So much to do ... so little time!

That's the story of my life.

And it takes time to keep producing those hexagons too ...

Of course it's my own fault that there's so much to do. I keep starting something new before I even finish the ton of things I've already started. Such as this little green number I started last Summer ...

Well I did get all the pieces seamed this week and now I only have to pick up the stitches to do the collar section at the neckline and sew in all the ends & the two buttons. I intended to have it done for St. Patrick's day. And IF it happened to fit me [over a turtle neck jersey of course] I'll wear it on Monday. But will it really happen? I have that "Sculpture with Wool" class I'm giving tomorrow, so where is the TIME going to come from?

What else happened this week? Well ... I wanted to start some Spring cleaning [not that kind of cleaning] by using up left over balls of yarn or give it away. But who would want it right? Well some of it is so pretty, I might just roll it up and put it into a bowl on the coffee table. Gosh, how original is that, huh? [I'm not serious; I'm sure you have a bowl sitting out somewhere already.]

And then I discovered a project to use up the left-over sock yarn. You know how there's usually a small ball left after knitting a pair of socks for the small to average foot ... too big to throw out, yet too small to make another pair of socks? Well maybe one for a baby, but not always. Depends on the yarn company it came from. I can knit some sock earrings, but that doesn't take much more that a few feet.

See this is just a SMALL pile of the left overs [there's more, trust me] I have stashed away ...

Well I discovered the Tissue Sweater Cozy by Kmkat.typepad.com!

So in my spare time, I've whipped up just a couple ...

And a couple more to sew up along the edges and into the "gift giving" basket they'll go. Now isn't that a niffy idea?

Oh gosh ... there's more to show you but I just suddenly started feeling a little "overwhelmed".

I better go fix dinner. Let's hope there's some wine to go with it!

Another hit and run posting ...

I present to you another FO. The Ruffled Scarf #050 by Mac & Me. I did the 32" in Grignasco Cashmere using size 6 needles. You might wonder if I'm a fast knitter ... when in fact, I'm just persistent. I worked on this while traveling back & forth to work and in reality that's about 2 hours a day. You can get a lot done in 2 hours right? Especially if you're on a train and not driving.

And it helps when it's an easy mindless knit ... which this one was.

It is so soft around the neck too. Plus I have enough yarn left over to knit a neck-warmer for a gift to a friend. I don't think she's in the habit of reading my blog but if she was, she'd know who I meant. She's been trying to get this one from me ever since I started it.

And not everything falls on deaf ears!

A fly-by posting ...

Baby socks going out into the mail today. It's a boy!

I did the math Darlene (the Salem Darlene with no blog)!

To make this spread 72" x 84"
with 18/17 motif alternating rows
21 rows wide ...

I will need 349 hexagon motifs!
[I told you about 350 and I guess I couldn't get closer than that by guessing, huh?]

So if these don't drive me nuts, I better get back to work.

Heyyyyy, I heard that ...

... what do you mean I'm ALREADY nuts!

Painting my day away ....

Click here to create your own painting.

Gee, is that cool or what?

I know, I know ... I could do better.


Click here to create your own painting.

Well ... maybe not.

Thanks, Sara!

E is for Eeeeeerie ...

It's time for ABC Along again. This week is E and I love the eerie picture that I was able to capture of the Broad Street Cemetery in Salem, MA on one of our walks about town when we first moved here ... and Salem is a place where eerie or scary is considered FUN.
E = Eerie.

I dare you to walk up those stairs at night.
Eeeeeeeeeee

Our imagination running wild...

A Dutch friend of mine sent this to me by email today ...

HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam . Now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands . HEMA also has stores in Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany. In June of this year, HEMA was sold to British investment company Lion Capital.

Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch but just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens.

This company has a sense of humor and a great computer programmer.

http://producten.Hema.nl/

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.'
(¨`·.·´¨) (¨`·.·´¨)
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)¸.·´
×°× `·.¸.·´ ×°×

I'm paving the road with fiber ...

Wool or Cotton?
Which will it be? Maybe BOTH?

I've been knitting all week and also doing some planning for a couple of major projects.

One knit. One Crochet.

Seriously making plans and even buying or ordering the yarn.

I bet you didn't think I was really serious about the crochet, right? Well I really did fall in love with that blanket I showed you in a previous post. So I had to work out what I was going to use and how much I needed, etc.

So first I swatch up a hexagon with Cascade 220 Wool. And it looked nice and I got 5" instead of 4". And that would be okay because it's for a Queen size bed. I ordered 10 colors and while I was waiting for it to arrive I got to remembering how heavy a worsted weight blanket or bedspread could be. I've got a beautiful bedspread stored away right now that is just too heavy to sleep under. So I better rethink this. And not too worry, I can use the Cascade 220 for something else.

In which case, my desire to knit up an Arabesque Blanket was born.

I then checked out the yarn orginally called for in the pattern ... Rowan Cotton Glaze. Which is about $7.50 each skein (at WEB's it's $4.19 but that's only for 2 colors at closeout). And since I needed 87 skeins at $7.50 a skein ... well $630.00 for a bedspread was beyond the cost I preferred to spend on a bedspread. Especially if I still had to make it myself. So I checked out Reynolds Soucy Sport at WEBS and $3.25 a skein was a lot more practical, let alone the fact that they had more than the 12 colors I needed. Well I've decided to work in 15 colors in all. This is for a Queen bed and I what it to be more like a bedspread rather than a blanket you see.

Some of the colors have came in already.

Waiting just for 3 more ... and I've already made 5 hexagons.
They blocked to 4" pefectly! This is going to be a really colorful bedspread. No?

Then I swatched for the Arabesque Blanket.

But I'm not happy with that center. See how it came out?
I'm going to have to redo that. But I did like the way it knit up otherwise. I see that it's where the two end sides came together that didn't work out right.

Other than the blankets ... I do have an FO.

I did a Capitan Hat for my sister, Cindy for this next Christmas. I can tell you about it and show it to you also because #1 Cindy doesn't read my Blog and #2 She doesn't even have a computer. But I know she'll love this hat. How do I know? Well, she told me she had lost her favorite pink hat on the way back home after visiting with the family at Christmas. Lost in one of the airports she thinks. And then asked me if I would knit her a hat some time. She loves the ones with a visor she said. There you go! [You and your daughter might like to do this is one, Sandy. It's a quick knit and it came out so cute.]

And even tho there are plenty of projects on the needles now, I'm also knitting a Ruffled Scarf (the ruffles will be on the 2 ends) on the Commuter Rail every day ... for good mindless knitting.

So back to some happy, yet mindful knitting ... with cashmere.

What am I going to do about those Tags?

I don't usually response to these ... well not because I don't want to. But it's because I'm either too busy to think about the answers or ... I think to myself "Do I really want the whole world to know how weird I am?"

But that last idea doesn't hold water ... after all, I'm the StitchingNut right? Well maybe I can just stay away from any odd facts, right? Not that I know what they are mind you. My son always said, "You've got a boring life, Mom." Not that he really knew or even tempted to get to really know why I did what I did or why I enjoyed what I did ... but there are things he enjoyed or his father enjoyed ... such as watching SPORTS ... I found to be totally "boring" also. So a life that might be boring to one, might not be to another. Some people "don't get it" ... but I do and I'm NOT bored!

Okay, Sarah at "Mom's Knitting ... Again" tagged me and I'll jump right in this time before I forget or chicken out.

The Power of Seven.

So here goes...

1) Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. (check!)
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. (see below)
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. (or rather, anybody who wants to join in can)
4) Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. (done)

Seven things about me:

1) I was a crocheter for over 40 years. My Great-grandmother taught me when I was 10. But after crocheting NINE afghans for Christmas one year, I lost interest. Lost my mojo! And altho I was a crocheter I only knit for my son before he was born [3 items] because I just didn't like crochet on a boy and I had the feeling I was having a boy. Girls look cuter in crochet and boy's are more boyish in knits. So I taught myself from books to knit for him. I just didn't stick to it back then because I liked the way crocheting was faster. BTW, I passed my son's knit sweater & bonnet on to his first son and I hope he passes it on to his too. [depends on whether his mother bothered to save it.]

2) I was a Comptometer Operator for 10 years before they went out of existence. I audited store reports and billings. I was very fast. Bet you don't even know what a comptometer is, LOL. I worked for companys like 7 Eleven, Stop & Shop, Hood's Dairy and Genest Bakery [in California, Colorado and New Hampshire] before going on to another career. [The other career? Assistant Sales Manager at a meat packing plant before going on (with other stuff in between) to what I do now ... Admin. Assistant in Mathematics at M.I.T.]

3) I love watercolor. I use to paint in High School but haven't done anything much since then. BUT I'd love to take some classes again to get my skills back and get back into painting for enjoyment again. It's what I dream about doing when I retire. I dream of sitting outside at the beach, in a park or the countryside sitting on a stool with an easel, brush & my paints.

4) I go to bed early and get up very, very early. 4:00 am is my usual wake up time. Even if I've gone to bed late; I still get up early. I don't even use an alarm clock. If I sleep late, it's because I'm probably sick. Morning is my very favorite time of day. Even when I was very young. (much to my Mom's dismay) and especially when my own kids were young. Nobody understood it. But I think it's the BEST time of the day!

5) I am a horrible housekeeper. I do not understand the joy people get from the act of cleaning. I like it clean and want it done but I am terrible at it and can ignore the small stuff for an embarrassingly long time. (this was Sarah's but it is SO ME too) I also keep trying to get organized and get that way for a day or two ... but it doesn't last. Don't ask me why. I'm just a failure at it.

6) I will buy a gift or make gifts for Christmas all year long. The trick is to remember where I put everything and what I bought for who. On my good years, [some haven't been so good] I remember to pin a name on it and put everything in the same place in the storage room in the same spot where I can find it.

7) I like being alone. I need to be alone. [that's why I get up so early in the morning] I love my friends and family and need them too, but my ideal day is spending it alone with my knitting or even to do whatever housework I intend to do for the day. [which is more knitting these days] I get a lot done when no one else is around. [this was in part written by Sarah too ... we must be a little alike, huh?] I use to think I couldn't go to a restaurant to eat alone, but I've done it occasionally in the past 12 years and it's not so bad at all. Especially if I either have a book or my knitting with me. But I went to a movie once by myself and HATED that. Guess I need someone to interact with when I'm watching a movie, huh? Go figure.

So who's tagged?

Well ... really I'd rather say ...

"Join in if you want to!" [no pressure from the Stitchingnut.]

Oh and before I go ... don't forget
I'm giving a Needle Felting class at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem on
21 Front Street. Sunday, March 16 ... 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Come join me!

About the Weekend Knitting ...

First my grand FO ... the knit that even the DH loves ... Finished Object with capital letters!

The Zipped Vest by Veronik Avery
from Knitting Classic Style: 35 Modern Designs Inspired by Fashion's Archives
Size 5, 34" circular needles, worked back and forth.

The body was suppose to be a moss stitch, but I did it in seed stitch. I started out wrong and just stuck with it. It Still came out great. And what counts is that the DH loves it and it fits perfectly. I loved knitting it too, so there will be another one in his future. Can you believe I've already ordered the yarn from K-pixie? It's the same yarn, Cleckheaton but this time in grey. And I'll do the moss stitch this time also. By the way, the top picture in the moss stitch link is called the British moss stitch and that's what I did ... but we know it as the Seed stitch. So here it is ...

the Zipped Vest for my sweet DH ...

His favorite part is the collar ...

To keep his poor neck warm on those really cold days.

You might remember the story about how I ran out of yarn for this vest. Well I've finished my February TV socks, BUT not without a few problems. Or rather, one major one ... I ran out of yarn AGAIN. I couldn't believe it. I've never had this happen with socks before. That little tiny piece you see in my hand is all that's left. And I still needed at least two more decrease rows and enough yarn to do the Kitchener stitch for grafting the toe. And NO WAY would I buy another skein for this. No $26.00 for just the toe, mind you. So it was time to take a break, get Barefoot ... and make dinner while I think about this. [BTW, my DH brought home the Barefoot because I was whining over the phone to him about my yarn shortage for the socks.]

Barefoot over dinner can only help with my thinking on a knitting problem right? Even if it was a "pain" to do.

I took 1/2 inch out of each cuff and cast off. Then joined the two "scraps" to the toe to finished my sock.

I hope this running out of yarn doesn't turn into a bad habit!

D = Dad ... of course

The next ABC Along is D and since it's only been 11 days since Dad passed away of course I'm going to think of him because he's on my mind a lot right now. [BTW, thanks for all the kind words and support you all have given me. I've got some great friends out there.] I didn't have to search far for a picture of Dad and me together since it's hanging on the wall in my computer room at home. It's the last picture taken of us alone together. It was in 2002 and Mom was unable to travel anymore, so Dad came up from Florida to go to his class reunion in Milford, New Hampshire by himself and he stopped by to spend some time with us in Massachusetts on his way North.

I guess I really do look like my Dad ...

And then there's Dad at age 6 with his Dad ...


And then at age 14 with his Dad again. Can you tell Grandpa was in the Navy? My Dad joined the Navy at the age of 18 and then went on to retire from the Navy at the age of 39. That was soon after I had graduated from High School.

And I rather like this one with his Dad and sister.

So here's to all the DAD's out there. Because D is for Dad!

A little of this, a little of that ...

Oh dear, the StitchingNut has been shopping again...

And what did she buy?

In no particular order ... Dale of Norway's

Hound's-Tooth Purse Kit. I purchased it from Patternworks and cast on two nights ago. Comes in that handy little zipped bag too!

I know, I know, I don't have enough to do already.


And waiting in the wings ... ummm, I mean under the bed is ...

Susan's Undulating Waves Scarf kit.

What can I say ... It was on sale! (at EarthFaire)

And I don't think I ever told you about this book .... Three Bags Full.

I finished reading this a few weeks back and meant to tell you about it. It's a murder mystery, but different. A shepard in Ireland dies and his flock of sheep try to solve the mystery of his murder. Who did it and why? All from the eyes and perspective of the sheep. They all work to unmask his killer and bring about justice. Can they figure out the answer to the questions and will the humans understand them? Got a chuckle out of me more than once.

Oh ya, I loved this book!

I got this lovely Shawl Pin at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn ... might have already shown this, maybe not.



Of course I needed a new shawl pin!


New earrings from White Wolf Spirits ...

Of course it's all about knitting! Isn't it?

And if anyone other than myself, thought I might refrain from buying anymore knitting books ... Well ...

Forget about it ... not going to happen.

[I can stop fooling myself now right?]

Do you suppose I might get my crochet mojo back soon?
Like VERY soon?

As Shaun says, "Life's A Treat" Have a great weekend!!