and check the Ravelry site too! KC

Yarn Drawing Winner! Happy New Year

2008-01-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

December's Yarn Winner is Rayah! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it! I will get it in the mail to you asap.

Happy New Year everyone!

Our Chrismas was good, but we had a dog fight between our two poodles and had to take the little one to the emegency Christmas evening. She got a bunch of stitches and is doing well now.

Today has been a great beginning to the new Year, as I got my desk at home cleared off. Next I am off to organize my yarn room some more. It seems that is a never ending process! I am looking forward to my New Years knitting that I have been putting off, but I still have one more toe sock to do and the first one to correct. I will have pics of the first one by next week. My brother -in -Law and his friend both took pics with their camera's , but I didn't get any as my battery went dead just as we began opening. Bleh! He did love it, though!

I hope you all are Happy and Healthy today and will continue to be so into this great New Year!

Confessions (rantings)

2007-12-17T17:37:00.001-07:00

Sisters,

It is one week until Christmas Eve when we open presents. I must tell you, I have failed. I am still only on the first sock for BIL's Toe Socks. I spent an hour today, one whole hour, picking up dropped gusset stitches from the thing as I was trying to knit it on to 4 dpns from the broken circ fiasco. I Had No Crochet hook. I am still at the gusset decreases. I don't know if these will fit him, I will have to fit each blasted toe to his foot (with a blind fold on?) His sister is nagging me to work on them when I am at home doing something else. I must not get myself worked up. Sorry.

To my confessions: Forgive me fiber sisters, for I have sinned. It will be 8 unknit Christmas gifts this year. A pair of socks for S, felted slippers for M and P, shawls for L and J, Mrs. Beetons for B, scarves for B's 2 girls. I began with such noble, pure thoughts in October, but my sin of selfishness and pride took over and I knit myself 2 hats and bought yarn for two sweaters and spent many hours on the computer over in the devils den of Ravelry making new friends. Please deliver me from this unrighteousness and help me resist the temptation to wrap up yarn and patterns and give them with an IOU. That is the path to my eternal destruction. Pray for me, sisters, now and in the hour(s) of my knitting. It is by your grace that I will finish the blessed toe socks and a miracle of your love if they fit.

As my penance I promise to give away much of my stash (especially with Acrylic in it) in 2008 and never again promise, hint at or tease with, a hand knit item for anyone else at Christmas. Amen.

Catch up and Fourth Comment drawing

2007-12-15T08:39:00.001-07:00

Hello all you out there in fiber-holic land! I have been absent from this blog due, in part, to Ravelry! I love it. My daughter, Sharayah, has just gotten her invite too, so it has been double the fun, as she is in Bellingham, WA and it is so fun to see her WIP etc. She is Ravelrayah, in case you want to check her out. (Thanks Cindy of Delighted Hands!)

I have been madly trying to get ahead on BIL's Toe Socks. I was cruising along with the KP Harmony wooden circs, size 1, when last night, I put them in the beaded bag and heard a sickening "SNAP" Ughh, one broke. Now I have to find my addi turbos in the red toe up socks and switch and make sure they are the same mm size... Tomorrow morning.

I made a crochet hat this week out our SWT soy wool. It is sooo cute, don't you think? It fits me better than the bear!

The spun autum colored wool is going to be our next prize for this months comment drawing. I am going to wind off half the bobbin and 2 ply it. Ran out of Bobbins don't ya know! But now I have the little gem as well as the Rose from Majacraft and so I have 8 bobbins now!!! The little gem spins like a dream and seems to be much lighter on the feet. The tension is a bit touchy, but so far, if I leave it alone, no problems.

Gotta run and get ready for work, which has been terribly slow. Have a great day and be sure to comment! Hugs, KC

Handspun Cap Karma

2007-12-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

I found this pattern on Ravelry under the patterns for hats. Wrong, sorry, I found it with the help of Stash and Burn! It links you to a yahoo group of a new designer named Marie: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smariekknits/. Brooklyntweed put a modification on her blog to continue the cables up into the decreases, rather than stop, so that is what I did. Then I added the little eye cord on the top. Reminds me of my Brownie Beanie!

I loved knitting with my own handspun. The roving was from Deborah Brunner, a memeber of our spinners guild. She has her own web site where you can purchase. http://www.deborahbrunner.com/. Just look under the store section. Mine was the wool and silk blend. I want to get more, but I am determined to spin what I have and keep dyeing my own.

I am having my friend Natalie over today to do some dyeing. she is also my beading buddie. Next week we plan to go up to Scottsdale to Jessica Knits for a trunk show and hit the big bead store, too. We need to get more hanks of the size 8 beads that are so good to use on yarn. They go on fast when you use the beadspinner from the Bead Spinner Lady!

Gotta run, have a great day/week. Until Soon. KC

Great felted Clogs!

2007-12-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Ann's felted clogs (second attempt) came out great! I used the Berrocco Ultra Alpaca and, though it takes a while to felt down to the right size, it works great. I found that adding a pair of old or kinda dirty tennis shoes to the load helps it move along faster. Also, folding over the pillowcase that the clogs are in and pinning it with safety pins is a good way to go. Better than a wet knot! The sun is not as hot, so it is taking a longer time to dry them.
Has anyone had success with putting them in the dryer for a short time???

I began a hat for me with some hand spun that is coming out really well. I will post more in a few days on that. But I did find the pattern on Ravelry. gotta love it.

I went out with Ann to the golf course today, and really had a good time. The weather was perfect and on the 10th hole, I wish I had my camera, it was so pretty. I just go a long for the ride and watch the pin as she putts, but I did make a few Practice shots off one tee. I can't get hooked on golf. They say it is worse than knitting! Ann is a member of The Pines, which is close by the house. It is an old gravel pit with lots of turns on the cart path. Not good for knitting, but fast, when she is playing by herself with just me. As long as she plies me with beer, I can hang :)

Good luck with all of your holiday knitting and Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate it.
We have most of our decorations up but still need to put ornaments on the tree. Hugs, KC

We Have a Winner!

2007-12-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

The winner of the November comment drawing is Cate K. Thanks to all who participated and I will attempt to have one for December, too.

Congratulations Cate! I will be getting in touch with you today.

I stayed home sick yesterday and this morning I got back on the computer and still no Cast On Pod cast. Total Bummer. I am checking out Stash and Burn due to many postive comments from Brenda's fan club on Ravelry.

Take care and happy knitting! KC

Uggh Slippers!

2007-11-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did. We learned a new dice game that was very addicting.:) It was just our family which includes Ann's bro and partner, so it was very relaxed. The Turkey on the grill was gorgeous. As I tried to take a picture of it, of course my battery pack had to be recharged. I am going to ask for an extra one for Christmas.

Well, as you can see, Ann's slippers came out UGGGhly. They didn't get small enough, but the cuffs got extra small, so that my son could not even put them on. After tossing them in the yarn room for a few days, Ann got them out and began wearing them! She is such a good sport. I have, of course, began another pair for her in the Ultra Alpaca. The first one is done and I must cast on the second one today. Lesson: do a test shrink for any yarn not used before. Plan: Only use Ultra Alpaca for felted clogs!

I am loving Ravelry! It is a real time vortex. I spent two hours yesterday at work on it and could have been knitting. I already have several friends, including all of you who have read and commented on the blog. And I found a group up at Western WA that gets together to knit and I sent the info up to my daughter who goes there.

In celebration of Brenda Dayne coming back to Podcasting after a looong break, I will anounce the winner of the yarn drawing on the 30th, tomorrow. So if you are new to the blog, comment now and be in the drawing! Have a great day and I will see ya tomorrow! KC

Comment Drawing for November

2007-11-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Please tell me your ravelry name in your comment so that I can put you on my friends list. I am having a lot of fun exploring ravelry. Last night I tried to put my pics into Flicker and drag them over, but was unsuccessful. I will keep at it this week.

The yarn for this months drawing is a merino. It came out heathery with pink and lavender in it. I will draw the winner at the end of the month. Enjoy time with family and friends this Thanksgiving! KC

I am on Ravelry!

2007-11-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah! I got my invite to Ravelry this weekend. I need to spend time on the home computer to add my picture, but you can find me as "Knittincacher". I set up my library, some of my projects and joined the Arizona knitters, the Brother Amos KAL and the Brenda Dayne fan club.

If you haven't signed up yet to join Ravelry, you ought to. It is way fun and soon, after the Beta site is done, you won't have to wait. It really is meeting the goal of being a huge meeting/finding place for knitters and crocheters. It is on the www at ravelry dot com. You sign on to the waiting list and then you can check back on the tracker and it tells you how many people are ahead of you and on the blog it tells you how many they are "inviting" a day.

To Celebrate, I am announcing my third comment drawing. So do leave me a note and I will put you in the drawing at the end of the month.

Ann loves her slipper. I am finishing the second one this week! We had a great time at her party and she loved her big gift from me, a sky caddie. She used it the next day and it really helped her game on a course she was unfamiliar with. She loves golf like I love knitting!

Pictures of the yarn soon. KC

Thanks for voting in the poll!

2007-11-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

It seems that there are only a few reasons for me to create yarns for ebay or etsy. And right now I have decided that I just don't have time to prepare dyed yarn or spun yarn for either.
I am getting lots of knitting done for the holidays though! Unfortunately, if I post pictures of any FO's, the recipients may see them.
A bit of really good news is that sales seem to be picking up right now. Which makes a huge difference in our budget. Also, Ann's company, 'a la carte real estate services, is booking all of our properties for the winter. So, if you want to come to warmer Tucson during the cold winter months, check out her website at alacartehomeservices dot com. If you mention that you found her site through me, you will get a break on any properties that are owned by us.
I go to spinning guild tomorrow and then clean the house for the weekend of company and party on Saturday for Ann's b-day. We have 22 people scheduled to come on Sat. night! It wil be our biggest party since the bash of 2006 on 4th of July. Hopefully I won't end up being thrown in the pool this time! LOL.
Happy knitting, spinning or fiber petting! KC

Blue socks done!

2007-11-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

I got the blue socks finished and they are good. I really like the leg pattern which is from Sensational socks. I got half way done with Ann's felted slipper yesterday at work, so I am encouraged that I will be able to get them done for her B-day next week. I wrangled the day off for her too! I will spend part of the day with her and then clean while she is golfing with friends. Fun! Have a great weekend, all and I will check in later in the week and update you on the slippers. KC

New Poll, Please Vote!

2007-11-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I am considering putting a few fiber items on either EBay or Etsy. I need to know from you which one you may prefer, or any other comments that you would like to share.

As for my research, Ebay costs a bit more, and seems to nickle and dime you for things like extra pictures. Etsy is all handcrafted items, which is great, and it is cheaper, but the site itself is not very search friendly. Ebay is really specific and user friendly.

As for my knitting, I have another pair of Mrs. Beetons nearly finished and am finishing the second blue sock so there will be Two, Two Christmas presents done. HAHAHA (think of the Count on Sesame Street!) Then I will go back to some felted slippers for Ann's birthday which is in less than 2 weeks and hope I can get them done while at work, so they will be a surprise. It is hard to knit for someone you live with when they work at home and you see them all the time.

And David Reidy came back from break! So now I am waiting for Brenda and Heather to both get well. Sending them love and light and health!

Well, back to finishing the blue socks. KC

Happy November!

2007-11-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

My goodness, I didn't realize how chubby I looked last year! Or perhaps it is just too early to face myself with only 1/2 a cup of coffee in me. I have lost weight since then, really. To make up for it, here is a picture of the lovely HooDoos at Bryce Canyon. It you haven't been, you must try to go.

OK, I have more coffee and my computer glasses. Sorry about the odor, I just put base coat on my nails. I use Orly Bonder which is rubberized and makes my polish last at least 5 days which is 4 days more than if I don't use it!

Socks are on my mind and in my hands lately. I have the toe ups for Ann going well, and I went back to a pair I had set aside that are out of Tofutsie. I am using the blue color way. I had started the pattern from a mystery sock group, but when I realized the pattern of the mystery only made an ankle sock, I changed what I was doing and began a yarn over cable on the leg. It is a great pattern. When I got to the gusset, I stopped and began the second sock so that I could remember how I did the first one and not be caught in second sock syndrome. Then I put them away. Now I am back to them and, besides having to rip the first one back a bit, they are going well. I have both at the gusset decreases and hope to finish them this weekend. That will be one more gift done!

This morning it came to me to put together a "Sock Notebook". You see, I have so many patterns for socks printed off the internet just floating around, that they need a home. Actually they need a home that goes with me. I have a file folder stuffed full of patterns of socks, but there they languish. I want to have a portable, non crushable, nearly hugable, way to have my favorites with me. I will be working on that today.

The other thing on my mind is "I Miss My Pod Casts!" Brenda Dayne of Cast-On has been in Italy, David Reidy of Sticks andString has been on break, and Heather O of Craft Lit had a sore throat last week. I was sooo hoping this morning that all three would be up, but no. So for the last two weeks I been listening to a new podcast (to me) Forgotten Classics with Julie D. I am really enjoying "The Black Moth" of her early shows. Julie reads a few chapters a week and does a great job picking stories. If you like Halloween, she did several shows last month of short spooky stories!

It still is in the mid 80's here and I can't stand it. I am ready for some cool. At least at night it gets down to the 60's and we can have the windows open. Ohwell, enough complaining. I am off to get ready for work. I will post pics of the blue socks in the next few days. Take care all. KC

La Duchesse Wins!

2007-10-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

The winner of our monthly drawing for handspun yarn is La Duchess. Check out her blog at http://bubblycauldron.blogspot.com/. It was her very cool Meez animation that made me want one! Congrats Duchess.

Happy Halloween, everyone. I am not in the mood to dress up for work today, but here is the pic of last years fun.

good beginning

2007-10-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I have the first toe done on my Socks for Ann. After talking with her, I decided that I will not be doing the "brimstone" pattern in the foot section, as it may bother her. So I am off the hook for the moment. Brimstone waves will have to wait for the leg section to be figured out. I think the toe up method will work well for both of us, as I am noticing wear on the sides of my socks where I have done the k2 tog and the ssk. They get stretched and thin and look like they need some TLC, even though they may be less than one year old.
Hopefully tomorrow my book will come from Amazon about knitting toe up with 2 circular needles. I will let you know.
Thanks to everyone who has been posting comments! You all will be in the drawing for the light rust yarn shown below. It is a blend of Merino that was dark rust with spashes of green, gold and red that I carded with some natural alpaca and spun up on the wheel. It is two ply and aprox. 100 yards.
And for the poll, I am glad to see most everyone is in the same boat, with several Holiday gifts still on the needles or perhaps still just in our inspired section of gray matter! For the wonderful person who says that they are nearly done and just need to sew in some loose threads, I applaud you! Please email me with photos and I will have a special prize for you.
For everyone who is affected by the devistating fire in Cali, my heart goes out to you. My Brother in law is safe so far in Carlsbad, but I am anxious to get to work and see if our San Diego division was hit. I wish I could just pack all my yarn and needles in the car and drive over to the stadium and sit and knit with whoever needed to. If any of you in the area there can do this, please, let me send you supplies. email me kcqqltr at comcast dot net. Best to all, KC

Time for another comment drawing!

2007-10-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

As last months hand spun yarn drawing was so fun, I am going to offer it again! All you need to do is post a comment, or send me an email, and I will enter your name. I feel that I have two new friends from this experience, LDS Venus and Delighted Hands, aka Vicky and Cindy.

Cindy won the yarn last month and made a lovely pair of wrist warmers. Check out her blog at http://delightedhands.blogspot.com/.

Thanks to everyone who has voted in the poll. It seems many of us are in the same state of Hope/denial. I have to admit that I can't seem to stop knitting for myself long enough to knit up those gifts. I know all of you are not selfish like me and will persevere to the end and be met with cries of delight on Christmas morning.

My latest obsession is toe up socks. I began Brenda Daynes Hellfire and Brimstone socks yesterday. It is here http://www.cast-on.com/?page_id=160 under the title Brother Amos. Be sure to donate and get your copy. Just remember, it is in British pounds which means if you donate 5, you will pay 10 in US dollars.

I am using a red multi colored sock yarn from Pattons that I bought in Pinetop. As I was flogging myself with guilt over starting another project for ME, I realized, "Hey, this yarn was to be socks for ANN. She picked it out. So, for the guilt abatement record these socks will be knit and given to Ann. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

For more suppport in this new endevor, I am going to be joining http://myfirsttoeups.blogspot.com/ that I found thanks to Cindy's profile. Another reason to make friends in this online knitting community! We all have such diverse groups and things we know about, we can continually help each other.

The puppy got the yarn!

2007-10-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

This dog got into

my handspun from the other day (see below) and now it is a knarled mess! So that answers the question about wetting it on the niddy noddy. I will have to untangle it some day and re-wash it.

We have been busy this weekend with golf, (Ann) and work (me) and celebrating my birthday! It is actually today, but we went out with Ann's brother and friend for dinner on Saturday to Fletchers and had a great time. Ann got me "Bag Style" and a spa day at Gadabout! And her brother got me an ipod Shuffle! It is soo tiny and it is purple! I used it at work yesterday and just clipped it to my shirt. It was so easy to take off when customers came in. I love it!

Early morning meeting at the main office, so gotta run. Then my co-workers are going to breakfast with me for my B-day. Gave a great day, all. KC

Knitting and Spinning

2007-10-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting more every day, now that I am back at work! LOL. Here is the finished pair of Mrs. Beetons, (see link in last entry), as well as some spinning I did with batt from Kathy Wither's ranch here in Tucson. She creates really interesting mixes of her wool and mohair and I am trying to get enough like this spun to make her crocheted shawl pattern. Her company is called Unique designs and her web page is here:http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com/.

It is getting nice and cool here in the mornings, though still up in the 90's during the day, which all of us in Tucson are sooo tired of! I am enjoying being back to work and am trying to focus on knitting up my Christmas gifts. It is at this time of year that I wish I had started earlier!

A finished object!

2007-10-06T06:02:00.001-07:00

This is my latest finished piece. I was feeling blue one day so I stopped by my LYS, http://www.tucsonyarn.com/ and looked around for "comfort knitting". I don't remember how it all got started, but I tried on this shawl knit out of a mohair and loved how it draped. But the mohair was out of stock so I began looking around for a worthy substitute. I embraced the fluffy Lafayette by Bristol Yarn Gallery, which is a blend of 96% Suri Alpaca and 4% nylon in the lovely soft green, color 1042. But we (the wonderful shop gals and I) agreed that it needed a second yarn to get up to bulky weight called for in the pattern. I decided not to add merino in the same color way, as I thought it would be too pastel for a year round shawl, so Syd suggested Berroco's Softwist. It is a wonderful mix of 41% wool and 59% Rayon in a deeper blue green, color 9416. This yarn has a definite shimmer to it. We were all so excited about the combination, Ava wound both for me, even going the extra mile and winding the two together. I sat down and cast on a swatch with borrowed 13's and determined the fabric was perfect, so ripped out the swatch and began the shawl.

The pattern for the shawl is Oat Couture's English Garden. It starts at one narrow edge rather that the top or bottom. In garter stitch this was a breeze to knit, in fact I finished it in just 6 days. When I went back to the shop to report my progress ( and get more of the Lafayette, I had run just 20 rows short) there were 2 finished shawls and one on the needles from our brainstorming together! I have a request for one in multi colors from a friend and I want to knit several more to have on hand for gifts or "prayer shawls".

I will say though, that all those rows of garter stitch on big needles, had me looking longingly at my lace knitting and socks! I now have gone back to finish the second Mrs. Beeton's ruffled wristwarmer by Brenda Dayne of http://www.cast-on.com/, which is on http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter05/PATTmrsbeeton.html I will have a picture soon. Having begun my first one with beads as the pattern suggests, and then deciding it wasn't what I wanted, I can tell you that the first row With Out Beads is much easier to knit and nearly as charming. Also, before you knit the two ruffles together, make sure that your bottom one is showing as much as you like. that was the problem with my first attempt, so on the second go round I added a few more rows at the top of the underside before knitting the two ruffles together.

Also, on the work front, I am off hiatus and back selling at the master planned community Rancho Sahaurita, south of Tucson. It is lovely there and I am enjoying myself. Take care all, I am off to get my second cup of coffee! KC P.S. the dog in the picture is our Molly:)

New poll

2007-09-30T21:01:00.001-07:00

Check out the new poll and give me your thoughts! Thanks, KC

We Have a Winner!

2007-09-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I put all of the names of kind folks who had commented on the blog or via email on paper and did a drawing at my knitting group. I had brought my camera, even, but

Murphy was with me and I needed to charge my battery.

I am excited to announce that "Delighted Hands" won the hand dyed, hand spun yarn!

This was so much fun, that I am going to do a drawing a month for a while. It might be handspun, it might be roving, or it might be something from my stash. So keep those comments coming!

Last Day to Post a Comment

2007-09-27T10:33:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy week, but I haven't forgotten those of you who have posted comments and will be put in the drawing for some of my hand spun yarn! I will be doing the drawing tomorrow at my knitting group. So far these kind ladies have posted:

Cate K: magicneedles.blogspot.com

Delighted Hands.blogspot.com

Vicky aka LDS Venus

Marmee

and

Linda aka Zing

Friends who have emailed me with comments include:

Nancy

Candy

Sandy

Paul

Marie

So please, if you are interested, post a comment before 8 am tomorrow and I will put you in the drawing! Happy Thoughts to all, Kc

Thanks for your comments!

2007-09-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Everyone has been so kind on their comments. I really appreciate it. It is easier for other bloggers to post comments and my non blogger friends seem to be having problems. So if any of you bloggers can give me a hint or two to pass on, I would love it. I think I am finally ready to explore and learn more about blogging so any site recomendations would be great too.

I know I owe you a pic of my hand spun for the drawing next Friday, but I am wanting to spin up some more choices before I pick the one I will give away. So, today I spin.

Also, I have added myself to the purling puppies blog ring. So look for more pictures of me and my four delightful doggies! I wake up with so many thoughts of things I would like to share with you and I want to get more adept at adding links and my favorite podcasts, like Cast On with Brenda Dayne and Sticks and Strings with David from Australia. But for now, let me leave you with a pic of my best boy, Lucky, heart of my heart. Ta.

First Pattern to share!

2007-09-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

Some of you saw me knitting this scarf and asked for the specifics, so I decided to add them to the blog. I hope you like the pattern and give it a go!

The yarn is Tonalita by Trendsetter Yarns. It is a lovely wool (52%) and acrylic (48%) blend. It self stripes with soft, blended transitions that keep you waiting with baited breath for the next change. I purchased two balls in Pintetop, AZ this last weekend at Yarns and more. I also found it online at http://www.thevillagesheep.com/. And I would check Kiwi if you are in Tucson. The new Tucson Yarn Co. doesn't carry it.

With size 10 1/2 needles, I cast on 25 stitches and knit the first row.

I then began the seed stitch pattern, slipping the first stitch as if to knit, knitting the next stitch, purling the next, etc... ending with a purl stitch. Then the next row, I did the same thing again. As you repeat the row with an odd number of stitches, you automatically are purling the knits and knitting the purls, and by slipping the first stitch knit wise and purling the last stitch on every row, you get a great smooth chain edge. So, to write in pattern-ese, it should go like this:

Tonalita scarf in seed stitch on size 10 1/2 needles.

CO 25 stitches

row one: knit

row two and all following: Sl first stitch knitwise, *k1, p1* repeat to end of row, ending with a purl stitch.

Knit in this fashion for two hundred yards of yarn, or two balls of Tonalita for a scarf that is 6 1/2 inches wide by 47 inches long. This size is great for under the coat, as it only comes to your waist, if you are short. For a longer scarf out of two balls, try narrowing it down to 15 stitches, or buy 3 balls.

Cast off gently, so as not to pull in edge. Tuck in trailing yarn with your favorite darning needle and wrap up!

If you put a comment on my blog with your first name and email address, I am going to put them all in a hat next Friday, Sept. 28th, and do a drawing. The winner will get 100 yards of my handspun yarn. I will post a picture of it tomorrow.! So post those comments! KC

Weekend in Pinetop

2007-09-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time this last weekend up in Pinetop. Our dear friend, Minda, married a wonderful man, Kevin. Their wedding ceremony was a very spiritual experience, created around an outdoor fire ceremony. Afterward, many of us drummed and conversed around the fire while everyone ate and drank with sparkle lights in the trees. Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car in the parking area, too far off to retrieve. If I get pics from another source, I will share them.

On Sunday, I went with Ann to Pinetop Lakes Country Club. We paid the riders fee for me and she golfed with two nice men from Albuquerque. I listened to my ipod and read up on Geocaching. All the while, knitting last minute gifts for Kevin and Minda! The weather was beautiful, with a slightly chilly breeze of 70 or so. I enjoyed myself more than I thought possible. Ann played well and it was fun to see her in action.

As we left the golf course, it began to rain, so we put off going hunting for caches and went to see our old neighbor, Carol, instead. We found her in weakend health due to a massive heart attack last year. So we stayed for a good visit and encouraged them to visit us in Tucson this winter.

That evening, we went out to eat with Marilyn, Barbara, Minda and Kevin, to our favorite place, Mountain Thai. Yummy food and great friends. We left the next morning from Marilyn's great new house on the hill, feeling like we had had a perfect visit home. I even got Ann to go to the local yarn shop, Yarns & more, and she bought yarn from me to knit her two scarves and a pair of socks! The first scarf is going great and I will post the pattern and pictures later in the week.

Enjoy a few pics of Ann and the gang. Also, what I knit Minda and Kevin: Wristers for their early morning walks and evening time around the fire.

Slippers done!

2007-09-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the post-felted slipper clogs. They keep getting softer and yummier to wear everyday. I have already started a pair for Ann!

I played bunko last night with a group of gals and had a blast. They said the "newbies" get to host right away, so next mont, Bunko at our place! It is fun having something fast to play. It is a good change from knitting and spinning!

Lest you think I have forgotten my "cache" part of things, I am going to attempt to find a cache or two this weekend when we are in the Pinetop/ShowLow area for Minda's wedding. Ann will be playing golf on Sunday, so that is when I hope to get out in the woods! I will keep you posted. Oh man, please disregard the skinny ankles! KC

Felted Clogs

2007-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Sharayah and I finished our purple clogs. We made them out of Ultra Alpaca from Berocco using the FiberTrends pattern. We both made the medium size and it took about 20 minutes in the washer to felt them, checking them 3 or 4 times. I finally got smart and rather than tying a knot in the pillow case, I folded it over and pinned it down with 6 safety pins. Then to check the clogs as they felted, I just had to unpin one or two! Duhh!

Here is the before felted picture, showing Sharayah's leg, not mine! Will take pics of the after, today and post later.

Summer fun updates

2007-09-07T17:32:00.001-07:00

Here is a pic of Shad and Sharayah in the pool, as well as our friend and her dog!
Shad went back home and Sharayah has stayed on for a few more weeks. We had a wet felting day and a knitting day where the weather was bad and we listed to Harry Potter on CD all day while we knit! We have been having bunches of fun doing all our fiberlicoius activities. We plan to do some more felting of some knitted items, as well as dyeing some roving. As she leaves to go back to Bellingham, WA next Saturday, we had better get more done.

Summer is flying by....

2007-08-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have been busy enjoying the visit of Shad and Sharayah for the last week. We have been swimming and Sharayah and I have been spinning. Since I have nowhere to sell at the moment, I have plenty of free time. It seems that I need to make more time for this blog, before going out to the pool!

The above picture is of my favorite dye job yet! I spun some of it yesterday with my spindle and navajo plied it last night. I only got 40 yards so I will be spinning more soon!

Two days off!

2007-06-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to my two days off! It has been HOT here in Tucson; up to 109 degrees. I hope to do some swimming in the pool and some spinning. I also am going to plug in some area caches and try to get to them early while it is cool. I will let you know.

I am participating in the Mystery stole KAL : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/. I began my swatch with Lilac Zepher with my new Addi Turbo Lace needles. Man, what a breeze. So far, they only make them up to size 3, but I can see knitters all over the world clammoring for sizes 4, 5 & 6 for many lace applications. I am anxiously awaiting the first clue on Friday!
I will check in tomorrow to let you know if I made any progress with the treasure hunting. If you want more info, check out www.geocaching.com.

KC

The start of another week

2007-06-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I wasn't able to explore with my new GPS this weekend, as I had hoped, but I did search the web and found that there are a few caches near my site where I work. There are a lot of caches in Tucson and I look forward to finding them in the future.

I am currently knitting a stole with my handspun yarn. It is a lovely lavender colored mohair single. I will post pictures soon.

We were over at our friends house last night and I was able to spin cotton for the first time on my drop spindle! It is really interesting to have to "add more twist" when I have been attempting to keep my wool from being overly twisted!

I just signed up this morning for the "tour de fleece". Check it out! http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/2007/06/tour-de-fleece-2007.html.

Thought for the day: What could I do today to help me when I am 100 years old?
Spin On! KC

First Blog

2007-06-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well, for my first Blog, I would like to say, Welcome to the wild and wacky world of Knittin' cacher, where you can follow me on my journey to find the pot o' gold! I am a knitter who is getting started in the geocaching world in between selling new homes for America's Builder in Tucson, AZ.

This evening I sat outside in my back yard, enjoying the cool evening; meaning it was around 80 degrees in the dark. I had spent the day at my sales site, selling two homes and working until 8:45 pm. It is nice to earn a living helping people buy a great home. But I digress from our main topics.

I have been knitting for several years, and have recently learned to spin. Yes, I warned you it would be wild and wacky! Spinning adds a whole new dimension to my knitting. It also helps me center myself, as it is such a simple, creative act. I follow the spinning disk of my spindle as I gently pull small amounts of wool up and up as it becomes it's true self; yarn.

On geocaching, I am a beginner. I have a GPS, the manual, and some batteries. I hope to get the whole thing working tomorrrow. I am kind of worried that the cache sites in this area will be too hot to look for. I am not, repeat not, an early bird. I also worry about snakes. When I went caching with my brother, we were in cool weather in northwestern Washington. To take up this hobby of adult treasure hunting was due to his influence. You can find out with me how enjoyable it is in the 105 degree sun in southern AZ!

And, a little about me: I am a happy person who hopes for peace in the world. I live with 4 dogs, a cat, and my life partner of 10 years. I have 3 children and I would like to wish my oldest child a happy 21st birthday! On this day, 21 years ago, I birthed a wonderful human being and one of my dearst friends. Happy, Happy, RayRay.

Enough Blather, time for bed and a few pages of "Bitten", my latest night time read. Catch ya on the cache side! KC