I havn’t actually finished anything since my last post but I have started a couple of new projects!I joined my first knit-along for the Knit Picks Simple Stripes Fair Isle socks . except I’m going Toe-up instead of following the top-down pattern. I’m such a rebel…LOL Anyway, I started it and realized after awhile that my tiny little sock won’t come even close to fitting my foot. So I was faced with a choice…either make it for my 2 year old and skip half the fair isle charting or start again. Soooo I started again and here was my progress as of last night:

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Here are a couple of new shots of two finished objects -

My Feather & Fan Socks on my foot -[photopress:feather_fan_socks_on.JPG,thumb,pp_image]

Mistake Rib Scarf on my son - [photopress:mistake_rib_scarf_on.JPG,thumb,pp_image]

My other new project is another Wendy Johnson copycat project. For some reason I keep saying “oh thats a good idea” and doing the same thing she is doing. Pretty lame, I guess. I wanted to get some nice yarn for this but for budgetary reasons I had to make due with this TLC Cotton Plus. It’s for a little girl that is scheduled to be born in Feb.

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I’m planning to start over on my Norwegian Steek sweater. I am too unhappy with the puckering to finish it the way it is. I have a new Inox circular on it’s way from WEBS Hopefully I will like it.� I’d really like to get the Knit Picks Options, but I’ve resisted the temptation so far.� Next time I order yarn I will get some DPNs, to try them out, I think.

I was fiddling around on my computer yesterday and accidently opened Itunes. I have had it on my computer for awhile and was subscribed to the Tim Gunn podcast for Project Runway for the last couple of seasons. I had been listening to the podcast directly from the bravotv website for season 3, though, and hadn’t been in Isongs for quite awhile.

Well I figured that since it was open I might as well see what I can find. What I really wanted was to get episodes of Knitty Gritty, since my cable company does not have the DIY network. They aren’t available, unfortunately, but in the process I found all kinds of audio podcasts about knitting!

I listened to a bunch of them, the popular ones seem to have dropped off in the last couple months. I can only imagine the amount of work these folks put into thier shows.

Here are some that I subscribed to,

• Math4Knitters - cool nuts and bolts discussion of the math involved in knitting. I havn’t listened to all of them yet but the first couple were pretty interesting.
• KnitCast - Very cool designer interviews. This one will be on my regular listening list
• Knitting News Cast - Had been coming out regularly and included lots of talk about knitting events, book, yarns, etc. Hope to see it active again!

I have a few that I have on my list to listen to over the next few days, also

• Cast On
• Knit2BTied
• KnitterGail
• Pointy Sticks
• Knitty D and the City
• Secret Knitting
• Time2Knit

if anyone knows of any other good ones, particuarly those that do product reviews and designer interviews, I’d love to hear about them!

I can see that if I can’t set a scheduled time aside to keep this blog updated it will remain sketchy, at best. When I’m not posting I am either knitting or keeping up with all that detracts from knitting…otherwise known as real life.

A few real-life interuptions include a husband in a PHd program, a part-time secretarial job,teaching adult education courses a couple nights per week, 2 young kids, and a gall badder that needs to come out in a few weeks. So just a few things to keep me away from the stress relief of knitting.

I have made good progress on some projects and have started a couple of new ones. So here is a quick update:

Mistake Rib Scarf - Finished except for weaving the ends in.

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Fir Cone Wrap ala Wendy Johnson - Just about half done

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My first Norwegian Steek. It’s a Dale of Norway design. I’m using knit picks telemark which is giving me just the right guage. I figured smaller is better so this is set to be worn by my 2 year old son. After some initial puckering, which I don’t have the energy to rip back, it is going pretty well. I’m experimenting with some different ways to hold the yarn.

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I finished my fan and feather socks

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The Marigold Tote bag has been shelved because I havn’t had the time to devote to the last bit of knitting and the finishing.

I have quite a few projects waiting in the wings and I am hoping to have some items to give for Christmas presents this year. The main item will be a collection of Norwegian Style winter head bands using double knitting. I’m still working out the details in terms of actually learning to do double knitting and putting a chart together for the patter. I think another one will be a sweater vest. I’ve always hated them but I think I would like to see if I can incoroporate one into my wardrobe.

I hope that my surgery on Nov 1st will give me some time to knit while I am temprarily relieved of some mommy duties. The great thing about knitting is that it is not a terribly physically draining experience, and it can be done in bed.

That’s the whirlwind update for today. Hopefully Iwill have something wittier to say tomorrow.