WeeklyProgress Update...... Still on Vacation

I'm still on vacation for a couple more days. I will complete a vacation post with pictures and links when I return dial up is killing me. But here is the weekly knitting update:

Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)
Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)
Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)
Annie: 6/08 Back is finished !!!

Sat 6/28: Annie
Sun 6/29: Annie
Mon 6/30: Baby Surprise
Tues 7/1: Baby Surprise
Wed 7/2: Frogged Baby Surprise due to funky acrylic yarn
Thurs 7/3: Annie
Fri 7/4: Annie finished back

Over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house we go

We took off as planned last night. DH, Huba, and friend in the truck and myself hanging out with Brenda Dayne (ok so it was her podcast) in the car. The total ride to my mom's house took about 8 hours. We traveled 160 miles to the Washington/Idaho Border then 75 miles over 4th of July and Lookout Pass into Montana. From the Montana border we had 16 miles until we hit the half way mark. The half way point is marked by the 10,000 Silver Dollar Store. Which is a mandatory stop at least once on our trip. While driving DH had to swerve to miss 4 geese that were taking their evening stroll and we all waved to Mr. Porquipine as he was making his midnight rounds.

We arrived about 3am Montana time. So that leaves today as a very low key day of catch up. DH will travel to Helena to make his final fishing trip purchase and my mother and I will take 6 kids ranging from 5 to 11 swimming at the local hot springs. I have already did some knitting this morning. My mother is also considering the Baby Surprise Jacket.

I'm on dial up so I will add links to all the posts when I return.

Contest and TRIP!!!!

It’s that time of year again. Tonight directly after work we are taking off for Montana for the 4th of July. When I say directly after work I mean I will pull into the driveway hop out of my explorer and directly into the impala. I won’t get any good car knitting in on the trip over/back as we are taking two vehicles. Luckily one is free gas.

Anywho! Like last year I am having another contest!!! While in Montana we put many miles on our vehicles. So, like last year the one to guess the closest to the total miles will win a prize. As far as a close date it will be sometime the week of the 7th. I will be blogging some while in Montana. But if things get to fun I want to have a chance give you a list of the places we went so you can have an educated guess.


As far was my weekly update of knitting I’m doing it a day early as well...... you know!

Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)
Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)
Henley Perfected: Winter 07 (FROGGED)
Annie: 6/08


Sat 6/21: No progress was made. Ripped out Henley Perfected as determined that it was going to be too small.
Sun 6/22: Started Annie with Henley Perfected Mulberry Silk. Actually happier with the yarn in the Annie pattern.
Mon 6/23: Annie - its new
Tues 6/24: Annie - its new
Wed 6/25: Annie - its new
Thurs 6/26: Annie - its newFri 6/27: Who knows I’m on vacation

On and Off the Needles

As many of you know I try to plan my knitting. I goal set completion dates. Some of my tactics are more effective than others. I am not a 1 project person so I need somewhat of plan of attack. The sweater a month tactic worked for a couple of months but life hasn’t permitted that to be as effective. It is a great tactic during the winter months when many evenings and weekends are spent indoors. But when the good weather comes projects are worked on by portability. Now we all know that a sweater in the beginning is quite portable but not on the final stretch. Also projects with great detail are less portable as you don’t always have the set up room.
I’ve also been pondering what I like vs. what I like to knit vs. what I will actually knit. Some projects are gorgeous and I would love to have them but it doesn’t mean that I am going to put all the work into it or on the other hand not get bored with a zillion stockinette stitches.
So, my new tactic?!?!?!? Is to track my knitting. To log what I’ve worked on where I primarily worked on it etc. That way, hopefully, when picking new projects I’ll be able to have a clearer definition of whether or not it is the right time to start it. So each week I’m going to provide an update. Not just much I got done.....but why.

Now I know that we all have this ability on ravelry but you have to go to each individual project. I would much rather spend the extra time on knitting. I was also thinking about how most podcasters have “On and Off the Needles” so I guess this is somewhat of a blog version.

Projects
Cotonani: 5/08 (1&1/2 sleeves to go)
Alpaca Shawl: 5/07 (90% lace border to go)
Ambra: 2/08 (4in of back complete)Drops Alpaca Cardigan:4/08 (1 sleeve and 3inches of body completed)
Norwegian:2/08 (11 inches of body completed)
2x2 Ribbed Socks: 4/08 (1 1/2 socks completed)
Huba Camo Anklets:6/08 (3/4 of 1 sock completed)
Rebecca:5/08 (8 inches of back completed)

Sat 6/14~ Camping. Worked on Huba Camo Anklets & Norwegian. Anklets were great for picking up & putting down. Worked on Norwegian during AM coffee around the picnic table.
Sun 6/15~Camping. Worked on Huba Camo Anklets & Norwegian. Anklets were great for picking up & putting down. Worked on Norwegian during AM coffee around the picnic table.
Mon 6/16~ Huba Camo Anklets at lunch. Evening spent cleaning from camping.
Tues 6/17~ Huba Camo Anklets at lunch. Evening spent cleaning from camping.
Wed 6/18~ Cotonani magic loop top down sleeves.
Thurs 6/19~ This was a sad sad sad knitting day. Tore out about 5inches of color work on Norwegian as too long. Didn’t knit after that. Still have to get back onto the needles.

Fri 6/20~ Cotonani down hill slide on this puppy is what is motivating me.I hope to have this done by end of June.

City Tournaments

Huba has been playing baseball this spring. (Huge reason why posts haven't been happening...I always have an excuse.) Last Thursday started city tournaments. Kennewick All American and Kennewick Nationals battle it out for the top team. It is a double elimination and right now he is one and one. He will play every night this weekend as long as they are winning......

Cotanani for the Hootanani

Cotanani for the Hootanani is next on my list to finished. I started two days before our Packwood knitting Retreat weekend (1st weekend of May). It is the Knitting Pure and Simple top down raglin cardigan # 241. All that remains is the sleeves. I'm also going to take the moss stitch bottom out and add some length.

Maybe another inch or two. It has been a lot of fun to branch out of my usual blue/green colorways. Although I am behind on my sweater a month I am still finishing things which is the ultimate reason for the sweater a month.

Miss MAYPRIL

Just a couple on minutes before i run out the door (again) but this time to Friday Night Knit Knit. Here is Miss MAYPRIL. I started the beginning of April and finished the weekend after our Packwood trip. But I didn't weave the ends in until about an hour ago. Smallest garment project of the year so far and took the longest. Go figure. It is from the June 2008 Knit 'n Style and made in Ornaghi Filati Gong, (100% mercerized cotton, 130 m per 50 g ball). Guage is 24 to 4 in rib pattern when slightly stretched. I didn't make the I-cord to go in the eyelets around the waste. But the eyelets are a nice little design element. I am somewhat debating on making the shrug but really leaning to the I don't think so side.