Christmas Eve is 8 months from today!

I have boughten some beautiful Trekking Hand Art yarn from the Webs sale to make my husband a scarf for Christmas. The yarn color is called 'Caribbean' and is a varigated yarn of blues. It is going to look wonderful in a herringbone stitch pattern. I'm going to work on the scarf when he's not home so it is a surprise. That won't be difficult because he has so many commitments to Scouts he is gone a LOT!

The Stitches Midwest Class list is finally available. I was getting very impatient and then I reviewed the list and was disappointed at seeing so many of the same classes offered. They really need to come up with some new class offerings. I am still looking forward to spending time with V and shopping at the Market - especially Webs!

My boys will be home soon from college for the summer. It will be nice to have them home. I really do miss them at times. It will be an adjustment to have them back home also!

I have started looking at stitch patterns and trying to make some decisions for the Aran Sweater I need to make for Level III. I have several selected and need to start swatching to see how I like them in my yarn. I pulled out the ball of yarn I had boughten to swatch with and saw I had bought it in December of 2006! Yikes I don't know if it is still available - I'm going to buy a new ball of yarn.

Taxes Deadline

Well I mailed our state tax payment this morning on the way to work. Glad that is done and I don't have to think about it anymore other than where is my Federal refund check? I thought I would have had that by now - it's been over a month since we mailed that return in!

The boys liked their Easter Bunnies that I made them. Still need to get the pictures uploaded to my Ravelry site. They did turn out cute - especially the pink bunny!

Back to my Level III requirements now. I need to make some headway on these last requirements. I REALLY want to move on to 'regular' knitting projects. My schedule has become so busy I don't seem to be able to get a good block of time to sit down and make headway.

This Saturday I am attending the Japanese Knitting Class being offereed through the Minnesota Knitters Guild's annual Yarnover Knitting Convention. It should be very exciting class. I hope to come away from this with something to incorporate into my Aran Sweater for Level III.

Cherry Tree Hill Yarns has announced their annual design contest and I have been doodling with some ideas to make something to submit. The yarn is so beautiful. My mind just starting running with ideas of what I could make. It is so easy to find a distraction to avoid doing the last couple of Level III requirements!

Spring is around the corner...

This has been a very loooong week and I am so thankful it is finally Friday.

I started knitting some felted Easter Bunnies which need to be finished this weekend in order to ship them to my sons in time for Easter. Neither of them will be home for Easter - it is too far to travel for the weekend with end of the year projects, papers and finals looming. The bunnies knit up quick and then need to be felted. The pattern is by Marie Mayhew. The bunnies are so cute!

I hope to work on completing another swatch for Level III this weekend. I re-worked my twisted traveling stitch swatch and like this new swatch better.

I don't know where the time goes but I haven't been able to sit down and have a good block of time lately to knit. For being 'empty nesters' we are never home! Maybe I should take an afternoon off to just focus on knitting? It would be great to get a bit of swatching done for my hat or my sweater.

Tomorrow I am going to the Swedish Institute to see the Bohus Knitting show. It should be very exciting. The show has been getting rave reviews and I was so glad that the show was extended through this weekend!

I am just itching to get outside and work in the yard and gardens. I am so ready for warm weather - this chilly weather needs to blow out of here!

What should I make with this yarn?

I bought this yarn 3 years ago at the first Stitches Midwest that I attended. I still think the colors are fabulous but still have not figured out what to make with it. Anyone have suggestions?

March Madness!

It is already mid-March - where has the month gone?! This week has been so busy at the office I am exhausted.

My boys are home visiting for Spring Break and it is wonderful to see them. I had hoped to take an afternoon off to spend with each of them but demands at my job didn't allow this. It is frustrating.

I have been working on my Master Level III and making progress! In order to learn the traveling twisted stitches I found a hat pattern and completed it last week. It turned out really nice. A picture is posted on ravelry. I want to make more hats using traveling stitches they are easier than I thought - especially working in the round. Working them flat is another challenge. I am practicing my swatch this weekend. I understand what the process is to knit flat but need to practice to get my gauge even. It is WAY easier to work in the round.

Have started my last report and have it about half written. Reading other ravelers comments about what needs to be included in magazine and book reviews has caused me to doubt what I have written and I plan to review those reports to see if changes might be needed.

I have signed up for Yarnover in April and will be taking the class on Japanese knitting stitches. This class looks incredible - I can't wait!

I have made hotel reservations for Stitches Midwest in September. I know it is early but I just wanted to get it on my calendar - it gives me something to lool forward to. This winter is getting long and I am anxious to see what courses will be offered this year. Stitches Conventions are so much fun!!

Mexico was fabulous!

We have been back from Mexico for two weeks now. We had such a fantastic time!! It was 80 degrees when we left the Mayan Riviera in Mexico and today started out with snow. I want to go to the warm weather! We are definitely going to be taking some winter vactions to warm places in the coming years! Security for the AeroMexico Airlines is strict. At the Cancun Airport on the way home they pulled my knitting needle out of the Clapotis I was working on and said they weren't allowed. I was shocked! I got on the plane and quick pulled out a needle and scrap yarn and picked up the stitches as best I could. After we got home I bought some new needles and only had to rip back a couple of rows to get the scarf back on track. I hope to finish it this weekend.

Plans to teach a class on the Clapotis Scarf are moving along. I want to have a couple of scarves done to show as examples. I am excited to have this opportunity to try teaching. I have talked about it for years!

I have been working on my Master Level III work. Have completed the Fiber research project, one magazine review and one book review. Still have another magazine review, book review and techniques research report to complete besides the two main projects and a couple of swatches. I'm getting back in the groove though and things are getting done slowly but surely!

The boys will be home from college next month for spring break. I can't wait to see them. I love spending time with them and talking. Their views on things are always interesting. Their college stories bring back memories of when I was in college.

Have to get back to work. My desk job still gets in the way of my knitting!!

Christmas Knitting is done!

It took me until the first couple of days of 2009 to finish the sweaters for my boys but they are done. They turned out nice. Now my knitting is focussed on more personal areas: working to finish up my Master Level III work; preparing to teach a class on Kate Gilbert's Clapotis Scarf and knitting some things for myself. I have a couple of sweaters and a vest started for myself and would like to finish them up soon so I can wear them before spring!

My husband and I leave for a winter vacation to Mexico for a week very soon. I am looking forward to time away for just the two of us and warm weather! My knitting will be coming along. I promised I would bring a smaller project - something not to bulky. I am going to make another Clapotis Scarf. That should be easy to work on durin the plane ride and can be tucked away easily for transporation. We have never been to Mexico and are very excited to be taking this trip.