While I'm knitting ...

I make plans in my head until I can find the time to work on those plans.

For what's it's worth, here's one of those things that I imagined first and then created!
A little purse or coat zipper charm ...





Other plans are still swimming around in there too ...

And what am I knitting?

Note: There's a contest to check out at Shut Up, I'm Counting ... tell her the StitchingNut sent you, Okay?

And the answer to my question:

Besides those little sock earrings that keep multiplying?


Well let's see ...

you all know about the Poetry in Stitches pg 126 sweater, right?

It's going to take me years on size one needles!

But then there's a valentine's gift I'm doing for the DH. Yah ... can you believe he was lookning thru the Knit Picks flyer that comes in the mail before I got home and says to me, "There's a sweater in there that I would love to have." What? A KNIT sweater? Let me show you, he says. Well it's a sweater VEST. NO sleeves. He loves it. Shouldn't I knit it? Doesn't this give me a reason to go out and buy more yarn, because of course I don't already have the right yarn for this project? The beige in the Knit Picks flyer isn't right for him of course. So I said, "A blue or grey would look really nice on you wouldn't it?" "Or RED," says the man.

Whoo-hoo I found cranberry red Cleckheaton Country 8ply at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn's year end close out sale. A SALE! So I cast on another project ... can I get it done in time for him to wear when we go out to dinner on Valentine's Day? Time will tell.

I was suppose to teach a class in "Painting with Wool" at Seed Stitch this Sunday but it had to be postponed and rescheduled for February 17. The "Sculpture with Wool" class I was going to give will now be held on March 16, 1-4 ... in case you're interested in joining me for a class. And here's what we'll be making ...

I've got to run now.

Many things are going on "behind the skeins"

at the StitchingNut's ...

p.s. Don't foreget there's a contest to check out at Shut Up, I'm Counting ... tell her the StitchingNut sent you.

I'm going to needle you now ...

My 2nd needle felting class given at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn is now complete. Four of the ladies from my first class came to the workshop today to do more projects. I got out my color palette bag this morning ...

and created ...

a little sample piece for my winter felted hat, in order to show what can be done with a few pieces of felt and fiber and a very sharp needle. It still needs more work, but it was just a sample created this morning.

Below is what the class did in only a 3 hour workshop at that. Needle felting takes a LOT of needle punching by the way. I would say they are all very talented artists. I know they wouldn't all agree, but someday they'll realize that they really are. I love what they all accomplished. What do you think ... some beautiful work right?

And then I spent all of my money on another bag for myself.

I am officially a colorful "Bag Lady" now ...

Doing the Two Step ...

* Note added below.

One Math Whiz sock was done soooo long ago, but I started so many things that I want to get done for the Summer and wondered what ever happened to my commitment to knit a bunch of socks. I had my doubts about doing it, but I finally got back to these and finished the second sock. In fact, I grafted the toe in the wee hours of the morning (4 am) today.

Now my feet can dance. I even love the short row heels. Maybe I'm just getting better at it, but there's no holes! If it looks like there's a hole in the picture ... well it's only because there's some white in the yarn and the flash makes it look like a hole.
Honestly, there's no holes.

I love the pattern and love the yarn. Did I tell you I used Sophie's Toes? The colorway is 'Ole Blue Eyes'. Feels so good on my feet too. But should I gift them to my "blue eyed" sister? M-m-m-m, let me think about that ...



I also finished up on my class project for the needle felting class I'm giving at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn . Here are some pictures of what we'll work on. The little coin purse I posted yesterday and this bigger one in purple are either knit or crocheted, wet felted and then needle felted once completely dried. I stitched these together with a blanket stitch and lined with fabric after doing the needle felted flowers. I knit & crocheted up the other two also which will be needle felted in the class for demonstration.

I wrote a pattern for both knitting and crocheting so that everyone will know it can be done either way. Check out Seed Stitch Class Schedule [they'll be updating soon] if you want to be there. They'll be putting together kits with my pattern sheets for those who sign up for class so they'll be ready with their project to be worked on. Frankly, I think I'm getting a little excited about doing this.

[Additional note: It's rather nice to read all about Sara's trip last week. Even with my silly face grinning back at me , LOL. Salem has a way of turning me into another tourist when I show people around town. I just love this place. I love my knitting world within it also. And what better place to show off to a new good friend. BTW, I felt like Sara was one of my long lost sisters rather than someone new and we had known each other for centuries before. Although neither one of us are that old. Hardly. Or yet, LOL. ]

Well it's time to be off to knit more socks ...

Do I really need something more to knit?

It must of been in the cards. I bought this yarn months ago and finally got the urg to start the Horse in Dream Toys by Claire Garland. Remember I did the Knitted Babe Twins last year and now I'm making a horse for both girls. Palominos rather than Mustangs. Well these are the rare ones that have dark manes and tails rather than white, LOL. Well they're horses anyways. So back to work ... lot's of knitting to do and needle felting to finish. So much on the needles already ... so did I really need to start this one? At this time? What's got into me?

How does that saying go? ... oh yah,

"No rest for the wicked."

Three day weekends may get me into trouble!

The weekend started on Thursday night for me and what a great day it was!

Look at the wonderful luscious homespun fiber I received as a gift from Weaver. She's the sister-in-law to another blogger at MIT and she just thought that I needed to try some homespun since I have never done so before. Sort of like having my fiber obsession cemented and ingrained into my very being so that I'll never wake up to my previous life again. I'll be hooked forever to knitting. I touched this Orange baby and it's now got a place next to my chair where I can pet it every night until I decide what to knit it up into. A Scarf?

And the pink ... well I've already got plans for that. How about something like the bag made up by Through the Loops! I simply love that bag. Perfect for knitting socks on the go. Yah, I need the right bag so I can knit my socks while I walk. If I want to loose more weight I need to do more walking and of course I don't want to take that much time away from my knitting either. That bag ... is my solution right?! But ... I know, I know ... that means I need to get out the sewing machine also. And I better make it soon if I want to get any walking done this Summer. Thank you, Weaver for contributing to my present affliction ... Yarn! Thank you, thank you.


And why did I say that "Three day weekends may get me into trouble?"

Well just look at my new local yarn shop [LYS] Seed Stitch Fine Yarn. Soon they'll be open 7 days a week. That's including Sunday afternoon. And considering how much I love to go there even if it's just to sit and knit the afternoon away, well it's also pretty tough not to buy anything while I'm there.

Front Street has become my most favorite street in Salem. Take a look ...
Head on over to 21 Front Street, Salem, MA.

Beautiful street huh?

And look at all the color when you step inside.
All this fiber is intoxicating!


and this is the perfect place to sit and knit ....

Could you resist?


Didn't think so.



And look .... just look what's across the street ...

CHOCOLATE and ICE CREAM!!!


The best street in Salem is also home to a candy/ice cream shop, boutique, flower shop, coffee shop, needlework shop, BEAD shop, and Quilting shop.

I've died and gone to heaven!

[Did I tell you I could walk here from my house if I wanted to?
It's less than a mile away!!]

No wonder I can't resist telling you about this place huh? But the trouble is ...

I came down here Saturday afternoon to buy this lamp at a Lighting Shop on the next street over and ...



spent 2 hours at Seed Stitch talking and knitting and ...


went home with ...



All of this ...

Yup, the bag and books. Not that I didn't want to fill it with yarn, but I had knitting with me so I put it in to keep me from thinking I would have to fill an empty bag. LOL

Somebody STOP ME from spending any more money! Please!!

Oh look who I'm talking too ... other knitting addicts. ;-)



I'm not done yet ... I have a confession to make. Mafia ... Cynthia, I made a mistake ... I'm not knitting the Math Whiz with Sophie's Toes "Grandma's Blueberry Pie" ...

When you mentioned that the color was brighter than your's, Mafia I went on home and dug through my stash and found the real "Grandma's Blueberry Pie" .... so what was I knitting with? Ah, "Old Blue Eyes" ... here's two pictures for comparison.

I discovered

a little more purple in Blueberry Pie and Old Blue Eyes is much bluer. You were right ... it's brighter.

I didn't knit much on the Math Whiz over the weekend tho. I had another project ... and it's almost done. I'll show you the start of it ... it's for SSYF's front door.
But you're only looking at what I started. Hope to have it done tonight and then I'm working on another needle felting project for my class in the fall.
First the sign ...

BTW ... the other side will say "Closed"

And there just isn't anything funny to say about that!

Felt, felt ... I see more felt!

You're so easy to tease ...

and I know I'm such a teaser.


This is all that's going on right now, besides ...
knitting on the Bird of Paradise socks.

Stay tuned.

Shhhhh, don't tell anyone ...

You talked me into it Sammie ...
here's another sneak peek at what I'm working on this weekend ...



A few years ago my DH gave me this sweet little lavender teapot. I've been wanting a tea cozy ever since.


I think its going to feel nice and cosy when I'm done.

Do you think so?