So, I have been speeding along with my knitting, trying to get done in time for Christmas. I normally don't put myself under a bunch of deadlines for the holiday, but I want my husband's sweater done in time for Christmas. Even though it's not remotely a surprise. After I knit him a scarf while we were engaged I said that if I knit him something again (inevitable really if you're married to a knitter) that he would know about it because it was too hard to find time to knit something that he couldn't see. We weren't even living together then, but I still found it hard to find time to knit on that scarf. He loves it though, so it's worth it to me. This year he's getting a gray sweater. It is coming along, despite many problems with the firk ding blast sleeve. The body is knit up to where it will connect to the sleeves and one sleeve is started. Since I have restarted it three times, it isn't very far, but this time, it's gonna work. I refuse to pull it out and start again. It's coming along though. Although a bit frustrating at times. So, I have been speeding along with my knitting, trying to get done in time for Christmas. I normally don't put myself under a bunch of deadlines for the holiday, but I want my husband's sweater done in time for Christmas. Even though it's not remotely a surprise. After I knit him a scarf while we were engaged I said that if I knit him something again (inevitable really if you're married to a knitter) that he would know about it because it was too hard to find time to knit something that he couldn't see. We weren't even living together then, but I still found it hard to find time to knit on that scarf. He loves it though, so it's worth it to me. This year he's getting a gray sweater. It is coming along, despite many problems with the firk ding blast sleeve. The body is knit up to where it will connect to the sleeves and one sleeve is started. Since I have restarted it three times, it isn't very far, but this time, it's gonna work. I refuse to pull it out and start again. It's coming along though. Although a bit frustrating at times.



I am also working on a scarf for my father for Christmas. It's a solid black with a texture pattern of stockinette stitch diamonds with seed stitch separating them. It also has a garter stitch border. I love the pattern, but I don't think I will knit it with a dark yarn or a solid color again. It's too frustrating to find your place. I'm not sure how well the pattern will show up, so it might not be too easy to see. Just trust me it looks good. When it's finished (and blocked since it's got a bit of a bunching problem) I will embroider my father's initials in teal to match his teal, silver and black coat. He is completely clueless that he's getting this for Christmas. He thinks he might get socks.

No Time to Chat, Writing

Hey, did you know that it's National Novel Writing Month?
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
That's right, sign up and you, too can attempt to drive yourself crazy while trying to churn out 50,000 words in the month of November. I am trying. This may cut into knitting time. Is this wise to do with Christmas getting so close? I don't know, but I had to try it. Hopefully what I will have by my birthday (which is November 30, by the way, is a sad little novel that's in dire need of editing. That's the goal at least.
Remember the sweater. The one that is supposed to get sleeves? There's been a bit of a bump in the road. It no longer has a sleeve started. See, the directions say to cast on for the cuff and knit a few inches in ribbing, I did that. Then it says to increase over a few rows to the amount you need for the sleeve. I did that. I think it's too much of an increase. It looked like a mushroom. I'm gonna gradually increase instead. It'll be better. You'll see.

A Worthy Cause

Hey, is anyone out there? If you are, you should know about an extremely worthy cause that you can knit for. I usually like to knit, or crochet or whatever for me and my loved ones because I know it is appreciated. In this particular case, you will not find any people who will be more greatful. Check out the Dulaan Project here:
http://www.nwkniterati.com/movabletype/mossycottage/
It will help so many people and it may be the one time in your life that you can actually say you may have saved someone's life with your knitting. Or at least their dignity. Today is the last day to sign up for the official list, so go and email Ryan. Thanks.

And this sweater shall have sleeves

The gray sweater has one sleeve started. I have determined that it will not fit on my circular needles until it gets to the increases after the cuff. Hopefully then I can go round and round. The weekend was busy unfortunately, and not a lot of knitting got done. I did get the body of the sweater to the point where the sleeves will attach though. That's good news. I spent the day yesterday driving around the state of Minnesota to take my husband to work so I could have his car and then going to my mother's house. We had a fun time and then I had to go pick up hubby and go home. Busy but altogether wonderful and I am looking forward to much knitting time while watching television tonight. Hopefully by this weekend at the latest I will have at least a couple of pictures for anyone who reads this. Until Later. Hopefully with much more progress.

Ah, Glorious Friday

Well, I have to say that this Friday is going much better than last Friday. Always good news. Hopefully I will get the picture problem sorted out and do copious amounts of knitting. That's the goal anyway. I'm hoping to finish up a couple of things so I can work on a couple of hats for the Dulaan Project. I think it's a very worthy cause and highly recommend you check it out.
In the meantime, have a good weekend and I'll hopefully be back with wonderful photos on Monday.

Thursday Already

I have been too long absent from the blog. This is due to ickiness of the ear. I thought I had an ear infection but it is just fluid in the ear that is making me dizzy and generally feeling yucky. I will survive. In the meantime, I did a great deal of knitting. I have some funky orange yarn that I am using to make a sort of table runner for the coffee table. I have not yet de-mystified the use of pictures but I hope this will work soon, so I will try again. Maybe tomorrow. I know you will be on pins and needles until then.

Friday and a ball of stress

Well, It's Friday. Shouldn't that mean it's a great day? It normally is. I mean, it's payday and it means the weekend is so close I can almost taste it. The trouble today? A new phone system at work. As the receptionist who answers all the calls, you'd think I would be given decent training. Of course not. I am given the same tiny bit of info as everyone else, but who do they ask when they have a question? You guessed it. Me. Oh well, the day will be over soon and then I have two whole free days to knit. You will have to pardon the lack of pictures as I am still in the process of working out how to get them up here. So far no luck. Suffice to say I will be working on a gray sweater. Said sweater is for my husband for Christmas, but it is by no means a surprise. We will be doing some travelling around the state with various activities going on and so the sweater will travel too. I tend to over-plan everything and so I have packed 3 skeins of the gray yarn that is the main body and two of the colors that will be stripes across the chest. There will actually be 3 stripes of other colors but I can't find the yarn I am using for the 3rd color. This is another story of frustration. Meanwhile do I really think I will need 3 skeins of gray and the colors for all 3 stripes? Probably not. I knit fairly quickly, but it's not like I'm a turbo speed knitter. I have to have it with me though, I am so terrified that I will run out of yarn and not have anything to knit the whole weekend! Not that I could run to the store or anything. I have a problem. When we were on vacation I didn't want to read my book too much because I only brought one and thought that I wouldn't have anything to read if I finished it. Again, I am weird. Oh well. I shall return Monday to tell the tale of the weekend knitting and hopefully have a few pictures to prove it.

This is the Start of Something Grand

Well, hello, thanks for stopping by. My name is Kalkette. I am also called Sarah in certain circles of the world and I like to knit. I like a lot of crafts actually and I have been reading many other blogs and I thought it would be fun to have my own. So, here I am blogging. How fun. Hopefully I can get my not-very-computer-savvy brain to figure out how all this works. In the meantime. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.