SAL Progress Report #2

As you know, I haven't been making much progress with destashing as I'd hope. It seems I have more yarn than I started with and I've made 5 things already. Well, I am not alone in this dilemna as a fellow SALer posted her laments. She ask for ideas for her dilemna and the one she got was so simple that I had failed to realize it myself. Though I will not be able to make squares for PC at this time, I still can make them for other charities and for an afghan for my own home or for gifting. The responder mentioned using the squares as an opportunity to learn new stitches and that they wouldn't take much time to work up. Now that is a very interesting point that I will go and consider with the help of my new book which has many stitches that are new to me. I believe that I will be able to work at least 1 tonight since I think I'll set the red/silver project aside til tomorrow. I'll update more later in the week. Back to detashing so that I can enjoy my shopping day next week.

Btw ~ I found some wonderful new sites that I will be adding to the sidebar and one offered a free sock pattern for signing up for their newsletter. They look very easy to make but I don't know ~ I thought that child's scarf was simple and I'm still working on it. ;D

Good night!

Knitting 101

I don't think knitting and I are cut out for each other. I say this because I have not been successful in knitting that ball of red and silver yarn. It has been the bane of my existence for the past week and half. I tried to use larger needles so that I can knit it up quickly but it didn't work. I was using #13 then I changed to 11s but that didn't work either. The project appeared stretched and I didn't like it at all.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting 2 LYS. It was a lot of fun to look at the yarn, discover new patterns and visit a new place of enjoyment. One of the stores owner was the young lady who had taught a knitting class for a staff development I attended. It was nice to see her again and to let her know that I was finally going to do something with my knitting. She had very lovely yarn and my girls picked out some very soft multi color suitable for babies. We will return on my free day to purchase some but my oldest dd did buy a set of dpn in bamboo that she loves. She said they are smooth and make using the sugar n cream much easier. She too has had trouble knitting her socks but I believe is coming along now w/the new needles.

I also went to Hobby Lobby and was able to purchase a new book and some needles. I bought 2 sets of 5s and a set of 6 dpn in alum ~ I personally like these. I am using the 5s with the red/silver yarn and it looks much nicer but the pattern I was venturing to use isn't working out so I have removed those stitches and will continue to simply knit the yarn into a child's scarf ~ a basic garter pattern seems to work better for it. I am hopeful that it will be suitable but doubtful that I'll be able to take a picture since even in natural lighting it doesn't photograph well at all. I am planning to finish up listening to Emma and working on this scarf tonight. I hope to have time to look through my new book and work on my Seaman scarf but for now I want to finish with the red/silver yarn because it has annoyed me so. ;D

Hope everyone else is having a better knitting time than I have had. Have a wonderful evening.

My new book:
Knitter's Handbook : A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting by Montse Stanley (Paperback - Sep 6, 1999)

SAL Progress Report

I did it ~ yes, I finished my first knitting project. I am so glad. It is my first project since I first learned to knit over 20 yrs ago. ;0 I had 2 projects going at the same time and finished the true red scarf. The red/silver child's scarf is WIP and I don't know why its taking me so long. I think its the needles ~ I'm using bamboo and they don't seem to work well with the fiber of the yarn. Since the yarn is not one that I have a label for, I am not sure what needle to use. My ds just found 2 more skeins of yarn and one is a green/silver blend like the red. You can guess ~ no label either. :( I'm not even sure where these came from but they are either part of the charity project or I found them on clearance somewhere planning to make some holiday item or something. Or more like, my oldest dd was to make some holiday item but we lost the yarn in the house. LOL

Anywhoo, we have gone to several yarn stores and I am happy to report that I have purchased nothing. Though dd wasn't as successful in the first 2 stores ~ she acquired some Sugar n Cream in midnight magic and Paton's Grace in ruby (7 skeins @ $1 ea) and would have bought more had we not discussed the necessity of waiting until she had finished her current projects and the ones she purchased these for. We found some Red Heart Super on sale for $1.89 in Winter Grey and she wanted to make socks or legwarmers, I don't remember which but it may well be both.

I have also finished a couple of "screaming stash" projects because I was not feeling like I had made much progress the last few days. I have now made 4 washclothes using a simple crochet pattern from Lion Brand. Funny thing is none of this has made a dent in my meager stash goal. I am not too pleased and don't quite understand the math in this but will keep plugging along and it will all disappear soon, I hope. I've even given away one ball of yarn 2x but keep getting it back ~ my dc who decided they wanted to use another color. I finally used it to make 2 washclothes yesterday so its almost gone, there is a remnant. ;O There are 4 cloths and my ds would like me to make more. LOL I am even considering making dishclothes too. These don't take long to work up and I've decided to make some special for my dds hope chest.

Knitting Fun

Well, I've been very busy with working and hanging out at a concert that I haven't had much time for knitting. I took my knitting with me to the concert since I would be spending a lot of time sitting between assignments. I got to knit a little but read alot then ran alot more. I was a runner for the bands that were performing. It was alot of fun but I really wish I had done more knitting. However, I did use the time wisely and read some of "Knit Lit too" and "Knit Fix." I borrowed both from the library and learned a few things about knitters.

I am still working on my true red scarf which has been a pain. I have actually taken it a loose 4x until my dd told me how to fix my issue. The issue ~ I thought I had a tension problem because I would have several rows that appeared very tight no matter what you did to them. I was having trouble holding the yarn, gauging the tension, etc and my frustration was great. Last night, after the 3rd time of re-working the stitches I thought I was just tired and went to bed. Today, when it happened again, I was at a loss. My dd explained that my yarn was thinning in that section of it. She showed me how to add in the yarn after I undid the stitches and cut the thin section off. Now my rows are beautiful again and I hope to finish my scarf soon. I am a very slow knitter but I think thats just because I'm really new at it. ;D

I've been window shopping at craft stores and have been faithful to only buy tools ~ no yarn for me. Though my dd did, she got some really great yarn for a $1 a skein at Michaels in ruby. She plans to make socks. She also got some Sugar & Cream stripes at Hobby Lobby for $1.11 ea for more socks. She started to buy yarn today at JoAnn's because they had Red Heart for $1.89 but she resisted. We decided she would use up what she had first since socks take longer than scarves. We'll go back and get the grey she wanted even if we must pay full price. They even had Wool Ease on sale for 2/$4 but I walked away with only my new needles I found on clearance. I even passed up some funny looking yarn that was on the 75% rack which would have been about $.75 ea. ;D Yeah Me!

Here are the new tools we got:
Container of plastic glitter needles ~ 1 set of ea ~ #10, 10 1/2, 11, 13,15, 17

Container of plastic hooks ~ 1 ea J, K, L, M, N, P

1 set (plastic) #17 ($1 @ W/M)

1 set (plastic) #8 ($.50 @ Joann's)

1 ea (plastic circular #10 ($.50 @ Joann's)

My oldest dd got a set of #50 (plastic) @ W/M for a $1 ~ they are huge.

2 sets (alum) doubled pointed #3 in red *my fav color (I will take the purple ones back since I don't need 6 sets of 3s ;D) I got both containers on at JoAnn's too.

Thats all for now, back to my knitting. See ya later.

Shopping Savings

Its been awhile since I shared my shopping savings and this one is late ~ last week. I took advantage of a great Quaker sale at Homeland, with the help of my oldest dd. We purchased the following for only $1.72. It was great and you can never have enough oatmeal, so I'll be on the look out for more "sweet deals" on the stuff. Hope your shopping adventures are successful.

Purchased:
4 ~ Quaker Oats, 18oz $1.60 - c $.50
2 ~ Quaker Instant Oatmeal $1.60 - c $.50
2 ~ Quaker Instant Oatmeal Crunch $1.60 - c $.75
2 ~ Quaker Breakfast Bars $1.60 - c $1.00
1 ~ Borden Shredded Cheese $1.97 - c $.70
1 ~ Borden Shredded Speciality $2.27 - c $.70
2 ~ Hormel Pepperoni $1.00 ea - c $.35

*each coupon was doubled plus by using my store card received an additional $3.00 off for purchasing Quaker products.

This was fun, I missed couponing and am glad that I am able to be actively involved in increasing my pantry, saving money and helping others. Its past time for me to start "Shop, Save and Share" like Ellie Kay tells us and enjoying the fruits of the labour.

Happy Shopping!