Triknitty Acres

Long time!!!

Boy oh boy have I ever been away for a long time from here.  Sooo much has happened in that time....Mother's day, my birthday, a new job, and a holiday to Kamloops. 
I have to tell such a funny story...for Mother's day I really wanted a Dogwood tree, so off we went to the nursery.  We pick out the one we want, pay for it and because Scott's truck was full, he said he would pick the tree up the next day, we also bought another tree too, but this story is about the poor little dogwood tree, oops did I say poor little, well just wait the story gets better. The next day after work, Scott brings home the trees, plunks them in the driveway propped against the house, comes in, says he's off to coach soccer and leaves.  An hour later Scott's friend Dave who lives with us comes in and says I better go outside.  I'm not into getting up as I'm busy reading a good book, so say such, and he says ya better come out here.  Well this is sounding bad and I'm thinking to myself Okay, what did she do now ("she" being Holly the lab pup).  So outside I go, only to find the poor little dogwood dragged down the driveway, with not one leaf or branch left on it!!!!!  I can't believe she's done such damage in so short a time period.  Oh yeah when we picked this tree out it was approx. 8ft. tall, now it's approx. 5ft.  I am thinking she thought Scott brought her home the best stick ever!!! lol  You have to laugh now but at the time I was so sad for this poor tree.  Scott thought the tree was a goner but I was not convinced.  So the story does conclude as the next weekend I got my eldest son to dig me a big hole for the dog, I mean for the tree and plant it up with lots of bone meal, compost and good new soil.  My eldest had bought me a clematis for my birthday so we planted that with it to give it a look of green!!!  Right now as we speak the tree has leaves so it is a survivor.  I did take a picture of it as a stick but would rather show a healthier plant so will take one soon and post it.   
Well I have done lots of knitting, I sent out my socks for Sockapalooza and ended up forgetting to take a picture before they left so I'm hoping my pal takes pics.  I sent her some of my hand made stitch markers, more sock yarn and chocolate made on an island near here.  I did not send the socks that I posted about before as I was not feeling the love for them.  I used the purple/pink yarn that I dyed and ended up doing my own pattern.  I really hope she likes them and that they fit.
I received my socks last week and think they are awesome.  So warm and comfy.  Love the colors and the Jaywalker pattern.  Here's a couple of pics:
Didn't Abby do a great job.  Her web site is http://www.craftyasaserpent.blogspot.com.  I still don't know how to link but with time or if someone could let me know...  Abby knit these even with a move from one state to another, pretty impressive!!

I have also started the MS3 in Jaggerspun Zephyr in the Elderberry colorway that I had in my stash.  I also am using beads.  I will post pics next time as I have to go make dinner.  I'll also talk about the project that I am test knitting for one of my favorite knitwear designers and also my new job.
Take care til then.

  

Sockapalooza sock and holders

I just received these sock needle holders today.  I purchased them from a seller on Etsy, www.lunastrixae.esty.com .  (I would put in the link but I don't know how to do that yet, any helpers out there?)  I really like using these holders for sock needles, so many times I have had to push the needles back into the bag.   I would really hate for one of my nice wooden needles to break.  Plus they can certainly hurt someone.

I started knitting a pair of socks last night for my secret Sockapalooza pal  with one of the yarns I dyed yesterday.  This yarn started life as a cream colored skein of Louet Gems Pearl.  I started the Friday Harbour socks from "Knitting on the Road" by Nancy Bush.  I am 'sailing' along so quickly! (pun intended)  I did have to restart as the cast on edge was far too tight, so I cast on with two needles which really helped.  I have a question though, would you like these, or are the stripes taking away from the pattern? I was not going for stripes when I was dyeing, I was hoping more for variegation.  I think I would wear them but would you?

Patience...

...was sure needed today!  Today was spent dyeing with a microwave and gaywool dyes.  Last time I dyed I used a pot on the stove.  Today's colours turned out to be much more intense than before. 
The really bright skeins made me think of macaws when I first saw it, but when I wound it into a ball it was much different looking. For that batch I used two balls of Scheepjes Invicta Extra (210m each) which is 75% New wool and 25% nylon.  Each ball was redone on a niddy-noddy, then dyed and placed in the microwave for 6 mins.  While the yarn was outside on the porch drying, it was getting kind of windy, so I thought 'this is great it will dry the yarn quicker'.  But no sooner than you can say 'black lab puppy' (Holly) she was able to acquire a stray skein that had blown off of the railing.  I did not get a picture but you can see below that the skein was a little tangled and I was unable to completely unravel the knot she made!!! AARGH!
 

The next batch was 2 skeins of Louet Gems Pearl 100% Merino Wool 185 yards/skein.  I was trying for greens and blues with a little of purple.  I don't mind it but was not quite what I had in mind.  It will grow on me I guess.

Then I used 2 balls (reskeined) of Lanett Superwash 100% Merino wool 195 metres/skein.  The colours are toned down pink, turquoise and purple.

What do you think??

I really should be knitting on my pals scarf, but I will do that tonight.  It was such a gorgeous day today, warm but with a nice wind.
Yesterday was also nice and I was able to get out in the garden to weed and prune a few things that I had not got to yet.  It makes me feel like I had very productive couple of days off.  I still have two more off, but have been called to see if I would work today and tomorrow.  It has been pretty bad at work lately,  not enough casuals to fill the sick calls so they are calling all the time.  I would go in but find it too hard to do 12 hours because of my RA and that is what they are calling for.  The temporary part time line that I am in is only 8 hour shifts which suits me just fine.

Found the pictures

Here is a picture of the yarn I spun and plyed. It is 70% Merino and 30% Silk.  When I first started spinning this I did not have a project in mind.  But one day just before I was about to go buy some special yarn for my scarf pal I took a second look at this and thought it was a great color for my pal plus it was  super soft for a scarf.

I started out with one pattern (below), but it turned out to be too long and just didn't cut it for me.  

So I ripped it out carefully and started another pattern.  So far so good! Picture to come when finished.  I need to start buying some goodies for my pal.  I'm on days off right now so will start today.  I need to go to town later on anyways as I am donating blood.  As a nurse I do give much blood to many needy patients, so am always on to people/family/friends to go donate.  So do someone a favour and go donate.  I love the slogan that the Canadian Blood Services use - "It's in you to give"  How fitting!
Also I forgot to mention that the yarn I used for the baby socks was some that I dyed last May when doing the Dye-O-Rama.  I used Louet Gems Pearl for the base yarn.  I really enjoyed learning how to dye yarn.  It's amazing the colours you can make with only three primary colours.  I bought Ashland Bays little starter which had yellow, blue and red only and made many colours.  Now that it is springtime I'm thinking about dyeing again.  I might even dye my sockapalooza pal's sock yarn once I know what colours she likes/dislikes.
 

Baby knits

These baby socks were knit for one of the girls at work who had a baby boy in February.  The baby shower was last Monday.  I was unable to go as I forgot and let Liam drive the car to school.  I also made a pair of the denim baby pants from last minute gifts and they turned out so cute.  They only took 2 days to make, so I see making a few more of these in the future for gifts! (I have lots of Den M Nit (? sp) by Elann)  Two more girls at work are also pregnant and two more have had babies! 

Here is a picture of the baby pants.

 

I also have a picture of Bella and Holly out on our front lawn. Also a couple of pictures of Cobble Hill Mtn. views.

I also joined Sockapalooza and my mystery sock pal left me my first comment. Yahoo and thank you so much!

Right now I am finishing up my scarf for the International Scarf exchange.  I can't find the pictures so I'll add them later.

hill climb

Just took the dogs up Cobble Hill Mtn. with a friend and her dogs.  We sure must look a sight with so many, her with 4 and me with 2.  Holly and Bella love being with the other dogs, sure helps Bella get over her dominance issues and helps Holly stay mellow as she gets so tired traipsing after the other 2 pups.  I wish I had some photos to put up.  I'll bring my camera next time.  The beautiful view at the top is such a treat when you get there.   
I checked the mail when I got home and yahoo, I got my tote from the ISE III exchange.  Lisa sent a few treats and a beautiful purse that I will take pictures of and put up on the blog.  Thank you very much Lisa!
Back to work tomorrow, sure have enjoyed the days off. 

It's a new day

Knitting goes slowly with the International Tote Exchange, I'm loving the pattern and yarn but my wrists are aching.  I was trying to post to the Tote blog but was unable.  Apparently other people had trouble posting and I received an email to that effect and I stupidly thought that I was not in that category, looks like I was wrong-o.  Waiting for an email to be re-invited back to the blog.
I hope that I will be able to be computer literate enough to have a blog myself, seems I don't quite know how to put my name of my blog up there at the top.  I'll keep on reading through this typepad and figure it out.