Birthday shopping and other things...

Well, dh hasn't had a complete change of heart. We are not going to rush things. We are just going to see what happens...


In other news... I went shopping today. First we went to IKEA. What a crazy madhouse!! They were having 15% off everything this weekend. I think everyone in Atlanta was there today. It was pretty cool to see everything though. We were pretty overwhelmed, it is so much bigger than I realized! After IKEA we went to Why Knot Knit. I was hoping to get the yarn for the vogue Debbie Bliss jacket, but they didn't have it all, so I got some other things instead....



Manos Del Uruguay - 113 Wildflowers



Rowan Felted Tweed - 150 Rage



Rowan Vintage Style



Salina from Vintage Style


The Rowan Tweed is for Salina in the Vintage Style and I got the Manos to make a cross hatch scarf. The pattern used to be available, but I guess it's going to be released in creative knitting magazine soon. I may have it stashed away in a binder of patterns I collected when I first started knitting.


edited to add: I found the scarf pattern and it was actually from Sheep in the City. Unfotunately it's no longer on her blog, so I can't give a link to the pattern.


Ok... I have a confession... I have serious startitus lately. I started the Scooped Necked Cardigan from Debbie Bliss's first Noro Book. I finished the back in no time at all and just started a front. I love that it's done sideways. Here's a pic of the back...



Noro Silk Garden - #34


Well, not much else! I'm just doing laundry now to get ready for Monday. Fun, fun! ;) Write more later....

Change of heart?

Dh thinks we should be responsible. Responsible? I just don't think it would be irresponsible to bring a baby into this world that I know I would love with all my heart. Sure money would be tight, sure our car may need to be a tad bigger, but is that what matters? I just don't know? I told him he shouldn't have done that to me because I did get my hopes up even though I told myself not to. This is the one area you can't mess with my emotions because I feel so strongly about it. I'm going to keep talking to him about it. To tell him exactly how I feel. I know he would love another baby, but he can't get past the fact that he thinks it would be irresponsible. Maybe it would, but my heart doesn't think so....


Anyway, enough about that... I'm getting too emotional just thinking about it. Maybe my hormones are on overdrive!! :) In knitting news I have been working on socks. I have four socks started right now! I just started a navy blue pair for a co-worker. She wanted some, but didn't quite know how to ask me. She said she was hoping I would put some on ebay, so she could buy them!! :) I told her I would make her some, no charge!!! She is so sweet, almost like a surrogate grandmother. I'm using Knit Picks Essential sock yarn in Navy, and the pattern is from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks...



Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge pattern.


I also have got it in my head that I want to knit this....



Vogue Fall 2005 Magazine
Shawl Collared Jacket by Debbie Bliss.


If I get some birthday money from my dad I'm going to the yarn shop! I've just fallen in love with this sweater! I like the brown, but I'm going to check out the other colors when I'm there. I don't know if I'd get bored knitting two brown sweaters. Well, not much else! Write more later....

Yikes!

My husband and I were talking last night about possibly trying for another baby. It scares and excites me at the same time. I have been thinking about it so much lately. Not only have I been thinking about it, I've been dreaming about it a lot too. I just can't believe he's been thinking about it too. We were discussing getting bunk beds for the boys and fixing Jake's crib and room up for the baby. Oh my! I just can't believe we're actually thinking about it.


Then I started thinking about all the cute little baby things I could knit. And if it happened to be a girl... oh wow! Not that I'd be disappointed if it were a boy. I love my boys so much! I'm sure we still have a lot of discussing to do yet. But all I've thought about lately is feeling the weight of a sleeping baby in my arms. There is just no other feeling in the world. Well, I don't want to get my hopes up because we could change our mind... but I don't know. :)

More Early Birthday Presents!

I went to Borders yesterday and I kind of splurged and justified it by saying it was an early birthday present to me! :) This is what I got...





Actually the Sensational Knitted socks book I got from Knit Picks, the rest I got at Borders. I was so excited when I got home because the Simply Knitted Magazine had a Rowan insert with some great patterns, which included....



Birch - Which I love even though lace knitting kicks my butt.



Mel by Kim Hargreaves - I just love this bag!!


There were a bunch of other cute patterns as well. I also got Knit Lit the third from knit picks (not pictured). I can't wait to get all my housework done because I plan to escape to my room and cozy up with it!


In the Sensational Knitted socks book they had a class sock where you can learn how to knit with 4 dpns, 5 dpns, or 2 circulars. Well, I have been wanting to learn for awhile how to knit socks with 2 circs., so I did the "class" this morning. Here's my sock...



Class sock using cascade 220.


I tried to make it to fit Bradley, but it was too small, maybe it will fit Jake?? I was happy I was able to finish it. I'll probably start some "real" socks soon using two circulars. Well, in other knitting news... I've been working on my Kool-Aid socks. I think they're turning out pretty cute. Here's a pic...





Well, not much else going on here... just lots of laundry. Fun, fun!!!

The lace finally kicked my butt...

I should just give up on lace. I do well for awhile and then I lost count and I try to fix it and it just doesn't work. I threw it in the cabinet, where it will probably stay forever. ARGH! I officially hate lace now!! I'm going to work on my nice stockinette cutaway cardi now. I love stockinette.

Knitting so much my hand hurts!

I go from no knitting, to knitting too much! My house is a mess, and I've been knitting sweaters, socks, scarves, and lace! I finished my 2nd sleeve for my cutaway cardi, and started a new sock. I don't have pictures, but I'm not sure if I like the colors of the sock. I like the yarn (Lorna's Laces), but still trying to decide about the color (Vera colorway). I also finished one Trekking sock. I love it! It's probably my most comfortable sock yet. I cast on right away for the 2nd one. I can't wait to wear these this winter. Here's a pic...





I also decided to try some lace again. I finally found a pattern that's not kicking my butt (too much). It's from the Mystery Shawl Along 2. I think it's coming out pretty so far...





The yarn is from Knit Picks. It's alpaca lace in the peppermint colorway. I'm really liking it so far. Hopefully I don't mess up too bad! I've had to fudge a little here and there, but I don't think it will show up. Well, that's all for now! :)

Midwest Moonlight...

I got started on my scarf last night. I finally found the right yarn! First I used wool, and it was too thick. Then I used some RYC Cashsoft, but it was too pink. This Cascade Sierra is perfect... the yarn and color is just what I was looking for. Here's a little progress pic....





I think I'm definitely going to have fun knitting this scarf, and hopefully I can keep it from ending up in the UFO pile like a lot of my other scarves! Bradley (my 5 year old) asked me to make him some gloves today. Awe... how sweet. I think I'll have to make him some mittens. I just can't see me making those teeny tiny fingers, yes it will definitely be mittens!! :) Write more later....


edited to add:
I just ordered an early birthday present for me! I have been wanting to knit this sweater for a long time....



Debbie Bliss Moss Stitch and Cable Jacket (from book #3).


Well the yarn it calls for - Cotton Silk Aran has been discontinued. So while I was at Why Knot Knit yesterday I did some research. I wanted a denim color in the right weight and I found number 205. They had it in Cashmerino and regular Merino. Both very pretty. So I went online to research some more and saw that Discountyarnsale.com had both. I decided to to go with the Merino...



Debbie Bliss Merino Aran #205


Hopefully it looks good!! This is my early Birthday present to me!! I'll be 31 November 1st. Now to find that book... I know it's around here somewhere!!! ;)

Shopping!

Because we were all sick and inside for way too long I took my mom shopping today. First we had quesadillas at Moe's, and then we headed down to Buckhead. We went to Why Knot Knit?. I love this yarn shop! They are now carrying Rowan! I could live there! Just get me a sleeping bag and I would be in heaven. Anyway, I just got some Cascade Sierra to knit this scarf from Scarf Style....



Midwest Moonlight



Cascade Sierra - color #24


The quilt under the yarn is an early Christmas present from my Grandma. She is a wonderful quilter and I'm always happy to be the recipient of her quilts. She actually let me pick from three that she made, and my brothers will choose from the other two. I picked this one because I loved the colors and the cream background. Here's some more pictures....



Full Size on my bed.



A close up of a quilt square I like.



Another quilt square I like.


My grandmother actually cheats and sends her quilts out to be quilted. The quilter does a beautiful job on them. I'm sure this is why she able to finish so many so fast. It would be great if we could just send all our knitting out to someone to finish it up wouldn't it? :)


I just had to try this out... I got this from Wendy's Blog. You Google "[your first name] needs" and post the ten best results:


10. Nicole needs a man.
9. Nicole needs inspiration/encouragement.
8. Nicole needs to shut her mouth.
7. Nicole needs open lines of communication.
6. Nicole needs to learn typical 4th grade science.
5. Nicole needs a loving home for her parakeet.
4. Nicole needs her medicine.
3. Nicole needs constant and careful medical attention.
2. Nicole needs all the help she can and someone powerful (and ruthless) on her side.

My fave...
1. Nicole needs someone to take a bath with her.

Those are pretty funny... something I would've never thought of! Try it! :)

No Knitting....

The whole family got a stomach bug. The kids had it last week, and then my mom got it two nights ago, and I woke up with it yesterday, and my husband got it last night. Thankfully I'm feeling better today, and hopefully dh will be feeling better when he wakes up. What a nasty, nasty bug, hopefully I don't get anything like that again anytime soon!!!

I have been doing some reading. I got Yarn Harlot, and read it in a couple of days. I was a very cute book. The stories were both so funny, and sometimes even sad. I highly recommend this book to any knitter! Well, now that I'm feeling better I'm going to get my knitting back out today. Write more later....

My Playoff Sock....

Trekking 100 sock #1


I really love how this sock is turning out. The colors are so much fun! I'm finding myself wanting to start a new project though. I was thinking about a scarf. I love Midwest Moonlight from Scarf Style, so I may start that, but not sure which yarn to use... hmmm, I may have to think about that for a bit. Well, not much going on here. Just work and kids and a little knitting in between!

It's only a game...

The Braves lost today after 18 innings. EIGHTEEN! And I watched all 18. It was so sad, but it is only a game. A game I obsess over every year. Why do I keep coming back? Year after year? For four years I've watched the games on TV and have gone to the games at Turner Field. I'm grateful they lost in Houston, and not Atlanta becaue I know I would've been tempted to go, and I don't know if I could've taken it being there.


Anyway, enough about that! My baby is sick! My day started out so well, and then end so badly. My poor Jakey started throwing up today. Bradley went through his on Friday. Every year when school starts we go through this. So like I said that was only a game, this is what's important....





That's my baby Jake and I hope he feels better soon!! Knitting pictures tomorrow! That's the one good thing that came about from watching 18 innings of baseball is I'm over 1/2 way finished with my first trekking sock. woo hoo.

What I've been up to....

I was wandering around Hobby Lobby the other day... just browsing the aisles and I saw a pretty crocheted afghan pattern. So I thought... why not? It looks fun! So I actually bought a couple of skiens of some Red Heart Supersaver acrylic in a dusty teal. I thought if I really can't stand it, I've only spent $4 on yarn, so it's no big deal. Well, to my surprise I actually liked, and I actually thought it was coming out pretty! I got about 19 rows done, here's a pic....



"Filet" from Leisure Arts Quick Crochet Afghans - Book 3.


Other things I have been doing... Obsessing over the Braves. It's that time of year again. I went to the first playoff game. Even though my instincts told me not to. I'm obviously bad luck. I have now been to five playoff games and they have lost all five. I'm staying away from now on because they tend to win when I'm not there. Last nights game was awesome. I just have this feeling they may actually make it to the next round. After that... who knows? Here's a couple of pics from the game...



Tim Hudson and Johnny Estrada working out before the game.



Jeff Francoeur - who could quite possibly be Rookie of the Year.


I'm so obsessed I went to the game by myself. Everyone thinks I'm nuts, but I've been to three by myself now. Having no one to go with doesn't stop me! :) And I'm going to try to get someone to switch with me Saturday, so I can be home to watch game 3. Ok that's enough about the Braves. Well, Jake is calling for me... he's not wanting to take a nap, what's new??? :) Write more later.......

Autumn is almost here in Georgia!

We are having wonderfully cool evenings and mornings! I'm so excited for fall! I can't wait to start having cozy fires at night and wearing my socks and sweaters that I've knit! Here is a picture of the sky this morning, it was just gorgeous....


ss
This is for Sandy.


I need to get a nice chair for outside, so I can sit out there and knit! Well, I've done it... I've jumped on the Trekking 100 bandwagon. I just love the socks I've seen in this yarn (ex. Kerstin's). Here's my progress so far....






I had these socks I bought at target that had a little k1, p1 border on top for about a 1/2 inch. Then they went down to k 3, p1. So I decided to do that for these socks. I cast on 64 sts. using size 1 needles. So far they're coming out ok! I'm trying to decide what kind of heel I want to do.. the one I always do (slip 1, k1), or something like a short row heel. I guess I'll decide when I get down there.

Well, I'd better get going... Jake wants me to play Mario Baseball with him. He's so addicted to that game... I'm ready to throw it out the window!! I know I'm a terrible mother for letting my 3 year old get addicted to video games! Call child services!