Mamascrapalota-Blogga

I've been Tagged!

 
Knitter in Progress tagged me! So, I am to open a book I am currently reading to page 161 and copy the fifth sentence on the page. The book I am currently, obsessively, can'tstoppingly, reading right now is Stephen King's just released Duma Key.  I am terrified of all his books, and I read every one of them.  I refuse to read anyone else's scary books.  Too Scary.  He's an excellent writer and can scare the you-know-what out of me. 

The sentence is this: "I thought it wanted to draw Wireman." Not scary at all to you.  But freak-ee-deek-ee to meeeeeeee!  CRAZY!!!!!!  I'm way past that part though.  I'm now on page 374 out of 611.  I don't want it to end, but I can't wait to read more.  I got this book two days ago.  Obsess much?  No, that's just how I roll with any book I read.  I'm fast, I'm thorough, and I enjoy every minute of it.  I do kind of go into a bit of a mourning period after each book.  It is a little let down of sorts.   But, then I grab a new book, and I'm off to the races.  I can't stop reading.  Besides knitting, it's my passion (in a hobby kind of way).

I'm not tagging anyone by name.  if you are reading this - YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED!

Also my friend Terrie tagged me with the YOU MAKE MY DAY AWARD. Thanks so much Terrie!!!! No, YOU make my day, Terrie! Now, I've got to think about who makes my day....  Hmmmmm, there are so many..... I'll have to get back to you on that.


Ok, Knit on,
and that's all she wrote

P.S.  Thanks to everyone who sent emails and comments about my Podcast.  That really did make my day!
  

Firsts

It's scary putting yourself "out there." First you knit, and you ask for help.  Then you start meeting other knitters, and shyly show then your first try with some sticks and string.  After awhile, you think, "I might start blogging, hummm?!" So, you put your words, and your knitting, out "there" to show others what you have knit, and you wait and see if somebody might notice, but really you want to show those that you know the progress in your life (and your knitting). 

Putting yourself out there involves Risk.  Taking a risk is a challenge for most people, including myself.  It's not an easy thing to do.  You think, "what if they don't like it?"  (The ubiquitous "THEY's" can get you every time).  "What if they don't like my voice? What if they don't like what I have to say, to share, to knit.....?" Our hearts beat fast, and our breathing starts to speed up.  It's a challenge because we know we aren't perfect, and so-and-so is an expert at this, or that, and we compare ourselves to others that have gone before us, and succeeded. 

But, Risk involves Reward, and if you don't try you'll never know if you'd be good at something. (or, bad at something) Your reward for trying something new is a sense of accomplishment, and knowledge of something new.

So, my challenge to you is to try something new and put yourself "out there" to those "they's" that scare you.  "They" just might like you and what you do.  I know it's scary, but give it a shot.  I have...

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With that essay above I am launching my Podcast.  I have no idea how often I'll be able to do it, but I'm going to try for twice a month.  It was fun to do, but I'm no expert, and I'm scared for you to hear my voice and what I have to say.  But, I'm taking a Risk!

Let me know what you think... But, please be gentle dear reader.

And, that is all she wrote.

Go to iTunes and type "Mamascrapalota Knits and Spins" in the "search iTunes store" in the upper right hand corner to listen. Or.  Go HERE and click on "podcast" in the upper right hand corner. 

I'd love your feedback!
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Show Notes:

Music provided by Podsafe Music Network
Inside Joke by Little Thom
At Last Goodnight by Nicholas Alan

Switch Interchangeable Needles by KA can be found at Spinblessing,

I just got an update from Knit Knack in Arvada, CO saying that they will be carrying them, plus, they are having a sale right now:

Plymouth Brand--20% Off:

•    
  Bamboo Circulars--all sizes
     
•    
  Bamboo Straights--all sizes
     
•    
  Double Pointed Needles--all sizes
     
•    
  Steel Circular Needles--sizes 0 - 6
     

Crystal Palace Brand--20% off:

• Straight Needles--all sizes    
• Double Pointed Needles--all sizes

I bet that's because she is getting ready to carry these VERY cool needles by KA.  You're going to love them.

The cool Etsy shops I talked about are:
Zoopri = Neat-o labels of all kinds.  Shipping is only $2.50
Jelby=  Felted Wool stitch markers.  She does custom orders!
Loop = Smooth and Luxurious spinning batts of all kinds.  Try them out you'll love them.

Whelp, we are all wierd...

I finished and blocked my Sursa.  I LOVE it!  It blocked out quite large, but that'll be very nice for a wrap like this. Someone's going to love this gift pretty soon. I'm making another one in blues for another gift to be done by Mid-February.  I'm also madly knitting on a few other gifts to be done by the end of Feb. Babies you know!

Yes, the girls claim I'm the wierd one.  I tend to be the ringleader when it comes to getting the strangness "on" in our Friday Night Knitting Group.  But, for some reason, they join in.  Nicely too.  I went with Kid 1 to Young Ameritowne (a VERY cool program for 5th and 6th graders) and Kid 1 bought me these glasses.  I really needed them because I have bad eyes. Or, should I say, Bad Eye.  So everyone wanted to try them on and see how they fit them. I think they all look great!

 

And, that's all she wrote...

Knitting Backwards Tutorial= my own, and "Dancing With the Cat"

Ok, here is a short Knitting Backwards Tutorial with Big Needles so you can see easily. This is in place of purling (which you are still actually doing, it's just to fool your mind into thinking you're not.)

Step 1= Insert left needle into the back of the first stitch on the right needle. You are NOT un-knitting (my first major mistake doing this) by placing your needle into the stitch below.  You are actually knitting into the LIVE stitch on the right hand needle.

Step 2 = Using your method of holding the yarn, put the yarn over the needle from Back to front.

(Now, I am a continental knitter, meaning I "pick the yarn" or, hold the yarn in my left hand when knitting and purling.  However when knitting backwards I hold the yarn in my right hand - it seems to be much easier to get the yarn over the needle.)

 

Step 3 = Now, pull the live stitch off the needle with your right needle, it drops down into place, and you have now made a new stitch!

You DID it!  That's it...  Just keep knitting backwards from left to right and you have successfully finished a row. Continue knitting as normal.  Easy as that you guys!  Try it, you'll like it for those huge expanses of stockinette stitch you have to do.  My gauge has really gotten nice using this technique.  When knitting continental, I tend to have a looser purl stitch, and I have to tighten it each stitch.  With this, I don't have to do that.

This is what I'm knitting.  More on that later.  It's fast and I like that.

œœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœ

Now I let me show you something funny.  We got a new toy for our toys.  This one is a big hit.  I call this photo.......


Dancing with the Cat

And, that is all she wrote. Have a great day today!

Yarn!

Hi. 
I dye yarn.
It's been awhile, but,
I think I remember how.
Here are some pictures.

These Yarns are off to Posh Yarn Boutique in Denver Colorado by the early part of next week. And, there are more to come.  This is just a VERY small part of what she has ordered. 720-855-0485.

Have a great day!

Cats and Mitered Squares

Mitered Squares.  Gotta love them.  It's all about the color and what it does when it all meshes together.  Here's my four so far.  They are totally fast and fun to do.  Except that red and white one (looks red and light green, who knows why) you see there.  That one is not really working out, so I've decided it's in "time out."  Moving on to another color combo.

Yes, my cat is a bed accessory.  I planned all these colors together.  Morris is my muse. For Color.  On my bed.

And, this black cat below is just crazy. He is so crazy that he needs to sooth himself by cramming himself in any small space and them meowing as loudly as he can.  I think he must be part Siamese.  He's got that voice.  Boo is an enigma.  When I was in bed for those two weeks, he would first immediately go and sniff my wrapped foot, and then he NEEDED to be laying on my stomach.  At one point at the beginning of the whole thing he was annoyed by my bandages and tried to pull them off with his teeth, much to my horror. But, my mom was perplexed.  I would make her shut him out by closing the door, but he would sit by the door on his his hind legs, scratch at it without stopping, and meowing at the top of his lungs.  Seriously.  After a few days of this, I decided to just let him in, and he followed that same routine each time.  Run in, sniff around foot, lay on stomach.  Interesting.  Again, not having been much of a cat person, I am coming to the conclusion that cats KNOW things.  This cat KNEW that I was in a bad way.  He thought I needed him.  That's my conclusion.  Am I wrong????

The Weekend Part 1

As expected this weekend was a blast (for some of us).  Let's start with Saturday...
Tiffany picked me up and we headed on down to the shop where Stacey and Michelle, and Jenni were all there.  We knit and talked, and talked and knit.  Wanda showed up!  Yea! After awhile of more knitting and talking we went out to Chili's and had a few beers, and some dinner, and even some dessert!  I may have said a few inappropriate things.  But what's new?!

sheesh, I'm grey.  What's going on up top there?  I need a dye job... Hee.

Here's Tiffany, Michelle and her husband (not sure if she wants me to publish his name, so I won't) That guy and I should NOT hang out together.  We are TROUBLE!  Wayyyy too much alike! Plus I like his tattoos and his earrings. Michelle and her man are really cute together. But her man and I could cause a ruckus, or a kuffufal, or, a hullabaloo.  One of those things.

Now for Sunday..... Part 1 of the Day of Cleanup
Michelle  and Stacey came over around 10ish and started working on the mess that is my "Wool Room."  Or "Studio," Whatever it is, it's a wreck in there.  I've been begging Stacey (with payment of course) to come organize, since this is one of her favorite things to do.  And yesterday was the day.

This is before...

They pulled all of the yarn out of the bins and all the projects out and we had this for awhile....

And, they made some of these....

And, the room now has some order to it...

Stay tuned for final pictures.  I can't wait until it's all the way done!!!  I'll be taking more pictures later.  I've got some work to do.

Thanks Stacey and Michelle!

That's all she wrote.

Some Knitting and a Friend Essay

I've re-started some past knitting and started some new to add to my sweater knitting.  So let's get to it.

This is a little something for a little someone who is arriving soon.  Sometimes, but not often, this person's mother reads my blog, so it'll remain a secret, hopefully.  It's the Mitered-Square Blanket from Mason-Dixon.  I have two and a half squares done and a millionity-seven to do.

And, Stacy showed me this great pattern called Mabel's Scarf, so I'm starting this in my own worsted weight yarn.  Oh HI!  It's sideways, just look at the scarf and be happy.  I don't have time to fix it!

And, here's my yarn.  It calls for Malibrigo, but my own worsted is better.  Hah.

øøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøøø

FRIENDS= A Short Essay...

So, The Man took the kiddos up to Breckenridge for the weekend and I'm home alone.  But, my VERY GOOD friends are picking me up and spoiling me this weekend and we are all hanging out today at Colorful Yarns  and knitting.  Not that we didn't already do that last night (thanks Jenni, Stacy, Tiffany, Wanda, Michelle and ME!), but ya know, for me, when the "Cat" is away, the mice play.  Tiffany is picking me up, and Stacy, Michelle, and Jenni are all going to be there.  We are doing lunch, and possibly dinner and then a movie, and then a sleepover, and then a dessert time, and then.... Ha, no just kidding. I'm not sure my foot will last me that long.  But, still it is nice to know they want me to hang out with them... I love my friends. 

All of you know me and my tangents, but aren't friends the coolest???? I think that somehow I have found a very dedicated and LOYAL group of girls who all have each other's backs.  These girls are all REAL.  And, actually MEAN IT when they tell you something.  There are no games, and no pretenses. Each and every one of us are completely different, and there are no "girl games" (something which I have NO TOLERANCE FOR, AT ALL) .  Some people come and go in the group, but the ones who stick around are the ones that really grab me.  I can't stand how much we laugh, and I've even seen some crying.  You know that's not done in a normal surfacy group of girls.  I don't know, I guess I'm just thankful for my group of knitters. Jenni last night told us about her mom asking if she was going to hang out with "those knitter girls" and Jenni said, "yes, I am and they are called, "FRIENDS." 

Well girls, if you are reading this, I'm proud to call you my friends.  Thank you for coming into my life almost a year ago.  You are AWESOME. 

You can call me sappy if you want to.  But, I think it's better to tell it like it is right up front.  I don't care if it's sappy.  They are my friends and they need to know it!

Ok, the essay is over.

Back to some knitting

Have a GREAT day and go tell your friends how much they mean to you.  Even hug their necks if you need to.  If it makes you uncomfortable, do it anyway, people need the love.  I know I do.

And, THAT, my friends, is NOT all she wrote!

Some Spinning

Today I GET MY STITCHES OUT!!!!!  I cannot wait.  I'm telling you, this bandage and those stitches have GOT to go.

On a lighter note.  I decided to do some spinning. I prop my foot up on a chair next to my wheel, and even though it's a double treadle I only use one foot.  Now, that's interesting, as it's a heavy wheel and I have to start the wheel moving with my hand. On a Schacht Matchless double treadle, this is something you rarely have to do.

So, here's the full bobbin of 4 oz. plied.

And, here is a closeup

And in the snow...

Specs:
4 oz.
80 yards, very thick and thin.
100% Merino
Dyer: For the life of me I can't find the info on this.  For some reason the dyer didn't put her info on the bag this came in.  If anyone recognizes it, please let me know, so I can give her credit. 

That's all for today!