Bath Mat Progress

This project is really stretching me. I've never worked w/2 strands before nor with cotton. It is hard on my hands but I can handle it. I've notice that I am having to be more conscious of my wrists when knitting and my left hand when crocheting this mat. Care is needed to not injure myself and to have neat work. No ripping apart for me ~ it really makes me sad to have to do that especially after the time spent doing the work.

Anyway, I've also completed another 10 x 10 square in pastel yellow which is another additional 1.5 oz or 42 grams of yarn destashed for the week. Woohoo! I am enjoying watching the projects come alive and take on shape. Oh, I even managed to detash about another 100 g to my dd ~ Riley has decided to make a rippled afghan. Unfortunately, we haven't found a pattern that suits her and we just ripped apart her first effort to try again. LOL She'll get it and I want her to get it so she doesn't give me the yarn back. ;D

Well, off to read blogs, get some typing done and back to my book & needles or hook ~ not sure which. Like having a choice. Have great evening.

~ Stashalong ~

I am now ready and excited about my new found hobby. Ok, maybe not ready since I will still need to learn how to do all those fancy knitted stitches and learn the jargon. I don't think I know what "FO" is but I have a good guess. ;D

Part of the fun of Stashalong is to accept a challenge to get rid of your stash. I have decided on Option 1, described below.

Choice 1: The original rules(1) Choose a Stashalong time frame(1 month(minimum choice), 2 months, 3 months, etc). Personally, I would think about month to month--just in case :) Remember that during that time frame you will not buy any yarn(buying patterns, bags, and books are up to you)(2) Choose some of your stash you would like to knit on during that time(maybe it's something you can finish, maybe it's for a gift or deadline or KAL).(3) Post your start date and finish date. You could also include a picture of the yarn you'll be using and maybe some details about the pattern.(4) Post your results at the end--did you finish it, did you crack and buy something, fill us in on your Stashalong victory!(5) Have fun.(6) Start and end anytime(within a one month minimum). You don't have to start at the beginning of a month just pick a date spanning 30 days and you're ready to roll!

For my challenge, I've set a timeframe of 2 months beginning today and will assign myself two off days. My end date will be April 12th or so, need to look this up and count out 60 days. LOL During this time I will not buy any yarn, I will only purchase supplies ~ I need needles ~ and use my free day to consider sales. Since my income is not enhanced by an outside job any longer, I will have to be very frugal and picky when I do shop. I have decided to begin small and use up the following stash first:

2 balls of navy blue ~ red heart worsted weight (8 oz total)

2 balls of true red ~ lion brand jiffy mohair (appx 5 ozs)

1 ball of dark blue ~ walmart worsted weight (appx 3oz)

1 ball of red w/silver ~ don't know very fine (appx 3oz)

1 ball of royal blue ~ don't know worsted weight (appx 2oz)

1 ball of soft green ~ caron simply cotton (appx 2oz)

1 ball of soft white ~ caron simply cotton (appx 1oz)

Here is a pic of my starting stash! very small but its a start ~ sorry its a little dark.

I have begun knitting the red w/silver and it looks like it will make a nice child size scarf. This is a first for me in many years. I learned to knit sometime when I was 12yos but have never really done any consistent knitting. I taught my oldest dd the basics, translate patterns for her but pretty much she has taught herself the rest. I actually had to get her help tonight for my first project in selecting appropriate needles. I selected the above stash because they have been around for over a year and I thought they would make quick easy projects. Also it would allow me to keep to my plan of not buying anything other than needed tools even on my free day. I started out with size 17 needles but they were too big for the fine yarn and switched to 13 needles. It is working up very nicely, if I may say so myself ~ being that I am a novice at this, really have no clue. :D

Here is a preliminary pic:

*I'll trying taking these again tomorrow in natural lighting. My digital cam isn't that great.

Here is my list of what I hope to use the selected stash for:
1. scarves ~ at least 2
2. afghan squares for charity projects ~ at least 3
3. dishclothes ~ maybe 2
4. hmm, still thinking especially since I'm really new to this

Well, thats all for now. I need to post on the Stashalong site so that everyone knows what I'm doing. I think this will be great fun. I'm learning something new, I am clearing out some stuff ~ gotta love the declutter aspect ~ and making new friends. This is simply great.

Have a wonderful evening!

What joy....

I'm having so much fun, I can't keep it to myself. You know I mentioned that I was actually blogging over on blogger and that I had considered joining a few knitting groups. Well, I did and I am enjoying both. I just got accepted to Stashalong and am looking forward to my first challenge, with fear and trembling. I am writing my post here because I was updating my template and love my blog so much. I really do like the ease of use at blogger but I love my blog here. Too many choices and so little time. I am considering joining a swap or two but I'm going to pray about it. I may just wait and see how being apart of KTC and SAL works out.

Anywhoo, I am off to determine which challenge I will accept, type up my stash inventory, work on my preemie hat and listen to a book on cd, then I will heat dinner up and clip/organize my coupons. Oh, the joy of being home and enjoying my life again. I am even enjoying hsg my dc again. Yeah me!

Oh, I also wanted to tell you all about a blog I just found, more specifically the blogger's post on dyeing yarn. Checkout Knitting Rose's site here, she's even introduced me to the Sockret Pal Swap ~ sounds like such fun. I've never done this and it looks so easy and the yarn is simply lovely. Is it really easy to do this? Can I do this at home ~ you know that saying "don't try this at home kids?!" Ok, I'm a little silly but its alright, I'm allowed every once in awhile. I'm looking forward to doing new things and making my home beautiful using my hands.

Have an awesome day!

~at our homestead~
Sounds ~ rainfall, classical music ~ Corelli
Smells ~ burning wood, homemade iced tea
My hands ~ soft yello preemie hat (its so pretty)
Plans ~ dinner, lesson plans and book selections
Mood ~ wonderfully happy and content

~ New Pursuits ~

I think its time to transition to using this blog regularly. I am very happy with using Blogger, especially the simplicity of having my multiple blogs at one location. It keeps things simple, convenient and efficient. Unforunately, over at my other blog, I am not able to run my feed yet. I may have to change the layout of the blog which I would rather not do. If it doesn't work, I may have to transfer everything and say goodbye. I don't really have the time or patience to post at both places anymore. For a season, I'll linked to this site like I do for my homeschool blog. One day I'll get around to transferring my older posts but for now ~ without further ado, I want to talk about my new pursuits.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am no longer working outside the home. Yeah! I am now schooling my dc full-time and have started a home business. I will be working on projects at home, spending time w/my online support groups and I just joined a couple of new endeavors. One of them is called Knit the Classics. Oh, this looks like great fun though I will be learning as I go since I learned to knit years ago and haven't done anything with it since nor created more than a potholder. This group reads a book and then creates a project in relation to the story. I am so excited because I've never done anything like this and if knitting doesn't work, I can crochet. Yippee! I am also considering joining a group called Stashalong ~ I am not sure if I can handle this one though it would help me curb my spending habit on crafts. We'll see, but stop by and visit, you'll like it I'm sure.

So off to place my hold for the March book and finish off my preemie hat I started yesterday. It is so adorable, I found it on Lion brand's website. I'll load a pic when its done, but here is the pic of the completed hat I mentioned earlier:

~ Been a long time ~

This is the title of my recent entry over at HSB2.
Stop by and take a peek. Talk w/you soon.

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire

My answers are here.

Thank you ;D