Thursday, December 27, 2007

Finished Objects: Mostly Christmas Presents!

Well, Christmas is over :(. I can't believe it. I did get most of my Christmas knitting done with a few acceptable exceptions. Let me fill you in on what I have finished since my last FO post!


First up is one of many pairs of Fiber Trends Felted Clogs. This pair is made from Patons Classic Wool in Deep Olive and Natural Mix. There is a Fun Fur trim on the top that is done holding 2 strands of the wool and one strand of the Fun Fur in Sandstone. I love the way these came out. They are suppose to be women's size 11 so i made the men's size 13. It looks like they are going to fit but I have not given these to there recipient yet! We'll see!


Next: pink and black! I love the colors on these, but I don't like the shape as well. These have not been gifted yet either. The pink yarn is elann Peruvian Highland wool in Carmine Pink (discontinued). The black is Patons Classic Wool. Just like the first pair, these have a Fun Fur trim which is Lion Brand Fun Fur in Rainbow. These are super fun! The size is women's 10.


Blue and brown! I love these! The wool is Patons again in Too Teal and Chestnut Brown. This time the fun around the top is not Fun Fur but Patons Allure in Mink. This is another pair that has not been gifted. These are going to be hard to give away. I really like them!


These are the second pair of maroon clogs that I had to make for my dad. These fit much better. Did i tell you all that i made the first 2 pairs on the wrong needle size? I couldn't believe it! I did them on size 11s and the pattern calls for 13s. This is why the first pair was a bit small! Oh well! At least I have corrected the problem now! I gave these to him for Christmas and he just loves them! He has harldy taken them off! I am so glad he likes them. Mom loves hers too (the blue and grey ones from a previous post)! She has already asked for another pair!


This is a pic of the bottom of the blue and brown pair. I added a silicone caluk to all the bottoms so they would be slip resistant. This turned out great! You have to use soapy water to move the caulk around, but I have to say it was a lot of fun! i got 5 pairs of clogs out of one regular size tube of caulking.


Ok this wasn't a Christmas present but it is a FO!! My prayer shawl ministry group knit this one together for one of our members. She has no idea we are doing it and has not recieved it yet! I just had to show it off because it is beautiful! It is made out of 14 different yarns! you just cast on the length (in this case 165 stitches) and knit across changing yarns every row. this makes the fringe as you are knitting. the colors are so rich - reds, oranges, browns, and one dark yellow. it is so heavy too! it will be great for the winter! It will be blessed and given to her in a couple of weeks! She will be so surprised!


This is another prayer shawl. It was done in a basketweave pattern. I am really pleased with how it came out. It is Jo-Ann's Sensations Rainbow Classic in the Bright Multi colorway. These are huge skeins (615yds) so it only took one skein! I added ribbon to the fringe for a little extra prettiness (is that a word?...it is now!).

As you can see I have been busy! I have plans for about 5 more prayer shawls that need to be done before mid February! WOW! I am going to need to enlist some help! Wish me luck!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!! i hope that this Christmas day finds you and your family in good spirits. please enjoy this beautiful day that God has gifted us with. here is another knitting carol for you:



Have Yourself A Very Knitted Christmas

Have yourself a very knitted Christmas.
Let your scarves be bright
From now on your AMEX
Should be out of sight.

Have yourself a very knitted Christmas,
Manos, Noro, Bliss.
Tell them all
You only want more yarn for gifts.

There you are on the Internet,
with your credit card in hand,
Buying yarn is equivalent
To the desert needing sand.

Through the years
your stash will keep on growing
and you’ll never stop -
Tell the IRS
you own your own yarn shop!
And have yourself
A very knitted Christmas now.

i did finally figure out where all the knitting carols came from: Knit and Plenty. here is the link: http://www.knitandplenty.typepad.com/

Monday, December 24, 2007

Silent Knit



Silent Knit, Holy Knit,
All is Wool, All Will Fit
Round Yon Virgin
Wool and Cashmere
Holy Addis so Quick
and so Dear
Knit in Heavenly Peace!
Knit in Heavenly Peace!

It's Beginning to Knit a Lot Like Xmas

It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere I go;
Take a look in the den and then, the pile of WIPs
And when - the hell am I ever going to SLEEP.
It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas,
Projects in ev'ry room,
But the ugliest sight to see is the nightmare that will be
The new Christmas throw that’s going to be my doom.
A scarf with fringe - and a pair of socks
Are the wishes of mom and dad;
Rich woolen hats to ski Zermatt
Are the hopes of Bunny and Chad;
Luckily, Uncle Tim has brought the rum to the Egg Nog that he’ll add.

It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas;
But when the day is through
They’ll be barely out the door and I’ll be casting on some more


photo thanks to: http://knitpurlknitpearl.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 23, 2007

God Rest Ye Weary Knitters



God rest ye weary knitters Let nothing you dismay
Remember all your projects Be done by Christmas day.
From God our heavenly Father A blessed Angel came.
She brought her wooden needles And luscious Cashmire skeins
We knitted and purled and left nary a one
They were underneath the tree
All wrapped in lovely colors
T’was wonderful to see
God rest ye weary knitters
And smile on Christmas Day
When bright faces wear your stitches
And you’ll feel proud to say
It’s made with love and angel’s yarn
And nights of tea and toil –
It brings tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Santa Baby

well as Christmas quickly approaches i DO have my knitting completed! i am so happy to report that! well...i have the knitting done that has to be done for tuesday! there is one more pair of Fiber Trends Felted Clogs to do but i won't see that person until later in January! that gives me a little time! last Christmas (pre-blog) i ran across someone who had posted all these fun knitting themed christmas carols. i couldn't resist. i saved them and will share them with you here! up first is one of my favorites...Santa Baby:

Santa Baby
Santa Baby,
Just slip some cashmere under the tree
For me
I’ve Been an knitting fool
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a skein or 2 of alpaca will do
Light blue
I'll wait up for you with needles in hand
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the knitting I will miss
Think of all the yarn sales I haven’t hit
Next year I will knit oh so good
If you'll check off my Christmas yarn list

Santa Baby, I really want some SoySilk yarn
knits like a charm
Been an knittin’ angel all year
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really do need
stix with speed
platinum ones will do
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with some sock yarn
I’ll darn
Don’t forget circulars, dear
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some knitted decorations from KPixie
I really would knit for you
Lets see if you would wear my naughty knits, too

Santa Baby, forgot to mention one little thing
Knit Kit
I don't mean from Joann Fabrics
Santa Baby, Knit & Plenty has em' for me
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry...tonight

Attention: i am not taking any credit for these and if i could remember where i found them i would post that as well. if anyone know who wrote these or where they came from please let me know so i can give credit to where credit is due! thanks!

check back...i will be posting carols until christmas!

Monday, December 10, 2007

F is for FINISHED!!!

i am sorry i haven't posted sooner, but just to let you all know...I PASSED MY EXAM!!! i am now a family nurse practitioner (FNP)!!! the absolute best part of it is that i am also COMPLETELY finished with school. this is the first time since i started school that could say that i am done! at this point in my life i can honestly say that i am not interested in going back anytime soon!

on wednesday (the day after my test) i just couldn't figure out what to do with myself. when you are so intensly studying like i have been doing for 2 weeks all you can think of is all the things that you wish you could be doing, but when i was finally done i didn't know where to start. there was (and still is) a lot of Christmas knitting to do, Christmas shopping to finsh, and cleaning to be done. i haven't even switched my summer and winter clothes out! i am starting to knock some of these things out now but i can't believe how stunned i was to be done earlier in the week! it is a great feeling!

thank you goes out to all who prayed for me and offered me words of encouragement. i have one friend that i called to tell i had passed my test and all she said was, "i know!" i wish i had had as much condifence in myself as she had in me! thank you all!

now the job hunt continues!...and the Christmas knitting!

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Yarn Quiz!







What kind of yarn are you?




You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to keep you close because you are so softhearted. You love to be comfortable and warm from your head to your toes.
Take this quiz!








Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code



Go take it...it is fun! Please leave me a comment with what type of yarn you are!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Quiet Time

well i only have about 5 days left until my certification exam, so the blog is going to be quiet for a while. after it is over i have lots to post about. stay tuned! i promise i will be back!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!!! (if i knew how to make this bigger and more exciting i would have made it that way! if anyone can help please leave a comment!)

on this Thanksgiving 2007 i leave you with Big Tom...



Big Tom is also known as the World's Largest Turkey and is located in Frazee City, Minnesota. Here is an excerpt from the Frazee City website:

The new statue is over 20 feet tall and bronze in color. (The origonal was 16 feet tall.) Including the tail, the width of the big turkey is 17 feet. Weighing in at over 5,000 pounds, 'Big Tom' has just over 1,000 pounds of steel reinforing its body. The legs were made a little shorter and stouter than a normal turkey to better handle the weight. There are an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 fiberglass feathers on 'Big Tom' which took D.W.O. Fiberglass Company over 2000 hours to complete.

Again Happy Thanksgiving you all! Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Ok, finally a knitting post!

(prewarning: very picture heavy!)

i may not have given the blog the attention it deserves, but i want you all to know that i have been knitting! knitting and knitting! i have tons of FOs to share so let's not waste any time: (these are in no particular order!)


Just as the weather here in Middle Tennessee warms up AGAIN, i finally decide to keep one of my knitted scarves. i haven't had it out for a test run yet, but i think it is really pretty. i held two yarns together to make this. it is really softer than i had imagined! The two yarns are Yarn Bee Featherwisp (Hobby Lobby Brand) in Bluebells and Lion Brand Homespun in Windsor. I really like how it came out. i have plans on making myself a pink cabled scarf as well but i haven't mastered that skill yet! one day!


Next up is a REALLY UGLY SCARF!!! i was trying to use up some yarn that had been donated to the church. wow is it bright and UGLY!! it is made of 3 yucky yarns: Lion Brand Fun Fun in Bright Yellow, Red Heart Super Saver ( i know i know...remember...it was donated!) also in Bright Yellow, and Patons Ci Ci in Carnival. this will hopefully make some child very happy at a local charity!


This is a scarf was made from stash yarn! i am so proud! My church is donating a bunch of scarves to a local charity just as soon as i decide which charity it is going to be! ;) This scarf is two differnt yarns: Bernat Satin in the color Sterling and Bernat Boa in the color Ostrich. i held two strands of the satin and one of he boa. i really liked how it came out.


I am very proud of these and very frustrated with them at the same time. this is my second pair of the fiber trends felted clogs. i really think they are super cute but dang are they frustrating to make! i can't hardly watch tv and knit these. i took out the bottoms MULTIPLE times before i got it right. i thought it would go smoother being that it is my second pair but i was wrong! and to beat all they don't fit their intended wearer! i am working on another pair for him. ahhhh! the yarn is patons classic merino wool in burgandy and dark grey.


Up next is a crocheted cross that i made for church. we redecorated the main sunday school classroom and decided to do a cross wall on one of the walls. i made this in honor of my grandmother on my mom's side who was an avid crocheter in her time. she died when i was in high school but had been ill with Alzhiemer's Disease for many, many years. when i was very little she taught me how to chain but the lesson never progressed past this. i chained and chained, but it wasn't until years later that i taught myself to actually make a stitch! the ribbon is green because that was her favorite color. this cross will hang in her honor. it was done with crochet cotton, size 10 in white.


ok these are the first pair of fiber trends felted clogs that i made. these have the bumper on them which i actually think i like better (the red pair does not have the bumper!). thank goodness these fit the intended wearer! this is also Patons Classic Merino Wool.


this is one of my flannel blankets with a crocheted border that i like to do for baby gifts. this one is for anna who was born almost 2 weeks ago to a friend of mine from my Johnson City days. i did a whole pink and yellow themed basket. it was really cute:


so fun! she just loved it! and i got it to her BEFORE anna made her entrance into the world.


This is another scarf for the still unknown charity. It is made from Bernat Bling Bling in the color Cabaret Crimson and Bernat Super Stripes in the colorway black and pink.


this one i absolutley LOVE!!! it is a christmas present. it is the basic Booga Bag pattern which i altered a little. i made the base a bit bigger, but kept the same number of rows in height which gave me a a little squattier bag. i really like the size! the yarn is mostly cascade 220 in colors 9421, 9452, 2433, 9455, 7822, 8404. i also used 2 colors of Ultra Alpaca in colors 6205, 6294. i added the grommets just for something different this time. i really like how it all came out. there isn't a closure but i might add one if i make one again. there is enough yarn left over to make another one! i might make it for me this time - i am really into brown and blue these days!


yet another scarf for the unkown charity. it is like the unknown soldier but much less sad (i know! i know! that was really bad!)! this scarf is made from Glittallic by Patons in Maroon Shine as well as Bernat Boa in Flamingo. i held a strand of each together. it is very fun!


ok last but certainly not least is another scarf. this one is made from Patons Divine in Regal Red and Bernat Boa in Cardinal. all these scarves done in a drop stitch pattern. they are so quick and lots of fun. i really like the chance to use some random yarns.

on the needles now is a shawl for me and a prayer shawl. i am going to start another prayer shawl this week for a friend who is having a hard time right now. i have my curiosities up about knitting a cardigan for me. i have never knitted a sweater before and am very nervous about it but i think i might give it a try in EZ style. i'll post about it when i make a decision. i have the yarn already because i had been planning on making The Perfect Sweater, but i decided that i would really prefer something more on the cardigan route. we'll see where i land!

no news about the job. it is a waiting game! hopefully no news is good news.

Monday, November 05, 2007

E is for East Tennessee State University



East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is where i did my undergraduate studies. i absolutely LOVE this place. it is located in Johnson City, TN which for all you non-tennessee folks is in the eastern corner of tennessee, near virginia and north carolina. you can imagine how beautiful it is there especially this time of year! here is a pic from one of the local parks close to the campus:



let's take a trip down memory lane (in pictures):


This is Lamb Hall. It is the nursing building. all of the nursing labs were in this buliding along with multiple classrooms and computer rooms.


Here is the dorm i spent my first year in: Lucille Clement. I got a random roommate that year who i still talk to quite frequently! she is very fun! i was even in her wedding! it was the big talk of campus the third year i was there because they made this dorm "co-ed" and on the "girls'" side of campus and all!


This is the dorm i lived in the second and third years i was at ETSU. this was my favorite. these were like really small apartments complete with an oven and our own bathroom! i lived here with my first roommate for the second year, and the third year i had another roommate who was a very good friend of mine at the beginning of the year....but not at the end of that year! loooong story!


This is the library, where i really didn't spend all that much time! on the side of the building is a room they called "Late Night Study." in this room there were lots of tables, vending machines, and a copier. we spent a lot of time in there studying in big groups. it was open really late which was nice.


Here is the mini-dome which enclosed our football field and was where the basketball team played. i think it was my third year that they took away our football team. i have to say that never once during my time there did i attend a sports game. i just didn't get into it! but i did have my physicial education classes in there!


This is my favorite place on campus...the Wesley Foundation. i spent LOTS of time here as well as met wonderful friends as a result of my time there. i absolutely love this place and miss it like crazy! by the way this is the United Methodist on campus ministry! i could go on and on but i won't! i will controll myself.


Here i am at graduation! after 4 long years i made it! i am the third one from the left.

i could go on and on but i won't!

i have in mind a long post with knitting content i promise! i am still waiting to hear about a job and will keep everyone posted about that.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

I found this while purusing a few blogs today, specifically this one. i won't wait to be tagged. i think it is kind of fun! enjoy:

Open the book you're currently reading to page 161 and copy the fifth sentence on the page, then tag 5 bloggers.

"She wanted him to tell her he'd love her to the end of time, with or without a child."

from:



so now to the obstacle of tagging. if you are reading this and you have a blog, consider yourself tagged. if you do indeed do this please leave me a comment with a link to your blog so that i can enjoy as well!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Odds and Ends

this post is going to be filled with the odds and ends things that have been going on. the first is the stitch marker exchange that i joined earlier in the summer. i signed up for 3 swap partners. i sen tmy markers nearly a month ago now, but i just recieved my first set today! they are so pretty! i am so sorry about the picture quality...i just can't seem to photograph stitch markers well at all. if anyone has any tips i could use them! these are from laura (i can't seem to find her blog link on the website!). laura if you are reading this...thank you! ok so the small little balls...i have an explaination. i promsie. here it is. on the stitch marker exchange someone made stitch markers out of small felted balls. check them out here. i think they are just super cute! i just had to make them! i also think that they would be super cute as earrings. i am thinking about making them tomorrow! i will show pics for sure if i get to that! there is a tutorial that i found about making them: here. i may have to make them smaller next time. they may be a bit big for earrings, but i am going to try!
below is a baby hat. the yarn is encore colorspun worsted. i can't believe how it knitted up with all that pooling. i kind of like it and i kind of don't. it is a little bigger than i would have liked it to have been, but babies grow right? i did the top like the umbilical cord hat from the stitch 'n bitch book by debbie stoller...so cute.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Finished Object!

i love those words! This is the most fun project i think i have ever done. it is a prayer shawl. i loved all of it. i loved picking out all the pretty purple yarns espicially! so i cast on 175 stitches and changed yarns after knitting each row. this creates its own fringe! so cool. the idea came from a scarf in Sally Melville's book: The Knit Stitch. i already have a blue one planned!

this particular prayer shawl is for a sweet friend of mine: Susan who lost her father last week.

here is an upclose look at the shawl:

stay tuned: i am working on a fun felting project AND tomorrow is knitting at the library! lots of friends coming! very fun!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

D is for Daisies (and Dogs)

Daisies...i LOVE daisies! they are my favorite flower. so happy! don't get me wrong i love all flowers but this is the best and please do not dye them! so often you find them dyed random unnatural colors and they serve a purpose but the white ones are my by far my favorite!

Again a defination from Happening reguarding daisies:

DAISY: The daisy is the Happening flower. The daisy is a free growing wild flower. It doesn’t seem to be a formal flower like the rose or orchid – it seems to be a happy, frivolous flower, as if God created it just for fun. We think of it as joyful, not serious. We note that the daisy openly shows its joy and beauty without wearing any masks. We also note that when the flower dies it spreads its seeds to create new life and we are reminded of Christ’s death and resurrection to new life. The daisy reminds us of 3 things: First, when we see a field of daisies, we are reminded that the flowers bloom together just like we have bloomed together in sharing Christ’s love at Happening. Second, we look at the flower with petals radiating from the golden center and think of ourselves radiating from the center of God’s grace. Third, we note that the daisy grows wherever God scatters the seeds and we are taught to “Bloom and Grow.”

There is even a Happening song about the daisy (I have the chords if anyone is interested):

May all of your dreams
Bloom like daisies in the sun.
May you always have
Stars in your eyes.
May you not stop running
Until the race is won.
May you always have blue skies.
_______________________________________________

D is also for Dogs!

i love dogs. i have only had one dog in my life. her name was Kelly. she was a pure bred Irish Setter. she was beautiful! (sorry no digital pics). my parents got her before i was born. evidently kelly was a worrier. mom and dad tell the story that when i was very little i would cry back in my bedroom and before they had gotten up to see what i wanted/needed kelly had already gone back towards my room. the trouble was that we had hard wood floors and she would nearly slide all the way there then come back to them and look at them like, "aren't you going to do anything. the baby is crying!" so funny.

after kelly died we kind of made an unintentional switch to cats. i love cats too but sometimes i wish we still had a dog. i want an animal that will go places with you. cats just aren't really into that! i want a weiner dog! they are so cute and have no idea how small they are! it cracks me up! i can't wait until i get a job and an apartment/house so i can get a dog!

look how cute that is. how could you resist?

Monday, September 24, 2007

FO: Finished Object!

I keep a running record of my finished objects and i was noticing as i was entering this one that it has been nearly 2 months since i had a finshed object! i can't believe that it has been that long. i keep thinking there is something i have forgotten. oh well. now about this fo. isn't it cute? this is a modfied booga bag. the base was about 40 stitches across and about 20 garter rows. then the sides did about 50 rows instead of the 64 the pattern called for. i bound off then went back and picked up the stitches for the flap. i knit the flap about 10 inches long, decreasing at the end. the yarn is bernat felting natural wool in the english rose colorway. i love the pink and brown! i found the button here. they have a great selection of buttons. i really like how this came out!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

WIPs: Works in Progress

I thought we needed a little knitting content here at the ol'blog! i have been knitting, just not very quickly. i thought i would get a bunch more done on my multiple airplane trips last week, but i didn't get as much done as i had hoped.

This is my Koigu shawl that i just dearly love. this is pre-trips. it is som what bigger now. i am not seeing as much change now that there are so many stitches on the needles! i wish i had measured then to compare to now to see exactly how much progress i have made! oh well.

this is yet another booga bag. i found this yarn in DE while there with my family. i love yarn shopping there because there is no tax! they don't pay sales tax! it sure beats tennessee's nearly 10%!!! ok this is a new yarn to me...bernat felting natural wool. the colorway is called english rose. i love it! it is pink and brown! so great. this is a bulky weight so i am not sure why i decided to double it, but i did. it is super super bulky now, and may even be too bulky. not sure how it is going to felt. i guess we'll see. i'll keep you posted!

i am looking to start another prayer shawl for a good friend of mine whose father and mother are both very ill. for her there would be no other options but purple! i have decided to work lenghtwise and change yarns after each row leaving yarn for abulit in fringe. i think it will be quite pretty. i can't wait to see what purple yarns i can find! i am always up for a yarn search!

Stitch Marker Exchange: SENT!!!

This fall i decided to participate in the Stitch Marker Exchange. I took some time and really researched my partners, reading their blogs to figure out what colors and stuff they like. It was a lot of fun! Each one of them was so different, and one of them was from The Netherlands! so fun! I sent them on their way today, but i managed to take a few pics before i packed them this afternoon. I am convinced that stitch markers are just really hard to photograph. if anyone has any tips i would love to have them. here is what i sent:


these are lavender with small green beads. hanging is some little charms that say things like "peace" and "dream."


these are round red beads with black accent beads. hanging from these are crosses and charms that say "believe."

these are clay-like with balls of pink yarn with green needles, accented with pink and blue beads. these are super cute and my favorites of all that i did. this was so fun. i hope that these are well liked! i can't wait to get some myself! i will be doing this again!