Oh My

So, Caleb and I were sitting down to a quick bite at Mickey D's because Eric is out of town and I noticed this.

I didn't do it. When pressed, he said that he did it at school and that the teacher didn't see him because he was being sneaky.

Good thing he was already due for a haircut!

Two days in a row!

Who would have thought, me posting 2 days in a row. What a concept.

The truth is, I felt guilty. I needed to take some pictures to document that the Christmas stocking is indeed progressing. I'm not lying.

I am also working on Eric's scarf, but it is a black scarf (what a man choice) in a diagonal rib pattern. Not great picture material.

I am an ebay trollop

I have been cruising ebay on and off looking for a reasonably priced swift. The one I made does not work all that well. It is better than sitting and winding off my knees, but the balls are oddly tensioned and generally need to be wound a second time. Granted, the ball-winder is not the best either, but they are a sadly matched pair.

Then I found this baby. Yeah, it is vintage, but I figure that it has to be better than what I currently have and besides, this is coming out of the money I earned at the craft fair. I had pretty much forgotten that I had placed a bid on it until I got home tonight. I was surprised to find out that I was still the high bidder, even with the ridiculously low bid I put in. Ever since, I have been hovering, waiting to see if I would get out bid. Which I didn't. Yea! A swift for $33.00 including shipping!

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The fair-isle Christmas stocking is proceeding. I forgot how nice Cascade 220 can be to work with. I have been using either the Knit Picks or Elann versions, which I find to be scratchier. I will probably publish this pattern for sale once the holidays are over and I can convert my cryptic notes into a full-fledged pattern.

I haven't had a chance to takes pics of it in progress yet...

Two Down

Granted, I decided to limit my Christmas knitting this year in an attempt to save my sanity and my marriage. (as usual, ignore the cankles, a horrible curse for a sock knitter.)

Details:

Briggs and Little Tuffy 75% wool/25% acrylic (There is a reason they call it Tuffy - this stuff is fierce on the hands) I used half of each of 2 skeins. I hate darning in ends in socks. Especially in a thick wool like this, I think it ends up feeling lumpy. I have enough left from each skein to knit another pair if I use the leftovers from Dad's hunting socks last Christmas for the heels and toes.

There is a K2P1 rib on the legs that extends down over the foot. The sole is in st stitch.

These were a fun and easy knit. But I really should remember to write down what I do for the first so I can attempt to replicate it on the second. Honestly, I couldn't remember if I decreased down to 16 stitches or 12 at the toes. From the looks of it, I have one of each.

I do so love knitting socks on a size 6 needle for a man with size 7-1/2 feet!

Knocking these off the to-do list leaves me with just one more gift to knit, a scarf for my sweetie.

Back among the kntting

While life has dealt my family a particularly crappy hand lately, I promise not to bore you with the details. No one has died and everyone should recover completely. 'Nuf said.

The Holiday Craft Fair was a huge success for my family. My mom and sister each made about $1200. Not a bad deal! I made $164, which pales in comparison, but is what I had hoped to make, so I am very happy.

I have decided to get a business license so that I can do this again next year and not worry about paying the sales tax through my mom. Besides, then the yarn that I purchase is tax free. BONUS!

I have been doing knitting, but haven't taken any pictures lately. Once I get further into the swing of life, I will post them.

It is done

I won't be posting much in the next few weeks most likely. My personal life has gone to hell in a hand basket and I don't quite know when it will be better.

Because of the icky personal stuff, which I won't burden you with, my folks came to help for a few days. I priced and labeled the items I have for sale at the craft fair. I think I ended up with about 18 items. Not as many as I would have liked, but better than none. If all goes well, I should sell a couple of hundred dollars worth of stuff. Mom will take care of the sales tax and I told her to take a bit more to cover her income taxes. So, my hope is that I will come away with at least$150 after all is said and done.

Next year, I want dishcloths. Cheap and easy, no long term project commitment.

I have also been working on a hat and am depending on response, I am thinking of selling the pattern. Pictures will come once it is completed.

I feel kinda guilty...

I hardly had a chance to work on my Socktoberfest Socks. (These will definitely be the plane knitting for an upcoming business trip to Orlando after Thanksgiving.) Yet, through the magic of random number generators, I won this great needle case.



I love the colors and can't wait to have such a pretty way to organize my dpns.

At long last, the new hire at work will be starting on Monday, just a week before the first of two huge tradeshows in the month of November. Stress is my name, crackin' up is my game.

I have a few new finished pieces for the craft fair and will snap some pictures before they get sent off.

I have also been designing a hat that was originally intended for sale, but I have fallen in love with it. I may try to sell it to The Garter Belt... If that doesn't work, then maybe knitty.