Sheep Shots

My favorite pattern (not the one I mentioned yesterday) can be found here. (Scroll down to #218.) A person who doesn't forget to decrease on both sides could probably finish a pair in a couple of hours. A person who does forget takes a little longer after frogging 4 rows and resetting the stitches. But I wouldn't know about that.

Health stuff (feel free to skip this part): The crud has hit at the food bank. Those of us who are ambulatory are spreading it around. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Whatever it is that is going around. . .I have it.

The updating will be short and to the point. No time for chatter.

Some small progress on the small sweater, a finished sock (second one not yet cast on), and a pair of booties in a new/old pattern that I don't think I'll be using again. (They still need sewing, but, dudes, this is not a pattern that will make the cover of Vogue.)

If the sound of constant whining is annoying me so much, you'd think I would just STFU, wouldn't you?

My knitting time is currently taken up with a lot of "community" knitting. From Dulaan to Ship Support, the SD Reservation, kids in Boston with cancer, dogs and cats in NOLA and NYC and here at home, little kids in Canada with cancer, homeless people in British Columbia, children in New England, children in PA. Lots.

Over the years, I have knat a lot for charity, and sometimes I've dragged you dudes along with me.

[I've shared what follows with only a couple people ever. ]

I was shocked by my personal reaction to the Red Scarf Project. Norma is a great cheerleader for the project so I was somewhat surprised that I didn't jump at the chance to brighten the day of a college student.

And why not? A care package is a wonderful thing!

The only thing I can put a finger on is this: In 4 years of college, I never got a "care package." Not ever.

In a way, I was in the same boat as the kids that will benefit: "aged out of foster care' (almost--I was still under the thumb of the Orphan's Court until I turned 21). Thing is, kids in the formal system may have it bad (and I have no doubt about this, really good decent foster parents who are in it for more than the money who care as much about their foster kids as they would about their own are few and far between), but at least someone is (at least occasionally) checking on them. Kids in the "family foster network" (like I was) are on their own. No one checks. And abuse is rampant (no scientific proof, just anecdotal evidence).

In my case, the abuse was not physical. It left no visible scars, but I was left a basket case by the time I left "home" at 18 for college. I had no desire to go back. So, now that I've typed it out, it looks really silly.

Maybe next February, I'll find the time and the red yarn and contribute there too.


In the meantime, here's how I'm addressing the stash increase (I told you what happens when I diet) issue.

I have cast on the last of the Nasty Fur, a top-down sweater in a wonderful long repeat acrylic (that feels like no acrylic I've knat up), a baby sock, and a Ship Support hat (for the March mailing, probably). After all, yarn that is on the needles is no longer stash. (My stash, my rules.)


If I weren't short of 16" 6s, I'd cast on a couple more.

We came home from a trip to BJ's (for cat litter and gallon jugs of floor cleaner and such as that) to a wonderful pile of packages on the front porch.

Top of the pile was This Yummy Book that I will read cover to cover then cast on something just perfect. (<$20 from Overstock.com). In the same box was a copy of Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan (NPR book critic who was interviewed on Fresh Air last week. I came home and ordered it. Fresh Air is very bad for my wallet).






And, it seems, all I have to do is type yarn diet and packages start arriving. Of yarn.

There is Annabelle Fox Chunky Tweed in Jade from Ann which included a finished hat and nearly finished mittens and enough of the yummy green wool for a kid sweater for Dulaan (far left), The sage green Maya that I won from Tammy (I believe we've already drooled on that one, top), and a box of wooly odds and ends and full balls of of Pinguoin, Emu, and Reggia from Tammy as well (and a bit from Rabbitch) .

Cat not included.

I have spreadsheeted (my blog, my word) all of the new stuff and I am now officially 1 mile ahead of where I was at the beginning of this Knit From Your Stash experiment.

Clearly, it isn't working!

This whole whack of goodness and knitterly generosity took the wind right out of my prepared rant for the day and made me feel like a very small person, indeed, so I will save it for tomorrow and just say a hearty Thank You to the folks who made me feel like a million bucks.

Labels: books, yarn diet

We did that at work last week. It's what people do in January.

It's what us 12-steppers do way too often for comfort and I have to say that I am wrapped up in some serious inventory-taking these days and it's not my own if you get my drift.

Besides the usual, everyone and everything is getting on my nerves. It's nothing I can put a finger on, but I'd like to stand on a street corner and yell, "would you all take a little responsibility for your actions!"

But if I do, the men in the white coats will be after me with the big funny net and the jacket with the sleeves that tie in the back. I really can't even just keep my head down and do my work. Because right now, I'm doing someone else's. Could this be a responsibility thing? Might could.


This sort of keeps me sane.

Makes you want to salute, doesn't it?

It's for Ship Support and it's Red Heart and I hate knitting with Red Heart but it was available at the only place I could possibly get one skein of yarn and not be tempted to get a whole big whack of yarn!

Yep, Tru-Value, the hardware store.

Problem is, I have 40 Tru-Value bucks and they expire in 2 weeks. I may have to trot on in there and buy a whole big whack of Red Heart and ship it somewhere like the Reservation. (They don't have anything but the Classic stuff at Tru-Value so I am not the slightest bit inclined toward stash enhancement.)

Then again, I might just buy a new door mat with my bucks. Or put a down payment on a chain saw.

It could happen.

Labels: ship support

So, I finished a sweater on Monday and a hat on Tuesday.

On Wdnesday, I cast on Three.More.Hats.

:ahem:

Something about Knit From My Stash. Using Up Yarn. (None of it on the spreadsheet!)

These three are for Ship Support.




And all of the rest that isn't on the spreadsheet?

It's in a box. On its way to the Southern Hemishere where it's summer. (If I can't go, my yarn might as well.) Except for the overdyed wool.

Blogless Peter (hi, Nanna) offered a swap. Truly, this is what he asked for. There's some interesting stuff in there.

Next up: Dulaan sweater, or Reservation socks.

Or my fingerless mitts.

Labels: ship support

It has been a particularly bad day, long week (what do you mean it's only Tuesday?!) so I was tickled pink to be greeted by the cat poses that you see here.

See the feet and the tiny hand?

For the full picture, check the archives. August 24, 2006 to be exact.









Here's another shot.

Same cat. Same voodoo doll.

No pins needed.

We aren't watching.









And here's a hat for a Tuesday night:

Size 11, 16" circulars. Less than a ball of Lion Boucle (leftovers from the Sunday Sweater). Crochet hook for chaining.

1) Make a chain about 10" long. Set aside.

2) Cast on 42 stitches, join, etc.

3) Knit around and around until the piece is 6" long.

4) K 2 together, YO, all the way around.

5) Knit 2 more rounds (or 3 if there's enough yarn left).

6) Bind off.

7) Weave in the ends. Thread the chain through the eyelets. Draw up. Tie a knot. Make a bow.

All done.

Total knit time, about 90 minutes. You're welcome.

Labels: knit recipes

Yes, I know it's Monday. I did that work thing today.

Sunday Sweater Vest (named thus because that’s when and how long I knat upon it)

Toddler size 2/4--24" chest

Materials: 3 balls of Lion Brand Bouclé (57 yards/52 meters to 2.5 oz./70g--79% acrylic/20% mohair/1% nylon). Pattern uses only a small part of the third ball. Substitute any nubby yarn that knits at the same gauge.
16" circular size 8
24" circular size 11
crochet hook size J/10 (6 mm)

Gauge: 3 stitches/1"

With size 8 16" needle, cast on 70 stitches. Join, rib for 4 rounds (about 1").

Switch to size 11 24" circular and knit for 7.5". On last round place 2 markers, 35 stitches apart.

Next round, beginning 2 stitches before each marker, bind off 4 stitches for underarm. (2 sets of 31 stitches remain separated by 4 bound off stitches.)

Back: Working only on one set of 31 stitches between the bound off stitches, work back and forth (k 1 row, p 1 row). Bind off 2 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows. (27 stitches remain in this section).

Knit until back above first set of bound off stitches is 6.25", ending on RS row.

Next row (WS) Purl across 8 stitches, Bind off next 11 stitches. Purl across 8 stitches. Place the open stitches on holders (a spare circular needle or 2 pieces of yarn.

Front (left side as sweater is worn): Join yarn at armhole. Bind off two stitches at the beginning of this and next row.

Next row (RS): Knit 11, knit 2 together. Place next stitch on a holder (safety pin). Turn and knit back. Decrease at neck side of front on right side, 4 more times. Knit remaining 8 stitches even until armhole length is same as back.

Turn piece inside out and execute 3-needle bind off on these 16 (8 pairs of) stitches.

Front (right side as worn): join yarn at center front, knitting first 2 stitches together. Repeat decreases at beginning of right side row 4 more times. Continue knitting the remaining 8 stitches as for left side until front and back armholes are the same length. Use three needle bind-off to join front and back as for left side.

Armhole and neck edges: With crochet hook, and right side facing, work single crochet loosely around armholes, beginning and ending at back edge of underarm. Beginning and ending at left shoulder work single crochet around neck edge, picking up the center front stitch.

Weave in ends.

© Ann McManus 2007

Labels: knit recipes

And there is.

A pattern of my own devising. It uses about 125 yards of bulky weight yarn.

Tomorrow, I'll post the pattern.

Note: I have consumed 6 balls of the Boucle and 4 balls of the Nasty Fur.

But now, I'll go stick pins in the weatherman voodoo doll. It's sleeting.

Answer to a recent comment from Kathleen: Ack=my way of saying "acrylic" and at the same time conveying my utter disregard for plastic yarn.

Labels: baby things

I was going to write this entry earlier today and call it "On the Home Stretch," but there was no need for another interim post. The Dulaan Odd Ball, she is done.

According to the pattern, it's about a size 8. I deliberately made both body and sleeves a little longer than the pattern calls for for a bit of extra warmth.

The Other Half commented last night, "Some little kid is going to love that." I sure hope so.

To recap: Odd balls of Pinguoin Pingofrance II (20/80 wool/acrylic), sport/dk weight size 4 and 6 needles. Pattern From Mary Rich Goodwin Kids to Grown-Ups Seamless Sweaters. I think I bought the pattern book from Elann. They have it in stock for a well-worth-it $14.95 (US).

Answer to Beth's Question: Yes, there are lots of ends. 136+ on this sweater. I did myself a favor, though and kept weaving them in on the body as I went along. I would have woven in the ones on the sleeves too, but the sleeves were too narrow to get my fingers inside so I waited till the end and turned each sleeve inside out then wove them all at once. (It took over an hour.)


I finished my third Kid Chemo Cap. This one is LB Fancy Fur (Bold Black) single stranded. Cast on about 48 stitches (honestly, I lost count at some point) on a 16" size 13.

My needle is a Plymouth bamboo. I hate it. The join is awful, the cable is stiff.

But the resulting hat is soft and stretchy and wonderful.

I thought the little bobbles (the colored bits) would pose a problem (about half are on the inside), but I don't think that will be the case. They aren't the slightest bit hard (sort of like soft foam stuffing).

Strange stuff, that.

Labels: Dulaan

We rented An Inconvenient Truth. It was finally in at 48 Hours. I think this says something about my community. Something quite shocking. This movie has been "out" for a few weeks and has been "out" at the video store the entire time!

That said, it's a must-see, whether you believe in Global Warming or not.

I can't remember being as intrigued by a scientific lecture since Larry Latman lectured in GeoSci 20 back in the 60s.

I came home early today.

My eye (left) has been bothering me for a while. Sort of scratchy/itchy like when there's a cat hair. . .

Today, I finally threw in the towel and called my doctor. Unfortunately, so did everyone else in town.

You know those flu shots? They make them so that people can take them and not catch the flu so that when someone (me) needs to see her doctor, she can. :ahem :

The best they could do was early next week. At which point I would have ripped my eyeball right out of my skull and run it through the dishwasher.

So I called my eye doctor. (Let me interject that I have been thinking about changing. Today clinched it.)

Appointment at 11. 45 minutes away from where I was (it was 9:30). Put a rush on what I needed to finish, hopped in the car. Got there with minutes to spare. And waited. And waited. While over there in the corner of the waiting room, a TV played on, and on, in an endless loop about some diagnostic procedure, and on, and on. . .

Finally, I get into the examination room. Finally, Dr. Eye shows up. "Washes" his hand with sanitizer (hello, there's soap and water and a sink!), then proceeds to open and close every cabinet and drawer in the room with the same hands he just sanitized, then pokes his fingers in my eyes.

(Hello! Move my records, please.)

So, it's conjunctivitis ("pink eye" to the non-medical among you), probably allergy-related (the cat sleeps on my bed all day, ya think?). How can he tell?

Like this (if you're sqeamish, skip this part): grasp the eyelashes firmly, turn the eyelid inside out, apply a dry cotton swab to the underside of the lid, collect sample.

Yeh, I went home (rather than drive 45 minutes, essentially blind!). But first, there was the payment issue. The counter-person says my insurance won't pay (based on a previous experience). My insurance company says they will (based on the same previous experience). I wrote a check. I'll get reimbursed.

(Please move my records!)

Eyedrops. Anti-inflamatory (steroid). 4 X daily for a week.

(Move the damned records!) And it wasn't just the stupid comment about my knitting!




These kid-sized chemo caps are a breeze to whip up.

The dark one is Bernat Boa with a strand of sport weight ack. Size 13 needles. The white one is the Nasty Fancy Fur with a strand of Bernat Lollipop. Size 9s

They are both nice and soft and snuggly.

And they work up really fast. And really, the Boa use the leftovers of a single ball. The Nasty Fur is slightly more than 1 ball.




And so, I cast on another of the Nasty Fur ones. This time a single strand of Nasty Fur alone. On 13s.

You know, it's knitting into a nice fabric.

I think I will spend some time moving the little colored blops to the right side when I am finished.

Or turn it inside out and make the hat reverse stockinette.

The Younger Kid (the one who still lives here) was asked yesterday if he would wear a sweater like this one.

Without batting an eye or hesitating for a nanosecond, he replied, resoundingly, "No!"

To his credit (and mine since I didn't pop him one) he is not a sweater-wearer and when the temperatures dip to the point that it really is sweater weather, he is inclined to wear the very, very plain. Or a ratty sweatshirt.

So, his opinion doesn't count a bit.

I've noticed other people (who shall remain nameless, but you know who you are) have also been less than enthused about the colors and the patterns, and I chalk this up to a dislike of Fair Isle (despite being Scottish and all) . So, that's 2 out of, what, 6.6 billion people on the planet, weighing in. I'd say that the majority likes the sweater. (My story, sticking, you know the drill.)

It's coming along nicely.

When this one is an offical toss, I shall start another baby sweater for the Reservation. There's a hat on the other needles. Car Knitting.


And so, I have jumped on yet another bandwagon. I'm such a a ho for kids!

Kate has another not scam going. This one's for bald kids.

And how do we know that it, like Ryan's, is Not-A-Scam? Come on! Who besides recently bald kids would actually request hats made out of this stuff?


Yep, it's Lion's newly-discontinued Nasty Fancy Fur. I can't get a good close-up shot, so you'll need to trust me on this: One strand of Fun Fur, one strand of floor sweepings. This little hat took about a couple hours. It's 14" but it stretches to about 20" so it should fit a 10 year old.

I got mine at the Dollar Tree (of Boucle fame) but I understand it's available all over the place for about a buck-a-ball. Wow. A dollar to bring a smile to a very sick kid. How can I refuse.

Ten, why?

Labels: Dulaan

Right from the get-go, I suspected that the Aran Cardigan might be too wide (though not too long) for the Not-So-New-Daughter-In-Law, and so, as I was putting the finishing touches on, I left little tags of the yarn I used for seaming (the better to remove the seams if ateration was necessary).

Alteration was necessary. NSNDIL is tall and very slender.

Those little tags came in handy for spotting the actual seaming yarn.




I carefully unseamed the sides and the very slight sleeve inset.


I graded the seam as she requested (to give it a slight A-line) and reseamed the side from the right side this time (I had crochet-chained the seams originally).

This modification totally removed the sleeve inset, making it a true drop shoulder.

I gave (very brief) thought to cutting the fabric. After all, I have steeked and I know it works, but this is very rough wool and I was concerned about how the new seam would feel (stiff and scratchy).



Then I carefully tacked down the wedges of fabric that I did not cut away so that they wouldn't create a roll and additional bulk.











Here's the finished sweater. You can almost see the A-line effect.

If it doesn't fit right, I fear my next (only other) option is to re-knit front and back.

I'll do that if necessary, but dudes, I sure am hoping I don't need to.

Labels: big people clothes

Tammy and Joy-Who-I-Believe-Is-Blogless sent me yarn!

The sage green in the front (Classic Elite Maya) is destined to become mitts (and a scarf if there's enough) for me. Thanks, Tammy ( Rabbitch assures me that prize yarn is to be used by the winner for something for the winner and is never considerd stash).

The wonderful wooliness surrounding my prize is destined for Dulaan and the Reservation. Socks, a little sweater, mittens. The burgundy and navy in the back look like very nicely hand-spun, the dark and light balls on the left are Superwash wool, the sock yarn (on the right) is sport weight. Yummy stuff. Thank you, Joy.



And here's the latest on the latest Dulaan sweater. The yoke is finished and I have separated out the sleeve stitches. I'll be knitting body and sleeves simultaneously so that the sleeves match each other.

The current plan is that the body will have the same pattern knit in, but with a slight variation in the color sequence. If I don't like it after this first color band, there won't be too much to rip.

It's a three day weekend here and both the Other Half and I have Monday off. Unfortunately, I brought home a big whack of work that I must get finished by Tuesday.

It isn't that there's so much of it, it's the tediousness of the task (transcribing lots of numbers on a spreadsheet onto my own spreadsheet for analysis).

Believe me, I spent much time attempting to obtain this data in electronic format. Fortunately, I was at least able to get a clean copy. My original was a fax of a fax from a reduction. That caused a $200,000 error when I mistook a "6" for an "8." Not fun!

Labels: Dulaan, yarn diet

Same hat, two different sides.

I really love what Red Heart variegated/ombre yarn does when knit in the round. This is the most recent car hat.

Wild, isn't it?

Labels: Dulaan, ship support

There's a bit of progress to show on the Random Dulaan Sweater.

It's slow going compared to, say, the Lopi wool (knit on size 10s). This one is a heavy sport/light DK on 4s and 6s.

I think it's going to be quite pretty and already I am concerned that there won't be enough yarn [gasp] and this stuff is so long discontinued that there's no chance of finding more.

If push comes to shove, I have a lovely Austerman Merino that's the same weight. It's a deep royal blue. Perfect!

Labels: Dulaan

With one sweater done for Cheyenne River, I turn my attention back to Dulaan.

Big bunch of leftovers, first from the Knitting Olympics in February (the little steeked masterpiece), and now from the first Dulaan sweater.

Same bunch of wool blend (Pinguoin Pingofrance II) that I got in a swap (or I bought on knitswap) several years ago. It aged first in the stash of the original owner, then in my stash. It was nice and ripe and now it's time for it to be gone.

This is all that is left. I estimate it's just enough for a size 8-10 top down sweater (chest size 33").


And so. . .I really like these charts from the Holiday 2006 Kit Simple. That, plus Mary Rich Godwin's Kids to Grown-ups (Seamless Sweaters Knit From the Top Down)--mine came from Elann, plus my leftovers. Well, I think we may have a winner!

Like the "Use Up Your Odd Balls" afghan, I am grabbing whatever comes into my hand for each change of color. I have lots of shades of blue, and salmon, caramel, and goldenrod for accents.

It will be colorful and warm, if nothing else!

Labels: Dulaan

I was going to write something really profound, but I can't think of anything.

Thank you so much to all my readers who have emailed me for contact information for The Ships Project. Your support will make a big difference to the young men and women who are deployed in the current War on Terrorism (or whatever it's being called this week).

My weekend knitting was confined to relatively mindless projects.


The scrap-ghan continues to grow. It's reclangular because the strips are 8 ridges high on the East and West sides (as shown in the photo) and 10 ridges high on the North and South sides.

At this rate, it will remain a rectangle with about a 2:3 ratio. Depending on quantity of leftover washable yarns, it will be either a baby-ghan or a throw.

(The colors sure aren't very "baby," though. Are they?)

I cranked out a pair of slippers for Ship Support in very fat black yarn.

And speaking of not "baby colors," here's my first sweater for the Reservation Sweater Challenge currently underway until mid-April.

It's the basic 5-hour job that took me about 6 and a half hours to complete. I decided to do "regular" (kfb) increases rather than the "knit into the bar between stitches" increase called for in the pattern. It's impossible to tell in this photo, but the yoke is a lot less "lacy" than the original. I think I'll try a YO increase on the next one.

I'll probably crank out a few more of these over the next weeks. The ones for the Reservation will be machine washable. Any that I make in hand-wash fibers will go to Dulaan.

Labels: baby things, Cheyenne River

about Charity community.

I do a lot of my crafting for charity. Do not paint me as a saint or someone noble. I like to knit. I knit every day. My kids and the Other Half are about buried in hand-knit sweaters and other woolies, as am I. I need an outlet! Even the biggest portion of the stuff I put into the fair each summer winds up being donated.

There are many definitions of charity but the one I like best is, to me, the simplest: Love. Carol (Cottage Creations) Anderson calls it "community." I like that too.

And I like all of what both of those words imply. Gifts given with "love" are the best we have. Not misshapen, or in colors no one wants, or poorly constructed, or out of style, or stained, torn, or dirty, but our best. As part of "community," we share what we would be happy to use ourselves.

I've written about "charity" in the past. A quick scan of the archives didn't get me to the post where I ranted about the offerings in a local "charity shop" (aka second hand store that supports the local hospital's "good works"). I went in looking for some odd bits of kids' clothing to fill a box I was mailing to Cheyenne River and was appalled by the condition of the stuff they had for sale. Why anyone donated it was beyond my comprehension. That it was offered for sale was even more appalling.



Ryan, The Dulaan Project commented a couple of days ago, "Another Dulaaner just brought to my attention the striped sweater you're doing for Dulaan and told me to come have a look-see. Oh. My. Gawd. That is amazing. I am so touched that you would make such a...well, work of art for the project. Absolutely stunning." I think she was talking about this little sweater that I confess I have been dying to make since I first saw the pattern.

Dulaan seemed a logical recipient. I enjoyed making it (even weaving in all those ends) and some child will be warmed in the wearing. Win-win.

Back before Christmas, I received an email from a friend on one of my e-lists. She asked how I select the charities that I craft for and I promised to expound "later." Well, "later" has arrived.

Over the years, I have knat up lots of yarn for various charity projects including my church(es) bazaar, the local emergency pantry, an auction for our local domestic violence crisis hotline (never again will I knit to order for an auction!), and other causes.

These days, my crafting time is devoted to a few "regulars" like the Ships Project (it's about the troops, not the war!), Cheyenne River Reservation, and the Dulaan Project . These three are long-term, on-going projects to gather warm woolies for folks in need of them.

I signed on to the Ships Project after another similar group I was part of dissolved into squabbles and then dissolved completely. The Older Kid was deployed. 'nuff said.

I came to Cheyenne River in a similar way. A group I was part of that was working for Pine River Reservation (same geographic area, better known community) also dissolved. I was happy to move my allegiance and continue working for the same people in need.

The Dulaan Project just touched me. (Have you seen the pictures?)

Recently, I have also contributed to Janice's Hats for Vancouver (She's a friend, what can I say?) and Farm Witch's Knit For the Kidlets Project. (Rabbitch sent me.) I also sent some squares off to Warming Grace (sorry, no link).

In the past (near and distant), I have joined Dez and Wendy in quilting/ knitting for homeless/helpless animals. Dez is in NOLA at the animal shelter, post Katrina, Wendy's project was in the northeast for cats mostly, and especially elder cats. I will confess that I have not joined in Dez's recent "knit for NOLA" project (warm washable stuff for teens served by Covenant House--definitely worthy of your support if you have the time), not because it isn't worthy (it certainly is!) but because I can stretch only so far.

And so, I guess that's the very short answer to how I pick and choose. How's my time? How's my supply of the needed supplies? Do I "know" and trust the person doing the organizing?

In all cases, I like the idea of a loose knit (bad, but intentional pun) community with a common goal. Something like the old-time quilting circles, joined not by our presence in a common room, but by our presence in a common world.

You can help!

Update: If you want to help, but are short on time, The Ships Project is in desperate need of cash donations to help pay to ship donated handmades to "the Sandbox." It's cold there. There's stuff to ship, but postage money is tight. If you can help, email me for the Paypal (cash only) link or a mailing address (checks). My email is amcmanus@ptd.net.

Labels: ship support

I just updated the sidebar Yarn Countdown to reflect the (almost) current state of my stash.

In Measurables, I have 521 balls of yarn (that's the number that needs to go down before I can add anything--two out, one in), representing 49.67 miles and 81 pounds (37,029 grams). That's a lot of yarn!

So, that's my starting point for Knit From Your Stash. To buy a ball of yarn, I must get two gone.

:looks around:

Nope, no candidates for giving away. I guess I'll have to knit it.


I'll confess to buying 3 skeins of Red Heart Classic (the 100g ones) at the hardware store today. They are for a specific request from Ship Support. Nittany Lion navy and white. How could I not? (I will confess to buying it at the True Value so I wouldn't be tempted to buy any other yarn tahn what I need!

And here's what comes from 3 balls of Lion Brand Boucle:

I finished a second pair of mittens and a little hat. So the report on the LB Boucle (aside from the obvious--that it's crappy to knit--is that 3 balls will make 2 pairs of mittens (child size) and a toddler hat.

Not bad for three bucks!

I've added the Boucle yarn and subtracted some stuff that I am giving away tomorrow, so my spreadsheet is up to date.

I'll update the stats on the sidebar on the 5th as always.

But in the meantime, here it is:

49.7 miles of yarn in my stash

Okay?

Last night while watching movies (The Devil Wears Prada, and All the King's Men if anyone cares) and waiting for 2007 to arrive, I finished this pair of mittens in the first of the Boucle.

You can find the pattern here.

I'll be sending them to Maine to Farm Witch before her January 15 deadline.

And here's the Keeping Me Honest shot of the current WIPs.

The green tunic is conspicuously absent. It's been frogged.

Left to Right: Scrapghan, Teddy Bear sweater, pair of slippers for Ship Support.

The link in today's earlier post has been fixed.

And the person who made the crack about PA? You are certainly entitled to an opinion. How 'bout you put it on your own blog!

Labels: yarn diet

One hundred fifty-six FOs this year. That's nearly one every other day. I knit up 24 2/3 miles and 40 pounds of yarn. At that rate, my stash will be gone in 2 years (fat chance) if I knit strictly from my stash during Knit From Your Stash 2007. Thus the need for the one in, two out rule.

Impressed?

I've been keeping track since 2002. Other years have been more impressive. But in the Very Best (tm) year, I was using my Bond to create lots of hats. This isn't too shabby.

Here's the run-down:

5 adult sweaters
42 hats
4 scarves
16 pairs of slippers
1 afghan
13 child sweaters
2 laprobe/baby blanket
8 pairs of booties/baby socks
1 shawl
7 pairs of mittens
1 christmas stocking
35 afghan squares
7 toys
1 teddy sweater
2 sweat bands
9 christmas ornaments
1 felted bag
1 cat mat
3 place mats

I do believe I'll cast on something new and ring in the new year.

Janice has an interesting take on the Year In Review. Check it out!