Felt Like Knitting

"Awww, poor buddy..."

"Poor buddy" would be me.  I woke up this morning with a terrible dizzy feeling and couldn't get out of the bed.  What's weird is that I was dreaming about people drinking too much and being dizzy.  It's interesting how we incorporate our waking moments in with our dreams.

Part way through the day I was able to knit on the Central Park Hoodie a little (Debby has challenged me to a friendly race!) and get on the laptop.  I'm feeling a bit better tonight and am sitting at the computer for a few minutes.  I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll be fully recovered.  I have a lot of house cleaning to do for my mom's visit, which begins this Wednesday.  (This visit keeps sneaking up on me.  The guest bedroom bed is made, but Mom really won't be able to walk into the room because of all the old school papers that are in it.)

Time to get back in bed and back to the hoodie.  I know I won't finish first, but it'll be fun to try!

Contest winner

Boy, do I need help in the "catchy title" department or what?!  :)

After a highly technical process of having my daughter draw a name from a bag, it was determined that the winner is....Rachel of Have You Any Wool?  Congratulations, Rachel!  Send your address to me at BethH1024 [at] aol [dot] com and I'll get the prize to you.  (Well, as soon as I sew in the lining!)

Thanks to everyone that entered.  I really enjoyed reading all about the seasons.  You all are so poetic and descriptive!

I hope you all have a great day!

Last day for Contest of Seasons

Today is the last day to submit your entry for the Contest of Seasons.  If you haven't already entered, just tell what your favorite season is and why.  This is the prize for winning.  After 11:59PM Eastern tonight, I will randomly draw a winning name from everyone that has entered.

In other news, today is Patti's birthday!  Happy birthday to you, dear Patti!

Last night I distributed most of the names for the swap.  I get to swap with Christina!  It looks like she's celebrating a birthday, too.  Happy birthday, Christina! 

Do you ever feel like there is something else you want to say, but you can't remember what it is?  That's happening to me right now.  I guess I'll just add it later if I think of it.  :)  Have a terrific day!

Update:  I remember what I wanted to say!  ChicKnits has a new sweater available!  It's beautiful.  I think this may inspire me to finish the CP hoodie.  If I can make it through the hoodie, I'd love to knit this sweater.

Seven songs meme

Gina tagged me for a meme:  "Seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now."   Here's what I came up with.  (To listen to a song clip, click on the album name then scroll down to select the song title.)

1.  Love Heals Your Heart by Third Day  (Album:  Wherever You Are)  This is an uplifting song and is the first one I turn to when I listen to this album.  I feel better whenever I listen to this song because I'm reminded of God's love for us.

2.  Keep On Shinin' by Third Day  (Album:  Wherever You Are)  Another uplifting song.  Sometimes I have trouble sharing my faith and this song encourages me.

3.  Pierced by Audio Adrenaline  (Album:  Worldwide)  A hopeful, moving song.  I am not perfect, but God is.  Yet He loves me!  "Oh this love, how can it be?  That my God would die for me?  For my sins, His wounds did bleed.  Jesus, You were pierced for me."  We played this at church last Sunday, so it's been on my mind a lot.

4.  If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns  (Album:  Casting Crowns)  This song is a wake-up call.  I've always like the lyrics of this song.  But lately I've been thinking about it a lot.  We played this last Sunday and I was reminded of how great it is.  The Bible says that we are Christ's representatives here on earth and we are to help those in need.  I don't do enough for my fellow humans.

5.  I Believe by Third Day  (Album:  Wire)  Another "feel good" song.  It talks of the importance of love.

6.  You Are My Joy by David Crowder Band   (Album:  A Collision)  Another joyful, uplifting song.

7.  Here Is Our King by David Crowder Band (Album:   A Collision)  A worshipful, praise-filled song. 

It may seem like I'm in a rut and I don't listen to anything but music about God.  I guess that's true.  But, this is a good rut to be in!  :)  This music helps me get through a tough world and encourages me to look forward to my life in heaven with God.

The swap is closed and the vest is gone

Just a brief post to say that the swap is now closed and the fun will soon begin!  I have names paired up and I will probably be getting the info out to swappers tonight.  Remember that even though this is (primarily) a knitting blog, the handmade gift items don't have to be knitted.  You can knit, sew, bead,  - whatever you want as long as the gift is handmade.  I'll send more complete instructions when I give out the partner names.

And now for the vest dilemma...  I ripped the whole thing out and rewound the yarn.  When I took out the needles to rip back the vest, I tried it on.  It wasn't going to be the most flattering thing I've made, so I decided to frog it.  I actually feel much better about it - one less project to finish!  And just in time, now that the swap is starting.  Thanks for all of your helpful comments!

Last day for swap sign ups

Today is the last day to sign up for the Handmade Christmas Gift Swap.  Our group has been growing and we're up to 13 swappers.  Links to their blogs are on the left sidebar and on the swap blog.  It's going to be a lot of fun!

I have actual knitting progress (?!) to report.  Debby suggested I watch some TV while I knit.  I have to admit that I'm not much of a TV watcher and maybe that's been part of the problem with WIP completions.  (Another part of the problem is that I love getting on the computer and I take too much time with it.)  So last night I sat down with my knitting and watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  It's the second time I've watched that show and the second time I've tried not to sob like a baby cried while watching. 

The crying may have contributed to cable error.  I knew it looked like there were too many rows between crosses, but it had been awhile since I had worked on this vest and I thought maybe it would be okay.  It wasn't.  I ripped out four rows of the cables and reknit them.  They look a little wonky and I'm still not sure the cable is crossed in the right place.  But I may just keep going and hope it looks okay after blocking.  I don't want to rip out four (or more!) whole rows of knitting.  I'm now wishing I hadn't knit it on circs.  It would be much less painful to rip out four rows of just the front.  I love this green color and I want to make sure I can wear this vest.  What would you do - rip or move on?

Favorite season contest prize

The prize for the "Contest of Seasons" is an appliqued knitting tote made from a felted sweater.  The tote will be lined with green fabric and closed with a magnetic snap.  Inside the tote will be the two (different) skeins of Noro Kureyon you see here and a few other goodies.  Many people are making Lizard Ridge, so I thought this yarn would come in handy for that or for a felting project or a scarf.  The contest ends on Wednesday, September 27, so be sure to submit your entry if you haven't already!

For those of you that may want to make a tote from a felted sweater, I'll leave the following info.

1)  I used the instructions from Alter Knits by Leigh Radford.  Instructions can also be found here.

2)  If you use a rotary cutter, make sure it is very sharp.  Mine was dull and wouldn't even cut through one layer.  I used scissors instead.

3)  Cut carefully.  I found little spots where I had cut a little too far into the tote.

4)  Instructions for lining a bag and installing a magentic snap can be found at HelloKnitty.

5)  It was lots of fun appliquing the flower and leaves onto the bag.  I used yarn for all of the applique and embroidery.  I recommend using a sharp needle with a large eye.

6)  I'm not totally wild about the raw edges left from cutting the sweater.  When I make my next tote, I may do something different with the handles and sew the raw edge and lining together.

A new favorite?

The SWS yarn felts really well!  I ran the coasters through 1.5 wash cycles then hand rinsed them.  I would have let them felt a little longer for less stitch definition, but they were getting a bit small.  I don't need Barbie-sized coasters!  If I make more of these, I think I'll make them larger so I can felt them more.

The largest one was knit with two strands of yarn and it's really dense (3/8" thick).  The smaller square is 1/4" thick.  The fabric is a bit fuzzy after felting, so I might shave the coasters when they're dry.

I really like the circular one!  If I find that these repel water well, I'll make more of them.  The other coasters were inspired by the Mitred Stripes Tote I made.  I bought more SWS yesterday for a felted pillow, but now I might make something like this instead.  (Thanks for telling me about this blog entry, Patricia!)

If you've joined the Handmade Christmas Gift Swap, please check your e-mail for the questionnaire.  Let me know if you haven't received it.  E-mails are coming from handmadegiftswap [at] aol [dot] com.  The swap blog has links to the people that have signed up.  There are 11 of us so far!  Sign-ups end on 9/25.  I posted a sugar cookie recipe on the swap blog last night.  I know it's a bit early to think of Christmas recipes, but we'll be baking before we know it!

I'm really excited to assign names so we can get started on the gift making!  What I like about this swap is that partners will be swapping with each other.  I do like the idea of secret swaps, but I think this one will be special since swap partners will get to know each other.  When we make our gift, it will be for a new friend.  :)

Contest of seasons

Welcome, autumn!  This is my favorite season.  The intense heat and humidity of summer are gone and bitter cold weather has not yet started.  The air smells fresher and inside the house you might smell an apple pie baking in the oven.  Autumn feels more relaxing to me somehow, even though school has started again.  It's starting to get cold at night while sleeping, so the quilt goes back on the bed.  And the world will soon ablaze with the color of leaves.  For a beautiful poem about autumn, visit Geraldine's blog.

What's your favorite season and why?  Post your answer in the comments section by Wednesday, September 27.  I'll draw a name randomly from everyone that enters.  I don't have a prize selected yet, but I'll be sure to post a picture when I know what the prize is.  I've been wanting to have another blog contest and this seems to be a good way to do it!

Yesterday I said that I bought some SWS yarn by Patons.   I want to see how well this felts, so I've made a couple of (pathetic looking) coasters.  The coaster at the top left is made on size 13 needles and two strands of yarn (garter stitch).  The coaster on the right is knitted on size 9 needles and one strand of yarn (also garter stitch).  The circular coaster is knit with size 9 needles (stockinette).  (Please forgive all these details.  I'm putting this here so I won't forget what I did.)  I've been wondering how felted coasters will repel water, so that's why I chose this project.

There are good and bad things about this yarn (mostly good).  First, I love the colors!  I felt like I was knitting wine!  It reminds me of Noro Kureyon, but in a more subdued way.  Second, this yarn feels pretty soft.  It's not as soft as Malabrigo, but I think it's softer than the Kureyon.  Third, at $5.99 and the same yardage as Kureyon, it's not too expensive.

There were two things I didn't like about this yarn:  it splits a little when being knit and little pieces of fiber were breaking off onto my ironing board when I was knitting there.  These things aren't enough to keep me from using it again, though.

If this yarn felts easily, I'll use it again.  Especially when Michael's is the only place open and I have a 40% off coupon!

Today was the day

Well, today was the day of my yearly physical.  My doctor is out on maternity leave, so someone else was filling in.  He gave me more information about thyroid problems and he didn't say anything about my weight.  That earned him some points.  But then he lost them.  When he checked my neck and listened to my breathing, he sat down on the examination table behind me.  That was kind of creepy.  I was ready to elbow him and call for the nurse.  I think that should be a good rule - never sit on the table with your patient.

Well, I'm off to band practice.  Later I want to tell you about some yarn I'm trying for the first time.  It's called Patons Soy Wool Stripes.  I saw it at Michael's and got some because I had a coupon.

Oh, one more thing.  We got our names for the One Yard Fabric Swap.  I'm starting to get some ideas.  It's fun trying to figure out what someone would like - it's a mystery to solve!