WIPs

WIPs - Works In Progress. That's my goal here lately - to get some of my many unfinished knitted projects done & outta the way. I've even been taking pics & posting them on Ravelry. I think the idea in my head is that if they are out there for the public to see, I'll work harder to get them done. Hmmmmm - we'll see if THAT works!! LOL

I've decided that everyone gets something knitted for Christmas ------ next year, 2010. Which means, the way I procrastinate, I should really start next month sometime - knitting for Christmas 2010!! Ya know - it comes the same time & same day every single year and I am never, ever ready for it. That, my dear friends, has got to change!

I am almost done with Kathleen's yoga sox & may post pattern & pics here shortly. They turned out really cool looking & she loves them. Here's a cell phone pic of what they look like:

Well, I really need to do some work. Catch ya'll real soon, ok?

Stay cool & peace.

WORKING

Hmmmm - why is it I havta work for a living? Is it really neccessary?? LOL Wish now I had saved my retirement fund, because I really find the thought of living somewhere remote, on the side of a mountain, perhaps, very comforting & soothing. I wonder if I'm retreating back into my shell? I'm not sdoing the "defense eating" thing, but sometimes I fear that I hide in my knitting. How odd does that sound?? I'm nuts, I know - I guess that's what happens when you forget to take your anti-depressant in the morning. I'm waiting on Tala now to bring me one from home. Maybe I'll be more sociable after lunch - not because of the food, but because I'll have taken the pill by then. It's sad to have to rely on a chemical to balance out your day. Perhaps I need more prayer & less drugs. Not that I abuse them - not by any means. I just really can't put my finger on what my problem is today.

Other than that, and the urge to adopt a beautiful, calico long-hair cat I saw yesterday, I am good. Several of my WIP's are done, and I've cast on for at least 5 more!! Seriously! The Mystery Socks are caught up - the toe clue comes out tomorrow. Which is good, 'cause I really need those #2 needles for my wristwarmers & I don't wanna havta buy more!! I already have TWO sets of #2's, THREE sets of #3's!!

And I have a pumpkin to carve and no idea when I'm gonna do it. Needs to be done by Friday. Maybe I'll do it tonite after church. Or at least get the cleaning part of it done. That would be good. Maybe I'm just feeling a tad overwhelmed this week. That could possibly be it. That may be the whole crux of the situation. Oh well, I'll get over it - I always do. Okay - I really, really need to do some work now!! Better hop to it.

Oh - progress list on WIP's - meant to do that so I could see in writing just everything I'm working on. Let's see here:

Camo hunting sox for Greg - DONE
Camo hunting hat for Greg - DONE
Yoga sox for Kathleen - one DONE, 2nd has yet to be cast on
Pink camo sox for my sister Annie - turned the heel in first sock
Baby afghan for Mysti & Michael - about 4 more squares then all the sewing to do
Mystery Sock KAL - 2 more pattern repeats on ea foot then waiting on toe clue
Mohair Babydoll nightie - DONE
Purple lingerie - nightie is DONE except for finishing touches
Wristwarmers for me - FROGGED (need smaller needle, which means I havta finish a sock or 2.....or 3......LOL)
Julian's scarf & fingerless gloves - working on swatches; can't decide what yarn to use
Legwarmers for Leslie's mom - one partially knitted, but yarn has been bought for both prs
DRAGON SOX - practically non-existent @ this point EXCEPT I actually have bought the yarn for Saphira, Thorn & Gladr; just trying to figure out pattern

I think that's all. Can't think of anything else I'm knitting that can actually be published!! LOL Yup - a girl has gotta have SOME secrets, even in her knitting!!


Peace, kids!!

Mystery Sock KAL

Wow - my first Mystery Sock!! My first Knit A-Long!! I'm excited, so excited! My friend & fellow knitter, Suzanne, texted me today & asked me if I'd like to be involved in the KAL. Of course, when she mentioned it was a sock, I was in. Suzanne said she'd send me a link via email, but of course, I couldn't wait. So I searched out the most likely group on Ravelry, texted her about it and BINGO - that's the one!! It's in the Fans Of Through The Loops forum/group at www.ravelry.com. The first group I've ever joined, too. I only hope it's not too cable-intensive. I can do 'em, but usually don't. As a result, I'm not real cable-friendly or cable-adept!! LOL Well, we'll see how it goes. I've never knit anything before without pictures and at least having some kinda idea what it's gonna look like. I do know what yarn I'm using tho - I'll post pics & progress here on the blog, also. Wish me luck -it'll be my ELEVENTH pair of sox!!

Peace & sox!!

Updates!!

Wow - how long has it been?? 15 days?? I'd like to say I've been too busy to blog, but the truth of the matter is that I've probably just been too lazy. I have made a decision as to my living conditions, and after a horrible argument with Ella over my knitting habits, of all things, I have decided to move out. It won't be until January, but the decision has been made. I will not be told on a regular basis when is an appropriate time for me to knit, in the world according to Ella. It ain't happening, believe me. Let's just say I'm far too old to be told what to do, period, on a day by day basis.

So that's that - 'nuff said. Speaking of knitting, no longer am I satisfied to have just one pair of sox on my needles now. I currently have TWO pairs going at the same time!! LOL And a hat to match Greg's sox, which are done, btw. Also - I'm still not done with the baby afghan & Michael is already here!! Plus - it's getting cooler outside, so Mysti may need it!! Lot's & lot's of WIPs - not enuff time in the world for me to get 'em all done, unless I retire. Or just knit for a living. But I don't guess there's a lot of money in that!!

Well, I just wanted to update a bit. I am working, or I'm supp'd to be, so I'd best get back to it. I do have vacation coming up next week!! YAY!! I'm going outta town & believe me, the knitting will go with me. I can't wait! Okay - back to the grind.



Peace!

AWESOME!!

How totally awesome is this????? I was showing my sister yesterday how she could find my blog just by going to Google search & typing in "dragonsox" or "dragon sox" - she was amazed when I showed her it came up on the FIRST search page. So, just how amazing is it when I typed it in JUST now, 12:53PM CST and it came up FIRST!!!!! Yup, that's right!! This blog AND a subcategory showed up in THE top spot on Google!! And I don't even carry any advertisers or have many followers.

This is probably THE silliest thing in the world for a 50+ year old woman to get excited about, but I must admit I am! I think it totally rocks!

WIP news - the orangeade sock is finished once again, and fixed. Now onward to finishing the baby afghan for Misty. She went into labor a week early and is having baby Michael now. Then the camo sox for Greg, and then finish up some *ahem* personal items I'm working on for a little excursion I'm planning in October. Then onto the sock flat dyeing, followed by the dragon sox line of patterns, which I'm working on part-time, on paper, now. I'll get there, I promise!! LOL Gotta run!!


Peace!!

IN MEMORIAM - LEST WE FORGET - 9/11/2001-9/11/2009

First of all, a quiet moment for those that lost their lives on that fateful day eight short years ago. May their bravery & courage never be forgotten, and may this never happen again on American soil, the good Lord willing. God Bless America!



So - here we are. In the fall of 2009. The nip is in the air of the evening, and my mind is whirling with unfinished knitting projects, Hannah's algebra homework & status in school, MY work which is suffering a bit (that needs to be rectified - pronto) and an upcoming excursion I'm making in mid-October. The "orangeade" sox were done, but somehow I made one bigger than the other. So I had to frog the larger one all the way back to the gussett - BOO!!! The camo stripe sox are 1/2 done (working on the toe now) and now Greg wants a hat to match!! LOL This from a manly man! I already had bright orange for a hunter's cap, but he insists on the camo - so I am not responsible for shots to the head in open season!! ;~)

Well, I suppose that's all for the day, I'd best get back to work. Be sure to check out the newest issue of Knitty!! Awesome sock pattern that starts from the HEEL out - can't WAIT to try it!!


Peace!!

Oh, what a nite!

Well, well, well - is it time to go home yet?? OMGoodness, I am so wiped out. Yesterday w/me in charge (LOL) at work didn't go particularly well - we had a deal w/the new phone system that I couldn't fix, of course. Then a girl in the warehouse had a family crisis that I didn't have the authority or feel comfortable making a decision about. Then to top it all off, the electricity went out right before I get ready to leave!! So I run around to check all the A/C units to make sure they're running - don't wanna end up with puddles of chocolate on the floor! Go to my meeting, then text the bosses, who decide, if I didn't mind too much - would I come BACK out to work & check the units again? Just to make sure everything is cool? Literally - temperature-wise? So I did, but now I kinda feel like I never left the place! :~)

A little background, for those who don't know - I work at Old Fashion Candy. We sell & distribute fundraising candy, snack items, candles, keyrings & such across the USA. I'm also a compulsive overeater who attends Overeaters Anonymous on a regular basis to help me get well from this progressive, compulsive disease I have. Now, it used to be that working @ OFC was kinda like being an alcoholic that worked as a bartender - I mean, hey! It was there for the taking (and eating), I might as well have some, right? But luckily, a friend & neighbor introduced me to OA before I ate myself into oblivion. With the help & grace of God, the 12 Steps, my fellow OAer's, my sponsor, family & friends - I am slowly overcoming the urge to compulsively overeat. No more snacking - no more stash in my desk or my bedroom @ home. Thank goodness I don't have my mind on food 24/7 - leaves me more time to knit!

Speaking of which - the Hannah sock should be done tonite & since I'm running out to McCutchanville to help her with algebra homework (yay!), I'll have her & Corbin model their sox so I can take pics with the good camera, then post my first pattern. Sad to say, I've already started my 6th pair of sox for Hannah's mom, Christy. They are on the needles as we speak, or I write.............I know!! As if I don't have enough WIP's hanging out in my bedroom!! Okay - back to work now - that's what I'm supposed to be doing!! LOL

Peace to all.

My bad!!

Ooohhh - I didn't post anyhting yesterday!! And I was @ the computer most of the day. Just lazy, I guess. No - really, I didn't have much to blog about - not unless you wanna hear about my daily irritation from a 90+ woman I live with. But, hey - I gripe about that enough as it is!! LOL It's fine, tho - spent most of yesterday watering the grass, big job that!! Me turning on the hose, turning it off & moving the sprinkler, turning it back on, then back off & REsetting the sprinkler to a new, more perfect spot, turning the water back on, checking to see that all areas of the sod are getting wet ----- more work to it then you might think, especially when you have someone w/OCD working on it!! ;~)

I did spend a lot of time looking at & working on designs for my new sox. Not so much time knitting yesterday afternoon, tho I did knit a swatch to see if I liked a pattern I had worked out on graph paper (I didn't). Seems I like to use graph paper to chart designs, as long as they are knit & purl stitches only - no yarnovers, or k2tog's. But I don't like to read them, at all - I take the design I came up with & immediately translate it to text knitting instructions. Don't know that I'll ever get past that - I've been skipping over any pattern stitch that looked especially difficult & especially if it was charted. Hmmm - but then again, I never thought I'd knit sox, either. Who woulda thunk it??

I really want to design patterns that are all my own, tho - I might borrow a stitch pattern, but my goal will be to change it up somewhat so that it's unique. And I really wanna try to stay as simple as possible. To me - that is the whole joy of making sox, along with the fact that they are a very easy project to carry anywhere. If a pattern repeat isn't too long, it can be memorized, like the lace pattern on the Hannah sox - and patterns keep the sox from being off-the-wall B-O-R-I-N-G, in my opinion. Of course, making shorter legged sox helps with that, too.

I was telling someone about my blog yesterday @ church (yes - the Dragon Lady believes in God & attends worship & Bible study on a regular basis) and when I mentioned my goal was to post my patterns for free, they suggested I sell them instead. I thought about that for about half a minute, then decided no - I had started this blog with the intention of making new patterns for sox and posting them for free, and that's the way it will remain. However, first I need to actually POST a pattern!! LOL But that should happen later this week - I just want Hannah & Corbin to model their sox so I can take a nice pic to show with the patterns.

So - stay tuned, folks!! The best is yet to come!

Peace, dudes & dudettes!!