WIP Wednesday and an Update

Holy smokes!  Its been a month since I posted!!  My life has been pretty hectic.

This guy has completely come out of his shell and is absolutely adorable:

Toby does the head tilt when you whistle at him.

He likes to scatter his toys all across the floor and grab towels as well.

He has been added to my wall at work.

His carrot is his favorite toy.

He loves to just chill outside.  He'll just sit there and look around.

He loves to visit his brother George at my parents house.

He was neutered last week and this was the only position he felt comfortable on day one.  The cone head was driving us all nuts because he couldn't play or eat or do anything with it on.  If it took it off he tried to lick his stitches.  My parents neighbor had a suggestion and the vet said it was perfect.

We put him in a baby's onesy.  He fits in about a 3-6 mo size.  We put it on him backwards so that the front is on his back.  That way it snaps right around his tail.  He can run around and play, eat and drink, and no licking of the stitches!!!  It works so well and he doesn't mind having it on.  The stitch comes out on Sunday and then he won't have to wear it.

Toby has now taken over my wall at work.

Toby spent the weekend with my parents because I was on a trip.  My dad kept teasing my that I wasn't getting my dog back because Toby was snuggling with him.

 Too many dog pictures?  Get on with the WIP pictures? Will do.

So what have I been working on this past month.

First up, Drops Blankets:

I have 4 more squares done.  That's it, just 4 more.  Here's the other 10 I showed you before:

Next project is my Little Square Baby Girl Blanket:

 That's right, one more square.

So you are probably wondering, what have you been working on?

Next project is my Linen Stitch Scarf:

One row of this scarf takes me about an hour.  I've been working on this a lot, but it is slow going.

Next project that I've been working on, but not as much as my Linen Stitch is my Diamond Sock:

I don't work on this too often because I have to concentrate to not mess up the pattern.  I had to set it down one day when Dave started to talk to me.

Nest and final project is my Infinity Scarf.  I have been spending a lot of time on this one:

I am in the middle of my 3rd skein of yarn and I am going to use 5.

Now back on August 2nd, I showed you a blanket I started for my dad.

I've been having second thoughts about the pattern.  I didn't like how loose it looked and felt.  I even went down two hook sizes and the very tall stitches, the trebles, just seemed like a toe could push through.  That is a requirement from my dad by the way, no holes that toes could push through.  So, I started an Oblong Wooleater.

Check out the pattern pages and help me out Wavy Blanky and Oblong Wool Eater, which would you choose?

Since I'm working on so many projects I've just linked up the names of the projects with my ravelry pages if you want to know any details.

I've linked up with Tami's Amis, Small Things, and Frontier Dreams.

Sorry this was so long.  I felt like I had to catch you up on everything......okay maybe I was just gusing about my puppy with a ton a pictures.

Sam :-)

FO Friday - Dave's Socks

So Dave's socks have been finished for a while, but I wanted to get better pictures.  Life keeps getting in the way so here they are.

Details:
Pattern: Simple Sock in three sizes
Yarn:  Aslan Trends Santa Fe in Alaska Blues
Needles:  US 2 - 2.75 mm circulars - 2 cicular method.

I used this book to learn how to use the 2 circular needle method:  Socks Soar on two circular needles

Overall I'm very happy with these socks and Dave is too!!!

I've linked up with Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins In Wonder.

Sam :-)

Meet Toby

Toby is the new addition to my and Dave's family.  We got him from a rescue organization.  He is still VERY shy.  

He likes to hide out in his cage.  It makes me feel better that he feels safe in there.  He slept all night in there. I only closed the door when Dave and I went to bed.

He is a little over 4 months old and he is a bichon frise.  I've always wanted to rescue a dog, but I'm limited by what breeds I can handle due to allergies.  I saw this guy on www.adoptapet.com and did a little research on the breed and that was it!

He is so cute!  I can't wait until he comes out of his shell a bit.

Sam <3

ps.  I have a finished object that I could have showed you last week, but I procrastinated on pictures.

Update and WIP Thursday

It is hard to believe that my last post was on July 6th.  A lot of things are going on in my life right now and this blog got pushed to the side.  Dave had his liver surgery on July 20th and all is well.  They got all the cancer out of his liver and he is recovering well.  He'll have to do some more chemotherapy, but that won't start for a few weeks.

I have still been crafting, just not as much or not as fast.  Dave's mom and sister have been staying with us again for a few weeks and I seem to not have enough time to do everything.

Here are all of the projects I have been working on:

Dave's socks:

I'm probably as shocked as you are that I learned how to knit socks.  That's a heel up there!  Also, I'm actually farther along than the picture shows.  I'm actually about this far on the SECOND sock.  Note, can you see up there that I am actually using My Ripple?!  Love it!

My Dad's Wavy Blanket:

My dad has been asking about a blanket for a long time now and I've always had other blankets that I was working on.  Now I finally got a cool idea that I was excited about and I went ahead and purchased the yarn.  Its going to be 60"x80"!!!! (approx 152cm x 203cm)  My dad is a tall guy and wants it to cover his toe.

Little Square Baby Blanket - Girl Version:

You may have seen my Little Square Baby Blanket that was for little baby Leo.  I used my leftovers from My Ripple, but now I am using the other colors of my leftovers.  I don't know who this is for, but it travels well and was a good project to work on in waiting rooms.

Drops Blankets:

You may have seen Grandma Betty's Drops Blanket and I must say it is one of my favorites.  My sister really liked it as well.  She had an idea to have a blanket in that pattern, but do it in blues and browns.  I liked her idea so much, I bought enough yarn for two blankets!!!!!  Again, this is another really portable project with no deadline and I enjoy working on it.

I did receive a question a couple of weeks ago from Lea.  Lea, I'm going to answer your question here since I couldn't find an email or blog to respond to you.  You asked,

"...I am thinking about making this for my grandparents this year, but I hesitate on the yarn since I have to mail order it and I have heard a few people complain about the quality and texture of this particular yarn. How do you feel about it having completed an entire blanket out of it? Would you have compromised the colorways to have had a better feeling / more snuggly blanket? Thanks in advance!"

I'm betting that my choice to make not only a second blanket out of this yarn, but also a third, answers your question.  I really like this yarn.  I think it is a soft wool.  It does still feel like wool to me, but I think it is soft. My grandma loves it.  She thinks it is soft and lightweight and warm all at the same time.  Also, I think the colors they offer are gorgeous.  I love the blanket I made for my gram.

Even though I am a day late, I'm going to link up with Tami's Amis, Small Things, and Frontier Dreams.

I'll try to update more often, but my life is so busy at the moment.

Sam :-)

FO Friday - My Knit Vest

My first knit piece of clothing is done!  My knit vest is complete!

The seams really scared me, but I don't think they look too bad.

I was so nervous to try it on.

It is a little big in the width and a little short.  I think I can make it longer with blocking, but I think I'm stuck with the width.  Overall though I am very happy with it.

I've linked up with Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Sam :-)

ETA:
Details:
Pattern:  Karina
Yarn:  2.75 skeins of Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in color Uva
Needles:  US 9 - 5.5 mm and US 10 - 6.0 mm

Finished Object Page

Hi Everyone,  I just wanted to write a quick note about the new Finished Object Page.  You should see it right next to the home button on the upper left hand side of the page.

I created this page so that the finished objects were easily accessable.  I must say I did it more for me to have them all in one place.

I'm going to get a June Mosaic out soon with some straggling May pictures that I still have queued up as well.  Also I have another FO for tomorrow!

Sam :-)

FO Friday - My Ripple!!!!!!!!

I've finally finished it!  My ripple is complete!!!  Want to see?

It ended up being 52"x76" (132 x 193cm)!!!!  As you can see above, I can lay on the couch and be completely covered!!!!

I'm so excited that its done.

I did a very simple border.  Who knows, I may add to it later.

I struggled to get a full picture of it on the floor, but here's my best shot.

Look at all the color!!  I love it!

What do you think?  I love it!  I started it in January, so this blanket is the biggest and took me the longest.

Details:
Pattern:  Neat Ripple Pattern
Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Colors:  All listed on my project page, here
Size:  52"x76" (132 x 193cm)
Hook:  4 mm G

I've linked with Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Sam <3