GUILT TOOK OVER... No socks today.

Well I never got to knitting my Twinkle Toes socks today because that nagging devil GUILT reared it's ugly head and with it's perpetual nagging little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to finish the Baby Surprise Jacket that I had in my knitting bag. It was all but finished...just sewing in the ends, and sewing up the seams. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE to sew. So there it sat in my knitting bag...the only thing between me and those socks. So I gave in to guilt and finally finished the jacket. Here it is in all it's glory.



I made it using TLC Wiggles. It is an acrylic sport weight yarn that was a real pleasure to knit with. It has these periodic little loopies of color along the strand of yarn. Great feel, easy to knit and fun colors. SO NOW IT IS DONE...except for buttons... AND NOW I CAN...WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE START KNITTING MY SOCKS...WHOO HOO!

Red Sweater Finished!

Here is the red sweater that I was working on. I blocked it and it is now drying on my sink. I think it is so pretty and yet it was very easy. I only got the pattern on Tuesday and started the hood part that evening. It doesn't take long when you are using size 9 or 10 needles and worsted yarn. I used size 9 because I have a tendency to knit loosely. I just love the lacy yoke and the picot edging on the bottom...whoo hoo...I think I will make a bunch of these soon. But first I need to finish my socks that I was making before the red sweater took priority.

Here is a closeup of the sweater.

Am I proud of this puppy or what!

Well...I had better get busy on dinner and then relax and finish my "Twinkle Toes" toe up sock by Cookie A on Knitty Gritty. I really like it but I think that next time I will use a size 3 needle due to my loose knitting. I have 2 nieces who are having birthdays within the next couple of weeks and I wonder if I can whip up 2 pair of these socks by July 15. That is when I am going to have a party as a "thank you" to all my family and friends who helped with our move and they will be here. Hummmmm...I do love a challenge. ha.

Today is the first day of my blog!

My absolute love for knitting has brought me here to my very own blog. I say love for knitting but I guess the truth really is ... MY ADDICTION TO KNITTING... I love everything about it. Let me list some of the things I love:
1. I love the actual act of moving yarn and needles to produce the knitted fabric.
2. I love buying and trying new patterns.
3. I love trying to create my own patterns.
4. I love learning new techniques
5. I love teaching others the knitting knowledge I have accumulated throughout the years.
6. I love yarn...the colors, the textures, feel, smell, etc.
7. I love accumulating yarn..."He who dies with the most yarn goes to heaven" hee hee.
8. And most enjoyably... I love making things and giving them away as gifts.
Need I say more? No. I am sure there must be at least a million other knitters out there who feel the exact same way as I do.

I have just moved to the Grove City, Pa. area and have not met very many knitters. Actually, I have only just recently found a near-by yarn store. It is in Mercer and is called Otter Creek Store. The owner is a very nice lady and I was soooooooooooooo thrilled to have found another kindred spirit who has a love of knitting. Back home (the Reading, Pa. area) I had several yarn stores very close by that I had the honor of teaching classes at....and feeding my yarn habit. One was Yarns R Us in Hamburg, Pa. and the other was Yarn Gallery in West Reading, Pa. Another yarn store that was about an hour trip from my house was the fantastic Mannings outside of York, Pa. So as you can see... I was an avid yarn store groupie. ha. I heard that there may be a yarn store opening up right here in Grove City soon... I sure hope so for my sake. Geez...am I hooked or what???!!!

Sooooo...what am I working on now? Well believe it or not ...because of the move I did not knit for almost 3 whole weeks. But now things are getting into shape and I am knitting like a starved child again. I started a pair of socks. I got the pattern off of a web group. But then... I had tivo-ed Knitty Gritty and watched an episode called Twinkle Toes by Cookie A. Great pattern. It is a toes up sock with a short rows heel and lace pattern on the top of the foot and up the leg. Really nice and fast seeing that one uses size 4 needles and fat yarn. I have one almost finished but then I stopped into a local craft store that had this wonderful baby sweater pattern that was free with the purchase of ...guess what....a skein of yarn...whoo hoo. It is started from the top...hood area, knitted through the body and then the sleeves to finish... Very fast knitting and cute as a bugs ear. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE making baby things.... So the sock was put on hold till I whip up the sweater which, I must say, is almost completed. I will add pics as soon as it is finished. I must add that I have about 10 unfinished projects that I used to demo techniques for my different classes and just never had time to finish for myself. I'm hoping that little by little I will be able to get back to them...but there are soooooooooooooooo many new patterns out there....sooooooooooooo many new yarns coming out....sooooooooooooooo little time...hahaha.

Well...it is getting late and I have to save some room for next time.