Malabrigo Stashing

Since I'm back to my knitting after a short break for embroidery I went to look for a new project to work on. I have 4 hanks of Malabrigo worsted weight yarn in Cabernet. I browsed Ravelry for well over an hour and I can't decide what to make. A couple years ago, I made a slouchy beret out of one of the Malabrigo hanks. Yes, I've been holding on to these hanks for that long. I can't seem to find anything that is worthy of using the yarn on. I want to knit something up. I really want to knit it into a sweater or cardigan but I don't think I'm going to have enough. Plus, all the patterns I saw didn't move me. I desperately need some suggestions!!

I got back to work last night on the Grapevine Lace Scarf. Here's what I learned:

1. Don't wait until 8:00 to start knitting when you are exhausted.
2. Always keep track of the row you're on. Otherwise, as what happened to me, you'll end up with a crazy amount of stitches or too few!
3. Don't leave your knitting for months at a time and forget where you are (this should go with number 2).
4. As your eyes are closing because you're tired, at least finish the pattern repeats so that when you start on it again the following morning you know where you are.

That all being said, I started on the scarf again this morning and discovered that I had made some mistakes on the repeats and had no clue where I was. Oh joy! I don't know why I don't learn from this because I make this same mistake pretty much every time I'm doing a project. I'm pushing on though. I'm going to finish this scarf. It needs some major blocking and will probably end up being 12 feet long and 3 feet wide!

Here's where I am so far in the scarf:

Can you spot the mistakes???

Grrr!! (That's supposed to reference this is about the dogs)

So I've been noticing that Mr. Collin (the pug) has had a red back end and has been scratching as of late. Yesterday, I noticed a cut on his forehead. Now Collin already has it a little rough since he has some major dry eye issues. He takes two different medications twice a day for them. He's also 6 years old and the poor  thing used to be a stray. But  to add to all this the itchy skin is just sad.

Next week I leave for Paris and since the hubs is out of town I have to board Roxy and Collin for two days. The place I wanted to board them called today to tell me that the vet has no record of Roxy's vaccinations. What?!?! So since Collin has itchy skin, needs new meds, and Roxy apparently needs vaccinations we all packed up into the car and spent a wonderful hour at the vet.

During that hour Roxy was vaccinated (no problem there) and Collin was examined to confirm my suspicions of itchy allergy skin and have his anal glands expressed. Oh. My. Goodness! The poor baby cried and Roxy whined in sympathy. He got his shot of cortisone and I walked out with a bill of over $300! But with that money Collin got shampoo, spray (for his itchy spots), antibiotics (because the dear boy also has a gum infection), and new meds for his dry eyes. Yes people it's been a good day. I'm $300 short, my husband is down $500 in Las Vegas (boys trip) and all this equates to less money to spend in Paris. *sigh* I love my pups and wouldn't trade them for the world!

Presto! Chango! And I'm Finally Finished With This Baby Sweater

I started the Presto Chango baby sweater back in November for my friend Mindy's daughter, Gabbi. It didn't take very long at all to finish the sweater or the sweet removable front panel. What took me forever was finding buttons to use. It's been so long I can't even remember where I got the buttons now. I love this sweater though. It's made from Dream in Color Classy. I purchased it from one of my favorite online knitting stores, Eat.Sleep.Knit (LOVE!). I want to make one for myself. The coolest thing about this sweater is the front panel is removable. There isn't a need to worry about washing the whole sweater. Just unbutton the front panel and clean it up. You still have a super cute cardigan!

This has been a major block for me in my knitting. I've been feeling like I can't start anything new until I finish this. I leave for Paris in two weeks and I'm trying to figure out what I can knit (and finish) in that time. I love doing embroidery but I still feel drawn to doing my knitting. Oh how my heart is tearing!

Embroidery Too?!?!

I just couldn't stand it anymore! I had to try something new. A very long time ago my aunt taught me to cross stitch. I loved doing cross stitch. I loved the floss and (at the time) it was only $.25 made me very happy! I loved being able to create something. I've always had that need to be creative and do something. As I got older the thing I didn't like about cross stitch were the designs and the feeling of being restricted to just what I could find. I hated that the designs seemed so old fashioned. There didn't seem to be anything out there for younger people. I quit cross stitching some time in my late teens.

I started researching embroidery. Okay it's kind of (not really) like cross stitch. I get to use the floss which I like. The designs and patterns can be anything I want them to be. Freedom! What I can embroider on can be anything. Freedom! Basically, only my imagination is the limit here. Hello embroidery my new craft for the summer when my knitting is on hiatus due to the extreme temps.

This morning I could hardly contain myself as I got dressed and decided to go to Joann Fabrics. I kind of had an idea of what I was looking for after researching and stumbling upon Sublime Stitching. Oh my goodness! I ordered but I couldn't wait until it came in.

My stash of goodies from Joann Fabrics

I spent the rest of the afternoon watching Camelot and Game of Thrones and embroidering a placemat. I did it all in backstitch and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I only have 5 more to do!

 

 

Socks helping out

Crafting--Ideas Beyond Knitting!

I know it's absolutely crazy that I would even try to do anything crafty beyond knitting (please note the sarcasm here), but I think this summer I'm going to try and do some other things. With knitting I sometimes feel I have to be so invested in it since it does take quite a bit of time to do. I have many projects that are "hibernating" and may never see the light of day. I just know I have Adult ADD (undiagnosed of course) and that doesn't help the lack of interest in finishing projects.

I was looking on Etsy's Facebook page and saw the link on there for a Craft Party. Yes!!! Maybe this is what I need this summer to entertain me, my friends, and keep me busy. I can imagine it now- girls, crafts, food, and wine. That sounds pretty good to me! Since my dear husband is going out of town this week, next week, and up until I leave for Paris I need something to keep me busy. So the Craft Party might just be what it is. May the planning begin!

Summer's Here! Now What?

Summer's finally here! I haven't blogged since...?? I've been able to get some knitting done but not much which is probably mostly why I haven't blogged. I've been so busy this school year that I haven't really even thought about the blog-sadly. 

One of my friends from work is having a baby very soon. I knitted her up this Super Easy Baby Blanket . It took me approximately a month but I could have finished it within a week if I had actually sat down and worked on it. I honestly wanted to keep it and wrap myself up in it. I've had requests for more so we'll see how that goes!

Baby Blanket- and yes those are desks in my classroom

It seems as though I'm going to Paris, France in July! I've never been to Paris let alone out of the country and I'm really excited about this opportunity. Although, I will say I know absolutely no French. I want to knit something to wear but at the same time it's going to be July and I'm not really sure I want to wear something knitted in July. Maybe it's different than here in Texas. I've heard so many different things about the weather that I'm not sure about anything at all right now. Every time I go in my closet and I just sigh and think how awful the clothes look. Ugh. I think my husband is tired of the phrase, "I have nothing to wear." Anyone out there have any suggestions, advice, help?? I'm a little desperate right now. C'est la vie!