Doing Everything!

Weird title for this post, I know. I do feel like I'm trying to 'do everything' in a couple of days right now...pretty sure the kids feel the same way! We have an appraiser coming tomorrow (time to get a new mortgage/remortgage-we are changing mortgage companies) and are trying to get the house in tip top shape first. I tell you, when you start aiming for perfect, you find a lot of imperfect, everywhere you look...or we do, at least.



I'm probably way overreacting to this appraisel...chances are he doesn't even care about the details we are worrying about....BUT a good clean house says 'Good Condition' even if it's only a psychological thing. Kinda how baking an apple pie (before/during a showing) can help you sell a house.

For my 'calming' activity, I've been winding some of the Ultra Alpaca I bought for the IK sweater pictured on the front of the magazine. I love it, I think! We will see when it's knitted up! :)

There is something so zen about just mindlessly handwinding a ball of wool....I've come to enjoy it which surprises me. When I started 'Frost Flowers and Leaves' and had to wind the laceweight, I was pretty overwhelmed by it, lol. I have been knitting the border onto that again...I want everything done that I've started.

Wow!! Colourful Mittens

These were inspired by the composed mitts. My daughter loves colour and these are made specially for her. They've passed the kid test....my older daughter saw them and went 'WOW, Cool Mitts!'

I used Knitpicks palette for these, held double. There is no pattern...I made it up as I went and made the second to match the first. I did use the same number of stitches as the composed mitts (48).

Composed Mitts - IK Fall 2007

Pattern: Composed Mitts by Michelle Rose Orne

Source: Fall 2007 Interweave Knits

Yarn Sub: I used knitpicks palette held two strands together

I really love these! They turned out great though I didn't use sport-weight yarn.

They have inspired me to create a version which is completely my own...and has a full hand mitten....pictures soon!

Child's Knitted Gansey

Pattern: Knitted Gansey

Source: Handknit Holidays

Yarn Sub: James C Brett 'marble'

Yeah, this is the sweater I've been working on for my son. It doesn't fit, AGAIN. Since the yarn is cursed, I am giving it to my little nephew instead of redoing it again.

The pattern is really nice though and I think I may try again in another wool, another time :) The yarn was really nice to work with even though it is acrylic.

Hooded Aran Cardigan

Pattern: Hooded Aran Cardigan by Vladimir Teriokhin

Source: Knit.1 Spring 2007

Yarn Sub: Knitpicks WOTA in Amethyst Heather

I really love this sweater! The pattern has really great shaping though the waist. I did end up lengthening the sleeves and body somewhat, but I almost always have to do that. The one issue I had was the hood. It ended up soooo long! I think the pattern must be a little wonky there. I left it because it didn't matter that much but I wouldn't do it the same again.

I want to knit this again...with the hood either adjusted to normal size or maybe with a collar instead.

Getting ready for fall....

I've had quite a week. I have all the kids home again...my son was away most of the summer at his grandparents house, which is a farm...now he wants to live on a farm :) I wouldn't mind it either, but not the time for us. When the kids are older, when the girls are in college, maybe then.

I've got a mountain of school supplies to buy yet, and shoes. Doesn't every child need twelve pairs?

I've been nesting and I can't figure out why. Reminds me of being pregnant. No, I'm not pregnant. What I am, however, is incredibley organized for the first time in a long long time. I threw away every scrap of paper I've ever hoarded (I am a packrat - there, I've said it). Well, except for the tax returns and stuff, lol. I've gone through our entire storage, through the clothes, through the shoes, through the kitchen. I've packed about thirty bags and boxes for the second hand store and shredded so much paper by hand that I now totally understand those home shredders people buy.

I've folded and packed away so much fabric and craft supplies I feel like I should almost hide them...I have three super large bins of fabric, packed very full (I used to make quilts and clothes). I also have a three bins of yarn. Definitely have to hide those or how in the world can I claim I need more (and I know I do!). Much of it is acrylic crap like red heart from when the kids were little and I made mostly toys and blankets. I suppose I will find something to use it for.

All of my books/patterns/magazines are all together...they are much happier now! All of our pictures are together in a bin?! All of EVERYTHING is together, lol....I've set up files for all things, including one for every report card the kids have ever gotten. I'm scaring myself.

There are a few spots that need sorting yet, a cupboard here and a drawer there...I'll finish those today, likely. Then on to the kids rooms.

I finished the sweater for my son, and it is TOO SMALL, AGAIN! Because the yarn is clearly cursed, I am not ripping it out again. I think it will be a lovely gift for my little nephew for his birthday this fall. My son has a very long torso, and yet is the proper 'around' for a boy his age. It's frustrating to try and knit for him. The growing so much this summer didn't help either. I will not try to knit for him when he is away again, LOL.

I want to get some pictures up of some projects that I've finished this summer and not posted yet...soon.

Dora Dora The Beautiful Dog

This is our newest family member, Miss Dora Dora (named after the word aDORAble). I have a major puppy/dog/pet/living thing weakness! She is very well behaved and fitting in with the other two really well so far. She was very well socialized and is almost house trained though she is only 8 weeks old right now. I found her a puppy salon last week! We got her her first hair cut (around the eyes - other than that I'm good with the 'mini sheepdog' look ) and she was good there too :)

Before....

This is a picture of our front yard, mid-landscape...half-way-ish...

I wanted to have something to compare with the finished yard so I took this before I did the garden around the tree. THAT took three days! Lots of digging and lots of soil amending to do there. See the big rock in the centre? That will have our street number and name sandblasted on it, hopefully.

Checking In....

Happy Wednesday :)

I've been away from the blogging for a bit, since I've been working so much on the yard and stuff like that...life gets in there too. The front yard is done! Most of it anyways...Pictures to follow soon-ish.

I'm working on the knitted gansey from HandKnit Holidays for my son...STILL...I switched the pattern around a little and made it in the round. I decreased some stitches to eliminate the seam stitches and make the pattern compatible with the stitch count. Rule number ONE when switching something with a patterned repeat to the round!! LOL, and remember to check all pattern reps against total stitches! (I discovered this after the bottom band of garter stitch and was luckily very close to the right number of stitches and had to knit two together twice to even it out). I did end up with the correct amount of stitches for the front/back at the point where I did the neckline so all's well that ends well. The sleeves I am knitting flat but doing both at once on a circular needle...they are about halfway done.

I'll be really happy when it's done!

We have a new dog...she is the cutest little thing ever. Her name is Dora Dora (because she is adorable) and she is a shitzu puppy. So that's three dogs, and they've been doing their best to keep me busy these last few weeks. And they've used up all my wool money!

I went down to the local Chapters yesterday, looking for the new IK and it wasn't there!! They SAY they will phone me when it comes in. I don't understand why they wouldn't have it when it is supposed to be on the stands already!? I'm very sad, I've been planning that purchase for a while....