$$$ SALE!! In my etsy shop!

The Dust Bunnies Will Wait (my etsy shop) huge discounts & magazine sales!!

Momma and Daddy

my parents sacrificed so much when they decided that having children and making them the center of their lives was something they wanted to do. I remember seeing my Daddy go to work at the crack of dawn to work, haul hay when he was laid off somewhere, keep groceries in the cabinet, keep smiles on our faces and so much more. I saw my Mom put her own career designs aside to be a stay at home mom and garden and clean our home and all the wonderful Mom things she did. They did all this and had all this struggle because they believed in the American dream. They raised us that we could do anything. My Mom was the first person to tell me that I could be president if I wanted....my Dad was the first person to tell me that I'd be a great businesswoman someday......my parents were the first to laugh at my jokes and the last standing on their feet to cheer me on in even my darkest of moments. My parents believed in a world that could be greater for their children and for their children children...that no matter straight or flush, feast or famine, good or bad America was the best country in the world and there is nothing more important or better than family. Everything I am and everything I believe in I owe to my parents. I live every day trying to show a positive light to friends, family, and strangers alike. I live by the live and let live that my parents taught me....Any time a struggle or problem or moral issue comes up in my life I think of my parents and what they would do and let that be my guide. Every time I come upon something that I think I can not do, it is their teaching me that I can do all things thru Christ that helps me find courage because they gave me the gift of loving and knowing God. I can never thank them enough. I can never describe with words from my very soul how thankful that I am that my parents decided that I was worth anything and that even if no one else believed I could there were people in this world that just knew I could if I only tried. It was their love and sacrifice that has gotten me to where I am and it is because of them and God that I have anything at all to call my own and I'm so thankful for all of it. I noticed everything you did Daddy. Nothing you did or sacrificed has gone unnoticed or unappreciated all of those days you drug yourself to work I appreciate and it is you that I use as a measuring stick when I'm taking a measure of me. Momma in Heaven I saw your struggles in so many ways and all of it is a permanent place in my heart and it is your bravery that you showed in your sickness that makes me feel brave in my own small struggles. thank you so much for loving me and for everything you have done for me. I love you both so much.

what'd'a cowl

I made this pattern up today. I am adding buttons to it and it's going to be a cowl.

good things happen!

I know I still have a very long road ahead of me to get what I want (my masters) but I'm one huge step closer.
I wish that every knitter had access to these classes & would take them. I feel like my knitting has improved so much & that my blocking (although both still needing work) have improved so much with this that is offered thru The Knitting Guild of America
Arenda is an amazing instructor and encourager and I feel honored that she looked at my work. 

my latest attempts

I have officially mailed in my lesson 3 of basics

I hope that she can tell how hard I tried & can see I've improved over these lessons. I have learned so much!

my project (pic heavy)

what you are seeing here is my latest project. A shawl/blanket for a friend of ours that had a baby recently. She chose the colors white/pink/brown. My latest status on this project is I've finished the center panel, lightly blocked it, and knitted part of a pink border with 'x's and 'o's and tinked it back to change it around to have an even number of cables (and be more than 2 of them) in a row. *makes sense to me* and I'm a lot happier with that result

freeze frame

I am currently out of the yarn that I need to complete this section of my program, so I'm having to wait until I can afford to get more to finish this section of my classes. I hate that I'm having all these slow downs, but this is apt to happen after one goes thru being a victim of a hit and run that ended up with my having a broken foot, and then these oral problems I'm having that is costing $$$$ to try to get fixed. I mean, I'm having to pay $120 just to have that oral surgeon to look at my x-rays and tell me what the cost is gonna be. What???!!!! You've got to be kidding me. Yeah. right. Seems legit.

and the beat goes on................

I haven't forgotten about you masters program..I've just forgotten to update you masters blog.

I only need knit 2 more swatches & I will be finished (hopefully) with the last part of my BBB towards my masters. I'm hoping I can finally get them knitted correctly......I never like what I'm doing for this program.

I am doing knitting.......but not much because of some health problems I'm having lately...will it get better soon, please?

Shapely boyfriend cardi 
Willie chapstick holders 
baby booties 2.0 
Slip On booties 
milk hat 
baby chalice blanket 
baby booties......yeah! 
not another baby hat 
wing span 
Lauren cardi 
Super Spiral shawl (not sure if I've posted this yet) 

and right now I'm trying to come up with a prototype for a penguin hat for a 2t. I've knitted the first one, but I'm not in love with it. Not sure if I will gift this one or not. :/ I may just have a do over....

 

Lesson 2 review received. 4/12/12

wow. that was fast! I can't believe how fast she gets my work back to me! Thanks again!

Eventhough I was not told to re-knit per-se, but I am going to re-knit some of the swatches & send them to her before starting lesson 3. I just want to make sure I 'have' it before I move on in the program.

I think this is a prime example of why it's important to learn how to knit from someone first hand instead of trying to teach yourself on youtube or something. I know that when I first started trying to learn, there was no one I could even get to teach me, because in all honesty there were simply no knitters in my area....soooooo if I wanted to learn I had no choice but to teach me.

what I have found is that I was wrapping my stitches the wrong way...I was going clockwise, and it needs to go counter-clockwise...and I also was twisting my 'slipped' stitches purlwise instead of knitwise.....something that doesn't surprise me because I knit left handed and that seems more natural to me.......and now I've had to re-learn the correct way.

I'm not giving up. I'm going to me a master knitter. You just wait n see.

talked myself into it.

lesson 2 will be to my instructor now..........I hope I don't have a bunch of reknits

not dragging my feet...being real sure

I can't count the times I've re-knit the blocks for lesson 2 of BBB. I still think they look less than stellar. I have given myself until Friday to redo them as much as I plan to & then off they will go to be looked at by my super nice instructor. Scary stuff.

this past weekend the hubbs and I went to Thomasville Ga. Top Ink Tattoos....Chris Morant is one of the hubbs friends from high school & he & I ...well all 3 of us...came up with this design. If you can't tell it's on my wrists and the yarn ball is a 'screaming' skull...The skull on the skeleton is pretty daggum awesome if you ask me....I'm very pleased. GO by there. You won't be disappointed by anyone there. They are all true artists.

legal mombo jombo: Chris Morant was kind enough to agree to allow me to post this on my blog & on www.ravelry.com no where else, no one else, no ONE, has permission to post this elsewhere or claim these tats as something they created. Chris plans on using this in an upcoming publication & no one wants to get involved in copyright legalities am I right?

should you desire to put this on your site, etc. feel free to contact me directly & I will give you further information about the publication, etc.

I haven't forgotten

I haven't forgotten about my Masters or this little blog.

I am stuck on swatch 5 of lesson 2.... :o( I can't count the times that I've reknit that blasted thing!

side note:the victorian lace shawl I was 1/2 finished with met with a cruel end...my Sheldon dog decided it was a nom....... it is no more.

amazing

I am still amazed at all my work now since I'm in this program. I am knitting better (obviously) and I have started to have a little more confidence. Not a lot. Just a little.

My work use to be such a hassle. Having to reverse the patterns & not knowing exactly why my work didn't look exactly like the patter. HASSLE!

Here's some of my latest work. One of my biggest loves. Lace.

It's going to be pretty I think when it's all blocked out & finished.Its the :)) cats meow! I am so excited! I feel so hopefull that I will be a master knitter. I am trying so hard!

the results are in! Packette was in mail!

Lesson 1 ‘graded’

Received my packette from Ms. Arenda & I can’t believe how fast it went to her, she graded it & sent very helpful detailed instructions, and mailed it back to me! Thanks!
The following is a quick noting of her response to each swatch to me.
Swatch #1- The tension is pretty good. I need to re-re-re-re watch the video on it & re-re-re-re-re erad teh blog of her TIP OF THE WEEK.
The increases were properly placed but weren’t worked correctly. I knitted and purled into same stitch & that isn’t correct. I’m going to have to re-re-re-re-re try to learn how to do that.
Swatch #2- Stockinette tension was pretty good. She marked a few stitches on right side. Wrap yarn under the needle rather than over the needle. When doing the type of increase I did I need to do in the first row of knitting, not ribbing. The ribbing was a bit loose.
Swatch #3- The increases on right well made. The ones on left aren’t quite right. Maybe twisted the left leg of the stitch? I don’t know…going to have to re-re-re-re-re-re-re watch the videos to try & get this just right.
Swatch #4- The last 3 increases on the left are great. She marked a column of stitches on the right. Mine weren’t bad, she wanted to point them out. She marked 2 increases on left. the first one is a right slanting increase the second one is the open form of this increase. Left a hole, more like a yarn over
Swatch #5- Yarn overs are fine.
These are something I’m going to have to get better at….but I’m trying to keep in mind that until starting this program I was twisting all my stitches & doing them all wrong. That’s the reason why my work didn’t look exactly right. I had to reteach myself to knit the correct way. I’m going to try to concentrate on the positive instead of beating myself up at my imperfect work. This is why I’m taking these classes so my work can improve.
I will not cry. No one needs to know that I re-knit some of these swatches more times than I can count and they still weren’t “perfect”……

oh & she noted that I didn't need to block all of the swatches. I guess that old habits die hard! I block everything.lol.

of broken foot and tracking mail

I haven't posted on here much because some ugly hit & run incident that left me with at the very least a broken foot. I'm hoping that it's not going to be longer than 6 weeks.

That being said, here's how things stand


I consider this my prep-class for my Masters program & is necessary in my opinion an absolute must for me to feel like I have covered all the bases to have truly earned my masters in this area.
1/13/12-paid for my membership to The Knitting Guild Association and officially starting my road to my masters...basics, basics, basics first
[On My Road To Masters][1] is my blog that I am using to track my progress in this undertaking. lol
AJHoliday1's Channel on YouTube is my reference point for this programs 'how to'.
1/26/12- I don't know if I am prepared enough to send this in. I'm going to have to think on it & re-study and look at the blocks to see if I can fix any of the millions of mistakes. Right now all I can see how I didn't do them exactly right & I don't think that I've blocked them correctly. :( I'm a harsh teacher. I don't know...I'm so unsure.
[HOW TO MASTER][2]
2/13/12-after 2 weeks of hell with my broken foot, etc. after being a victim of hit and run I finally mailed off my lesson 1. I re-knit some of the pieces 8 times because I wasn't satisfied. I'm still not very happy. I'm afraid I will have to re-knit.
Lesson 1: USPS tracking:


03112550000222117453


First-Class Mail®


Delivered


February 16, 2012, 3:58 pm

LEXINGTON, KY 40502 

Expected Delivery By:
 February 16, 2012

Delivery Confirmation™






Out for Delivery


February 16, 2012, 9:39 am

LEXINGTON, KY 40517 






Sorting Complete


February 16, 2012, 9:29 am

LEXINGTON, KY 40517 






Arrival at Post Office


February 16, 2012, 4:26 am

LEXINGTON, KY 40517 






Depart USPS Sort Facility


February 15, 2012

LEXINGTON, KY 40511 






Processed through USPS Sort Facility


February 15, 2012, 4:28 pm

LEXINGTON, KY 40511 






Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility


February 14, 2012, 12:37 am

JACKSONVILLE, FL 32099 






Acceptance


February 13, 2012, 2:21 pm

SAVANNAH, GA 31410

01/28/2012- Readers Digest Knitters Handbook by Montse Stanley

In my personal opinion Readers Digest Knitters Handbook by Montse Stanley should be required reading by anyone that wants to learn to knit, learn more about knitting, be ecouraged by seeing new ways to get designs.....

I can't get over seeing pics of things that were knitted in the 1800's that's still in great shape (considering). It's so surreal to think that something someone knitted that long ago is still around, muchless still beautiful. I am still in awe.

Listed below are my personal notes from the book. All rights reserved to the original author and Readers Digest.

Pg 14- The size of stitches with needles depends upon yarn tension. Length of yarn drawn thru.

pg 15- The stitch size of a fabric is measured by the number of stitches and rows to a given square, normally a 4"x4".

pg 16- when designing, check stitches at 2-3" deep sample check row count later over the partly knitted project.

to measure sample
1-places tape (edge) measure or ruler at least 2 stitches away from left edge and mark with straight pin.
2-keeping tape horizontal, place another pin at 4"
(with fine yarns you can do smaller sample measure 2" with extrememly thick yarns you may need 6-8"
too many stitches go up needle size
too few stitches go down needle size.
stitches in repeat xs 4('")______
                                               width or length of repeat.

pg 19- to know how many stitches in 4", then know how many to get certain width just divide stitches in 4" _______
               4(")

yarns affect character of stitches. Never decide on a pattern without first knitting it in the yarn you intend to use.

pg 20- to know whether a stitch is nearly square medium or wide, find out the gauge in 4" divide number of rows__________
                           number of stitches

under 1-a rare tall stitch
1.0 square
1.1-1.2-nearly square
1.3-1.6-medium
1.7 and over-wide

a chart/graph is done on ratio/graph paper garter stitches in not use square

-Problems-
pg 22- slanted- this may be caused by a very high twist in yarn by continuously twisting stitches-stresses fabric
*uneven fabrics-something is wrong with gauge

pg 42-yarns
basically 2 types
natural-animal or vegetal (cotton i.e) may shrink
man made-fibers, acrylics, etc

blends best of both
pg 43
shrinkage test with sample
cut paper to exact size of sample or photocopy eample
wash/dry block and then compare

elasticity-wool is good

silk, man made, vegetal are not

resilience test-
cut an 8" strand of yarn
stretch it as far as it will go, measure to see how far it stretches release and measure again. Yarn that does not lenghten, or remains stretched w/ these yarns are not resilient. ALWAYS BLOCK SAMPLES

page 44
to check if 2 different yarns are the same thickness use yarn gauge or cut short length of both, link the 2 lengths, twist both well->if a bunp is felt yarn is different thickness

page 45
colors
solid
heather mixtures-are very subtle combination of fibers-dyed & blended b4 spinning
twists-are combinations of piles of different color
ombre-yarns have different shades of the same color appearing at regular or irregular intervals.

pg 46
colorfastness test
1 take white cloth (4") fold cloth and wrap 8-12" of yarn tightly around
wash/dry
unwind yarn. If cloth is still white color is fast.

pg 47
lables have
fiber content
weight
cleaning instructions
approx length in meters (yds)
suggested needle size and gauge

the manufacturers recommend a guague of 24 sts and 32 rows of stockinette stitch. An average knitter will obtain this with 4mm needles then use 3.5mm needles for ribbing.

pg 49 join yarn at end of row
when nearing the end of the yarn to see if theres enough left for another row, (2 rows actually)
fold what is left in half
make slip knot
knit 1st row
if you have reached the knot b4 end of row 1 you won't have enough for row 2.

pg 127
if darts are placed in a regular sequence a curve will form

pg 159
vertical stripes are worked in jacquard if they are narrow and intersia if they are wide

pg 162
intarsia-aka geometric, aka tartan, aka collage, aka patchwork knitting
when changing from 1 color to the other wrap 1st color around 2nd

pg 163
jacquard-aka fair isle, aka stranded aka 2 color, aka double knitting

1/26/12- unsure and scared

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SugarMomma/tkga-basics-basics-basics

I have posted my blocks project on Rav. I can not tell you how many times I've knit, re-knit, re-re-knit (you get the idea) these little blocks. I'm still not satisfied with them. I don't know if I ever will be.

I have answered all my questions, completed my Bibliography/ Reference List and gone over them & re-looked over them...over and over...so much so that now it's a blur. I'm not sure if I'm making sense or not with how I answered the questions.

I don't know if I will even mail these in. I don't know. I may feel like I need to re-re-re-re-knit before I send them off. I just wish I felt more sure of what I've knitted.

slow go.......

I'm just trying to keep my head above water.....trucking right along........slow go...........

why I love knitting socks

I have had this love-love affair with socks since I first taught myself to use DPN's, and then later magic loop just so that I could knit them.

I've knitted baby socks, gigantor 6'8" tall brother socks, size 4 little woman mil socks and everything in between. I've used patterns, made up patterns, thrown away pages that I coudn't turn into patterns....I've almost pulled out my hair, pulled out my DPN's because of dropped stitches or some other travesty...

I've shown off with pride socks that I've made, looked back on them years later & wondered how in the world I even knitted that and it stayed together and a million other things.

And all of that was before I found out the truth of my knitting.......as readers of this blog knows I have been twisting my stitches & going backwards (and making things so hard on me!)....

I love socks because I can make them to fit my flat feet & not have the budge where my arch should be...I love that I can knit toe socks & make the pinky toe part of the sock just right for my crooked pinky toe.

socks are small enough of a project that you can take them just about anywhere. When you take them out there's usually a conversation from others wanting to know what I'm doing...etc. They can be complicated so that I have to concentrate with every stitch, or simple enough that I can do mindless knitting. I love that.

Here you see a picture of a pair of socks I knitted for just me with a pattern I made up...

the other foot I tried to duplicate stitch type lizard. Believe it or not people actually can tell that's what it is looking at it in real life....

since learning everything I was doing wrong I can't help but see the millions of mistakes that I've made in my knitting projects. It almost makes me cry to think of the projects I've sent out without knowing I was crossing my stitches and going backwards....and it makes me so sad to know that I didn't have to re-do all those patterns the way that I did in order for them to look like the picture...I just needed to get my stitches right.

out of everything I am most looking forward to knitting correctly it has to be socks. I can't wait to sit & knit a pair of socks & see my finished work. I can't wait to see how they wear & how they hold up....they've always held up so well, and I hope that continues with my new adventure.

Socks can cheer you up on dreary days. Who can wear a pair of brightly colored socks and feel depressed? What a conversation starter to have someone compliment you on the colors, ask you where you got them & then act impressed to find out you knitted them yourself.

if I could answer one question & never answer again it would be

"Aren't they more expensive to knit socks than to buy a pair?"

"yes...they are...but I do love them so & they are fantasic"(says I)

What is your favorite thing to knit?

this past weekend

I celebrated my b'day this weekend. My weekend was full of love, well wishes, and happiness. Thank you all so much for everything each of you did to make it special for me.

I did very little knitting (on any level) and instead concentrated on all the articles to be studied in this program. If one tries to take it all in at once it will feel very overwhelming...or at least to me it would.

Who knew there was so much to learn with this craft? Who knew that re-training yourself to do something right instead of the wrong way you've done it for years would be so hard? I guess others did, but not me...I assumed it would come more natural than it is for me. I am having renmind myself 'counter-clockwise wrap' over and over. It's rough. But......I know it will be worth it when all is said and done...(which is a funny way to put things but I won't go chasing the rabbit down that hole).

I can not believe all the projects that I have completed with stitches twisted. I have like 80 listed on Ravelry, but I've completed way more than that. It's very daunting....and discouraging....but I'm not giving up....I will get this right & it will become 2nd nature to me...someday.

Today I am back on the fast-track to my knitting studies and I am hoping that today will go better for me & more will soak in for me.