Friday, November 21, 2008

FO FRIDAY!!!

Just a few things I've finished lately...

For the REDUCIO SOCK Swap:
hp spoiler
A Slytherin Stocking/sock
mini sock Slytherin

A Griffindor Wand Pouch & Wand
Wand and pouch

Hagrid's hat and scarf- um really off scale on the scarf length to hat ratio-- oh well!
mini hat & scarf

Thursday, November 20, 2008

11/20 Thursday's List

Wednesday's List:
1) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
2) Mail pattern to Mom & Marie
3) Buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers
& tweezers I want tweezerman tweezers & they are hard to find.))
4) Wash Pots
5) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
6) Call about new daycare (again)
7) Hang up new pants
8) Work on JET list
9) Deposit paycheck

10)

Well: I knew I wouldn't get much done yesterday. It was JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS.

Thursday's List:
1) Mail pattern to Marie
2) Wash Pots ((REALLY this time))(Quit Cooking Already!)
3) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
4) Hang up new pants
5) Water plants
6) Call Suzi about Christmas Rum Cakes
7) Mail more swap packages (Three to mail today!)
8) Repair table top. (Post about this soon.) (STAPLE GUN????)
9) Motivate MC to work on garland for tree.
10) Swing, holiday tote, highchair? to attic.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

11-19 To Do List

From Tuesday:
1) return Library books
2) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left)

3) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
4) mail pattern to Mom & Marie
5) buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers)
6) Dishes
7) Photos for school collage
8) Take out Trash

9) Laundry (ugh)
10) work stuff


Oh No- LOTS left over. But honestly- the laundry & dishes will always be on the list. maybe they shouldn't even get on the list, since they seem to reproduce faster than the machine can run.

Wednesday's List:
1) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
2) Mail pattern to Mom & Marie
3) Buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers & tweezers I want tweezerman tweezers & they are hard to find.))
4) Wash Pots
5) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
6) Call about new daycare (again)
7) Hang up new pants
8) Work on JET list
9) Deposit paycheck
10)

11/18 To Do List

From 11/17
1) explore google spreadsheet capabilities for sharing.
2) JETs blog roll in/on google
3) make stitch markers that I've committed on Ravelry.
4) Pay Phonebill

5) Return Library books
6) Drop off recyclables
7) Mail off RAKs
8) update blog
9) update project status

10) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left!)

SO-- Now for Today's List:
1) return Library books
2) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left)
3) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
4) mail pattern to Mom & Marie
5) buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers)
6) Dishes
7) Photos for school collage
8) Take out Trash
9) Laundry (ugh)
10) work stuff

Oh- I'd like to draw your attention to the new photo in the sidebar. Dad took the photo on his porch, daybreak 6:02 am October, 7 1007. I love the hangnail moon. The photo is totally UNTOUCHED- no cropping, color adjusting- just exactly how it came off the camera card. Breathtaking.

Day Break on Knob Hill

Monday, November 17, 2008

11-17 Manic Monday TO-DO List

I'm going to publish some things I REALLY want to get done (hopefully today), or at least work on this week. Maybe by knowing someone else can see the list- I'll be more motivated to follow through.

1) explore google spreadsheet capabilities for sharing.
2) JETs blog roll in/on google
3) make stitch markers that I've committed on Ravelry.
4) Pay Phonebill
5) Return Library books
6) Drop off recyclables
7) Mail off RAKs
8) update blog
9) update project status
10) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left!)

I have more- but I'm limiting my list to the first 10 things that came to mind.

Friday, November 14, 2008

It's gonna match!!!

Side 2 of the mitten is going to match!!!!

I can't believe how the colors are lining up the right way.
But I am now wondering about using a solid for the palms & the ombre for the tops, so the PAIR will match, not just the sides of ONE mitten. Plus, I'm still concerned about the thumb space. If felting narrows it more than slightly- Then I'm in trouble. This might end up being a holiday decoration/stocking type deal.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

New Mittens In Progress!


This is the same pattern I tried to make mittens from several months ago, when I decided I needed to focus on my tunisian afghans, because counting stitches and following a pattern was a horrible undertaking.
However, I am almost done with my All Shawl, and I did finish Horse Girl's All Shawl. And I finished the ski hat with the yummy multi colored Jojoland Rhythm wool.

So, Yesterday, I decided to try the mittens again. This time- I chose Patons SWS, in a funky pink colorway called Natural Geranium. Remembering that I've used SWS in the orange, red, purple tunisian afghan I started last winter (where I thought the yarn was a bit splity) I was a bit hesitant.

You see, SWS is a single ply yarn, 70% wool, 30% soy. Oh yes, Soy Wool Stripes. But there is another Patons SWS, Soy Wool Solids. Same look, same fiber content. Just one SWS is multi colored & one is a solid. You will be able to tell the difference in the store, don't worry!

I did the starting chain with my 6.5mm hook, 'cause I chain too tight & that was the only alternative hook available (read: the one I keep at the office!) Then I switched to my 4mm Clover soft-touch hook.
clover hook
Now, I don't know if the combination of the clover hook and SWS made the difference, or if it is the increased attention I was able to pay to the project, or if it is just tangible proof that my crochet skills are improving, but I got one side of the mitten finished-- The SAME DAY I started it!

And as an added bonus, I only ended up one stitch off in my counts! Well, One stitch on each side, but I was able to keep track & get my increases and stitch changes in the right spot each pass, so I'm okay with that.
On the down side, I made the Large size, which was listed as (8-9) while the Small size was listed as (6-7). But the photo shows a young girl- teenager maybe? and the mittens looked tight. Now, I'm a fan of mittens, and I like to be able to ball my fingers up together inside my mittens, I figured I should make the Large size. So, I don't think the numbers show well here, (scanner + metal ruler= not a good idea!) but these are 10 inches top to bottom.
But another bonus, SWS FELTS. I just hope the thump space is going to be wide enough after felting, because it looks like it's gonna be a tight fit at the size it is now. Plenty of room in the length for felting, but kinda skinny. So if anyone has any experience felting mittens (crochet felting experience is extra appreciated) please let me know if I should add to the thumb width before I felt.
mitten scan 1