Technical Difficulties

Healthy Thursdays are put on a little bit of a pause. Nothing serious as far as we know, but I am having a few health issues that are making it harder to work out. I have a doctor's appointment next week and another one in 3 weeks and hopefully some things will get figured out and corrected. Until then, I am still trying to eat healthier and do some exercising, but not to the extent that I would like. When things get back to normal, Healthy Thursdays will return.

Lacey Thorns

Yarn: Rozetti – Always Dreams

Color: 116-04 (Variegated bright pink)

Content: 75% Acrylic / 25% Wool

Care: Machine wash and dry flat

Needles: US 2 / 2.75mm

Gauge: 7sts per inch

Pattern: Taking inspiration from the Mistletoes pattern.

Modifications: I am using the cast on numbers and the general numbers from this pattern since I like the fit so much, but I am using my modifications that I did for fit and am changing the main stitch pattern for this pair. This pair uses the stitch pattern called Lace Thorns from the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns.


Only a little done so far.


A really crappy close-up attempt.







So far enjoying them, partially as with the other pair, the thicker yarn works up quicker so you can easily see some progress. The lace obviously has more give than the solid pattern so I am expecting to not have to increase this one quite so much for the heel, but we shall see.

WTF Watermelon Socks

Sometimes, I love the way my mind reels with ideas. The problem tends to be that: one, there simply isn't enough time to do all of these ideas, so how do we sort out the ones worth trying and two, these ideas often complicate themselves when trying to become an actual project.

Now, the fact that there isn't enough time to do all of these ideas, isn't really something I can change. Only so much time in an hour, day, week, month, etc.

However, the making projects more complicated, I can. I tend to over-think and over-calculate the projects, trying to figure out how to make them just perfect. For example. I started a sock (pink and a gray-green) last week. I have started these socks over 4-5 times now. Which in the end is sometimes helpful, but can also be a discouraging part, because really I am making little visible progress, just fine tuning things.

So, are my socks the way I would prefer? No, not yet, but that will come in time. I am working on a pair of toe up socks. I am so VERY particular about the shaping of the toes. My toes do not fit comfortable in a "normal" toe. So I am striving to find my perfect toe, but not in the span of one pair of socks anymore, instead in the span of many pairs of socks, until then, I will accept the fact that with each sock, the toe improves and the toe feels better.












For this pair I have worked on the decreasing of the outer side of the toes and left the in-side to be worked on with the next sock. The outside of the toe is close, but it decreases a little too fast at the end and a plain row in-between some of the decrease rows will help the fit. This way, I am also feeling like I am making progress and perfecting the fit.

I am working on making my hobby once again enjoyable and not feel like a chore or task.

I am using some lovely KnitPicks Palette in the colors Wallaby and Fuchsia with size 1 US Circulars. After doing the potholders on 2 circs, I am definitely enjoying it. Now I just need to save up for a bunch of circulars. :) But anyway, enjoying this and the pink makes the gray-green look even more green. It's a little eye confusing, but that's because they are almost complimentary colors. I will definitely be ordering more KnitPicks. I am doing the first sock with a pink toe, heel and cuff, then the second sock with have a gray-green toe, heel, and cuff.

Sunday Inspirations

You’re putting me on socks, is a nice and simple pattern for worsted weight.


Recipes I’d like to try:



This Peanut Chicken with Broccoli sounds interesting and delicious. I hope to try it soon, just to see how I like it.

Mistletoe KAL

Welcome to what is probably going to be the Year of Socks. I just feel very into the socks right now.

Yarn: Rozetti : Always Dreams

Color: 116-10 (It’s like variegated Olive Green)

Content: 75% Acrylic / 25% Wool

Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat

Needles: US 2 / 2.75mm

Gauge: 7sts per inch

Pattern: Mistletoes

Modifications: Started the gusset about an inch earlier than suggested and increased to 52 stitches on needle 2 instead. I did the turn of the heel how the pattern said, which I ended up with 60 stitches on needle 2. I worked the honeycomb heel until I had 28 stitches left on needle 2. This has worked wonderfully for fit. Besides more room for my ankle/heel, it also makes for a longer heel flap, which I prefer. I only did one repeat of the pattern for the cuff. I also did 8 rows of ribbing instead of 4. For the bind-off I did it in ribbing with a yarn-over after every 2.

This was a paid KAL ran by the designer Mindy Vasil in her Ravelry Group , Minknit Designs. I am a fan of her patterns.

Both socks together laying flat. This is fairly accurate to the color.


One sock.


The other sock.


A close-up of the heel, the patterning does not work well, due to the light and dark variegation of the yarn I used, but the heel itself is super comfy.


My gusset.


The Mistletoe stitch.


My ribbing.


The sock on, still wearing them as I type this.


Sock on from a side view. You can see it fits very well.


You can see a little more of the definition of the heel when it is on, but not by much.




Love how these socks turned out. Yes I did make modifications, but I have unique feet so it's going to happen. I love the basic construction of this toe up sock so much that I am using it as a base for another pair of socks I started today. Will post about them later in the week. I would most definitely recommend this pattern! It is a fair price and a well written pattern.

Healthy What Day?

Yes, no real Healthy Thursday this week either. I know I am huge slacker. Not much exercising this week.

Also, I completely forgot to ad the link to George's Ravelry Pattern yesterday, sorry about that!

Meet George

George thinks the life of miniature is pretty awesome so far, he gets to hang out with me at work and find out what the wonderful world of mortgages are all about at a bank.

Although he is not sure what to think about the fact that there is a famous monkey also named George. He's not quite comfortable with the fact that when people hear his name they might think of the monkey first. So he's considering a name change, but he's unsure as of now.

Yarn: Patons Beehive Scotch
Color: Beige (the darker brown is the same yarn, but dyed with Wilton's Icing Dye)
Content: 100% wool
Care: hand wash and air-dry
Needles: US 000
































Overall, George was fun and interesting to make. I love patterns that pick up stitches off of other pieces, instead of being sewn together. I just trust them much more with small children. I will be making a larger size of George for my nephew Garren with some worsted weight yarn.

Luckily for both me and the next George larger yarn and needles will be a blessing. Because trust me, little George is glad that he couldn't actually hear the things I muttered while trying to knit his little ears. They are cute and very much worth it when all is said and done, but during. . . lets just say that I seriously considered making him an ear-less Giraffe.

With the second one, I will be making a modification or two to the pattern, but we will talk about that when I get more into making him.

Mistletoe KAL

Yarn: Rozetti : Always Dreams
Color: 116-10 (It’s like variegated Olive Green)
Content: 75% Acrylic / 25% Wool
Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat
Needles: US 2 / 2.75mm
Gauge: 7sts per inch
Pattern: Mistletoes
Modifications: Had to make the heel larger. Started gusset 1" earlier, increasing by 32 instead of 20. Only decreased heel down to 28 for 48 total stitches, instead of 20 and 40.

This is a paid KAL ran by the designer Mindy Vasil in her Ravelry Group , Minknit Designs. I am a fan of her patterns and it was only a $1.50 for the pattern.


These are not great pictures due to bad indoor lighting. It snowed again today and it's overcast outside, so not good outdoor shots.



A much better fit in the heel/ankle area.






The honecomb heel is not very obvious in this yarn, due to it's already light and dark variegation.




Still enjoying this sock pattern. May make another pair in a different color! But first the last clue is out and I need to finish the cuffs!

Sunday Inspirations

This Tatted Fan is beautiful! You can get the free PDF on the side of Linda’s blog under Free Patterns.


I cannot wait for Sewn Toy Tales to be available. That caterpillar alone with be worth it!


Recipes I’d like to try:


I love the idea of having Lasagna Rolls. I am thinking with some yummy spinach and sausage!

The long and short of it . . .

So, yes, I pretty much disappeared again this week. I have some lingering congestion, but otherwise the cold is all gone. My only defense is . . . this week overall mostly just sucked. I had a crappy work week which unfortunately affected too many things outside of work too. Slept poorly, in some cranky moods. The feeling of being ignored or placated is incredibly annoying to me. Plus there are just some other things I am trying to work through mentally/emotionally. My husband has been wonderful this week, he should probably get some sort of medal! :)

Any who, I am trying to work through my funk and my blogging funk. My blogging has been decreasing in both quantity and quality and honestly, I know some of the reasons for this. Which I am trying to deal with and work past. In may include in the future a small blog-vacation, just to step away from things and figure out if this is truly something I would miss if I stopped doing it.

Now for some good news:








Here is my beautiful niece, Justice, with her dog, Wookie. Due to trying to move, my sister and her family aren't able to keep Wookie anymore, so Wookie gets to come live with me and the husband. Don't you just love his cute little smile?

Isn't he just beyond adorable?!?! I have to admit, having a pet again will be such a wonderful thing. I love animals and these last 8 years I haven't had one and life just isn't as good without a pet. Granted the first 4 years I lived in New York, our upstairs landlords had two dogs, which loved attention, so it wasn't as big of a change. But here in Buffalo, I have nothing like that. I do admit that it will be quite a change for Wookie, his current home has 2 kids and some kitties, so there is always something going on in the house. Where as our house will be much quieter, so I hope he accepts the change well. I have to admit, I will be spoiling him rotten!

I will be picking him up when I go out to see my family in May and I am super excited.

Sunday Inspirations

Vitaminspritze - so love her designs!

This Baby Bug Hat by Samster Mommy is adorable!

Love these little Potholders by House On Hill Road.

Sharon has up a lovely link to an acrylic demo she found on You Tube.

Love these Pillows! Although I am a huge fan of cathedral window blocks.

Carin from Round the Twist link to the Bath Puff she is making. Love the pattern.

Lovely little girl skirt tutorial!



Recipes I’d like to try:


Pioneer Woman's Beef with Peppers looks delicious!

As a fan of Indian food, this Gluten Free Chicken Tikka Masala sounds super good!

I am a huge fan of French Onion Soup, I know it's not so good for you, but super yummy!

Mistletoe KAL

Yarn: Rozetti : Always Dreams
Color: 116-10 (It’s like variegated Olive Green)
Content: 75% Acrylic / 25% Wool
Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat
Needles: US 2 / 2.75mm
Gauge: 7sts per inch
Pattern: Mistletoes
Modifications: None so far. Thought I would have to modify the stitch count, since I have wider feet, but surprising the sock fits my foot. Very happy.

This is a paid KAL ran by the designer Mindy Vasil in her Ravelry Group , Minknit Designs. I am a fan of her patterns and it was only a $1.50 for the pattern.







Got the clue for the heel yesterday so I will have update pictures to show in a couple days!

Vera's Mirabel Elise

No Food Friday today, but there will be one next week. To smooth things over, I do have knitting however.


Yarn: King Tut
Color: Not sure anymore what the names of the colors are, but one is a Light Blue and the other is Yellow.
Content: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Care: Machine wash cool, lay flat to dry.

Yarn: Cotton Ease
Color: Snow
Content: 50% Cotton and 50% Acrylic
Care: Machine wash and dry.

Needles: US 6/ 4mm
Gauge: 5sts / 1"

Pattern: Mirabel Elise
Size: 24 months


Please ignore the broom, I didn't notice it until editing. Weird how one's mind works like that.


I love how it turned out. I changed colors on anything other than regular stockinette, did yellow where the increases happened around the waist, and did color for the bind-off row.


Love how it turned out!





Linen and increase colors.


Half linen stitch and bind-off row.


I thought for sure I was going to have to buy some more of the white! Good thing I used the other colors when I did!




This was an enjoyable test-knit for numerous reasons. Pattern was pretty well written to start with. The dress turned out uber cute! Plus it was nice to knit with some larger needles, thicker yarn, and just do a lot of stockinette. I know there are naysayers for the stockinette, but some good stockinette is always welcome. Stockinette also make good bus knitting, about 1/4 was knit on the bus.

I would easily make this again and am thinking about making little Ellie one. We shall see.

Healthy? Thursday

No weigh in or such. I am finally feeling better. Not 100% but getting there. Didn't exercise at all this week. Tried to eat decent. There definitely will be some exercising this coming week though and some healthy eating!

Hope you all had a wonderfully healthy week!

Excuses and the Gracious Tam

So excuses first. Sorry for pretty much disappearing from the blog, haven't been feeling very up to blogging with the cold. Sunday I thought I was definitely on the road to recovery, woke up Monday with Viral Pink Eye, which unlike the Bacteria version, there is nothing I can take for it. It just means my virus has traveled up to my eyes. I still thought that other than this set-back things were getting better . . . spent a lot of last night coughing and vomiting. Not so pretty. Same thing this morning. Except this morning, I also had no voice. Had to call into work. Pink eye seems to be getting worse, not better, but at least I am not vomiting anymore. Not sure if I had one heck of a bad cold or if I caught another one while I was recovering from the first one. Either way . . . cannot wait for this to be all done with.


Onto the information you all really came for, the knitting!

Yarn: Schoeller+Stahl Big
Color: 7820 (Looks natural)
Content: 100% Wool, superwash
Care: machine wash
Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm
Pattern: Gracious Tam.
Modifications: I only did 2.5 repeats of the body because I wanted one with a little less slouch and more importantly, I would have run out of yarn.

I am a fan of Mindy Vasil’s patterns. This was a free pattern if you did the KAL in March with her. Love the hat and will be making some more in other colors!

These first few are after knitting, but before blocking.














Here it is blocking on a plate.


This one is not color accurate, but shows the detail better.


After blocking!


This is a bit of a blooper, but that is what I get for having the husband take my pictures instead of setting up the tripod!







Overall, loving this hat. Definitely not a winter hat, but is a nice fall/spring type hat. Remember this dyeing experience? Well, I have decided that these yarns will become some hats. A couple of them will be this hat.