Yarn Fast Update

While I haven't actually purchased any yarn since I declared my yarn fast on February 8th, I am the current high bidder on 2 yarn auctions on ebay. Does it count a cheating if I don't actually win? What if I win, but don't pay until March 8th? Or if DH pays and gives it to me for my birthday? (See ticker at bottom of blog.)

Too Many Library Books

Ok, so I'm straightening up the house, and have come to the conclusion that I have way too may knitting books checked out of the library. Problem is each book has at least one pattern in it that I wish to make. But with so much inspiration, there is no time to actually, you know, knit. So, I will list here the books I have out, what I like in them, and then when I'm ready, I can check them out again. Sound good? I may just list a few whenever I feel like it, instead of scouring the house for them.

The Knitter's Bible - Knitted Bags by Claire Crompton. Lots of cute bags, but the main one is When the Cows Come Home which is an intarsia cow pattern which reminds me of Cotton and Angel(o). Page 60.

101 Designer One-skein Wonders edited by Judith Durant. Some cute hats, but the main attraction is Magic Loop Minis - tiny sweater, sock & hat Christmas tree ornaments. Page 60. I'm putting this in the pile to be returned ASAP. I don't even really like the magic loop method that much.

Lion Brand Yarn Just Bags edited by Stephanie Klose and Cathy Maguire. Again, lots of cute bags. Maybe they're even from lionbrand.com? Anyway, the Log Cabin Tote is what is attracting me. I've been anxious to try a log cabin anything since I learned to pick up stitches. Page 48. Oh, and half the patterns in this book are crochet, which I don't even do.

Lion Brand Yarn Just Gifts edited by Shannon Okey. Several cute dishcloths (pages 35-37), more holiday ornaments (page 47), and a felted coffee cozy (page 72). P.S. I don't even like the coffee cozy stitch pattern, just the idea of wrapping an occasional latte in a sweater.

Lion Brand Yarn Just Hats edited by Nancy J. Thomas and Adina Klein. (Seeing a pattern here?) Cute Rocky Raccoon hat on page 61, but it is crochet!

The Weekend Crafter: Knitting 20 Simple & Stylish Wearables for Beginners by Catherine Ham. Baby Socks on page 33. Stripes, polka dots, bumble bee, etc. with no heels to turn!

Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne. One-piece baby kimono (page 23), Felted Boxes (page 57), and more Log Cabin Knitting which starts on page 62.

Fabulous & Flirty Felt by Darlene Bruce. Lots of cute bags with instructions on felting and dying. Do I even want to get started on dying?!?

There are more books laying around the house, but I'm sick and pooped, so that's it for now.

30 Day Yarn Fast

I have spent several hundred dollars in the past week on yarn and knitting related purchases. (Signed up for an entrelac class, and bought a sock knitting DVD, among other things.) As a result, I am beginning a one-month yarn fast (ie: won't buy any more). I started yesterday and go until March 8th.

Tomorrow, I start the new class. Here is the excerpt:

Tea with Lady Eleanor

This is a beautiful shawl out of the Scarf Style book and you know you have always wanted to make it. You will learn the awesome technique of entrelac knitting and if you are interested Kathy will teach you how to knit back backwards...yep you read right! This will look wonderful in any self-striping yarns, i.e. Noro Silk Garden, Kureyon or Trendsetter Tonalita. You will need the book, size 9- 10.5 needles depending on gauge. 3 sessions…oh and yes we will be sampling tea and cookies!

I was able to find some examples on Flickr, if anyone wants to take a peek:

Shawl in Multicolors

Shawl in Browns

Shawl in Pinks

Another Dishcloth

This is the monthlydishcloths mystery KAL for February. I started it on 2/1/08 and finished on 2/6/08. Knit with Sugar 'n Cream color rose pink. Can you tell it's a heart-shaped box of candy?

Another finish!

This was the November KAL project on Monthlydishcloths. I stalled after day 5 for some reason, and just picked it up again on Sunday. Finished days 6 & 7 in less than an hour, I'd estimate. I got the ends woven in and blocked it Sunday night, or was it Monday? Anyway, it's done!

First Finish Since my Proclomation

Last night, I had the house to myself and was able to finish the palm tree dishcloth. I even wove in the ends and blocked it. Yippee! Today, I am working on finishing up the squirrel cloth, which was the November KAL on the monthlydishcloths yahoo group.

Several days ago, I finished a blocked a flamingo cloth. It was knit on size 6 needles with Lion Cotton, I think. I took about a dozen photos of the flamingo, but just couldn't get the pattern to show up as clearly as I'd like.

The palm tree is compliments of Rainy Kimbrough. The flamingo is from Enid Danforth. Thank you for sharing your patterns with me.

I Hereby Declare February to be...

Finish it Up Month!!!!

How, oh how, have I created so many knitting UFO's in such a short amount of time?! I am spending this evening trying to locate all the started projects and match them to their patterns. So patterns are missing, so projects are mislaid. By tomorrow, I hope to have everyone matched with his partner, so I can spend the rest of the month finishing up some of the quickies.

Off the top of my head, I have OTN:

Washcloths:

Snoopy
Christmas house scene
Palm tree
February mystery KAL (at least I'm up to date on this one!)
Squirrel KAL from November

Scarves:

One row handspun in navy blue for DH for Christmas
YO/Drop stitch ribbon scarf for co-worker
Alpaca basket weave in white
Long stripes green & tan

Other stuff:

Red mini Christmas stocking
Purple & pink (to-be) felted bag
Blue homespun baby blanket
Cat toy made of fun fur
Ribbed black scarf to be blocked
Tan fun-fur scarf that needs ends weaved in

Keep in mind that this is just the stuff I can remember or see from here. Figure there might be a few more laying around too. Sigh. Ok, enough moping. Let's see if I can finish at least half of these before March 1. Luckily, we get an extra day in February this year!