~ [Shadkitty Knitty] ~

Oct 28, 2010

Clever Post Title

Does anyone still read these?

Well, in case you do, I have been trying to keep myself busy. I taught my daughter to

crochet (she wanted to learn to knit, but didn't have the patience really) and crochet is a little simpler to teach. She was so excited, and she told me "Tomorrow I'm going to tell all of my friends I learned how to crochet!". It was really cute. However, she's still not too adept at it yet. When she's crocheting I have to stay right next to her to help her. It's kind of tiresome after awhile.

After finishing the trigger finger gloves for Beau (this is what I've decided to call the new boyfriend, til something better comes along anyways) I finished another pair of those handspun mitts. The merino top was from FatCat Knits and it was soooo gorgeous and fluffy-softness. Then I finished my purple Struan. It came out perfectly! I got a few compliments on it, even from non-knitters. When I finished the blue one for my friend (which was done without a brim) Mouse told me that it just wasn't my color. The purple definitely suits me better.

I floundered for a few days, played games on my mom's iTouch and didn't really knit much. Then, after mention aloud to my mother that I had 12 UFOs (only 4 of which were current WIPs)...I decided it was about time I quit stalling and finished up some of those projects. So I looked into my UFO bag and pulled out my Somewhat Cowl. Do you guys remember this? It's been TWO YEARS since I've done anything with it. Though there are a few UFOs that have been lingering longer than that, I figured finishing this one would boost my spirits. Many times, I get discouraged when something has to be started over from (practically) scratch. So, if I could turn this one around, maybe all of my projects have hope! All that was left was the sleeves and collar anyways. It's all done now, except the blocking. Still haven't made up my mind whether I love it or hate it though. What do you guys think?

The last time I knit this, it seemed like the collar stretched on forever. It's just six inches? Why will it never be done?! Today, I was at about 5 inches and holding for hours. To distract myself from the never ending ribbing, I decided to

pull out The Lady. The kids had broken the drive band, which my dad fixed and it was time to test it out. I pulled out some BFL that I had purchased forever ago, prepped it and it looked good enough to eat! The join worked beautifully and I spun up one of the strips. Then...nature called. When I came back to the wheel That Baby was spinning it and had wrapped the drive band all around bearings. That ended that endeavor. The drive band is broken in two places. *sigh* We just can't have nice things! :) Tomorrow I am going to hang out with Mouse, and hopefully she has a fix for me. Otherwise it's just six dollars to get a new one. This gives me time to figure out how I want to ply it. Should I do two-ply or Navajo ply? Hmmmm

Labels: accidents, decisions, fiber, fingerless gloves, finished object, hat, knitting, mittens/gloves, mouse, Nolan, Somewhat Cowl, spinning, Struan, sweater

22:44 | |

Oct 20, 2007

One and Only (picture heavy)

So...I haven't been very active in the blogging world lately. I love to post, but haven't really felt like it. Instead of actually reading posts, I skim them. It's not that I don't love you all. Just hitting a plateau I think. Mr. Shad has been gone for about 5 weeks (I am rounding here, and guessing, I actually haven't been keeping track), we still haven't seen any of that "extra income", and there was an error in budgeting that has left us...well more than a little tight. Again. *sigh* Next month will be better. Man am I tired of saying that.

Lots has happened in the last four days, yeah, I know. Four days? What can happen in four days, you ask. Let me 'splain...no, there is too much, let me sum up. (If you get that I love you) I crocheted a ton of those little mice and plan to sell them at a craft fair, Kyran burned his hand (minor burn!), I finally made the "Bird" shirt for Nolan, I frogged the ill-fitting Amazonas sock, got some roving in, finished the hat for my brother, and cast-on for the Tree Jacket. Whew. Now, if you can, and you go to my Ravelry, you'll notice that I have *gasp!* only one WIP. Yep, Tree Jacket is the only thing on the needles. How? Well, I hibernated the Skating Sweater, just looking at it made me sweat (hehe, sweat, sweater). Frogged the Amazonas sock, so that's not even a UFO, it's gone. My brother's hat is done...so that's an FO now. Seriously, I have like five UFOs, things that are hibernating until the weather cools down a bit, or the holidays are over.

Now I am just going to bombard you with pictures. Then we will go into details. I didn't feel like trying to put the pictures all in order and stuff this time. lol

Right, that is done. You can see from the pictures that the decision to frog (officially) the Amazonas sock was one of the heart. lol I used the LOVEPAPER given to me by my PRGE pal Dawn! It came in really handy. I had been very back and forth about it, in the end, I knew that the sock had to come out, but it was so beautiful!! It's okay, I intend to come back to it after the holidays, and knit the right size this time, along with a few other minor tweaks to make the pattern better suit my foot and desires. Motivation to finish the hat was the Tree Jacket, I needed the size 8 needles for swatching. lol

Kyran's hand. Ah, so here is the story:
Imagine if you will, you are cooking dinner, and suddenly the kitchen is full of children!! You know that no amount of urging and pushing out the door will get them to go, so you try to balance cooking and keeping kids out of trouble. Heather is doing her homework on the counter to my right. Kyran is standing by my left leg, trying to trip me I think. Nolan is getting into cabinets and pulling out a number of tupperware containers. After putting back the containers, and removing the pot from the burner, Heather needs me. I turn to look at her and hear a scream. No. A squeal, really, of pain. Thinking it was Nolan, I turned to the cabinet...nope crawling around happily. If not a little confused. Then I realized it had been Ky, he must have put his hand on the stove where the pot had just been. "Buhn-ed," he said, "muh han' IS buhned!" We ran it under cold water and bandaged him. He was smart enough to pull his hand back quickly I think, it was really not bad at ALL.

Labels: accidents, batt, busy, fiber, kids, painting, socks, sweater, Tree Jacket, updating

17:27 | |

May 14, 2007

Moms Rock!

It is true. Everyone should know this, most of you are moms (and you all have moms).

My husband must really appreciate me. I got a lot of goodies this year. Some of it I bought myself though. Well, my MIL complimented me on my clean house when she got in on Friday, that was more than enough to set the weekend off right. Mr. Shad gave me (I'm listing it all, because he gave me these things scattered throughout the weekend) a kitchen scale, a belt (my old one was dead), a sticker, flowers, a t-shirt, Bicenntenial Man, Jack, and What Dreams May Come. I gave (to myself), 2 and a half pounds of Alpaca, a ball winder, and finished my first Twisted Flowers sock. My MIL and father cooked breakfast Saturday morning. It was a fantastic weekend folks.

The Twisted Flowers sock may end up twinless. I'm debating. The Koigu

wasn't making me happy, it's just too much money for the quality. Also, I messed up. I made the foot a bit short because I was getting impatient. So now part of the heel flap comes under my heel. It might not be a big deal really. Just not sure how I feel about it. The huge sweater also got a couple inches in. When I had the sock finished, and had spun everything I'd carded over the weekend...I realized there wasn't much else for me to knit. Today I started and attempt at this. Except...it'll look totally different because I'm trying it in some of my handspun. Hopefully I have enough. *sigh*

Hum, what else? My dad took lots of pics, forgot his wallet, and is still impressed with the fact that you can make "string" out of anything. lol Made cookies today. Plan on making peanut-butter pie for a potluck on Thursday. OH! And thank you to Carissa! She sent me a cute little sheepy card to thank me for some things and wish me a happy Mother's Day. Mr. Shad also bought himself a Wii. *rolls eyes*

Labels: alpaca, ball winder, fiber, gifts, gratitude, Mother's Day, socks, Twisted Flower

15:51 | |

May 3, 2007

Punk Sock Star

I wish I had had a camera today! I felt on top of the world! Sunne is right, a good haircut and stylist will make you feel like a rock start. And I was pimping out my newly completed Thelonious socks with some rolled up jeans and 1" heels. Today I decided to go out with a friend of mine (who I had thought was not my friend anymore, long story) anyways, she wanted to get her hair done. When we got to the salon, I decided it was worth the extra $20 to look the way I wanted. This is seriously better. Another friend will be giving it some color soon, whenever she is not working. Which, actually, is rare. Do you love my Cry-Baby shirt, or what?

So, in fiber/knitting related news, Etsy is horrible and addictive, I love it. :D Yesterday I got in a gift for someone. Today

my fiber came in. *drool* Okay, so I have been stalking Maine Woods etsy shop for ages. I just love the cute little pictures of the rolled up bats (they are bats in that form right?), tied up with brown raffia. Finally, I ordered one. I just couldn't take it any longer. When it came in, and was larger than I had expected, I was SO excited! Somehow the pictures are misleading, they look much smaller. The second package contained my FatCatKnits fiber. It is beautiful. My only problem is that she didn't give the color a name. However, with colors that beautiful, who cares? Knitting has been slow, I just haven't been feeling it (okay, more accurately I haven't been feeling the projects I'm currently knitting). Got a few inches on the huge sweater done. And finally a pic. Just for laughs, I put it on Heather. It's cuter that way.

Hm...what else? My calves ache from the heels, my arms ache from carrying Nolan, my abs ache from doing some crunches last night, and my head aches from being here with the crazies alone yesterday. I couldn't help myself, Flint Knits has inspired me to knit some yellow socks, so I bought some CTH in Yellow from The Loopy Ewe. And then, some Deep Cove from the Yarn Pirate's new shop. Stopped by Bombs Away to see if Nik has finished my design. He hasn't. Slacker. :D The house is clean. Babies need baths and naps (can anyone say early bedtime?). Mouse invited me to join Ravelry! Seriously, everyone has been talking about it and I am so excited. Yet, scared at the same time that it will eat up the small amount of time I allow myself for doing my actual crafts. Oh well, I'll enjoy it! Now I am off to feed, bathe, and tuck in my babes. Then it is off to cavort on Ravelry. *grins*

Labels: fiber, hair, happiness, life, Loopy Ewe, purchases, rambling, Ravelry, sweater

15:39 | |

Kitty's Story

First, I must confess my name isn't Kitty, or anything even close. It just comes from an affinity for cats. Second, I love to craft, create, and imagine. I can draw a bit, knit a lot, and sew just enough to get by. My world revolves around the loves of my life; my three children. Anything more you want to know about me is on Ravelry or check me out on FB!

Crystal Shadrick

Create Your Badge

*Disclaimer!* I'm totally crazy. The patterns I offer are often variations of other patterns, things I have reverse engineered. I don't claim to be wonderful and smart and an all-knowing designer. So enjoy them!.

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