Go Ahead! Put me in a Time Out!!!

…..send me to my room. Please!!!

Hey, It’s Maria.

What do you do when Dad looks like this:

And Mom looks like this…

What do you do??? I have no idea.

When we signed on for the parenting thing 19 years ago, God told us we were smart enough to be parents. We’re not. I want my deposit back.

Have I ever mentioned how awesome Honey is? I was supposed to be out of town this weekend, but my plans changed. He decided that since I look like I do, I should get a “Time Out”. (Actually I look even worse. That photo is 5 years old.) I’m taking the motorhome and leaving. I’m going all of 14 miles. What’s so great about that and about Honey? He has 4 kids and a peeing puppy. I have me.

I’m going to knit. I have to pound on that Kauni. Someone, and you know who you are, started hers yesterday, and she’ll probably be done with it by Sunday. So I need to keep moving. Good thing there isn’t a Biggest Loser in knitting, or I’d lose to her! I’m also thinking about doing some quilting. I haven’t worked on a quilt in forever and it might just be time. I used to quilt way more than I knit. My ravelry name is quiltmomoffive. My license plate is WANASEW. But I am the boss of my crafting and I can do what I want. I have to be the boss of something!?!

I have a finished object. I finished my Lady Eleanor Stole.

The only think I don’t love is that there’s so much pink in it. I’m going to wear it with a denim jacket and jeans. What color shirt should I wear? Keep your suggestions clean. I’m the mother of 5 and I’m 44 years old.

I just need to tell you that the fringe absolutely makes this thing. I love the fringe. Now I need to play true confessions. Lady Eleanor isn’t really finished. Look at this and see if you can see what’s wrong:

This was the first fringe I did. Instead of knotting two strands together, I knotted 4. I didn’t read the directions very well. It hangs all wonky and I have to redo it. So that’s going along with me on my 14 mile trek.

Now I need to go make dinner, get groceries, clean up some messes, and do everything that I would have done this weekend, had I been home.

Hey Lexi, how’s the nap research going?

P.S. That photo of me was a promo shot for a little gig I did for a women’s conference on parenting and staying sane. I don’t really have the credentials to talk about either one with much expertise! Oh, and if you’re in Minnesota or would like to come to Minnesota, I’m in charge of a creative retreat (meaning quilting, knitting, scrapbooking etc.) in November. The accomodations are great and we have a ton of fun. Here’s the info. Just leave a comment if you’re interested, and I’ll get back to you. (Hey all you Texas people, you could come along with Mom.)

My Damask Kauni

Correction: The stitch pattern I used for my Kauni is Damask, not Tapestry. When I Googled Dale of Norway Damask, I didn’t find anything. It’s a pattern from 2001.

Today is the day for the promised, long overdue Kauni post. But first, I had startitis this weekend. I started the Modern Quilt Wrap. The pattern is from the new Folk Style book, but this particular pattern is available as a free download. It’s gorgeous and knit with 9 colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I did 4 small squares and part of the next large one (all while watching NASCAR, of course) and decided I didn’t want to dedicate a gazillion hours of my life to this project. So I wandered around for a while and decided to pull out the Kauni.

Can I tell you how much I love this sweater? I think it’s what’s going to motivate me to get back on my diet, because it could really be a little bigger.

Do you remember this picture?

This was in my August 24th blog post. I promised to blog about it in a week. OK, I meant month.

The first Kauni I ever saw was on this blog. Margaret in Manhatten knit the most gorgeous sweater, and I had to have one of my own. I ordered the yarn and had a brainstorm. I had a Dale of Norway pillow pattern called Tapestry. (It must be an old pattern because I Googled it and got nothing.) I used Ruth’s pattern for the actual cardigan pattern, and Tapestry for the stitch pattern. Here’s what I came up with:

Can I tell you how much I love this??? Oh, yeah. I already did.

I did a picot hem. It curled a little bit, but I steam blocked it this morning and it looks great. I think I’m going to do the picot down the front of the cardigan and get the Norwegian clasps for it. I wouldn’t wear it closed anyway, especially since it’s a little bit small.

I’m pretty worried about the sleeves, especially after reading about the problems The Great and Powerful Oz of Knitting had with the sleeves. I don’t know how many blog posts Stephanie had about “arsing” up her sleeves and ripping. If she had trouble, what am I going to do? I also have to make sure the sleeves are big enough for my truck driver arms. Stephanie, can you come to Minnesota and help me with this??? I know nothing about good beer, but I can learn!

Actually, I have a better chance of getting help here. Susan lives in Minnesota. These two ladies actually gave me the idea for doing a blog with someone else. I’m always jealous of sisters that get to do fun stuff together. I love doing anything with my sister, but she’s in Texas and I’m in Minnesota. And she doesn’t knit. She’s a a scrapbooker, (and a good one, Hi! Shan). Susan and Sally do amazing work and I’m so glad that they have a blog that inspires knitters to become better and try harder things. I’m also working on the Peacock Shawl, thanks to them!

I’m just past the armholes, and need to decide soon what I’m going to do with the neckline. Some people are just knitting it square and shaping it with the steek. Yikes!!!

Now that I’ve blogged about Kauni, I’m feeling the pressure to keep working on it. One thing I’ve found out about blogging is that it is making me a more monogamous knitter. I’m getting more things finished. (No I didn’t put in the other sleeve. I did half of the fringe on Lady Eleanor though.)

On that note, I leave you to dig out the laundry room again!!!

Hey Lexi, are you there??????

Two Finished Objects (Almost!)

Hi, it’s Maria.

I have something to show you. But first, do you remember the sock contest? There were two winners. I’ll show you what they received.

On the left is some true purple Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn. Ronda is going to be making socks with some cables or lace or something cool. Right, Ronda? And Patti received some Lucy Neatby Celestial Sock Yarn. It was so hard to pick yarn for someone else, and I so much wanted them to love it. I love red and still didn’t have any red for Ronda. Note to self: buy red sock yarn!!!

Lady Eleanor is blocking on the floor in my closet. I had to shove piles out of the way to do it too. I didn’t want the bedroom smelling like wet sheep last night.

It blocked out at 22 x 77. I did several extra repeats to get it long enough. The pattern is Lady Eleanor in the Scarf Style book. I used Noro Silk Garden color #87. I soaked it in the kitchen sink and added a little hair conditioner to it, and it seems like it’s going to be pretty soft. I will give it a real photo shoot when the fringe is on it. The colors are much clearer when it’s dry. I think I’m going to love it.

OK, I don’t want to know how long I’ve worked on this next project. #1 son said he wanted this sweater. So I jumped on it.

The sweater is Scamp by Kim Hargreaves. It’s in the book A Treasury of Rowan Knits. It’s an older book that you can find cheap. Let me tell you, it’s worth every penny. Every time I page through it I find something I’d love to make.

I love Rowan Denim yarn. People usually have a strong reaction to this yarn. They either love it or hate it. It’s hard on your hands, but oh, the stitch definition. You knit the pieces first and then wash them in hot water and throw them in the dryer.

Look at that stitch definition.

Anyway, I made the sweater for my son. I washed and dried the pieces. The sleeves were too short. So I removed my bind off at the top of the sleeves and added a few inches. I put one sleeve in. My darling child decided he doesn’t like sweaters. So, it sat. And it sat. And it sat a few more months. The other night Honey tried it on. Guess who’s going to wear it??? Except there’s one problem.

It’s missing something.

Hey Lexi, don’t let Grandma spoil you too much this weekend, OK?

Sucked in Again!!!

Hi, it’s Maria.

I just meandered from this pattern on Knitty to this. It’s The Year of Lace, 2008. It’s a club for lace knitting. Amy Singer is the coordinator. The patterns are designed by many different designers. I didn’t read very carefully about the yarn. I know there will be different fibers. It comes every three months. And I fell for it. I really need more projects….NOT!

On the Lady Eleanor front, it’s the stole that never ends. I did the requisite number of rows, measured it, and it’s not long enough. So, I’m making more pretty squares. My plan was to have a photo of a finished project for you today.

Oh, do I have WIPs. I’m not having a contest to guess how many, because I don’t want to know. Oh, you want pictures? OK, wait here. I’ll be right back. If I don’t come back, call 911 because I may be buried by projects.

Sheesh, you’re still here? You must be bored. This is the Katharine Hepburn Cardigan by Kathy Zimmerman. It’s in the Lace Style book. Here is a photo of a Monika’s finished KHC. Isn’t it gorgeous? I don’t even have the back totally done. I decided to put beads in it. (Another thank you to the Mystery Stole) I’ve hit knots in the yarn and had to restring all my beads a couple of times. Isn’t that just a blast?

The yarn is Gems Opal by Louet. I actually used the recommended yarn. That’s rare for me. I don’t follow rules well. The beads are size 6.

I’m also working on a basic cable pullover. It’s the softest thing evah! Again, I only have the back done.

Sorry, the combo of my photos makes it looks like Christmas. Not ready for that yet! The yarn I’m using for this one is Cascade Indulgence. It’s 70% alpaca and 30% angora, and it is heavenly. Indulgence is a great name for it. It’s a prettier green than my photo too.

I’m working these sweaters backward. My friend S and I decided we should knit the front and sleeves first, so that if we die before the sweater is done, they can just tuck the pieces around us in the casket. Hey, maybe when I get to heaven, all my sweaters will be done!!!

Now I suppose you just can’t wait to hear about my weekend. Man, you really are bored. I worked at a funeral at church on Saturday morning. I got to run the big commercial dishwasher. I guess nobody likes that job. I think it’s kinda fun. Saturday afternoon, C and I went birthday shopping for our youngest. My baby turned 7 yesterday!!! C’s baby turns 4 today.

Sunday morning my big quilt machine got moved. I had to hire someone to do it. Honey and figured we could maybe get it apart, but getting it put back together and making it work was another story. The quilt machine is now in my blog partner Lexi’s bedroom. I love you Lex! Oh, you want to see what it looks like? OK, wait here.

I’m so excited. The machine was in a skinny little dark room before. I’m still in the basement but there’s a large egress window just to the left. Because I love my college daughter, her bed is still there and there’s plenty of room for her. She’ll be thrilled to be there compared to her tiny dorm room! Hey Lexi, we’re roommates now!?!

Speaking of unfinished things, I don’t even want to think about all the quilt tops I need to quilt, or how many quilts are only half pieced. Why do we need to sleep?

Man, I need to go clean something. Remember last week (or was it the week before) I said I was going to clean the basement. I didn’t do it because we couldn’t move the quilt machine. Now I can start moving some stuff around and get rid of some. My new neighbors have a dumpster for construction, and they’ve told me that I can put some stuff in it. Now that sounds like fun.

Hey Lexi, do you think you’re going to like your new roomie?