Thank you

First and most important I want to thank all of you that posted to my blog. You words touched my heart deeply. Knitting is more than just fiber and sticks, it's people. People from one end of the world to the other. I have a feeling that much will be accomplished in this world by just the simple act. Knitting. Look how it knits us together. I believe it is the Yarn Harlot, "If you know how to knit and purl you can rule the world." Rule the world? well maybe not in this life time but we can make significant changes.

I know I have posted in several days but things like yard work, gardening, laundry, housecleaning, running errands, and having a stomach virus for about 24 hours all get in the way of knitting and blogging. You know if I don't want to knit or blog, I've gotta be sick. I am feeling much better now, sides still hurt from the internal sit ups my stomach was doing.

The DH updated me on his idea of the pond area and it's going to involve more mulch. I'll just let his creative genius take over he built the entire area for it, installed it maintains part of it, my job is to take care of the fish, and the flowers in and around the pond. My job is also the rose garden and the raised bed. We kinda share the rest. But anything to do with flowers or plants that's me. Unless the DH has input. No photos of the yard yet, not until more work is done. I can say that one of my roses already has a rose bud on it. Yes I am watching over it like a mother hen. Usually after the first bud appears so do the aphids. And I have found out who has been eating our parrot grass in the pond. Those blasted grackles aka around our house the raptors. I swear that's what they used as a model for the raptors. This big old male was in the upper pond drinking water splashing about, and then as he took off to fly away in his talons was a beautiful piece of parrot grass. I'm going to have to sit outside kitting with a hose near by to chase them away. Yes we have tried the plastic owls, the dog barks at them and the grackles, shit on them. I think we need to get some netting.

I have had time for some knitting. The update on Heidi's sweater, I am to the point of decreasing. Yeah for me! And to answer your question Heidi, no I have not made the thong yet, but it will be soon. I have to finish your sweater, make Babcia her vest, and Rene her shrug, I'll squeeze the whole thong project in there somewhere. I have to have it done by a certain date, but I can't say because someone might read the blog.
Here are a few things I have been working on.
The 4th day of Yule. Four calling birds at least one thing is on schedule.
This is another square I knitted to be put in the box to be joined for an afghan for charity. The pattern is pretty simple.The reason why this is in two colors, I am getting rid of scrap yarn that I have a tub full, I finished the green but not the square so good old white to the rescue. I found the pattern for this on http://www.p2designs.com/ look under patterns for charity. This square is called 3-squared#2 multi-sized square

Since allot of you are asking about the square that I knit for Larissa's book, I am very sorry but I cannot give out the pattern for that particular square. However, Knit Picks has a similar pattern, it's free and it's called the Geo Modern Throw Personally though just my opinion, I prefer the one from Larissa, to me it's easier to knit. (And no I am not sucking up to Larissa, well ok maybe just a little.) As a matter of fact did you know there are hundreds of knitted square patterns on the internet for free? Yes really all you have to do it so Google free knitted square pattern. That's how I found the 3 squared and this one. This one was done with Sockotta Sock yarn Colorway Brite Multi, Size 2 circular needles

This one is from my Monthly Dishcloth group. Done with Peaches and Cream in Desert Sand, Size 7 needles to find the pattern go to http://monthlydishclothkal.blogspot.com/ It was suggested to make this one in a yarn that was compatible with the previous dishcloth which I haven't done yet, well I did but I frogged it because is started out looking like a rabid squirrel. Some day I'll make it or not.

This last one, I like the pattern, but the yarn, umm welll looks like the Easter bunny ate too many jelly beans and threw up. Oh come one now, there has to be at least one mom, aunt, grandmother, child care giver that has seen the pink cool aid vomit at least once. You know what I am talking about. I originally chose this from the scrap yarn because it looked springie and Eastery. Anyway back to the square this is from another yahoo group I belong to called From the heart of Texas, the designer on this is Kayleen Clements and it's called Rapid River. The yarn is Bernat Satin Colorway Bermuda

I do have an up date on the Secret Pal 10, I finally exist, I have been taken under Robyn's wing. Gee can it be fate or coincidence that my favorite spring bird is the robin. Discuss amongst yourselves. Hello Robyn! She emailed me last night that I would have a partner soon. I have been so envious of all the the others already having a partner... and I don't have one... I had partner envy. That's ok soon I will have one.

Test along, swaps, Yule, and contest

I joined a test group http://knitalong.net/testalong/ Martin and Larissa are writing a book and need test knitters for the book. This time around we were given a pattern, told what colors to use, and given a dead line. These are my submissions, it would be a great honor to have one of these three squares used in the book. The squares that are not chosen will be knitted up into afghans and donated to Warm Up America. http://www.warmupamerica.org/home.html
This first square is from Yarn Pirate http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=44421&sort=recent&page_id=1 the colorway is called Shamrock.
This is from Lorna's Laces the colorway is Funky Stripe. This little left over of yarn is very special to me because, it's what is left over from the first pair of socks I knitted.

This last one is from Handspun and Dyed Too http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=20393 the colorway on this one is Pizazz.

I am also in a potholder and recipe exchange, this is one of the pot holders, the pattern is called, Piece of my heart http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=20393

And this one is simply called Heart Dishcloth http://members.cox.net/designs.by.emily/patterns/Designs%20by%20Emily%20Heart%20Dishcloth%20Pattern.pdf
Yes they are washcloths however, what I am doing is knitting two identical ones, joining 3 sides, adding a piece of quilted material, then sewing the final side up, and adding a loop to hang it from.

This is the first of the 12 days of Yule Dish cloths by Ketutar http://fiberneed.blogspot.com/2007/01/12-days-of-yule-dishcloths.html I am not making dishcloths, instead the DH thought they would make a great holiday afghan. So I am knitting them up individually and will join them all when finished. I decided not to wait until the last minute, so I am going to knit one each month, this one should have been done in December. This is the partridge in the pear tree. I was supposed to make Two turtle doves in January, but haven't even started it yet. I have a few days left in January... so it's possible. Not likely but possible.

I also could not find a tree skirt that I liked that was less than $50.00 I am sorry, but to me that is just too much for something that is going to sit under the tree. So I decided to make one also I found this pattern http://www.gallentine.org/Knitting/Christmastreeskirt.html Yes, it has cables, but I think I can handle it. It's made from seven separate sections and then are joined together. I have already started on it but already frogged it because the directions are written a little wonkie and you have to keep jumping from top to bottom to middle of the page, I am going to print the pattern out again and cut and paste them in order for myself.

I also joined a contest from The Lone Knitter http://theloneknitter.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-first-contest-blanket-drive-for-mom.html This one the due date is not until June so I have time to make up a few squares. The will be donating the squares, blankets or afghans to the hospital that her aunt was a patient of while being treated for cancer. This will help to get rid of the small bits of left over yarn in my stash.

This week I am going to be working on the Fiber Trends Ruffles and ridges shawl (see side bar for pattern). I am not sure how many more rows I have to go but I am down to 250 stitches from the original 1095 that were cast on. I want to finish it this week.