Yarn Rambles

One day late but I am thrilled!!

Thank you Yarn Harlot!! What an extraordinary feeling of satisfaction!!

  I learned so much while knitting these mittens. Believe it or not, I am anxious to get started on another pair. I would like to try a pair working from fingertip to cuff according to Magnificent Mittens. Next week we are heading off to Colorado for a ski trip. I must admit I am looking forward to the comments I anticipate I will get as I walk around.

1st mitten all but finished!

Sorry not photo because I want it to be completely finished before it is documented. I need to tidy up the Kitchener's stitch closer of the thumb and stitch down the lining. I have tried on my very first mitten and I am ecstatic! Plenty of encouragement for me to start the second mitten. I am a bit behind schedule for the Olympics but we have a staff meeting tomorrow so I will get a lot of extra knitting done.

Tina and I attended Stitches West Friday and Saturday. What a fantastic experience! I ran into a few people who recognized me from the catalog. I loved hearing all their enthusiasm. I bought a few things for myself like roving to spin with my Golding drop spindle, a lovely silver, handcrafted yarn bracelet and a bit of Jacquard dye I couldn't resist playing with on Sunday.

On the way home from the airport on Saturday, I stopped by the office and picked up a skein of fingering weight Color Your Own yarn. First thing Sunday morning I had a pot of yarn bubbling on the stove.

The Jacquard dye was very easy to use. A pair of orange socks were just added to my To Do list.

Clean dog and mitten progress

I had a lovely Valentine's evening. Bob wanted to take me out to dinner but I said I would appreciate an Olympic knitting night much more. We enjoyed a nice evening at home and I made good progress on my mitten. I want to pause and add the I-cord to the cuff edging to try to keep it from curling so much. The curling is driving me crazy!

Well, I have a clean dog

Absolutely no Olympic knitting but a very clean dog. I couldn't stand it any longer so I committed to an entire evening of dog grooming. Xena looks very nice so it was worth the effort.

Tonight will be very different. I will head directly to the sofa and get to work. I may be able to sneak in a couple of hours during the day today.

Let the games begin!

What a fantastic weekend!! Thank you Yarn Harlot!

There were five of us gathered Friday night to get started on our projects. Only Jessica, my daughter-in-law, and I made it to the real torch lighting just a bit before midnight.

Including our official beginner, Christy.

Xena thought everyone had come to pay special attention to her. Karen was torn between petting Xena and pulling her shawl out of her bag.

Saturday was beautiful. After weeks of rain, we had sunshine and warm weather. Everyone was up early to knit. Jessica made herself, and Montana her Lab, a very nice knitting nest.

Here's my progress on my Gauntlet Latvian Mittens. The edge is curling up so I am going to go back, add an I-cord border and a lining for the gauntlet. I am so happy with the results so far.

To get in as much knitting as possible, I am carrying my mittens with me at all times. I got in a few rounds while I waited for the color to set on my hair before a much needed haircut.

Tonight I will be able to start on the hand part of the mitten. I need to figure out a convenient way to keep my graph tidy and ready whenever I get a few minutes to knit. 

Count Down to Olympics

I can't imagine how the real athletes handle the anxiety of the few days before the Olympics. Tonight I am going to gather everything I need for my mittens into a knitting bag. Tuesday night I am going to figure out how many stitches I will need to cast on for the oversized cuffs. And, work out the decrease pattern for the cuffs. I have no idea how to while away Wednesday and Thursday night. I am so ready for this challenge. Thanks again to the Yarn Harlot!!!