Nearing the end....

So - how many people do we still have with us? And how many want to keep on going?

I, for one, know that this 3 month period has been long enough to make it a way of life. I think it was all of 10 days into the Bustalong, when I was SORELY tempted to buy some lace weight hand painted silk yarn. Ahhhh it was SO wonderful. But I didn't. And since then, haven't been tempted with anymore impulse buys. Although, I did sign up for Sundara's Yarn continuation of the Petal's collection SOTM. And, I did buy gift yarn for my mom - she requested a very specific color yarn for an Easter shawl (which I completed today - go look).

I also got a bunch of FO's out of my stash (a hat for Dullan, 2 quilts for Dulaan, fun fur hats, the Bejewled scarf, the entralac bag, a baby sweater) and some UFO's completed (that damn Marmalade jacket, the never ending sweater for my Aunt, Mom's Birthday Sweater, the Urban Bubble Scarf, the waterfall scarf, some baby socks and other baby items)... and got some old UFO's back into 'knitting rotation'. This has been fun!

Did anyone else kind of compensate in the first month by buying a bunch of books and patterns? I know I did - but they were all things I had been wanting for a while - and have honestly found projects to knit out of my stash for each.

Anyway - just rambling at this point... but I am planning on keeping this effort going for at least another 3 months. Although prizes will be offered as promised for these first 3 months!!! Anyone interested? I'm going to think that all of us who continue on will get a 'free day' where they can go buy yarn that they have been putting off for a while... but otherwise, the rules stay as they were.

Any takers???

I'd also love to see some more 'Bustalong Round Up' posts.... By my count, I have 15 FO's - 3 of them sweaters! What about you all!?

So You Wanna Swap, Eh?

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My Stash Sheet

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A new HAT

Again from stash and to match my mittens - check out my blog for more details - yippee from the warm and cosily-clad Carie

Creative way to stashbust ;)

I busted about 8 skeins free from my stash by taking a humungo bag of lamb's pride superwash to my daughter's Girl Scout troop and getting them started on knitting a Beanie Baby blanket (you know, a swatch ROFL). They each picked a skein of yarn that they liked (I had a rainbow of colors in the bag), and I taught them to cast on and then knit every row. I quickly showed them how to cast-off too, although that may need a refresher lesson once their blankies are done.

It was really cool to watch them figure out how to knit - with their different personalities shining through. Some knit loosey-goosey, some more controlled and tight; All figured it out.

My daughter has picked up her knitting since then a few times - I tried to teach her about 2 years ago, but it frustrated her.

At a previous meeting, they had made their knitting needles - by sharpening and sanding sticks (recycled from chicken-on-a-stick from Friendly's I believe ROFL), and making Fimo-clay characters for the end.

Gotta love the enabling process - and my stash is a little lighter to boot!

My knitting can't keep up with the seasons

I did finish a quick scarf for my fiance, but this being the first day of spring, I'm not sure it'll get much use. I followed the Child's Rainbow Scarf pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's really simple but uses self-striping yarn really well. I'm pleased with it.



I also finished an earflap hat for myself out of some Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky in my stash. Not a huge project, but a relative stashbuster given that I used leftover yarn for the pom pom and ties. I think it's cute.


More details on my blog. Would it be silly to keep going with the mittens and hats? I feel like it would be a good idea while I still feel the desire to make them!

the ugly one is finished

So this ugly blue acrylic scarf is done!! Finished, leaving my life - woot!! Its my second oldest UFO and the last of my original stack of 12 ufo's to be finished. I am now free of the ball and chains... and I am managing to keep only 3-4 projects on the needles at once, instead of 9 or 12... so now I actually feel great when I start and finish a project in no time!!

Case in point, the dashing gloves from the last knitty. Made out of undyed llama, alpaca and merino and handspun by a local woman! The yarn is gorgeous, the pattern was quick easy and fun and I am down three more balls of alpaca! stash yarn!!
I still have not caved and purchased yarn, but I do have a list of things that I really want for my free day on April 16th.... oh, and a couple things that I will buy for my swap partners ;-)

Happy Knitting!!

More stash gone

I have been busy knitting slowly away at my stash. I have completed a hat and scarf in a mauve boucle yarn which is going to the Knit4charities March charity. I have completed a black and white scarf in a black/white chunky yarn combined with black/white ostrich type yarn which will be on sale at the May sale at Ribbonwood centre, also for that sale is a brown Bamboo/Wool yarn, it was nice and easy to knit.

The other item I have done is a pink dishcloth with a heart pattern, this is for the SNB exhibition in April.

My ambitious project for the SNB exhibition in April is a Christening gown in 2ply pure wool, I have not long started that and only have knitted about 4 inches so far.

I have also done a few more pattern repeats on the blanket for #2 son.

I'm a UFO Goddess

I finished my sweater. It has been in the works since Dec 2005.

Go look! Leave me comments! I'm SO PROUD of myself for finishing this damn thing!

More socks

Another pair again from Stash - this time in Opal 6-ply that H gave me for Christmas - very snuggly!

FO: The Mason Dixon Baby Bib

You see that there blue baby bib? Well, my friend Gwenie Gwen knit him up using a ball of Bernat Cottontots I gave her from my stash. :) Thank you very much, Gwen for helping me destash yet again.

*ehem* I have to confess that I have been a very, very bad yarn dieter and have purchased like a billion balls of the good stuff from Little Knits and Webs lately. OH MY GAWD! I went a lotta insane! I won't even divulge the fiber goodness I have acquired...YES I WILL!

Let's see:

I got Noro Silk Garden, Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, Kona Bay Cotton, Muench Sir Galli, SWTC Bamboo and Lane Borgosesia Baruffa Cashwool. PHEW! I won't even tell you how many BAGS of each I bought. It's scary and I'm still in denial about the whole thing, but I have such a HIGH from the CHA CHING! *ehem*

Anywho, there you have it...another FO from a friend. YEAH!

FO: The Simple Eyelet Washcloth

OH MY GAWD! I FINISHED SOMETHING! It's a frickin' miracle I tell you! Throw another FO on the barbie, mate! Extra bonus and a gold star for using my stash! *bows deeply*

I call her the "Simple Eyelet Washcloth" taken from the Lion Brand Stitchfinder library.

Knit using 3/4 of a ball of Lily Sugar & Cream in White on US 10 with a 44 stitch cast on.

Approximate size before washing is 12" x 12" square. It'll shrink down to about 7" x 7" after washing. Something to keep in mind when dealing with cotton....the shrinkage factor.

Check out the difference in size between my newly finished Simple Eyelet and the Ruggles Turkish Washcloth I did back in October! *geez*

Oh no....

I caved. I folded like a cheap shirt. Darn it. In a moment of weakness... (I'm sure you've all had them at 6:30 am before) I ordered a bag of bamboo yarn. How could I resist? At $42.50 a bag? I'm so ashamed (sort of - I mean really, it's too nice to be feeling that badly and really I'm saving myself a bundle of money in the end!)

A refined raglan finished

terrible photo I know but proof that I no longer have 10 balls of blue alpaca in my stash - I have a sweater in my wardrobe (well mostly I've been wearing it since it was finished as it is just wonderfully warm and cozy - perfect for early spring days where you don't want to wear a coat!

still busting along...

I haven't fallen off the wagon yet (although there have been some very near misses, like the sales on Little Knits, and the bamboo yarn on sale by the bag)--unless you count the stuff I bought for my SPs. I have to say, it feels like cheating--buying pretty yarn without plans on how to use it, and then putting it in the drawer (or envelope), never to be seen again! ;)

I have managed to knit a couple of things in the interim. I finished the convertible glove / mittens (aka Urban Necessity) after hesitating over the mitten caps. In the end, I decided to abandon the pattern and use mirrored decreases (ssk / k2tog) from the end of my 5th finger until my fingertips, then k2tog around until I had 5 stitches left.

I liked this pattern more than Broad Street from knitty--it was just easier for me to understand. I used DK yarn (Karabella Majestic) instead of the called-for Cascade 220, and I think it turned out well...not too bulky.

I also busted through some of the DK cotton in my stash, originally slated for Sheldon. I discovered I didn't have nearly enough, so turned it into simple, quick dischcloths.

More details on the blog!

Check out my latest FOs and a WIP

Hi all! So, it just took me forever to post all my pics of my FOs on my own blog so I'm not going to try to do it all again here! But if you're interested you can head over to my blog, Praire Girl Knits, to see what I've been up to lately!

Happy Stash Busting!

FO: Stripy baby blanket.

I've been making - and neglecting - this baby blanket for months & months, but recently I took control and at last it's finished. Couple of pics:

I procrastinated for ages towards the end because there was so much post-production: millions of ends to weave in, and blocking it was an adventure in itself. Anyway, I'm delighted that it's now a FO and I'm free to move the next knitting project up the list.

Some Shiny New Socks!

I whipped up these babies from the latest installment from the Sundara Yarns Petals Collection sock of the month club! The colorway is named "Bird of Paradise", and it is cheery and bright. Not what I would necessarily pick out for myself, but that is part of the fun to me- to be challenged by new colors and new patterns. The pattern for this one was pretty simple; a slip stitch rib made it a pretty mellow project. I am wearing them RIGHT NOW.

No longer U, an FO: Baby Bolero

This is the first of two red baby sweaters that are my designated UFOs. Yay! I also cast on for socks for myself this weekend, from my sock yarn stash.

Project details here.

In light of my falling off, I've decided to match my indiscretion with a donation to MSF. I wanted the penance for falling off the wagon to be significant, so that it was a disincentive.

A finished object, and it's a big one!

Yep, there it is in all it's glory. The first pici is lighter than true life but lets you see the details a bit better.


This pici is a bit too dark, but you have the rare honour of seeing Mo Cuirdh, our older cat.

My friends call her my invisible cat because she is never seen when they come over. To be honest, she's not seen much when it's just hubby and I at home. She's lived with us for 13 years and is still a bit skittish. When it's all nice and quiet late in the evening she comes out for some lovin'. I'm not really sure what brought her out on a Sunday afternoon but there she is. :)

In honour of finishing an old UFO I'm going to cast on a new project tonight. I want a nice spring pullover and I'm gonna make one darn it, from stash yarn! I want to give the new 5mm Knitpicks needle a good run for it's money and be sure that a whole set of them is a good idea. Look at me, showing restraint and all! Boo ya!