I Let Go

When I dyed yarn the other day, I let my hair down on the last skein. I threw caution to the wind and put down all math, calculations, and schematics. Let me tell you ... it was so hot in that garage and I was hungry and tired. I was looking at that last skein of yarn with a bad attitude. So I just started dyeing it. Interestingly, I liked it the best.

I was anxious to see what it would look like knitted. Yesterday, I took time away from making that baby shower gift (by the way, the shower is tomorrow, and I'm still not done) and knitted up a swatch in the round to get a feel for what the sock would look like.

It's a sad situation. When I dyed it, I kept thinking no pooling, no pooling, no pooling. It doesn't pool either. It kind of looks as if there are leopard spots in sporatic places on the sock. NOT CUTE! So, It will have to go back into the dyepot. I may just immerse the whole thing in brown.

I won't get to make the other two into hanks until some time next week. I think the dye jobs on those are better. One of them may need to be re-painted. I tried to make it semi-solid. It is, but some spots may be lighter than what I want. Have a good weekend.

Look At What Came Back

Yesterday, I received the package in the mail containing my favorite little outfit. As, it turns out, I did not leave a part of the waistband open. For some reason, I left the yarn uncut after I wove in the end. This mistake would have upset me since I had to pay to ship it back to her, as well as reimburse her for shipping it to me, but things really do happen for a reason.

I had been so concerned for the buyer because I was not hearing from her and because of that I had been praying for her. When I did finally hear from her, it was with bad news. She has suffered a traumatic medical event and I am grateful that she has come through it. I will not tell what happened, but will you please pray for her and her family.

I smiled as I opened the package, it was like seeing an old friend. I have now completed the outfit by adding the booties. It would be great to see the baby in it.

Re-skeining yarn is still on the to-do list. I should get it done today and post tomorrow. I know...I said that yesterday. ;). Enjoy your day.

DIY Niddy Noddy

The dye job was fun yesterday. I like the colors and I am anxious to see how the schematics will look in the knitted fabric. Today, while pondering over how to change my dyed hanks into re-skeined hanks, it occured to me that I have yet another item to purchase. So, I went onto the handy-dandy internet and found out how to make one myself. This was amazingly easy.
I found the "how-to" here and made a trip to Home Depot where they were nice enough to cut the pieces for me. I spent $1.56 on the pipe and $.33 cents on each of the t-shaped pieces. What a deal! I have enough pipe left to make another 18" noddy and about a 12" noddy.
I hope to show you the re-skeined hanks tomorrow. I have a baby shower this weekend and I will be working on a gift for that. My poor neglected Etsy store. I will have to switch priorities next week for sure. Have a good day.

I've Dyed and I'm Still Here To Tell About It

I have been a busy little bee today. I got my Supersock yarn base in the mail yesterday and got out my dye goods this morning. It's been said that I am a researcher. The same is true when it comes to dyeing yarn. If you are going to do something, don't you just want to do it right? So, I looked to the experts. I read books, I looked on-line, I studied how other yarn in my stash was dyed and then I was off.

I have been collecting these bottles for about a year. People have been saving them for me. They work great for your dye stock because they hold heat well during the initial mixing of dye and hot water.

My dye studio is in my garage. (studio, seriously?) I have an air hockey table on which to dye (it's actually my son's) , a big ol' microwave that I got from my sister, about 7 colors of dye, and a whole lot of other stuff that I've invested in. I dyed three skeins of yarn today and I will show it to you when it's dried and reskeined.

I'm going to get back to knitting. Have a wonderful day!

Socks in the City

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy. The family sang in Wichita and the children sang with them for the first time . There was not many dry eyes among the people who knew my husband and his siblings when they were children.

I purchased this book a couple of weeks ago. I like quite a few of the patterns. I think I will make the Polka Dot socks and the Half 'N Half socks. My first priority is to get some things ready for Etsy. I have lots of baby pants that don't have matching bodysuits. I'm off to get some work done. Have a Happy Monday!

I Really Have Been Knitting

Remember the carnival ride that I wrote of the other day? Well, it has begun to slow down. But "they" are still not letting me off. School started yesterday. Yip! Yip! I think that now I will be much more productive. Maybe I will even get back to daily (or at least, most days) posting to this blog.

These baby pants are made to fit 12 - 18 months. They seem huge to me because I've only ever made 0 - 3 months. I will be working on patterns for 6 and 9 months as well. I have been ordering new yarn colors and once it comes in, the knitting will begin for the Christmas pants. I'm already starting to think as far as Easter. Knitting is so slow that I probably should have thought about Easter of 2010 as far back as Easter of 2009. I'm going to get a feel for this after a while.

There are a couple of local stores that I'm considering taking merchandise into, as well as a couple of hospitals. Lots in the works here at His Glory Hand Knits HQ!

My family is headed to Wichita. Please pray for our safe journey. Have a great weekend.

One Sock, Two Blockers

It's quite liberating to knit socks without a pattern. These socks are probably my eighth pair to knit and I can just now say that I completely understand the anatomy of a sock. Previously, I was a slave to some pattern. I even had to use a pattern after the leg portion of the purple socks, although I consider them to have been knit in my own pattern.

My Knit Picks order came and I am proud to be the owner of a pair of sock blockers. Normally, when I take on a new hobby, I will purchase everything needed. With knitting, it's been different because I have learned to make things in levels. When I first started, I remember thinking I will NEVER make a sweater, but I have made three. With each new project comes the need for new tools and accessories. It is good that I have made my passion my occupation. It is also good that I have a very supportive husband who encourages me to stay home and pursue it.

I actually have been working on baby pants, but with many distractions. I hope to post pictures tomorrow. Due to the new CPSIA laws, I won't embellish the bodysuits with iron-on transfer any longer, so I'm going to see how it will be to embroider. That will certainly be more time consuming. There is so much time already being taken with the knitting. It will be quicker though, I think, than knitting sweaters. I could continue with the iron-on transfers, but would have to pay for testing. That is not feasible for me at this time. Maybe later.

Back to the socks. I will turn the heel on the other sock and have a completed pair soon. There is only about weeks left to work on them. Have a good day everyone.

Things and Stuff

Well, I'll tell you what. I've been so unbelievably busy. Whatever knitting I was going to post pictures of is not even post ready. Lots of non-knitting, non-crafting busy-ness. But, check this out, MY SWIFT CAME! I am super-d-duper excited.

More posting and pictures to come on Monday. (I hope). My son's first year of High School football season is underway and I feel like I've gotten on a carnival ride and they won't let me off. Have a great weekend. I mean it!

Yarn Swift

If ever I need to purchase something that is new to me or that may be somewhat expensive, you can gaurantee that I am going to research, research, and research. I have wanted a yarn swift for some time now and I went into the Ravelry forums to see what everyone is saying about the swift that they have chosen.

Many have made their own and there is a free pattern on Ravelry to do so. Many have used tinker toys and also made their own. Some have had their spouses to make them. Some have gotten theirs from Knit Picks, who has one right now on sale for only $50.00. I saw an Ebay store selling one for $40.00. The cost of the swifts were good, but I always consider shipping and add that the the final cost to determine if I've made a good deal.

Finally, I read about this swift made by an Etsy seller. I have a heart towards Etsians as I am one myself. Don't get me wrong, I didn't just commit to buy. I researched what people had said about this swift and after reading many good things, I bought it. The swift was only $19.95 and shipping was $11.00, so I got it for a total of $30.95. YAY! I feel like a grown-up knitter now. All I need is a yarn ball winder and a scale.

I will endeavor to post pictures tomorrow of something. I am working on a few things right now. Have a blessed day!

Free Gift

First of all, did you see that my post from August 6 does not have spaces between the paragraphs? I am blogger challenged. When I post with pictures, I don't put spaces between the paragraphs because somehow they automatically appear. The more pictures that I upload the more spaces there will be. So, I've gotten into a habit of not putting spaces and look at what happened. Goodness gracious.

Moving along. Look at these precious little booties. I was supposed to post pictures yesterday but, we shopped till we 'bout dropped yesterday. What great fun it was!

I told the buyer of this little set that I would send a free gift. She hasn't returned the capri pants to me yet, but, I will send them back to her with her gift. If she doesn't read this blog, she will be surprised because I never said what it would be.

Well, it's lunch time. Have a wonderful weekend!

CPSIA

August 14 is quickly approaching and I have read, and researched, and re-read. I used to work at the Medicare office which prepared me for dealing with the government's red tape. If you need this info, here is the link.

Now, I am beginning to see the need for my business degree. A new inventory system is being birthed, a new way to log completed items and sales, and of course all of the materials involved are going get some very detailed logging. Microsoft Excel is about to become my buddy. I've had a conversation with the people who will make my new CPSIA tracking clothing labels and I will have them soon.

Back in February, the new laws were making things look pretty glum for the small business, particulary at-home crafters. I praise God that most the materials that I use are exempt from testing. The elastic is encassed and so I'm okay on that too. The only thing that I haven't gotten clarity on is the iron-transfer. It seems to be some sort of plastic. I have some professional grade paper, but you have to use a professional heat press and that, I don't have yet.

In other news, we are approaching tax free weekend in OKC and the inhabitants over here at His Glory Hand Knits Headquarters are pretty dern excited. Actually, I'm the only one over the top excited. The kids are just happy to get new things.

I will post tomorrow with pics of some precious little booties. Have a great Day!

One Day, Some Day

Well, school is soon to start and we are very busy shopping for school clothes and supplies. Not to mention, completing all of the paperwork that is flowing in from all three of the younger kids schools. I have a child in every school of learning...one in college, one in high school, one in junior high, and one in elementary.

I have this quilt top that has been sitting folded in my dresser for 5 years now. I told the girls that I will get back to it one day. You know how you stand with your hand stretched salute style over your eyes and squint so that you can see just as far as the eye can see? Well, that is how hard I am looking into the future for the day of finishing this quilt to come. I can't see it. It's way out there. It could be that my grandchild will be a recipient of it. Another thing is, I want to change out all of the bedding and decor in their room. I like a set that I saw at Target yesterday that is pink and brown. I can't even pretend that this will match.

I embroidered some fun things on it that little girls like



Lazy Daisies are fun

My twelve year old really likes the jeans

There is also a matching crocheted throw. Also. not. finished. It's all hovering over me. :)

The fabric for this pillow is where I got the inspiration for the quilt. I also made a valance and chair cover. We have a really nice home decor fabric store here where I purchased the fabric at a discount because it was discontinued.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

OOOPS!

The knitting of this set goes back to the first day of my posting to this blog. It has now sold. I will miss it. I used to take it out and admire and stroke it. My favorite, I'd have to say. I really hope that the mom and baby enjoy it.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me. I was going in many different directions. As a result of that, I did not do the normal final perusal of the pants. You know how it is in the horror movie when the person is sitting and looking so sirene and then the realization that the enemy is still near hits? That is what happened to me yesterday. I ran to the post office and got the order shipped. My two summer charges were gone home. My own kids had settled down for the evening. It was nice and peaceful and BAM about 3 hours later the thought struck -- YOU DID NOT CLOSE THE WAISTBAND! Much to my dismay. I have sent an e-mail to the buyer and begged a thousand forgivenesses. She will have to return them to me (At my expense, of course).

My husband advised that I type out a checklist. I did. Sigh.....Sniff.