Working hard...

on my stash. I have three bags of sweaters and blankets to donate. I am hoping the place is open today so I can drop things off and move them out of my back room. I really need to clean up and organize a lot more in that room. It is overflowing with yarny goodness!

Here is the latest things to go in the bag...


A cute Patches blanket from an older crochet book I have on my shelves. I loved the look of it, but there were way too many ends to weave in. I hate to weave in ends. But over all it was really cute I think.


Can't really tell from this picture, but it is a little crocheted short sleeve jacket. If I had one more skein, then it would be a little different. Can you believe this yarn was in the stash? I borrowed 3 Candi Jensen books from the library and had fun making several sweaters. Crocheting goes much faster than knitting for me. I thought I could get through the stash faster if I crocheted a few things.

I finally remembered to get the socks I was working on for my hubby for Christmas out of the car. I had them there so I could work on them whenever, but since school stopped they have been idle, so I grabbed them yesterday and was able to turn the heel and start the gusset on the first sock. It feels funny knitting after all that crocheting. I am itching to start something for me. I think It will be a pair of slippers and then Nutkins Socks.

Using Stash

That is my number one goal for this summer. Use up my stash. Or at least the acrylic part. I was gifted several tubs full last year and I decided it is high time I got to use them and donate the projects. Yesterday I pulled it all out of the closet and had a look. There is a lot! Some I will never use, but most can be worked into blankets, sweaters or hats. So that is my goal. I have two bags ready to donate next week. The fun part is trying out a whole bunch of different patterns. I borrowed a few Candi Jensen books from our library and found a couple of little things to make. Plus I pulled out some of my printed patterns over the years and worked on them too. If I am going to use stash, I might as well have fun.


This is a small carriage blanket done in the box stitch. I think it came out really cute. I would work this pattern again too.


Made this crocheted sweater from a booklet I had around. It is pretty cute in person. Yarn was from a swap, so it works.


Made a matching hat to go with it too. Still a tiny bit of yarn left, but not much!


This purple number was knit using a Bernat hooded sweater pattern - minus the hood. I didn't really like how it was constructed.


This is a Candi Jensen pattern. It was supper easy, but the sleeves a thin. I started with pink, but ran out, so now it is a pink and purple sweater. Weird but cute in person.

I have a few other things in pieces and no pictures until they are finished. I started an crocheted blanket last night -- seems to use up a lot of yarn! And I started making a few recorder cases for the start of school. Just have to sew together one other thing and you will have lots more pictures!

After several straight days of rain, I am happy the sun is out. I don't mind if it is a little cool, but sun is always good! We have two parties to go to tomorrow and Sunday. I was volunteered to bring dessert. So I am making a chocolate mousse pie and some double chocolate cookies. Luckily it isn't 90 degrees, or I might be buying something at the store!

Have a very Happy 4th of July!

Summer Vacation

Lovely thoughts... I am officially on summer vacation. Last day for the kids was Wednesday and teachers went in on Thursday for a few contractual hours. SO Friday was my first day! I have been getting lots of little cleaning projects and cooking done around the house. I get up and read for a few hours every morning and knit or crochet away for several hours too. I have been out of the house doing an errands or two a day, plus walks with our dog and the husband. I think I am really going to enjoy this summer!

As you know I am really trying to use up the extra yarn I have in the house, so I have been working on a few crocheted blankets - they just go so much faster than knitting them... and some preemie hats and some sweaters too.

These little sweaters work up in no time at all.

I love a good ripple pattern, so I made one in the round with pinks and one in purples. Sadly I have not made much of a dent in my acrylic stash. I pulled out some more last night and have made some progress on a cute box stitch carriage blanket. I also have one other crocheted sweater somewhere and pieces of a knit one blocking. I'll show those off next time.

I just really wanted to up date and see what is happening with everyone else. I seem to lose track of time when I am at home these days and not get on the computer. I am looking forward to working on some socks, but I am on this donation kick for the moment, so I will get a few more things put aside to donate downtown once I can go during their business hours. Then maybe I'll get back to me... I haven't ripped out my cable socks yet, but I did put them away. I will most likely rip them out and use a different pattern.

Another visit

I have been working on the spindle socks a bit and tried them on yesterday. They are very tight. I am thinking of frogging them. Maybe going with a toe up sock instead. I love the yarn, but the pattern from the start hasn't been my friend.

Instead of knitting I started on another crocheted blanket to donate. I quickly went through some red heart yarn and picked several skeins to use up. After this one I think I need to go back to knitting for a while. I bought these to help sway me:


I may not use the yarn right away, but I really want to try out these new needles! I have been drooling over them in the catalog and online for a while, so I couldn't help it.

Not much else happening around here. The garden is finally in. Perfect timing with a rain storm the next day. We spread things out a bit more to give them more room to grow. Can't wait to see those cukes coming in. I had to buy some at the market today because we have been wanting the 7 day refrigerator pickles. I made a ton last year, and I want to start again soon. Of course I forgot the vinegar at the market today, so I'll stop tomorrow and pick some up. mmmm pickles!

New month!

Sometimes I surprise myself and can get online at home and multitask. These past few weeks, I just haven't done well with things. I have been a little overtired and have let many things fall by the wayside! Yikes. School is coming to a close. We just have this week and next, then I'll be on summer vacation. I am really looking forward to it. I really just want to be able to get up, have a cup of coffee and stay in my comfy clothes until late morning! Soon.

My garden is doing pretty well. I have been picking lots of asparagus, lettuce and strawberries. I even made a batch of strawberry scones this morning. They are so delicious! Soon I will be seeing some radishes and peas hopefully. I love picking straight from my own house instead of buying things at the store!

As for knitting I have completed a pair of slouchy socks:

I did intend these for me... but I think they will fit hubby a little better. I like the way the heels came out too. A little funky for striped yarn.

I also cast on for a second pair of socks for me:

These are the Spindle Socks. Well they started out that way, and then I modified the pattern to a better looking cable in my head. Of course there have been nights the past couple of weeks I just haven't felt like knitting, so I haven't.

Last week I picked up my crochet hook for the first time in a long while. I can do that in my sleep, so I have been working on preemie hats and some baby sweaters. I am really trying to use up the odds and ends I have around. I have a bunch of gifted yarn that I plan to make into blankets, but first I have to pull it out and look at what colors there are.

Thanks for stopping in to check on me. I have to take a few more pics and I will post again soon.

Happy Memorial Day!

I am taking a break for the outdoors for a few moments. Had to have a little lunch so I thought I would jump here and update since I meant to get here yesterday. Spent the morning spreading seeds. I had a bunch for friends and ones that I have collected, so I thought, no sense in them sitting. If they were meant to grow, then they needed to be in the ground. Yesterday I picked up some veggie plants for the local place. Just have to roll out the weed block and then those will go in the ground. I love to see what grows from little little seedlings! We basically eat from the garden all summer. Head out there and pick something to grill or add to a salad. Yum!

Yeah! Finally a finished project!

My Olympian Socks are complete! Was able to finish them yesterday. Which made me very happy! Can't really see the Olympic rings on my socks, but believe me they are there!

I was also able to finish:

These are for a person at work who is getting married. We are having a little shower in a few weeks. Wanted to make sure I could finish them and have them ready. They came out pretty cute with stripes. Hope she likes them.

Nancy asked what pattern I was planning for my Panda Silk from the last post. Well to be truthful, I don't have a plan for the yarn. I bought it just because of the silk content. I did pull out a huge pile of patterns for my next sock (of course I have to finish the toe ups that I am working on first! No distractions please!) I have a few pattern in mind for the next sock, but no thoughts on yarn for this.... I would love to try Nutkin which would be perfect for the Melody yarn I bought a few months ago....Primavera too and there is always Kew. I can never decide. Any thoughts on what sock pattern I should cast on for next?

New Goodies

I met a friend for a little yarn shopping a little while ago. She bought lots of yarn to make a beautiful shawl and I bought these goodies. That is Panda Silk! Yum! I had never seen it in person before. Plus I bought some Cascade sock yarn. Both choices are a little out of my normal color palette, but I really liked them!

I am working on the Olympian socks STILL! I hope to have them finished over the weekend. I am just finishing the second sock's gusset. Not much farther now. I am not sure what I will pick up next. Would like to work on the toe ups I have started, but I may work a few other quick projects before I go back to those. Not sure why, but I am not really thrilled by them.

This weekend I am planning to purchase my plants for the veggie garden. I would like to get them in with this long week. Hopefully I can get them in and have some rain to help them along. The patch is ready and so I am to get the veggies in. Hopefully things go as planned!