Stash Deficiency?!!

Oh yes, I really do have a stash deficiency. How is this possible, you ask? Well it's true I am a relatively new knitter and tend to only buy for specific patterns. I have finished a couple of things so my stash is down to three or four projects! (plus two or three pairs of socks) One of my stash projects is kind of a summer thing and one I really want to cast on but I need needles, I dream of new patterns and all the lovely things I could make for Christmas and of handpainted sockyarn! Have you seen Fearless Fibers new almost solid colorways? I LOVE them! But alas I have to wait until my credit card has risen from the ashes like a phoenix.
It is still October for a day so I have cast on a pair of socks least I be left out of the fun!! I am finally knitting a pair for ME, Yes I am knitting for myself! (pats herself on the back) I am using a crazy self striping yarn I bought along with my first sock book. I am using it to practice short row toes and heels. This will be my first toe up socks. I am on a quest to find my perfect sock! So this is just a fun little project to keep me interested.
I also cast on for a cotton sweater for one of my brothers. The pattern is Pulse from Rowan's Denim People but I am using a different cotton. However it is on hold because I have to switch needles and the ones I need are occupied by the dishcloth set.
I have been experiencing a low in my knitting recently. I am not too excited about any of the things on my needles. I need to buckle down and finish the Durrow sweater and the dishclothes.

Victorian Shawl complete

I finished the shawl! It was my first "real" lace project and I enjoyed it. I have made a scarf in feather and fan before but I don't count that as lace. The shawl is aran weight and has three different lace stitches so I think it was a great first shawl. I used the yarn called for in antique blue. It was very reasonably priced and I liked the hand of it. I liked knitting lace but I don't think I would wear a shawl. I can't think of who I know that would like a shawl so I don't know if I will be knitting any more anytime soon. Although, I seem to be hearing lace weight call my name. Maybe I would wear lace that is more delicate??

This was also my first experience with blocking! I was a little worried, it all seemed so mysterious until I did it and it came out great on the first try. Thanks in large part to the lovely Wendy who often talks about blocking on her blog. It actuality was not difficult and quite fun.

By the way, I did take some pictures, but unfortunately I don't have a digital camera so I will have to wait until I develop the film to show you what it looks like. Sorry!

I have finished two things in the last little while and this actually has created a small problem. I want to start some new things, but I can't! I can't spare the cash to buy any un-essential items right now and the sweater (Lace Leaf Pullover) I want to make needs new needles and the little sweaters for Christmas need yarn and so do the thigh highs for Soctoberfest. So, I am knitting away on what's on my needles (see side bar) and hoping I can come up with a new project soon that doesn't require any new supplies! Yeah, sure I'm going to come up with creative stash projects, who am I kidding? I'll just not eat for a few weeks and get yarn! I don't need food, right!? ;-)

Extra, Extra!

This just in, Mein Gummibaer's Socks are finished! Woohoo! (doing a little dance)

Socktober!

My Goals for Socktoberfest are:
1) Finnish Mein Gummibaer's socks
2) Find/design a pattern for thigh highs
3) Buy fearless fibers and cast on for said thigh highs

I am a bit behind on Socktoberfest because I just started a new job! Yay! I have been busy with that so not much time to knit. I have however, managed to mess up MG's socks. I got all the way to the toe graft before admitting that the toe decreases were not right. Think uber pointy toe. So I froged back to the beginning of the decreases and started the toe over. That would not be so bad except that it took me HOURS to frog because the stitches are so tiny and next to impossible to pick up. My gauge is 12 sts/inch. I finally got that done and started knitting again and it looks much better.

I must confess I am losing my grip on my knitting sanity. I used to only have one or two projects going or planed at a time then it was three of four and now? I have so many that I stress about finishing them! I have been promising to make Teva Durham's Lace Leaf Pullover for myself for months but I have been side tracked. First by this sweater for my brother then by a shawl for my grandmother and now by a cute little sweater that I want to make for my friend's TWO little darlings. Help!! With Christmas looming I just can't justify "wasting" my precious knitting time by making something for myself and I can't help myself, I keep adding projects for gifts, I'm not even sure I can get them done even if I don't knit for me. I know I should just pick one or two and leave some for next year but they are so pretty and I know the recipients will love them! Oh woe is me! What to do!

Fall Supper

A fall photo of my old stomping ground in Vermont.

Now that fall is here I have a craving for comfort food and I love winter squash! So I got out my soup pot and cooked up some butternut squash soup and of course I had to make some bread to go with it! Soup + bread = heaven!
I tried a new soup recipe. I used curry instead of cumin and added orange zest. It came out well. I made my favorite onion rolls, a French bread recipe to which I add a packet of powdered onion soup, yummy. Top it all off with some home canned peaches from the summer and a pair of hand knit socks to take the chill off, A perfect fall supper!