What happens when I get my hands on a ball winder...

"Oh...I'll just wind one Ball".....



Turns into....



Yeah...that's not it either...I also tackled the "charity knitting box" too - no pics there though!


Oh - and for those of you who have been commenting lately - I'm sorry for being such a bad blogger and not replying! Things have been pretty crazy in the House of Apples lately (read: overly obnoxious pre-schooler behavioral issues + visit from the in-laws = me going cuckoo!). Seriously - I'm sorry! I love you all (especially for reading my rambles)!

Oh, and I hate to report this, but my March goals have flown right out the window! I blame the Mermaid! Mermaid Fleece Artist Nova Socks that is!

The stuff has been sitting in my stash since... November, I think, and it's been calling me every day since then!

Then, a few days ago (ok, more like a week ago), that little siren got to me...

(the yarn was originally intended for a pair of Pomatomus, but I think the same colour way, but in Sea Wool will do marvelously)

I've started the second mitten, but, as previously mentioned, things have been crazy around here, so I've not managed to get much time to work on them.

Just you wait, I'll finish them and not be able to wear them because it'll be too warm! You know what though? I wouldn't mind - I'm ready for spring!!!

March Goals

Welcome to March! As you may know, I like to set monthly goals for my knitting, so here they are!

1. Finish Wicked (and actually take photos of it - I haven't yet!)
   
2. CO for Odessa (I really need a hat!) & finish
   
3. Find a hat pattern for DH & CO for it
4. No-Purl Monkeys (Finally going to use that gorgeous Fleece Artist Sea Wool) or Endpaper Mitts (the pattern is back on-line - YAY!)
   
5. Frog Jaywalkers & list yarn as for destash
6. Acquire yarn for at least on pair of socks for my dad (3 pairs planned for this year - need to get cracking - 1 pair needed for May, another for June!)
7. Pick up some SOAK (I'm anxious to try the stuff)
8. Finally make it out to Wool 'n Things to spend the gift cert. I got for Christmas!

Oh, and I know this isn't knitting related, but I'm going to post it anyways!

My project for the 2008 Colour Craftalong on Craftster! I love it - it makes me think of spring!
(ETA: This is my project for March, which is green!)

Finally!

Yay! Finished Monkeys! Less than a day without hand-knit socks to wear (I'm hoping this doesn't become a trend!)...

I seriously procrastinated with these socks. They should have been done WEEKS ago. Ah well, they're done now, and I love them! Hello pretty socks!

This means that my February goals have pretty much been completed (not as far along on Wicked as I'd like to be, but that's what happens when the cables break & it takes 2 weeks to get replacements in!), and I have now completed 4 of 12 pairs of socks for 2008.

Speaking of socks... The Jaywalkers...I have a bit of a dilemma with them. As much as I like how they're turning out, I'm nervous about them. Why? They're being knit of the same yarn type as the Birthday socks, and I don't know if I want to put all that time and effort into a gift to have them wear out so easily! I'm seriously considering just frogging them and destashing the yarn on Ravelry... I'm not so sure I want to take a risk on this yarn again...

Speaking of which, I'm seriously considering re-knitting the hole areas on the birthday socks - it looks like I should have enough yarn to do it.

I also seem to need to rip back J's rainbow socks a bit to add some length in. Go figure she would have a foot growth spurt now...

The death of socks...

My knitting soul is crying. Seriously. Less than 2 frigging months of wear, and look at what happens!

Oh, Birthday socks, How I loved you
So cozy and warm,
You fit just right
Not too loose, and not too tight...

I loved knitting with the Knit Picks Memories. I loved how it felt on my feet...

However, I did not enjoy how it pilled like there was no tomorrow, and I'm definitely NOT digging these holes! I've not even managed 2 full months of wear!!!!!!!! Scratch that, I don't even think it's been a month and a half....

Birthday socks, you will be well missed....

Have I lost my mind?

I just signed up for SockWarsIII.

Can I do it? I sure hope so!

WIP Reports...

Currently OTN:

Wicked: Stalled until new options cables arrive (one broke, the other is well on it's way to breaking) - Hopefully cables will be in by the weekend!

Monkeys: About to start the foot on sock 2 - somewhat suffering SSS on this one (that or I'm pining after Wicked too much)

Jaywalkers: Stalled on the heel of sock 1. Don't get me wrong - I love the pattern, but the needles (smallest I've used yet) are really killing my hands. Plus, I have forever to finish them!

Charity hats: #3 is cast on

Oh, wait! I never posted about charity hats, did I? I've decided that, in an attempt to rid my stash of those yarns that are nice and soft, yet I have no other purpose for (read: single or half balls of acrylic from when I was first starting to knit last year), I'm going to knit baby hats for the "Hats for Alex" campaign (you can read about that HERE )

It's a good cause, and a worthy way of getting rid of what you might not use (but aren't willing to throw away either!). If you have the time, I encourage you to check it out! My goal for this year will be the same as my sock goal - one a month, or 12 hats total (something that I think is an easily attainable goal).

2 hats down (Pastel green hat not pictured...still need a photo - oops!)....

10 more to go!

My knitting area and flashing my stash!

So, after reading a thread on the "Reclaiming the Home" group on Ravelry, I finally got around to taking a few photos of my knitting area and how I store my knitting stash. So, Without further ado, I present....

My knitting area!

This is such a pleasant place to sit and knit - especially on a sunny day like today! I have everything I need within my reach, and I have a good view of where the kids are too!

This tower is where all of my yarn lives.

On top, I have a basket for my WIPs

as well as a basket for my knitting books, patterns, stitch markers & etc.


My random balls of yarn and single skeins live in the top drawer,

Sock yarn in the middle drawer,

and sweater (quantities of) yarn in the bottom drawer.



Last but not least, my needles & finished projects (that still need attention for something, or need to be wrapped) live in the knitting basket beside the tower.
The chair beside the basket also doubles as a table to hold a drink, or a place for the Goofy Girl to sit and watch me knit.

So, that's my stash & knitting area. I like it, even if it is right smack dab in the middle of the chaos - it's still my own little spot!