Finally at home

FreeForm book: Four Seasons is now published, it's available at Blurb. I have one item there, and cannot wait for my book to arrive.

The book includes works of International FreeForm artists' from around the world. The challenge was to create something for the four seasons, winter, spring, summer, autumn.

We came home from Argentina last Saturday (June 13) after 18 hours since we went to the airport in Mendoza.
We had a great vacation for four weeks. Meeting the family, spending time with the little kids, attending their birthday parties, and just having a great time.

I will write more, hopefully, about our vacation, but right now I just want to make sure that you know I am still here.

Here are some pictures from our trip to Argentina

Knitting Imps

Another month has gone.
In some parts of the world this is a Special Day. In Finland it's Vappu, and they drink Sima and
eat Tippaleipa. In some countries it's called May Day, not the one that calls for help, but calls for
parades and other festivities. If I am correct, it's equal to Canada's Labour Day, which is in September. We don't drink Sima or eat Tippaleipa, we do other stuff, like if I knew, I would tell.

I did not make any of those traditional items, but I did bake a cake for Easter.









Can you imagine,
I have not been here since in the beginning of April (I hate the month of April).

Some of the reasons for not liking April

1. It's the tax month. I have every intention to finish this
tax return stuff during February, but there is always "tomorrow"
and all of a sudden it's the mid April. Hate it, Hate it.

The only good thing about April is that my son has a birthday.

2. It's the tax month. Getting papers to our accountant in the last minute kills me, because she is busy with other last-minuters. I don't want to be one of them, but I am, and it makes me sick, but not sick enough to do the paperwork in February.

3. It's the tax month. Every day is a day of "I should do the paperwork" Oh, please, some powers, please erase the procrastinator syndrome from my being, and make me an organized,
go-get-it-done-now person. Oh, phleeeez

Well, I think you got the idea. Next year I will not hate April, I will hate February. Oh, yes, it's better, because in February I wait for the winter to end, and all the yucky snow melt (the snow that is covered with road dirt), the white stuff is pretty.

What else was happening in April? I was creating stuff every single day. It was either crocheting freeform scrumbles or knitting socks, or making a mess with a sweater I am TRYING to knit for my stepdaughter. I have frogged the front piece once. I have frogged one sleeve completely, I have frogged the other sleeve half way down. I have frogged many rows, due to twisting the stitches wrong way, or cables turning the wrong way. This sweater is a real DEVIL.

The picture shows a beautiful sweater, mine is not nearly as nice as that. Besides, there are no bobbles on mine, that's just too much work. This pattern is in a Sandra magazine from 2003.

I am using Filatura Di Crosa Zara yarn. It's a nice and expensive yarn, but don't ever let me buy this yarn again. It splits, it does not hide loose stitches, they just don't even out, after blocking or washing.
The sweater, though, is going to be super soft.

I finished, finally, a small size pair of Jaywalker socks, Finally. I will not make another pair of Jaywalker socks, not for a loooong time.
The pattern is nice, and the socks are pretty, but don't ask me to make a pair. Thank you very much.

On one beautiful April day, I went to see the Coral Reef pictures at "the Institute for Figuring". Of course I had to make one, once again. I am always amazed to see the pictures of those Coral Reefs that people around the world have made (including me, I have pieces in Londong, UK, and NYC, exhibitions). Not the one that is in this picture, though. This one is my last week's inspiration. I don't have a picture of the complete piece.












April was also a month for Knitters Frolic. I went with an idea to buy a weaving loom. Instead, I bought a canvas knitting bag, two skeins of sock yarn (50% off sale on that yarn), some bamboo sock needles, a circular bamboo needle, Misti Baby Alpaca yarn, and
"Hooked on Murder" novel. No, I have not read it, must finish the sweater first. Didn't buy the weaving loom, Cricket.
I am waiting for a better balance in my savings account.











My sister is building a doll house, so I decided to weave some little rugs for her house. This will be a surprise for her, so do not tell that these two little rugs are already in the mail.

When I come back from my vacation, I will take up this weaving thing more seriously. So far I am just a beginner, and have done only small things, with my Pink WL.










Other pleasant things during April,
My son and my granddaughter and of course me, went for lunch for his birthday. This was a few days later, because he decided to have his special day in the middle of the week. Who wants to go out on a weekday? We went on Sunday. The place belonged to a Mr. Greek. I didn't meet him, but the food was good, and plenty, and believe it or not, I could not finish my salad, only the olives, cucumbers, feta cheese, and some of the lettuce, but I did manage the chicken on the pita (did not eat all of that pita) and that white stuff, tzatziki yummy. Grandaughter had ice cream, too, because she had the kiddie menu and it came with ice cream. what's with that policy? I wanted some, too, but there would have been an extra charge for that. Grandmothers should be treated with same respect.

Socks and Weaving

What the heck has happened lately? There hasn't been a moment of non-creativity during the last few weeks. Have I finished anything? Yeah, socks, what else. I am so lacking
imagination, when I have things on my "must-to-do" list. These socks are all for gifts.

The pictures show the two pairs I finished this week.

I have also done some weaving, but there isn't a picture that I could share at this time.

A friend of mine sold her RAM Loom to me, and I picked it up last night, and assembled it this afternoon.
Here is my new toy:

I almost forgot, I received the other weaving loom, Spear's Loom, size 3, over a week ago, and have not even tried it yet. The socks have taken most of my time. I have one more pair of socks to make, and then there is a sweater to finish for my DIL.

The picture shows my collection of weaving looms. What else is new.
I started with the pink one, and then came potholder loom, and then Spear's weaving loom. Oh, for crying out loud, yes, the Ikea one is the first one, but it was in the box, until I discovered how wonderful a new hobby I had. Mind you, I don't really care for that Ikea one, but I will give it a try, one of these days, when I want to do something crazy. The creation that is with the Spear's loom isn't mine, it came with the loom. That is the one I won at e-Bay, early in March.

It's Saturday afternoon, and I have some chores to do, before hubby comes home. I spent too much time with my new toy. After finishing the chores, I will try to knit as much as possible on the pair of socks that are on the needles and then relax...sure.

First MEME for 2009

I have been too occupied with my projects, and hardly anything getting finished, so I decided
to put this meme here, just to entertain.
I saw the questions in the facebook and stole them from one of my facebook friends.


1, What color is your toothbrush?
Green and White

2, Name one person who made you smile today:
Ghislaine

3, What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Turning my computer on at work.

4, What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
weaving

5, What is your favorite candy bar?
Skor

6, Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Good Night to my hubby

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Peach

9, What was the last thing you had to drink?
Coffee

10, Do you like your wallet?
No, there is no money in it

11, What was the last thing you ate?
Homemade hamburger, oh, and after that, blueberry cheesecake

12, Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
no

13, The last sporting event you watched?
a soccer game

14, What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
popcorn

15, Who is the last person you sent a text message too?
don't text message

16, Ever go camping?
not any more, we used to go for fishing trips, in the summer, nearly everyweekend, but
then came the computer in the house, and fishing rods are now collecting dust.

17, Do you take vitamins daily?
Yes, B6, B12, and D

18, Do you go out on Sundays?
perhaps shopping or visiting friends or family

19, Do you have a tan?
not right now

20, Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
sometimes, I do like lemon or orange glazed chicken

21, Do you drink your soda with a straw?
Depends, if at home, no, if outside, perhaps,, but I don't drink soda very often anyway

22, What did your last text message say?
N/A

23, What are you doing tomorrow?
Laundry and then a birthday party (it's not tomorrow yet)

25, Look to your left, what do you see?
TV

26, What color is your watch?
Gold

27, What do you think of when you hear Australia?
I would love to visit

29, Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Sure, why not, inside is better, but MacD breakfast sandwich is a drive thru

30. What is your favorite number?
3 or 7 or 15 or ......

31, Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
Hubby

32, Any plans today?
See number 23, it's now tomorrow, haha

33, How many states have you lived in?
none (if talking about USA)

34, Biggest annoyance right now?
Too many projects on the go

35, Last song listened to?
don't remember, honest

36,Can you say the alphabet backwards?
of course

37, Do you have a maid service clean your house?
No, if not counting me.

38, Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Crocks

39, Are you jealous of anyone?
No, I have enough to deal with myself

40, Is anyone jealous of you?
I don't think so

41, Do you love anyone?
Of course

42, Do any of your friends have children?
Most of them have children, some don't

43, What do you usually do during the day?
Work.

44, Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
I don't hate anyone, I might dislike some, but hate, no

45, Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
I use "hi, how are you"

46, What color is your car?
light sage

47, Do you like cats?
not really

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
yeah, dream fairy, I should be sleeping now

49, Have you ever been to Six Flags?
no, and don't know what it is

50, How did you get your worst scar?
surgery

Potholder Loom

The tool/toy arrived the other day. Last night I decided to try create something. The PL came with ready loops to make a potholder. I wanted to make a red one. Not enough red, added pink,
not so many pink loops. I ended up with pink, red, some orange and purple. So much for a red
potholder.















Also, I made the thing too tight, so now it's more like a hotpad. I started another one, but got distracted, and decided that this thing just doesn't like me. Or I don't like IT. I took that second start out, and decided to try with cotton yarn. Whelll, the stupid yarn kept sliding off where I had
"securely" attached the end, securely - my behind. I got one yarn weaved in, and then the whole
thing fell apart, due to my secure yarn attachment manipulation.

I am back to freeform crocheting now, at least that makes me feel appreciated by my hooks and yarns and threads.









And here is a picture of a bag I made this week:

Isn't it pretty?
The original pattern is knitted, and is here. I saw someone's bag that was crocheted,
and I decided that if I wanted to make it quickly, I better crochet it.

I used Red Heart yarn, and there is one panel with Bernat's yarn. The bag is not very deep, but perfect for a fun show-off, or shopping for light stuff.

More weaving

I made two more pieces on the weekend. That's about all I was able to accomplish, except about 5 rows on two socks.
Oh, and lots of sitting and staring in the air, attending to sick hubby (cold and fever), and generally just doing nothing.

The bigger piece has homespun yarn (solid grayish/purplish shade) by Sherri,
and the smaller piece has also homespun yarn, by Sherri, tambien.
That is the yarn on top of the smaller piece, looks like purple, and below and at the bottom the same grayish/purplish homespun as the bigger piece.

Don't you just love the words I use for colors.

I am eagerly waiting for my new weaving looms, one is spear's and the other is potholder loom,
both of them on the way. It's going to be a mail waiting week, as I have some books coming in, also.

The books that have been shipped are:

1. Margaret Hubert: Knit or Crochet--Have it Your Way: 15 Fun Projects with Complete Hook and Needle Instructions for Each

2. Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes by Daina Taimina

3. Crochet Embellishments (Leisure Arts #4419) Jean Leinhauser

However, they are coming from the USA, so it will take some time before I am able to enjoy any of my recent purchases.

My latest obsession

It was Cricket weaving loom in a Lion Brand newsletter that tricked my interest in weaving.
Oh, I was in love, it looked so neat. I asked my friend Noreen for her opinion. Of course she liked the loom. I got very excited and started using my math brain cells, and this time they worked, and I came to a decision, this Cricket was way over my budget in price. First, there is the over the border hump, the dollar amount has to be brought over it, and then the carrying charges, plus the customs officer's salary has to be paid somehow, so Canada Customs probably would take someone's hourly pay from me.

I was not ready to fork out that kind of money, so I settled on a potholder loom, which is going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it over here, from the good old USA. I also won one weaving loom at the e-Bay, and that shipping isn't free either.

Plus the books I now need to learn to put yarn thru those wasps, ooops, warps....let me check it that is the right word. Sounds weird, but I think that is the word. Anyway, I have now spent the amount of money on other things, including some knitting and crocheting books, that I would have spent on that Cricket. I am not sure if I have done a right choice. I will, I know, buy that Cricket one day, too. Unless I absolutely hate weaving.

My friend Sherri would know exactly what I mean by upgrading the tools section in crafts. She spins, and has some nice equipment to do that. Just like that Lucille 2 in the picture, with Hugo sitting on top of it.

While I am waiting for my nice looms, I am knitting socks, crocheting freeform scrumbles and dream about having enough time to finish all my WIPs before May. Why May? because I have to have my job stuff done
before I go on vacation. That's why.

last part of the sock

pictures first, because the written part is the most difficult part.

Here is a video of how to make Kitchener stitch.

While we are knitting

here are some pictures of the process. I will explain the pictures better, when I have had my nightly sleep.

Sock continues

We are now at the start of the heel. You have 4 needles with 12 stitches in each. Knit the 12 stitches from the first needle so that they will be together with the 12 stitches from the last needle.

If you have a marker, which I didn't mention in the beginning, your first and last needles are siding the marker.

We are now working only on those 24 stitches, that means that you turn your work and start from the wrong side of work.

Slip the first stitch
purl the next
hold yarn in front of the next stitch and slip it purlwise,
purl the next,
slip the next,
and so on until the last stitch, which you will purl

next row is slip the first stitch and knit the rest

next row, again, slip 1, purl 1, slip 1, until the last stitch, which is purl

next row is slip and knit

continue this way until you have a total of 20 rows, don't panic if you have more.

Count the bigger knit stitches, and if you get 10 of those, you should have a total of 20 rows done.

I will continue later tonight.

Second part of socks

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if anyone is interested in making these socks.

I am almost done with the leg part for the other sock, so I can take
pictures, and show what I am doing.

I promised to post the second part today, but looks like life has other plans for me for tonight. Hopefully I'll continue either much later tonight or then tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the other sock that I made before I decided to write the pattern down. At least it might give a better idea how it would look.

Let's knit some socks!

This will be the first session.

The rest of the sock instructions will follow tomorrow.
This sock is fairly easy to make, after the square cuff.









































These will be socks with mitered square cuffs.

You will need

5 dbl pointed needles, 2.5 mm (US 2)

DK / 8 ply Wool/nylon mix yarn
about 400 yrds (390 m) (100 gr)

Gauge: 13 sts = 2" or 5 cm
20 rows = 2" or 5 cm

Size: women's medium (can be adjusted with more/less rows in the foot part)

Cast-on videos here.

First square: Long tail cast on 25 stitches

Knit one row

From here on, every second row (3, 5, 7, 9 etc.) will be knitted (garter stitch)

Row 2: k11, k3 tog, k11 (23 sts)
Row 4: k10, k3 tog, k10 (21 sts)
Row 6: k 9, k3 tog, k9 (19 sts)
Row 8: k 8, k3 tog, k 8 (17 sts)
Row 10: k7, k3 tog, k7 (15 sts)
Row 12: k6, k3 tog, k6 (13 sts)
Row 14: k5, k3 tog, k5 (11 sts)
Row 16: k4, k3 tog, k4 (9 sts)
Row 18: k3, k3 tog, k3 (7 sts)
Row 20: k2, k3 tog, k2 (5 sts)
Row 22: k1, k3 tog, k1 (3 sts)
Row 24: k3 tog (1 st)

One square done.

Do not cut the yarn, instead continue and pick 13 stitches from the side of the square you just finished. Pick the stitches from the loop between the nubby things that come when you knit every stitch, even in the beginning of the row.

You now need to cast on, on the same needle, 12 more stitches. I used Single cast-on.
When you knit these stitches, make sure you twist the loop so that it will form a nice and firm stitch. If you don't, the stitch will be very loopy and stretchy and difficult to hold on to.

Now we have 25 stitches on the needle, let's knit one row, and then continue the same way as on the first square.

You now will have two squares knitted together. Repeat the pick-up from the side, and casting on 12 new ones, amounting to 25 stitches again. You are now ready to start the third square.

Knit the first row and continue as in the first square.

The last square is now ready to go and you will do the same as with the other squares.

When you have finished the 4th square, do not cut the yarn, instead start picking up stitches on the side that has the nubbies showing. Pick up 48 stitches and divide them on 4 needles.

Join the stitches and start stockinette stitch in the round. When ever you feel like doing some whip stitching, join the squares to form a closed cuff.

Scarf Day

Here is a scarf I created on Sunday. After organizing my sock yarns, and sock WIPs,
I decided to make a scarf instead of finishing any of the socks.

The scarf is called Cascade, and the pattern comes from here.

It was an easy and quick project, and I am delighted that I finished something that I had started.

Oh, and the yarn I used is Alize Angora Special. Unfortunately I could not find a sample in the web to show different shades of this yarn. I know I had bought the yarn many years ago. I just never could make up my mind what to make with it.