The price of productivity

The past few days (and the coming week) is high gear time here in the land of Gathering Wool. Between work (remember, it's EOM time), some company come callin', and trying to finish a few self-imposed deadlines (the bastardly painting and those socks for the boy formerly known as my niece's boyfriend now hereby dubbed Sasquatch), I got a hurtie.

Thanks be to Otter Creek for the medicinal skills....um, it's like holding an ice pack...yeah, that's it.

And now back to our regularly scheduled knitting...

This just in: it wasn't all clean-up and painting this weekend (why yes, there was actual painting...er, priming!)

I finished the Crazy Anklets.


Project specs: this standard sock pattern on #2 Brittanys using leftover Regia Crazy Colors with a stash skein of Koigu KPM, dye code 2160/103.


Also finished was a stealth project which I can show, but can't tell you who it's for just yet (unless you check out my Ravelry page).


Project specs: Persnickety Knitter's Arrowhead Lace Headband pattern using stash remnant wool on #7 Addis. This project was instant gratification and I really hope the giftee loves them as much as I loved making them.

There was some knitting on the Size 14 socks (I really want these off the needles by the weekend.) And because I just picked up this book, I felt compelled to start the Felted Striped Tote using up my autumn-hued wool remnants.

Next on the needles is another pair of socks using a new Trekking colorway and (gasp!) a new sock pattern. Stay tuned!

Thanks, Mother Nature!

Last night, I was all set to have a nice dinner, watch a DVD, and knit.

Mother Nature had other plans: (this is outside our bedroom window)

The Weather Service is hesitant to call it a "tornado", but whatever the little weather/microburst/storm cell was labeled, it still spelled trouble. The farm was very fortunate. We had some tree damage, a few small structural issues, and a mess of the flowers - but everyone is ok.

(Neighbor cats Bart and Lexie are glad the excitment is over for now!)

Do you like our topiaries?
And the old pumphouse still stands -

At least something's getting finished around here!

Exhibit 1: Scarlet
Project specs: Oat Couture's Tropical Tee knit in Classic Elite's Classic Silk (a cotton/silk blend), Colorway 6953 on Size 10 circs (bias neckline done on #6 dpns.) I used just under 7 skeins. Pattern mods: Horseshoe lace hem, knitted bias neckline. (And yes, that is a primed wall you see behind me.)

Exhibit 2: 2008 Red Scarf #1
Project specs: Pretty much the same as #2. I used Lambs Pride in "Khaki" for the main colorway, with the remnants on the ends. Finished length is about 63". (I still have a little steam blocking to do.)

I've decided to backburner MS3 for a variety of reasons. Even if I decide to frog it, I've learned some good lessons: I can bead and I like lace on a smaller scale. In fact, I've got a project mulling over in the back of my mind even now.

And speaking of unfinished stuff - Mr. Cat loves me enough not to care if he has to nap on the taped-off floor.

Way too much

There's just too much stuff going on in the Catty household for the likes of a relaxing summer. (Who am I kidding? I think I had a relaxing summer back in 1980. Maybe.)

I've got 4 WIPs, 3 on the launch pad, and a couple with due dates in the fall. The only project I'm on the fence about is MS3. After Clue 5 was posted yesterday, I knew I wasn't going to knit it as designed, but go with a straight stole (as someone in the forums noted "Like a table runner.") My fence-sitting arises from the fact this is a 'knit-at-home-only-doing-nothing-else-including -watch-TV' project. Hmmm. I've just started Clue 2 and from what the discussion boards have been saying, things get easier from here on out. Hmmmm. I'm going to let this mull around a bit while I try to clean off my other needles.

Red Scarf 2 is done. Project Specs Cascade 220 remnants on #10 needles. Pattern: Stephanie's One-Row Handspun Scarf. Finished dimensions are 6.5" wide by 65" long.

Red Scarf 1 is about 65%:

These size 14 socks? Might be done by Christmas. They are for my neice's boyfriend - she got stuck in the process and I told her I would finish them. Before I heard he had size 14 feet. (And btw, Norma and Cookie rock the sock information! Thanks, girlies!)

Scarlet is progressing: I've just got to seam her up, finish the sleeve ribbing and tack on the neckline. I decided to do a bias neckline as described here. I think I will like it very much!

And to top it all off, I've been setting up housekeeping over here:

Now, if I could just get the upstairs painted, the housework done, and find time for a nap....