The weather outside is... FREEZING

Today was the last day of outdoor soccer... thank goodness considering it was only 37 degrees outside. And, silly me, with all the hats I've been making I go and forget to wear one. I decided I don't care what I look like, darn it, I'm going to wear a hat. Now I think I have an ear infection so a hat today would have been really nice. The wind put a chill in every part of my body, two hours later I'm still sitting here with my coat on. So, I just printed out a free pattern from Ravelry.com for a cute headband. Maybe that will look better on me than a hat... it will at least keep my ears warm. Winter is here... darn it!

A shopping we will go...

Today was a fun day. Our knitting group decided to go on a field trip to Fibers Etc. in Tacoma. I had never been there before and I had heard that they have yarn from floor to ceiling. Well... not only do they have yarn from floor to ceiling they have isle after isle and bin after bin of yarn and their button collection was AMAZING! I've never seen so many buttons in a yarn shop before. There definitely was something for everyone! It was so much fun seeing and feeling all the different yarns. My mind was rolling with all the projects I could make. Then what do I do? I pick out my usual favorite Merisoft by Punta Yarns instead of something new. I can't help myself, I just love this stuff. Also grabbed a couple of new needles and headed out the door. Even though this little shop has very odd hours I will definitely make a return trip.

On another note... tonight I didn't listen to my head telling me to "go to bed, your eyes are getting tired, put the needles down and just go to bed". I just had to keep on knitting and knitting and knitting until I took a break and realized that, crap, I was doing something wrong. I was so focused on finishing the hat I was test knitting for Lisa (www.lisaellisdesigns.com) that I didn't see that I had read the pattern wrong. Now I must pay the awful price that us knitters dread... rip, rip, rip! This is not going to be fun but I must bite the bullet and do it. I hate ripping out cables, I'm just hoping I don't end up having to rip back to the beginning. Wish me luck! I'm going to bed now...

Along came a spider...

I LOVE this hat! Granted, I hated all the purling but the end result is just fabulous. And, to top it off I actually blocked it and it now looks even better. This was really fun to make, the pattern can be found at http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kate-atherley-designs. I used Cascade 220 for the orange and Steinbach Wolle Echte Schafwolle for the brown on the trim (only because that's what I had laying around and the pattern didn't call for much). My daughter even wore it to school, it was a big hit! I don't think I will get around to making one for my son until next year though. Heck it's almost Halloween and I just don't have the time. Guess they will just have to share!

Going once, going twice... SOLD!

Our school had a big silent auction for a fundraiser this year and I donated 2 pairs of felted slippers. They both sold and here is the first pair. Made with Cascade 22o and fun fur, I love how the colors turned out... basic but pretty. The pattern is from FiberTrends, I've made tons of these and it is a great pattern. I did worry about getting the size right but luckily they fit perfect! Now onto the next pair.

Craft room, craft room, I love you...

My craft room/office is almost done... I'm so excited! I finally will be able to work comfortably in my room again and it's only been, yikes, 3 years! Now I just have to get my husband to finish the trim work. Hailey can't wait for me to get back in there and finish up some more scrapbooks. She loves looking at her books. I will also finally be able to get my yarn organized too. As you can see from the photos I started putting some of it on my shelves, I'll finally be able to see what I have. I also have more tucked away in the fabric baskets on the bookshelf. This is just too exciting... I love it and I really LOVE my purple walls too, it's so girly! I have to give a great BIG thank you to my sister for coming over last week and helping me decorate and put up some shelves. I'm not exactly handy with a screwdriver and hammer. I can never seem to get things straight. My room wouldn't look so darn pretty if it wasn't for her. She has so much more of a "decorator's" eye than me, she is amazing! THANK YOU SIS! Now, off to organize and put more stuff away!

Here comes the candy corn...

My charity knitting for this month is now complete. I made a total of 12 Halloween hats for the wee little babes of Madigan Army Hosptial. I got on a kick of making the candy corn hats because they were just so darn cute, which means I only finished 3 pumpkin hats. The candy corn hats were just fun and I loved the yarn I used even if it was a cheapy yarn. It's called Little Grins and is 60% cotton, I just love how it feels and it was pretty nice to knit with too. Now I just need to get them delivered today. Next up... Christmas hats.

Pattern: Candy Corn Hat found at http://www.skeinsandbeans.com or on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/candy-corn-hat.

Yarn: Little Grins was purchased at Artco Crafts in Tacoma, WA.

Pumpkin Hat: http://sonnentaler.blogspot.com/2008/09/krbis-baby-hat.html and

http://randomstitches.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/hello-world/ (various yarns used).

Wow it's early...

I can't remember the last time I was ever up at 4:00 AM (other than still being awake at that hour), guess that's what I get for falling asleep on the couch so early. At least I got a good 7 hours of sleep, that's unusual for me. It is now 5:13 AM and I'm trying to decide what knitting project I should get out (or should I jump in the shower before the kids get up? nahhh). I was looking at my projects and I sure think that I have knitters ADD... does one ever overcome this? I really wish that I could complete an entire sweater for myself before it becomes a "frogged" or "hibernating" project. I look at my friend Sue's projects and she has so many beautiful sweaters to wear this winter and me, well, I have a vest or two that I don't even know if I will wear. Do I sound a little jealous? Well I certainly am! But, I have no one to blame but myself. I think I will set a knitters New Year's resolution right now... finish at least one sweater next year! Maybe I can stick to a knitters resolution since I can't seem to stick to any other's I have made in the past.

I think I will go work on my sister's birthday present now. Halloween will be here before we know it. Won't be posting pictures until after Halloween. Maybe I can keep this on as a surprise since she was snooping through my projects and saw the other half of her gift last month. But, that's OK, at least I know she likes it!

Hopefully the sun will be shining again today! I'm enjoying the cooler weather but it's nice to still have some sun. Have a great day!