A tiny bit of stitching progress

I've made a little headway on projects this week.  I finished my boomerang scarf.  It is a free pattern from Ravelry.  It has been my take along project.  The one I work on for waiting rooms and car rides. I do like this pattern and will make another.  It's a very nice asymmetrical scarf/shawl.  I used three skeins of Caron Ombre, color Stormy Weather.  For the next take along project I started a Spring Kisses Infinity scarf.  It's a pay for pattern on Ravelry or free on her blog.  It is only $1.50.  I did the pay for it method.  I wanted to be able to print a copy to stash in my bag.  The yarn I'm using is Premier Yarns, Cotton Fair, color Plum.  I also finished three more granny squares and only need three more for the blanket.

I made a trip to the yarn store and I'm so happy I did.  The lovely shop keeper helped ease my mind that the cowl will be big enough to fit over my head.  She also helped me change needles and go up a size.  I am still knitting tight.  The larger size should give me a little wiggle room.  She also had me change needles from bamboo to acrylic.  For this project I am liking the acrylic needles.  They are very smooth.

It's nice to have a few things to show for this week's Year of Projects post.  I was terribly afraid I would have nothing.   The beginning of the week got off to a rocky start when we headed down the rabbit hole of cleaning out my teenage daughter's room.  Pack Rat doesn't describe the mess sufficiently.  We had six bags and at least three boxes full of paper to recycle.  I've carried countless things to the Charity Shop.  She's a saver and has a knack for stuffing things into every possible bag, box, corner, or crevasse.  She has been a willing participant in the work.  We've even managed to laugh at some of the items that have been discovered.  I do think she will be glad to have a less stuffed room.  We are not finished but I do see an end in sight.

Avi is none too concerned at the amount of stuff.  She was able to find a nice place to nap right in the middle of it.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and have a lovely week.

Lisa

Short but productive!

I've made progress on my granny square blanket.  I'm half way through making the blocks for the LAST row!!! (only a tiny bit excited about this)

Binxy is helping me pick out colors for each block.  I'm putting a little more thought into the color choices for this row.  My random choices all seemed to be rather similar.

I haven't worked on my knitting.  I want to go back to the yarn shop and ask for some help.  I'm making a cowl.  My stitches are tight and I'm afraid it won't fit over my big head.

Second week of YOP is off to a good start!

A Year of Projects

I've been on Ravelry for a few years.  I usually search for patterns and that's about it.  Like most technology I don't use it to it's full potential.  I would like that to change.  I hope by participating in A Year of Projects not only can I have fun and finish projects but hopefully use Ravelry a bit more efficiently.

Here is my list:

Crochet -

- Finish granny square blanket, I'm so close!
- Make a Yarndale Wooly Sheep from Attic 24 blog
- Keep making snowflakes from 100 Snowflake to Crochet
- Doily/mandala
- Two holidays items
- Spice of Life blanket, pattern from Cherry Heart blog
- A scarf
- A shawl
- Work as many projects from my own stash

- Finish spring hexie quilt project
- Finish holiday hexie project  (both are from Wild Olive blog)

- Practice Knitting

- Make a gift

- Make something unexpected

- Learn to use photo apps with iPhone to take more creative pictures
- Use other cameras

Here's to a great Year of Projects!

Yarn Along - Knitting and a Christmas book

I'm joining in with Ginny and this weeks Yarn Along.

When my sister visited we went to a great little yarn store not far from my house.  It was amazing, so many beautiful yarns and a very helpful shop keeper.  I have been tying to learn to knit.  I know I could have picked yarn from my stash but I wanted something new and pretty.  I felt that if I worked with a nice skein it would keep me motivated through my mistakes.  I'm so pleased with this plan.  I have had to rip out my attempts six times!  I'm still not completely sure I'm doing it right but it looks better than the first ones.

I love this yarn and the color!

The yarn is Malabrigo color Pocion.  It is so luxurious!  The pattern I am trying is The Chickadee Cowl by Kirsten Kapur.  It is a free Ravelry download.  I knit a little every day.  If I knit for too long my mind wanders and I loose my place.  

Also during her visit we went to the public library's annual used book sale.  It is held in one of the local middle schools and lasts for three days.  They fill the school with used books.  Both gyms, the lunch room, and a few other rooms are used.  You never know what treasures will be there.  One of my favorite finds was an old Woman's Day Christmas book.  It was published in 1979.  On the cover it says it has Christmas facts, lore, songs, and reading.  There are gifts to make, menus, recipes, and a tree buying guide.  It also has imaginative ways to entertain family, friends, and children - that's their words, not mine.  I adore books like this.  It reminds me of the crafts and clever things my mom and grandma would make and do for us.

The Fourth of July was mild and rainy but the hot, steamy days of summer have returned.  It's nice to look at the Christmas book and dream wistfully of cooler days.


Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Lisa

Playing tourist with my sister

My older sister came for a visit.  We usually only get to see each other once a year.  We talk and text all the time so the distance doesn't seem that far.  She lives in Arkansas and I in Northern Virginia.  I am always so excited for her visits.  Before she came we talked about all the crafting we would accomplish.  We both have several unfinished projects.  The plan was to sight see one day and mostly craft and relax the rest of her stay. The problem with the plan is I live in the Washington D.C. area and there are too many interesting things to do.  We've been trying to go to places she hasn't visited on previous trips.  This time she wanted to see Mount Vernon.   It is such an lovely place.  The view from the house is stunning.  From the rear you see the Potomac River. The grounds and flower gardens are so peaceful.  My only complaint was the tour through the house was almost at a dead run. I know they have so many people to shuttle through the mansion but I enjoy looking at all the details of things.  The weather was perfect, very low humidity. We could not have asked for a better day.

A view from the front of the house

George and I

We were so inspired by our trip to Mount Vernon I suggested we visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  We went from the American Revolution to the Civil War.  Gettysburg was very fascinating.  It is a massive sight. We bought an audio tour for the battlefield.  I highly recommend doing that.  You get a guide book with CD and drive the battlefield at your own pace.  It is very overwhelming.  It's hard to comprehend the battle that took place.  Of course I think I would feel the same at any battlefield I would visit.  And we did visit another battlefield.  We went to Antietam Battlefield in Maryland.  It is the sight of the bloodiest one day battle of the Civil War.  On our way home from Antietam we drove through Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  John Brown, a white abolitionist, tried to initiate an armed slave revolt at Harpers Ferry.  After our trips to the battlefields my sister and I decided we needed to learn a bit more about the Civil War.  We are starting with the book "Gods and Generals" by Jeff Shaara.  We want to read "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  There so many Civil War books we can read.  These are the ones we picked first. We also came away from the places we visited with guide books.  I wish you could order these books before you visit the sights.  They have a lot of interesting facts in them.

My sister -Sarah- in front of the Arkansas memorial at Gettysburg

Dan, Darren and I at Antietam

An observeration tower at Antietam.  

Looking up into the tower as we climbed the stairs.

We could have done something historical or museum related everyday.  We are already planning things for the next time she visits.  Even with all our day trips to historical sights we did manage to do a little crafting.  We both worked on these small hexie blocks.

Christmas in June! A project from Wild Olive blog.

Avi and Binxy using Sarah's hat as a bed.

This week has been back to real life.  There have been dentist and doctor appointments.  My husband had a trip to California.  I went to work for a few hours.  We've had not well kitties.  I am tired of the trips back and forth to the vet.  I know the cats are as well and so is my bank account.  It's hard when you can't pinpoint what is wrong other than they don't feel well.  They are finally on the mend.  It is nice to have our silly kitties back to normal.  

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Have a lovely weekend, Lisa