Grandma

On Sunday I woke up to a Facebook message from a cousin that she was on her way to the hospital, as our Grandma had been admitted. I called her, she was a mess..Grandma had pretty much raised her....Grandma passed away at 5:00 my time...

Grandma moved to the Houston area about 24 years ago.  I live in Connecticut, and right now can't take the trip to Houston...so I am experiencing it all through my little cousin.

Grandma taught me to crochet....and she used to make us crochet slippers every Christmas...my first completed project was a GIANT red, white and blue granny square afghan that I gave to her....She had it for many years...not sure what happened to it...

Although I hadn't been close to her in many years, last saw her three years ago...when I was younger and she lived here I spent a lot of time with her...spending weekends at her house....

My Grandma at my wedding with my Uncle Frank

My cousins and I in my Grandma's kitchen before they all moved to Texas.  I am in contact with the girl, Kerry.  The two boys are brothers.  At once time or another, we all lived with Grandma.  In fact, the youngest boy int he picture, Jessie, was still living with Grandma.

Grandma you were loved and you will be missed...

(and I don't think she wants this posted, as it keeps disappearing and this is the third time I've reposted it!)

Looking Good!

I wore them yesterday...so worth it...comfy, squooshy...and they look good in the shoes...

Sock DRAMA....

So those Business Casual Socks that I chose to join along in the KAL were not a terribly hard pattern...but I had drama with them from the start...OR from the THREE starts I had...yep, I frogged those puppies THREE times!....

I couldn't get the C2B or C2F thing down...but then I created a cheat sheet....It looked like this..

And I used it to keep track of my place in the pattern...it worked!  I had a system!!!!  Then I got to the heel flap...WOW!  This went fast...great onto the gusset/turning the heel deal...

(Well, when I got to to the second sock I realized I did not do the heel flap correctly..I just knit one side and purled the other...what's that called?  Stockinette or Garter stitch..I have to look them up to know which is which)  So now I don't have a very sturdy heel...oh well!  I AM NOT ripping those out again!  I'll just keep some yarn put away for repairs...

And onto the foot...where I lost 2 stitches...I have no idea where they went to...I looked..I counted..I re-counted..they were just gone..vanished..in the blink of an eye...AND I twisted stitches the wrong way...so it was RIPPING again....and I still couldn't find those stitches....(I shouldn't work on socks for hours straight into the night)

FINALLY I finished the first sock...it fit, a tad too big, but all my socks seem to be (I've got weird feet)...yeah..one sock down!!!

I started the second and was humming along...I had my system....it worked..I got the stitches going the right way..things looked great!  Got to the heel flap and realized my error....Shrugged shoulders and kept going...was not going to be able to do anything about the error....

Turned the heel....kept knitting...it's going great.....two repeats...almost done....kitchener stitch..BAM!  weave in ends....

Put socks together .........and OH NO!!!!

Do you see what I see???????????  Oh F(expletives)K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Put that sucker away...go take a shower...eat some lunch..watch some tv.....then cut that seam open....

Rip the toe all the way back....loose LOTS of stitches....fiddle with the numbers....royally screw up the top crossover.....get back to the toe....make a mess of the Kitchener Stitch...and it is done!!!

GLORY HALLELUJAH!!!!!  It is DONE!!!!!!!

The right one is the second sock...it is still a tad smaller than the first, but actually fits better....you can see the major mistake on the front crossover, but I don't care....It's done...

I will wear them...as I think they are still gorgeous..yarn..color..pattern..and a lot of hours of work went into them...and people aren't going to be able to see the mistakes in my shoes....

But they were a learning experience! And there are prizes!  I wonder if I can get one for tenacity???

(And the final drama...man it's Sunday...I need to go take a shower to shave my legs to take sock pictures..just in case!)

YOP: Week 10

Not too much going on this week....it just was once of those weeks...I came home sick one day...and did nothing but watch tv...Yesterday I did finish my Business Casual socks...there was much DRAMA involved in these...I posted a picture, but seriously, you should come back and read the post about the tomorrow....as I said..DRAMA!!!!!

I frogged two projects and restarted one of them.....

Got some upsetting news this morning, so in a holding pattern...

That's about ti for me this week...how was your crafting week? 
 
YTD Completed:
Crown for Natalie: 1/5/2013
Sparkie the Monster: 1/21/2013
Casseiopia Shawl:  2/9/13
Crikey Cowl: 2/10/13
Feet Blankets: 2/12/13
Eros the Owl: 2/16/13
Ladder Up: 2/20/13
Chocolate Peep: 2/26/13
Czech Republic flag: 2/27/13
So Cazh Socks: 3/9/13

WIPS:
Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Aran Blanket: (Started 2009): two panels done
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.
Saturn Sweater:  Dissertation for T7 (February 2013) 
Deep Blue Seas (January 2013)- frogged 3/9/13, started with a new pattern
The Trellis Shawl (February 2013) - frogged 3/9/13

Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Beaded Camo Socks: (July 2012)
Hermione's Everyday Socks (January 2013)
A Heart Full of Love: Johnny's Socks (January 2013)

Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
Breath of Fresh Air Scarf: (April 2011)
Creekbed: (Feb 2012)

Bags:

Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

Really Big Bag (2011): Stashbuster

Charity:

Hats:

Misc:

Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt

Gifts: 

Nerd Wars:
 T7R1:

WIMs: Projects I have the yarn and the pattern

Sweaters:

Baroque Tabard Tunic

Test Pattern Sweater

Car Coat

Cowl Vest

Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 

Bedford Springs Shawl

Rockefeller

Wholehearted

The Age of Brass and Steam

West End Scarf 

Gathering Leaves

Alhambra

Petal Edge Scarf

Filippi Scarf 

Firefly Scarf

Fraxinus

Danube Cowl

Simple City

Fire and Ice

Multnomah

Leylines 

Hats and Mitts

Hermione Hearts Ron

Nehalm Hat

Felicity

Stellar

Cabled Headband

Fetching

Cayunga Hat and Mitts set

Preposterous

Ruffled hat and mitts

Evergreen Gloves

Socks:

Memento Mori

Rubus

Siren Socks

Hey, Have I Ever Steered You Wrong?

Savory Lace Socks

Autumn Flame

Firebird

Bags:

Sarape Shopper

Pleated Purse

Stash Enhancement Saturday - Big Edition

No real crafting this week, but did some acquiring this week....

I did mention the yarn I bought when we went away and I visited two yarn shops in my last Stash Acquisition Saturday post.  I also mentioned my latest Random Fandom..To The Batcave..So what are the latest enhancements to the STASH???  I really should write it in capitals, because it is so LARGE....

Well let's see....the very latest was a visit to a local yarn shop..that is GOING OUT OF BUSINESS...which always sucks...it's in the next town over...and I didn't frequent it often, as they tended to just have basic yarn and supplies...I would visit the one in my town for those, plus other goodies she stocks...Funny thing is I heard about this going out of business from another LYS owner an hour away, when I went to pick up the yarn she held for me...

There is not much of a sale going on yet...things will go more on sale as the month progresses....but she didn't have a ton of stock either...there was a 25% off table, so I got 5 skeins of Tahki Yarn Rio..it's Alpaca/Merino/Silk...It's going to be a winter hat....

I also picked up one skein of Cascade Yarns Venezia..which is a Merino Silk....this will be a cowl.

Last Sunday I headed down to Madison Wool in Madison, CT...Dayna is a savvy shop owner and she posts regular updates of new yarns on Facebook....and, of course, I saw one I liked..so she held it for me...Fable Fibers, a MCN yarn in White Birch!

I also decided I needed a red beret....so I got some Aussi Sock in Cherry Tomato

In the Mail????

I received the Latest Random Fandom...My Transformation is supposed to be a dignified experience! inspired by Ambassador Deleen of Babylon 5.

I also purchased some Nerd Girl Yarns, when she was having a one day sale in January...here goes!
Believing Takes Practice (not on sale) Inspired by A Wrinkle in Time

Extremely Silly Hats

How Dare You Defy Your Master (Harry Potter)

24 Hour Pork

 

Not on Sale...but been wanting it was Girl on Fire

I just found out that there is a Katniss sock pattern...Oh My!  I'd have to think about those and maybe plan them....I'd love for the dark to be on the foot and the lighter colors climbing the leg...

Also in the Mail was my latest from the Mad Geek Club...I chose the Steampunk option this round...this month was Beware the Kraken

Last months was Verdigris

I've been a bit surprised at the colors, as Steampunk to me, means more dark and brooding...but I don't dislike the colors and it's always fun to see someone else's interpretation...I'll be seeing Mad Color in person next weekend at the North Shore Yarn Crawl....she said she has a new sock yarn I'll like...so I've been holding off buying online from her, as I do tend to see her every couple of months at a Fiber show of some kind....

I also received a swap package this month with two balls of an unknown yarn company

It's slightly felted....I'll probably make a hat with it...and donate it...

I think that is about it.....as mentioned next weekend, I'm off on a Yarn Crawl, so they'll be more stash acquisition.....it makes me happy...

YOP: Week 9

Ya' know, every week I type YPO and have to correct it...sigh..

If you read my blog, you know that this was the end of round 1 of tournament 7 of Nerd Wars...and I had a couple of finishes that were not on my list...many times for Nerd Wars, I'm not sure what to make and then I get inspiration and BAM!!...I just start crocheting or knitting...crocheting mostly...

So I made a Chocolate Peep this past week...and I also whipped up a Czech Republic washcloth for Radek Zelenka of Stargate Atlantis....those were my only two finishes...

I did start my Green Spring sweater, which is my Nerd Wars dissertation this tournament...I tend not to finish my dissertation and didn't attempt one last tournament....but this is being made with Mad Color yarn..and I'm going to see Heather in 2 weeks at the North Shore Yarn Crawl, so I want to show her the beginning of it..

So I have 2 quick project finishes and 1 start of a large project....I also cast on my second So Cazh..and have 1 round done...and worked two more rounds on the H socks...

I'm heading out today to visit a favorite LYS..it's about an hour away on the shore...she's holding some yarn for me....we'll see what else I come home with :)

YTD Completed:
Crown for Natalie: 1/5/2013
Sparkie the Monster: 1/21/2013
Casseiopia Shawl:  2/9/13
Crikey Cowl: 2/10/13
Feet Blankets: 2/12/13
Eros the Owl: 2/16/13
Ladder Up: 2/20/13
Chocolate Peep: 2/26/13
Czech Republic flag: 2/27/13

WIPS:
Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Aran Blanket: (Started 2009): two panels done
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.
Saturn Sweater:  Dissertation for T7 (February 2013)

Deep Blue Seas (January 2013)
The Trellis Shawl (February 2013)

Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Beaded Camo Socks: (July 2012)
Hermione's Everyday Socks (January 2013)
A Heart Full of Love: Johnny's Socks (January 2013)
Business Casual (February 2013)

Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
Breath of Fresh Air Scarf: (April 2011)
Creekbed: (Feb 2012)

Bags:

Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

Really Big Bag (2011): Stashbuster

Charity:

Hats:

Misc:

Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt

Gifts: 

Nerd Wars:
 T7R1:

WIMs: Projects I have the yarn and the pattern

Sweaters:

Baroque Tabard Tunic

Test Pattern Sweater

Car Coat

Cowl Vest

Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 

Bedford Springs Shawl

Rockefeller

Wholehearted

The Age of Brass and Steam

West End Scarf 

Gathering Leaves

Alhambra

Petal Edge Scarf

Filippi Scarf 

Firefly Scarf

Fraxinus

Danube Cowl

Simple City

Fire and Ice

Multnomah

Leylines 

Hats and Mitts

Hermione Hearts Ron

Nehalm Hat

Felicity

Stellar

Cabled Headband

Fetching

Cayunga Hat and Mitts set

Preposterous

Ruffled hat and mitts

Evergreen Gloves

Socks:

Memento Mori

Rubus

Siren Socks

Hey, Have I Ever Steered You Wrong?

Savory Lace Socks

Autumn Flame

Firebird

Bags:

Sarape Shopper

Pleated Purse

T7 R1 Friday Finishes

So yesterday was the end of round 1 in Tournament 7 of Nerd Wars.....yeah!!!!  Can't wait to see new challenges...so I had to finish a few things up and make a couple of small things to fit into the challenges...

So here we go...Ladder Up..this is the quick cowl I decided I needed last Wednesday...I love this cowl...and since it is slightly big, I like wearing it draped kinda like a shawl..it fits quite nicely on my shoulders...it was made with Misti Alpaca Chunky Yarn that I have had stashed for quite awhile...

Then I needed something for a dream date...and I was gonna go with Eros and Kaylee from Firefly and the whole strawberry connection...but so many people were choosing to do that...so I decided on Counselor Troi and her love of chocolate...and my love of Easter candy...and I made a Chocolate Peep....

Wilkey in his Jayne hat is photobombing the picture.....I think he might have a slight crush...plus Wilkey was inspired by Wil Wheaton and I'd love to go on a date with him too!

 I also made a very quick version of the Czech Republic flag for Radek Zelenka of Stargate Atlantis...I love Zelenka...sorry, picture is crappy...

My mother-in-law is descended from Czechoslovakian immigrants, so it fits...

I did not work on my other sock yet....it's been a busy week of work for me....no more snow days, I actually had to go in to work all week!  What's up with that!  Next week starts the MAJOR state testing...fun...fun...fun...

Hope you had a spectacular week!  Please go here, here and here for some more great projects...The last two don't seem to have their Friday link page up yet, so I just linked to the main page...