Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

FO Burnished Tunic

Wow was this a fast knit!Burnished Tunic from the fall Knit Scene.

I started it on Oct. 26th and finished it on Nov. 7th! It was going to be my NaKnitSwaMo sweater, but once I swatched I couldn't resist casting on. I couldn't get gauge with the Swish Superwash in Merlot. So I adjusted the pattern a bit. I was getting a gauge of 13 stitches to 4 inches on 11s. So,I actually knit the 48" bust size to get the 40" size. It worked out really well. I'm really happy with how the sweater turned out it is sooo soft and cozy. I really enjoyed the yarn. I will definitely use it again.

As usual all the details are on my Ravelry page!

I'm still working away on my FLS sweater I have 6 lace repeats done now! But I took a break to work on this.. An adorable sweater for my niece! It's the Beautiful Cabled Baby jacket. I made the size large, but a little shorter so it will be more of a cardi than a jacket. I used the Vanna's Choice yarn, it worked up nice, but I wasn't thrilled with knitting this yarn. I still need buttons for it I'm hoping to get them this weekend!

I also finally finished my 2nd "Patio Sock" that has been hanging around since July! I plan to start a new pair this evening I also have have the Gathered Pullover on the needles with the Malabrigo Silky Mernio

I voted did you?

So I had parent teacher conferences last night till 9 so I had today off work! Yay, weird that it was a Tuesday but I'm not complaining! The weather here today was GORGEOUS! Sunny and low 70s..last year I fell going to vote because there was an ice storm!

Anyway so the first thing I did was this: I was in and out in about an hour. I had my sock with me to knit (yes it's fixed now) on so I didn't mind too much! Plus I was by some fun people! But there was a guy there going CRAZY because some on had a car with OBAMA bumper stickers and signs all over it..it was parked outside of the 100 feet, he was going to have all the poll workers arrested call the police, fire, and the news stations! Ugh! Have you nothing better to do with your life? I'm mean he was screaming like a maniac at one of the ladies working. I was impressed she was soo nice to him. I'd of wanted to kick him in the the you know whats!  (if anyone should have been arrested it was him!) I guess he did call the cops because a sheriff's deputy came in and when I left the car was moved to the other side of the parking lot. Seriously...what a dip.

Then I did this: I figure it's one of the last times my toes will be seen in public for awhile!

Then I opened myself up a pomegranate I got at Walmart, it is so yummy, and they had directions for cutting it that were way easier than any way I've done it before.

Then most of the rest of the day was spent playing with the dogs outside and knitting on my burnished tunic. It's coming along. It's the strangest construction I've done, but it is coming together quite nicely!!

ETA Yay Blue Ohio!   Thanks Jeanne!

Sock Tragedy

OK, not really...but something is messed up! I really only have to frog back like 3 rows. I think I dropped a stitch right after I picked up the stitches along the heel and in trying to pick the dropped stitch back up other side stitches popped out and so now I have to pull back and restart the gusset business. Oh well.

In other news I have 2 new sweaters underway...

I was going to knit the Burnished Tunic for a NaKniSweMo sweater but couldn't wait to cast on...so I cast on last Sunday. I have the body and 1 sleeve done already! Talk about a fast knit! I really like the sleeve detailing. I'm using Swish Superwash Bulky from Knit Picks in Merlot Heather, and the color is exactly what I had in mind for this sweater! I've never used the swish before and boy was I surprised by how wonderfully soft this yarn is! It's soft and squishy! I think I should be called "Squish Superwash" instead! Anyway my gauge was way off with this yarn so I did some mods so that I could still use the yarn. The pattern calls for a gauge of 11 stitches to 4 inches and I'm getting 13 -14 stitches per 4 inches on 11 needles. So I'm following the pattern for the 48" bust and getting about a 40" with my gauge. I'm hoping to have this sweater finished in another week!

I've also jumped on the February Lady Sweater bandwagon! I'm knitting the size M (41") I debated on the size after reading so many peoples Ravelry pages. My gauge was a teensy bit smaller than the 18stitches to 4" so I figured I'll got with the M instead of the S. I'm using Dream in Color Classy yarn in Gothic Rose. the color is just Gorgeous! I'm hoping to have this one done by the end of the month. It would be nice to wear it for Thanksgiving. I can work on it while watching TV or hanging out with hubby but not if I'm out knitting with friends.

Then after these are done maybe I should go back to my 2 purple sweaters...and Oh yeah there is some Holiday knitting I should get started on too! We'll see how that goes! I want to make a pair of the Coco Knits loafers for my MIL(I so love mine) and a couple things for my niece. I may make some fiber trends clogs for my dad..but they may be for his b-day in January rather than for Christmas. I'm entertain the idea of knitting a sweater for my mom. She wants a white dressy cardigan. But this won't need to be done till spring. I'm thinking the lush and lacy sweater from Sweaterbabe perhaps. But she will have to approve the pattern...

So that is what I've been up to lately. School has been a bit crazy with this new reading program we are using, it's called Success for All...I'm finally getting the hang of it though. Basically I'm teaching 3.1 level (third grade) to a group of kids in 3rd-5th grade, our whole building has kids placed on their current level. I have a few kids in a 1st grade level reading (remember I teach 5th grade) It's interesting...(I still really like my class this year though this last week with all the excitement of Halloween has pushed me to the edge!!!!) Plus I have Parent Teacher Conferences Monday night and then I'm off Tues... (I guess so I can spend my time waiting in line to vote.) I better get my sock fixed before then so I can at least knit while I'm in line!