Knitting software recommendation

I'm in love. Truly in love....with Intwined Pattern Studio software (think kniting charts).

I've looked at chart producing software for awhile but wouldn't commit my money because there was always something it couldn't do that I needed it to do. The most recent issue was over combining color and stitch - not one or the other. Intwined does that.

In the past I've used Excel for creating charts. Most recently a chart showing complicated color changes. It was a long and arduous use of Excel's drawing tools. Intwined has simplified that for me by allowing user to create new stitches fairly easily for use in charts.

Oh...and it creates text as you create the chart so that the basic knitting instructions are written by the time you've completed the chart. What's not to love?

Goodbye using Excel to make charts! Hello more time to knit!

I have no affiliation with the company that produces this software. Just a very happy user. :D

Scarves for Special Olympics 2011

I am currently planning my next projects for Scarves for Special Olympics. Next year's colors have been decided - Red Heart Super Saver Cherry Red and White. Plenty of time for us to overwhelm them again. :D

P.S. Even though boot cast is still on, I am happy to say I'm feeling better mentally....pity party is over! I may even have pictures to show you soon! (I'm wondering if the pain medication I was on actually caused the depression....?? )

Wednesday WIP and tornadoes

After spending the past weekend with bronchitis, I am now rushing to finish this WIP. It's suppose to be published later this year in a Creative Knitting issue (happy dance)


Aother WIP I'm doing is for fun. Daughter has always been a Pokemon fan. I was delighted to find this blogger's site filled with wonderful crochet patterns of pokemon. So I started one for DD's June birthday (sssshhhhh!! Don't tell her!)


Wolfdreamer is truly an amazing artist with the hook.

And I'm knitting hanging dish towels for the RV. Not only do I need dish towels for the kitchen but I like the idea of being to secure them while the RV is in motion.


The last two WIP are part of my attempt to de-stash before the fall buying begins. That will be my 2 year anniversary from my self-imposed yarn diet. I am SO tired of this yarn diet. I see all this new stuff coming out and have to remind myself that I really do not need more yarn (of course, when did need have anything to do with it in the first place?)

Anyway, I am tired of talking myself out of the new yarns. As this fall is the 2 year anniversary of my self-imposed yarn diet, I plan to be happy that I have trimmed it down as far as I can by then. And I will allow myself to purchase yarn for specific projects. That's the stipulation - must have a project planned for the yarn I want to buy. I think that's fair. :)

____________________________________________________________

Big hug to all the friends and family for worrying about us this past Monday as tornadoes swept through our town Choctaw, OK. We were in the storm cellar when the sirens went off , and luckily the tornadoes missed our neighborhood.

Problem solved

It's difficult for me to knit with dark yarns unless I'm in bright light. I was reminded of the problem while knitting with brown yarn last night without the overhead light on (lamp only).

This morning, while drinking my morning coffee and browsing the internet, I stumbled upon the solution to my problem - a clever gadget from Nancy's Knit Knacks

picture from Nancy's Knit Knacks

The Knit Light might be well-known to all of you (and why didn't you mention it?) but I've just found it. Order is placed and I am already wondering how long it will take to arrive.

Let me count the ways...

...that I fail to socialize online.

First there is Twitter. I signed up a few months ago and have tweeted (I think that's the phrase) exactly 24 times. Not a good tweeter am I?

Next there is Facebook. Signed up to visit with cousins. Found some loom knit friends and high school pals. So I do post there a couple of times a week. But mainly I play games - very relaxing and no brain required.

I guess I'm an old fashion email type of gal. Wanna visit? Email me. :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
While there has been some knitting...


...I think I need to bring out the beads. My subconscious has been prodding me in that direction with some dreams of beading (at least it's not nightmares). So I'm planning a couple of beading projects.

There has been some creativity in the form of house projects. Last month it was closets.

This one....

is now a coat closet....


And this one....



is now a video/CD closet.

I can unpack these boxes now.

With the spring-like weather we're having, I am now planning on spending time working on the flower beds. Details and pictures later.

Most supportive family

I have the most supportive husband and daughter. They've been loving and concerned during the past 4 weeks of me being sick (IBS flare up). Thankfully I think I'm on the upswing of awful episode.

But hey...it wasn't a total horrible experience! I realized last week that I can now fit into a size smaller blue jean! Not a diet I recommend but a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud. :P

I haven't spent much time knitting over the last month. If I've had energy for anything, it was mainly family related. But I have managed to knit on my Shipwreck shawl and work some on the next edition of LKC.

Scarves for Special Olympics 2010

Being a parent of a disabled adult, Special Olympics holds a special place in my heart.

Scarves for Special Olympics was a huge success last year. Let's do it again. ;)

Pertinent info here

I cannot contain myself any longer.....

Lost! Tomorrow night!!

I gave in to the internal pressure (yes, my own) to watch previews at the ABC link. The little box on the right side of the screen has several teasers including one (about) 2 minute segment from the premiere episode. I had to watch it since I became impatient for Feb 2nd as soon as the episode appeared on the TiVo recording schedule.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Knitting

Finished DH's gloves in mid-January.


Currently trying to finish this loom knit for LKC.
I should have had it done in December but ran into some extra work on the Leisure Arts publication...and then took a break from loom knitting during the holidays.

Shipwreck shawl is still in the works, and I'm getting anxious to get it done. I want to start this sweater pattern which somehow escaped my radar. It's much more appealing to me then the slinky ribs pattern for the cotlin yarn. I seem to be having a fling with lace. ;)

Round Tuit's

The month of January is always busy...every year. I use to wonder why that was. Then I realized it's because I put things off starting in late November until after the new year. I am happily immersed in holiday happenings and do not want to be bothered with mundane issues like doctor appointments, phone calls, insurance, etc. Then in January - I get "round tuit"



and become a functioning adult again. It is nice to be able to mark off the "to-do" list instead of add to it.

One of my "round tuit's" was to decide on a pattern for this yarn

that I mentioned in October. After looking through a few patterns that this yarn would work for, I decided on Slinky Ribs Pullover. And I have enough in my stash to do it in my size without cheating on my yarn diet! Funny thing - I knitted the sample for Knit Picks (seen in the link) and it's the same yarn and color that I have stashed. Seems like destiny to me.

Confessions of a yarn-addict

My resolution to keep knitting from yarn stash was broken last night. I couldn't help it...it was love at first sight. These cuties are a kit from Knit Picks


And the kit includes yarn for each fox.

Dang...tempted by big brown eyes, red hair, and the promise of a cuddle (haha)

Oh well. I mustn't let one slip up discourage me from this yarn diet but I really have to stop looking at every yarn catalog that shows up!

As the temperatures drop....

...my "to-do" list gets longer. That's the only problem with vacation, must-do's wait for you to return. And so I've spent this week taking down Christmas decorations and taking family members to various doctor appointments. But I did it (mostly) with a smile as I remember the last two weeks of 2009.

We started our vacation with family. A joyous Christmas with my Mother, sister and her family. Chatting, eating, and playing with toys....what a great Christmas!



From East Texas, we took the RV to San Antonio for a little fun. For the first time since our move to Oklahoma, the 3 of us had some fun!!

We went to seaworld...


took a boat ride on the San Antonio Riverwalk....


went to the Alamo (of course)...


and ate out every night. I had a chance to work on Shipwreck and get it to the point of adding beads as well as watch a little of Lost season 5 (a Christmas present) to get ready for Feb 2nd. ;D


I also started a pair of gloves for hubby. He told me he has never had a pair of gloves that fit right. Well, he will soon. I am designing this pattern specifically to fit his sausage fingers (his words).


At the end of two weeks, we came home to this....



...the remains of the Christmas Eve blizzard in OK City. It's now ice as the temperatures hover in the 20's during the day...and single digits at night. Cold and slippery.

But it's OK...I don't live in North Dakota were the temperatures have a minus sign in front of them. Nice positive note to end this post on as Elvis says he needs to go out.

Dear 2010

Welcome....a little late but better late then....

I am so very happy to greet you! You came just when I thought 2009 would never leave (good riddance!)

I believe you have potential. You are young yet but I see huge things for you. Just stay away from fire(s) unless it's in the fireplace, and please keep the wet to a minimum (or at least keep it outside).

Here is to a continued "knit from stash" year!

3 weeks later

My intentions are good with regard to blogging...really. But for the past 3 weeks, I haven't been near the computer except to respond to email if needed.

My Mother was here for the first two weeks. We had so much to say to each other. She hasn't been able to stay at my house in many years as a trip to California was difficult for her (she is 86). Oklahoma is a much easier trip from Texas where she lives.

It was a wonderful visit. She had Thanksgiving meal with us. Helped us decorate for Christmas.




She even considered bowling with us on league night but decided to watch instead as the logistics of walking cane and sending the ball down the lane was daunting. :)

She and my mother-in-law met for the first time. Gary and I have been married for 27 years but never managed to get the two together before. Very special. (And did I remember to get pictures? Of course not! geesh)

We also managed to get together with her younger brother and his wife (my uncle and aunt) whom she hasn't seen in probably 10 years. We had to meet at the hospital as their younger son (my cousin) had a heart attack and was admitted for observation and testing. (He's out and doing well now)


I drove her home last weekend. But no need to feel sad! We will be visiting her for Christmas. There is something to love about the move to Oklahoma...family!

While she was here, I found a little time to knit in the evenings. And it's for me! The Shipwreck Shawl on Knitty. ummm...yeah....I'm thinking about the last season of Lost. Is it February 2nd yet??



For the past few days, I have had last minute knitting to do for my to-be-released Leisure Arts publication. A couple of additional projects to round out the booklet. Yarn and looms have taken over my dining room table...



...but should be cleaned up (finished!) by the weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing the end results!

So...did you even miss me? ;)

The Native American in me...

....loves being close to nature. That's one reason why we love living outside of metropolitan areas. (I'm a descendant of Pawnee Tribe on my maternal Grandfather side).

In our little area, we see deer and hear hawks daily. Today I snapped a photo of a hawk in the woods out the backyard area.

I *believe* he's a red tailed hawk. Beautiful and majestic.

We pay homage to the Native American background in our art work also. A lithograph of Frank McCarthy's "Big Medicine" is one in our collection.

About 4 years ago, I read about buffalo yarn and knew I wanted to give it a try. It's not an easily found yarn, nor is the price conducive to stashing it away. So when Buffalo Gold had a call for test knitters, I jumped at it. Yeah, I know....I am my worse enemy when it comes to taking on too much. But I really wanted to knit with this yarn (probably the ancestry thing again). Here it is before winding into a ball.


It's worth every penny if you can get your hands on it. I never imagined that bison (buffalo) hair could be turned into this soft yarn.

And speaking of Native Americans...I had a reality check yesterday. Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away. While I'm happy to see 2009 coming to a close (it's been a tough year), I'm amazed at how fast it's leaving!

Back to finishing up the Leisure Arts publication I'm doing. Both it and the test knit should be finished this week. Then I need to think about holidays. How 'bout you?

Say hello to my little friend

*title is a quote from Scarface*




Too much weight gain the past year. Probably stress. Regardless of the reason, I must do something to get myself moving again!

Because of the ankle issue, I need low impact exercise. Recumbent exercise bike seemed to be the most convenient choice of low impact exercise. A little research brought this one to the top of the affordable heap. It has the card slot for iFit workout cards. But most importantly, my short legs will comfortably reach the petals (5'1" ya know!?) Plus I believe I'll be able to KNIT while exercising which is a plus.

It's a done deal. Now I just need to stay motivated and away from the chocolate.

Knitting update - sample knit for Knit Picks finished and ready to ship tomorrow. Book re-knits 1/3 done.

Absent blogger

Absent from Twitter too. I've been super busy but happily it's a good busy!

Part of the time, I've worked on the family "to-do" list.

We've managed to get the swimming pool winterized and covered...

...while Elvis watched.


We also managed to settle my 86 yo mother-in-law into her assisted living apartment, cleaned out her house in Dallas, and are in the process of selling the property.

Plus we finally found what seems to be the right program for our daughter (21 yo with disabilities) so that she has something outside of family...her "niche" so-to-speak. Because everyone needs to have something that promotes self-worth - especially folks with disabilities.

Thankfully it appears we found it! I'm thrilled to say that my daughter has decided to participate in a sheltered workshop at Goodwill.


She works two days a week. Works! She started training last week. Job coach(s) have said she is doing fine. She says she loves it. A very important item on "to-do" list done!

The other busy stuff has been knitting. On the needles, I'm doing a sample knit for Knit Picks. Getting ready to block and happy to have it that far. On the loom, I'm re-knitting a couple of my designs for an up-coming loom knit book in colors preferred by the publisher.

Of course, I'm already making plans for what I want to work on after the deadlines are met. I think I'll plan it around this yarn...
...which is already in my stash. See? I am still sticking with that yarn diet!

Knit Purl Gurl WEBS Giveaway

I love my bamboo knitting needles. I started buying them 20 plus years ago and am still knitting with them...except for 1 poor needle that Elvis "borrowed" for a chew toy (he was thoroughly yelled at for that)

Anyway, Webs Yarn Store has interchangeable bamboo circs for sale. AND Knit Purl Gurl is giving us a chance to win a set.

In case you missed the link above...here it is again. Enter...go ahead, I dare you.

A little knitting, a lotta reading

It's been raining for 3 days.  Makes me miss Southern California sunshine. Since I can't work in the garden, I've spent time knitting and actually finished something!

 

Hubby is happy since they were custom fit.  And I've managed to impress my MIL who is normally not impressed with me - at.all.  She lived with us for 3 months and never noticed that I knit rather well??  Oops, patience....perhaps she's forgotten (at 86, her memory is fading).

I've made time for another favorite hobby in the last two weeks - reading. And instead of buying, I went to the local library (pat myself on the back).

I drooled over thumbed through A Gathering of Lace for a few days.

 

So many patterns I would love to knit but I've put myself on a yarn diet (more about that another time) and do not have yarn for any of the projects.  Drats.  Book is now on my wish list.

And I've managed to catch up on fiction reading (don't you just love the library!?) 

With hubby away helping to pack his Mother's house in Dallas, I'm hitting the library again tomorrow to see what else I've missed.  Suggestions? 

Time to read is bliss!

Back from trip

We had a wonderful visit with my Mother (who is 86 yo) last week! The best part was spending my birthday with her for the first time since my 18th birthday...which was quite awhile ago. Wondering how long ago? Scroll down to the cake picture.



Notice how the new camera shows off the gray in my hair? ugh

There was a little family get-together which turned into a bit of a birthday celebration complete with cake.


Knitting note: Finished "Deadliest Crab" for hubby during the trip.