2:40 p.m. March 29, 2009

Not a very imaginative post title, but that’s kind of how things are going these days. 

I’ve had some hand issues for the last three weeks, which are and are not getting better.  I think there’s some nerve entrapment in my shoulder which then makes my index finger on my left hand hurt all the time, plus I seem to have pulled some tendons.  Or something.  I’m getting physical therapy for it.  This issue has limited the amount of knitting I’ve done. 

But I have WIP pictures!

A new pair of socks!  The yarn is from Green Prairie Fibers, which is hand dyed by my friend, Kristin.  There’s a hint of gray and I just love it.  The cute doggie sock bag was made by my friend, Bea Binney.  I highly recommend both places for their quality and for their artistic vision.

Look at the difference in the sizes of those socks!  Holy cow.  I knitted the first one with my trusty bamboo dpn’s, and then when I saw how warped they were, I decided to try out a pair of metal dpn’s.  There’s the difference!  I love using the metal dpn’s but it produces a much smaller sock.  That is okay; however, because I felt the first one was a little too slouchy for my taste. 

Lainie’s poncho!  Knitting on size 11’s sure makes a project go fast.  I was about ready to cast off when I noticed that the neck opening for the hood was way off on the right side of the project when it’s supposed to be between the hand slits.  Oops!  Had to rip back quite a bit.  The only thing I don’t like about this yarn (Feza Opera) is how the decreases are so noticeable.  I’m hoping after a wash that everything will “relax” and not stand out so much.

The Big Sack Sweater from Sitch ‘n Bitch!  I stopped working on this last summer and then forgot where I was at in the pattern.  But my crafty buddy, Kristin, came to visit me a month ago and made me get it out and take a look at it.  She found where I was at in the pattern and I finished the back and am starting on the front.  I’ll probably finish it in time for summer – ha ha.  Oh well, better late than never!

My log cabin blanket has come to a standstill.  It’s big and lunky and having to change yarns in the middle of the row has left it looking a tad messy.  I’ll get started back up on it sometime.

In etsy news:  as you all may know, my etsy shop name is Stitch Candy.  However, when I started buying on Etsy (before I opened the shop), I set up my user name as my full name.  Not too long ago, my crafty buddy, Kristen, discovered that there’s a shop on Etsy called Yarn Candy.  I looked at her shop and see she opened her shop after mine.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But that spurred me to finally open a new shop under the name “stitchcandy” so that the name is out there on the search pages.  I’ve taken new pictures and am making lots of new markers to put in there!  It’s always a work in progress, but go there and tell me what you think!  I think I am finally getting the hang of the macro mode of the camera.  Better yet, go over and add me to your favorites!

Here are a couple of pictures….

“Pop Rocks” – perfect for socks or lace!

“Spice Drops” – not to be confused with Spice Girls.

 

“Charms” (a square lifesaver from the 50’s) -  I love millefiori glass.

I’m off to take a shower and drag the older child to the grocery store.  We have not a single box of cereal in the house.

I hope everyone is well!