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My Blue RoomInside the Wool House
Thanks for visiting! July 22 Fam Damnily 2Oh yes, there is more! DH's family came last weekend (the 10th-13th) for a visit, but unlike my family they didn't bring significant others and also unlike my family they didn't stay at a hotel. And to make things even MORE fun....KT's birthday party was on the 12th. So let's count shall we? Six adults + 2 dogs + 6 children + 2 of their parents=one slightly frazzled Beth (and I didn't even count the cats)!!! It wasn't even having the in-law's here that was all that stressful...it was the party that got me in a tizzy! I have NEVER planned a party, birthday or otherwise. I mean, I have had a few friends over for pizza or a movie but not an actual party, party. Anywho, after the cupcakes were had and presents opened, I got to take a deep breath and heave a big *SIGH*
 The rest of the time was just hanging out with the IL's and having them spoil the wee ones (mostly KT). Here's one of my favorie presents of KT's:Pink Lego's!! How awesome is that?! If there were pink Lego's when I was a kid you know I would have had them!! As usual, there are more pictures in the July-December album.
.....And yes, KT enjoyed all 3 of her parties.
July 09 The Fam DamnilyMy family came to visit this weekend.....and I mean the WHOLE family! Mom, Dad, younger brother, sister-in-law, youngest brother & his girlfriend. Now I know what you're thinking, 'OMG, that sounds crazy!' but in actuality it was a lot of fun. On the 4th we made a trip to the Mega Mall. Anne (my brother's GF) had never been there and well frankly, it's something you do with visitors. After visiting MoA we celebrated KT's birthday. Yes, my little girl turned 4 last week. FOUR!!! Where has the time gone?! You parents know what I'm talking about. Anyway, we then went to see fireworks (of course). Saturday, it was the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden by Loring Park which I had never been to. The Spoonbridge was cool; I didn't know it was a fountain! I tried to find a letterbox located there, but was unsuccessful
 I was hoping to show my fam the coolness of my little hobby (on a side note, my friend Meggan e-mailed me that she found her first letterbox this weekend!! Hooray!) All-in-all it was great to see my WHOLE family, I just wish our house was better equipped to handle everyone. Don't worry Mom & Dad (if you're reading this), we'll eventually get enough space Pictures can be seen in the july-december album; here's one of my brothers, parents & me:June 23 Re-Usable Grocery BagMy knitterly friends inquired about the bag I was working on at S'rB.
I'm making more of these to sell at the Relay for Life and just for funsies I'm posting the pattern I used. If you decide to make one yourself, let me know! If you like it or if there's something that needs to be tweaked, I'd like your input
Grocery Bag Pattern
yarn: 2 balls Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn 2 oz each
needles: 4.5 mm circular needle & 10 mm circular needle
gauge: not really important but the garter section is approximately 5sts & 10rows=1" on 4.5 mm needles
A note on this pattern, I added a faux seam on either side but I doubt one is needed. If you'd like you can omit the knit 1 at the beginning and middle of the round and just do a k2tog, yo around.
Using 4.5 mm needles, CO 30 sts & knit in Garter St (k every row) for 30 rows. PU 15 sts along left edge of piece, 30 sts along CO edge, & 15 sts along right side of piece-90 sts. Join for knitting in the round; pm after 37 sts & 82 sts. Work 6 rnds in garter st (k 1 rnd, p 1 rnd). Switch to larger needles. All rnds: [k1, *k2tog, yo rep from * to marker] rep once for the rnd. Cont in this manner for pattern always beginning the k2tog from the yo of the previous rnd. Cont patt until bag measures ~15” or until the first ball runs out. Rnd 1: switch to 4.5mm needle k rnd even. When a marker is encountered, drop down the k st to the beg of garter section and pick it back up making a faux seam (using a crochet hook, pick-up the first st then *pu the strand from the next 2 rnds and pull through, pu the strand from one rnd and pull through* rep until the top of the work). Rnd 2: purl. Rnd 3: knit. Rep these 2 rnds for a total of eight (end with a p rnd). Next rnd: K 3, BO 39, k6, BO 39, k3. Working back and forth in rows, make a garter st strap ~20” long. Do a 3 needle BO with the 6 sts on the other side of the bag.
o=yarn over |=k /=k2tog June 04 Good Day, Bad DaySo last saturday (yeah, it's been over a week) was International Plant-a-Letterbox day and I did!! I got me really wanting to plant more, plus it put me in a better mood after work. I worked last saturday as well and everything was fine until we had to get a little dog to pee. He didn't want to oblige so the doctor tried to get it "medically" and the dog didn't like it. Unfortunately for me, he decided that I looked tasty. First he tried to bite my chin and I, like an idiot, tried to grab him again so he wouldn't fall off the table or go after the doctor so he nailed me again. My fault. Luckily he was small so he didn't do too much damage. I won't post the pictures in case anyone is squeamish but if you'd like to see go here (medial) or here (lateral).
Like I previously stated, I planted a letterbox!! It's in Lewis Park in Edina, MN so if you're in the area and you like seeing carved stamps please check it out. I'm pretty proud of myself for doing it mainly because most of the letterboxes in the Twin Cities area are in Minneapolis or further south. Not that there is anything wrong with that mind you, but I'd like to try to plant a few in the suburban area too.
Well, that's all I feel like writing today. If you'd like to see some photos of my family from my Grandparents' 70th Anniversary party, check out my january-june album or go to my cousin Mark's site: http://picasaweb.google.com/matchettz/HaroldAndCharlotteMatchettS70thWeddingAnniversary May 23 What Do You Think?I first read about Lion Brand's new sock yarn on the Yarn Harlot and I must say I eagerly awaited it's arrival for the masses. Why? Well this may sound crazy but one of my favorite pairs of socks are these:
Sure they're my first toe-up sock which made me love the method of starting at the toe, but more importantly they look the same as the day I completed them 2 1/2 years ago. And believe me they don't look the same because I'm not wearing them! Now that's not to say I don't love my koigu socks because they are super soft and the colors are gorgeous:
The corrugated socks are nice but I knit them at too big a gauge. I followed a pattern which called for size 3 needles....lesson learned. Tighter socks=more comfortable socks. I had more luck with the second pair of koigu's and they are also one of my favorites. However I fear they won't last too long even with reinforcing thread in the heels. Cindy said she wouldn't make socks out of koigu again because they wore out so quickly.
So back to the cheapy socks....they aren't as soft as koigu or as pretty but seriously people they are tough! There's something to be said for using corser yarn for socks. The tabi socks I made using Kroy socks are also in the same vain (and also one of my favorites) with the corser wool (and nylon).
My only fear with those socks is that I have to wear them on the same feet so they won't get as even wear as my other socks do. So what do you think? What is your favorite type of sock yarn? Do you prefer softer or rougher? Do you like nylon or mohair or just wool? Or do you use sock yarn for everything but socks?
May 16 Shepherd's HarvestSo much for blogging a little each day?!
Miss KT is feeling much better now (thank goodness). She upchucked 3 times on monday starting at 5:30 in the morning....good times! I was still recovering from lack of sleep by wednesday because I'd been up 'til midnight playing Mario Kart with my brothers on sunday.
Uplate sunday goofing around + puking kid early monday = tired mommy.
Anywho, sunday besides playing video games with my brothers, the fam made a trip to Shepherd's Harvest. At first I wasn't sure I would see anything I'd like but then I saw Sandy's Pallette. Sandy was very nice and had some merino/silk/angelina blend roving in shades of pink & yellow. It is purdy. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet but I feel like with the shininess of it I should do something decorative like a wrap or smoke ring. We shall see. I also happened upon Wool Gatherers who had mostly sock yarns. I picked up some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Purple Iris. I've never used Lorna's Laces before so I'm anxious to try it. Of course I still have a couple of socks on the needles I need to finish before I can even think of starting up another pair....like that's ever stopped me before! The one thing I wished I would have gotten was a spindle from Mielke's Fiber Arts. They had lighted spindles, yes, lighted.
Well, I think that's all for today. Take care!
May 12 *Buhlah*I got myself a sick little girl
 And here I thought I'd get to write about the cool stuff I saw and The Shepherd's Harvest yesterday. Maybe if she's feeling better later I'll write more:)
May 11 Eventful!I've been gone for, um, awhile now. Not from home, mind you, just the blog. I've been:
-Exercising, regularly (yea me!)
-Visiting family & friends in Illinois
-Increasing my 'Found' count to 10 letterboxes*
-Celebrating my Grandparents' 70th wedding anniversary
-Working (saturdays)
-Knitting!!
-Attending the Shepherd's Harvest
So as you can see, I've actually been doing stuff but not blogging about it. My goal is to try and catch up a little bit each day instead of making one giant post. Today I just wanted to wish a Happy Mother's Day to those of you who are celebrating!
*Oops! Looks like I miscalculated, it's actually 9. April 19 Workin' on My FitnessLet me preface by saying that if you are interested in heart rate monitors check out this entry from my exercise blog:
I got a HR monitor and it has made all the difference, believe you me!
Anywho, as for my knitting.....well, it's taken kind of a backseat to stamp carving. Not entirely mind you, I've just been slightly more preoccupied with it. What I SHOULD be working on are the toys for my cousins 2 children. My cousin Pam had a little boy recently and I want to make a frog for him and a little girl for her little girl. I got the yarn shortly after 1st cousin once removed* was born, but haven't gotten around to casting on. What's sad is that I know I could get both things done in a week or less, but I've been unmotivated. I have, however, been motivated to exercise so I guess it's not all bad
 That's all I've got for now. Take care!*FYI-Pam & I are first cousins (we share grandparents) so our children are second cousins (they share great-grandparents). The whole "removed" deal depends on nearest common ancestor and how many generations "removed" the two individuals are. So from this example, since my grandparents are the baby's great-grandparents we're first cousins, 1 generation removed. Another example, I found out that a woman from my parents' church was related to Wyatt Earp; she was his 1st cousin 5 five times removed i.e. Mr Earp's grandparents were this woman's 5Xgreat-grandparents. April 09 I Knit A Lot....Really!I realize that I haven't blogged in like a week but I swear that I have been knitting. I've been mostly working on the blue sock, stockings for the family & the Dale sweater. I've really been trying to finish things up. It's really disheartening to look at all the the WIP's I've got going; it makes me feel unfocused and I hate that. Right now I'm mainly concentrating on the Dale sweater because it's the bigest thing. It's been difficult to find time to work on it, but I've squeezed a few minutes here & there. Since Christmas is awhile off, I figure I've got 2 months per sock so I'm not overly worried on those. Now if it's september and only W has a stocking, then I'll worry. Anywho, that's all I've got to report for now. This weekend DH's Mom, Dad & sister are coming to visit so I'll be busy. Have a good one!
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