The Patterns Arrived

Yesterdays mail was good for a change, no bills and my Leaf Lace patterns arrived. I can't wait to jump in. While I am deciding on the yarn for the shawl I started another pair of Chevron Lace socks this time in Chestnut Heather Wool Ease. I have to have something going all the time. LOL.

The other day I got my new Knit Picks catalog in the mail and so I plan on sitting down today with an Southern Ice Tea, and picking out yarn for my next few projects. I LOVE buying yarn. I have not worked with their Alpaca Cloud yet, but I plan on changing that. I'm also going to get some sock yarn. Oh the choices I have. (smile).

Since gas prices have went up my work has slowed down. My clients are not updating their web sites and the people I had been talking with who were in the first stages of planning their sites have backed out, so that isn't good. But like my kids said last night, "mom, it gives you more time to knit." Bless their hearts. LOL.

Today is visit Gunther day. That is always a pick-me-up.

Satori

Off subject

Ok, I know that Gunther has his own blog (http://guntherthegreatdane.blogspot.com ) but I thought since so many of you loved the puppy photos you might like to see the breeder's web page full of puppies, and the proud parents. Here is the link http://www.jwberkowitz.com/DanePage/DanePage.htm

These photos will bring a huge smile to your face.

Satori

Hurricane Katrina

I don't know if any of you have friends and family in the Gulf Coast area but I do. And thankfully most of them are on the road out of there right now. It goes without saying that we keep these people in this region in our thoughts and our prayers. Katrina is a category 5 which will be devastating. Here is a link to the NOAA hurricane watch of Katrina. http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/gmex-ir4-loop.html

Blessed Be,
Satori

Been Busy....sort of

Have you ever ended your day exhausted, can't hold your eyes open, you look at the clock thinking it has to be after midnight and it's not, and then you look around to view all that you have accomplished and it's like you can't hardly tell you've lifted a finger? That was my Friday. Fridays are suppose to be my FUN day. But somehow everything go mixed up and I ended up making of list and actually getting it all done. I didn't even misplace the list. LOL. But, then when I looked around at about 9pm I couldn't see a thing that I had done, (except the knitting, which I did on my lunch). Now it wasn't all bad because I did order two new patterns both of these I'm going to make as gifts. The Leaf Lace Shawl and the Leaf Lace Socks (pictures below) and I have been working on the last Chevron sock, which is at the 3 round on the gussets. So I have been busy, I have been working, you just can't see it. (smile)

One down

This morning for some reason I woke up pretty early. Of course I couldn't fall asleep again, so I got up fixed some coffee and started knitting while I waited. Before I knew the first Chevron Lace sock was done. And it fits my foot perfectly. There were only one thing that I did different to the pattern so it would fit the toe area. When I tried it on and it was 3 rows above my toes, I stopped the decreasing and did a final round and then instead of grafting the toe I just drew the loops together and finished it. There have only been a couple of pair of socks that I didn't graft the toes and for some reason I just wanted a change. Now I have to wait for cold weather to come. LOL. Since this pattern has worked out so well it will be one that I use for gifts for the cold seasons.

If you have need for a great quick sock I highly suggest the Chevron Lace sock. Also, if you have a little experience with socks and want something different to knit, this sock is what you are looking for. It's made with a size 6 needle, and 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease, which runs around $3.00-$4.00 I think. With that price you have nothing to loose and a lot of fun to look forward to. By the way, the link to the pattern is located a few posts down.

Here is the lastest photo on the Chevron Lace sock. It is coming together so quickly. I love it. 

New photos

I've posted new photo's of Gunther! Check out his blog.

It seems like today I am catching up on everything, including photos for my web sites and blogs. Sometimes I amaze myself. LOL. This is the sock that I started last night. The Chevron Lace. So far I am really pleased with the pattern, how it is written and how fast it is working up.  

As promised a photo of the socks I just finished.  

They are finished

The "take a long" socks are finished and are drying. I'll have photos coming soon.

I just finished watching the last episode of Six Feet Under. I have to say that, the final show had to be one of the best endings I've ever seen. Very cool. The way it ended just fit so well.

While I was watching Six Feet Under I started a pair of socks for the Gift List (see the post below). The Chevron Lace Socks by Judy Sumner. The pattern looks really nice. It calls for Wool Ease yarn, and I just happen to have some in my stash. So out came the yarn, the double points and I have about an 1 1/2 inches of the cuff done. After using size 2 needles on the other socks the size 6's feel like those big pencils that they use in K-5 grades. LOL.

Somehow I have gotten into a strange mood. Actually I can't get out of my mind a visit to my aunt while I was up at the reunion. She isn't doing well and our visit kind of shook me up. When I can I'll share a little about it and her situation. But, I have always believed that something good will come out of something bad IF you look for it, IF you wait for it, and IF you are believing it will happen, so I guess I am in the IF stage, we can just call it "IF-ing".

Satori

Change of plans

This morning has all ready been busy, and actually it's been a good thing. With about 30 minutes of quiet time, I started my list of what I am knitting for gifts. I figured with as busy as I am and going to be once Gunther gets here, I better get a list. (at least a general idea). So that's pretty much taken care of. Some of the things I all ready have yarn for which is very cool. So here's the list.
1. Two Mobius'
2. Three pairs of socks
3. One Jr. Girls Sweater (black with skulls) (bulky) :-)
4. Fair Isle Scarf
5. Maple Leaf Scarf, lace weight yarn
6. Fingerless gloves

I don't know if I can do it, but I'll get the absolutely have to have's done first, then we'll see what happens from there.

While I am thinking about it, I joined a sock knitting group on Yahoo. Some of the women are knitting their socks 2 at a time on 2 circular needles. I have always loved using double points, but, maybe learning this other way will be helpful considering some of my time constraints. Does anyone out there use the 2 cir. method and if so, how do you like it?

Have a safe and wonderful weekend,
Satori

Has she given up knitting to focus on the puppy? Of course not, and to prove it here are the socks I am working on. These were my "take along knitting" for the trip. Now I am looking for my next 2 projects. One I know will be another Kiri Shawl for a gift, and the other will be a top I can wear throughout the Fall that will not trigger Hot Flashes. LOL.  

Gunther The Great Dane

Gunther has the start of his own blog. It's just a start, since it seems like my real job is getting in the way of all the fun. LOL. Anyway, here is the link to Gunther's blog. http://guntherthegreatdane.blogspot.com

Happy knitting, and I promise to get back on the knitting subject. :-)

Satori

My baby boy

Gunther is now 15 days old. His little eyes opened up Friday night. I went and spent about 45 minutes with him today. Do I even need to say how much he has my heart all ready? His brothers and sisters are doing very well and out of the 14 only 8 are left. If by any chance anyone is interested in getting more information about this Great Dane litter, or on Great Danes themselves please feel free to email me.

I am planning on starting my "Gunther Blog" tomorrow. I have more pictures and today I actually got a quick photo of his dad's head. Sarg, doesn't like to get his picture taken, the flash turns him into a frightened little boy. LOL. Anyway, I will have the link to my Great Dane blog on here ASAP.

I'm Back

We just got back, and before I unpack I wanted to get the photo of my 1st cousin who won the bidding war for the shawl. Gaynelle is a professional seamstress, but cannot knit. She said that it's an amazing gift to be able to knit. Of course she makes sewing look so easy. But, she said that when she seen the shawl at the beginning of the reunion, she was determined to get it no matter what. $85.00 later she had it around her shoulders.

Bags Packed, Shawl Packed, Everyone Got Their Toothbrush?

Time has come. The kids and I are ready for the trip. We are leaving at 6 in the morning. We'll stop at mom's over night and then head out to KY. the next morning.

I'll be on with photos as soon as I can, but until then may you have a wonderful weekend, lots of knitting time, and perfect stitches,

Satori.

We Are Blocking

As you can see, we are now blocking. I can't hardly believe it. A couple of months ago I was going nuts over deciding on a pattern, putting pressure on myself and now here it is drying.

I must say that I am so glad that I switched to the Kiri Shawl pattern from the other one. This shawl has been a pleasure to knit. I will be making more of these. The next one will be in a lighter or variegated color though.

To think the next photo of this will be with the winner of the family reunion auction. Cool.

Everything was off the needles

I realized when I sat down to knit that all my projects were finished, so I ran to the stash. LOL. I found a skein of Magic Stripes yarn and started just a basic pair of socks to give away. Then I thought that I would go nuts with the round and round and round of ribbing, so I gathered the left over lace weight yarn I have and started a scarf by Heartstrings for my mother. Pictures coming soon.

By the way, Friday I picked out my "little guy." (photo below) .Today we picked up Fred's ashes. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. Thank heavens I have my kids and my knitting. They all keep my mind occupied.

Gunther

ALL DONE!

The Kiri Shawl is finished and I plan on blocking it this weekend. It's a bittersweet moment now, because I don't want to part with it. (smile) I'll take pictures while it's blocking to post.

I have a little non-knitting news. A few weeks ago we found out that our Bassett hound's cancer had spread to his lungs and the xrays were awful. If you have ever seen the xrays of lungs that have cancer (whether human or animal) you will never forget it, anyway he had to be put down. I haven't really talked about it with anyone, I can't really yet. We excepted the first to go would be my German Shepherd because he has dysplasia so bad. Anyway, last night a friend of mine who breeds Great Danes (another wonderful German breed) offered me pick of the litter. His female gave birth Aug. 1st. So I said all that to say this. I'm headed this morning to go look at some beautiful babies. I hope to start another blog about my new puppy. I can't explain how much I am looking forward to having another young life in the house. It's so empty without the Bassett. Oh before I forget, now that the Kiri is done, I'm starting a blanket and dog bed cover for the little guy.

It will be a good Friday,
Satori

My Footies Are Finished

After finishing the first one, I dreaded the second one, but the secondly went really fast and went together very well. I am pleased with how they turned out. Of course taking a photo of them on oak makes them look a lot better. (grin)

I'm now in the writing stage of the pattern. When I get it finished I will post it here on the blog and on www.knittingsatori.com

UPDATE: The kiri shawl is just about done. All I have to do is bind off and block :-)

Kiri Shawl I Started The Edging and other stuff

Can you believe it? I can't. Last night the edging began. It's going pretty smoothly (did I just jinx it?) Anyway, I am pretty close to being on schedule to when I wanted to finish it. We are leaving for the reunion on the 11th, the actual reunion is on the 13th. Then I hope to be home on the 15th. I'll take photos of the person who wins the shawl in the auction and post them here and on my web site.

The footie is about done also. I can't wait to finish it up so I can start on MORE socks. LOL. Jo Ann's had a ton of their yarn marked down, I mean really marked down. So yesterday I dove in. I am planning on knitting my daughter and some of her friends, Halloween socks so I was pretty happy when I seen that they had a lot of black and orange cotton marked down. I also picked up some orange "wiggles" yarn. I have no idea what I will do with those two skeins, but they looked cute. I got 4 skeins of Cara Mia TLC, I had to get that because it felt so good.

While at Jo Ann's I was asked by a girl, I'd say in her mid 20's for help in picking a yarn because she wanted to learn how to knit. So I got to help her out. That was so much fun. I talked with her this morning and we are going to meet up this week because she has some questions. Very Cool.

Friday night at coffee, the lady (Dot) I had written about earlier showed up with some of her knitting. Her socks were breath taking. Very detailed intarsia work. She explained a little bit of the history behind each of the socks she brought, and I was in heaven. Before I knew it, we had talked 2 hours. She wants to see some of my work. Compared to her's I'm a little hesitant.

Off to do more edging...