I'm Back!!!!

I am back on track. I will get started right away with ideas and finishing my most current UFO's. Last night I finished my socks in progress and went to bed. I am also going to try to clear up the clutter both in my house, on my blog and most of all in my head. The camera is back in focus, I am redoing my book list and calling it my library. It is soooo large that it certainly could qualify as a library. It has been such a long time since I updated the list that I just deleted it and will start from scratch. Hopefully I will find space to store all the books in one place. I will finish off a few more UFO projects. Most of them just need the ends worked in and the buttons sewn on. Not my favourite job. I prefer the sticks and string.

Slight Delay

I came home Friday afternoon, happy and looking forward to my new life, without the 9-5 drag. By bedtime, I was coughing, sneezing and sick. I don't know why I had to bring that home from the office but things just happen. Today is Tuesday, I have made a promise to myself that I will not lay down all day and go to bed at the right time. For the past 3 days, all I have done is moved from the couch to the bed and back to the couch. I am hurting from laying down too much, last night I had a hot toddy, meds, and went to bed at 8:00 and got up at 8:00 this morning. That has got to change. My body hurts, but I am on the mend. By tomorrow I will be back on track. Hope no one else gets it, I must admit that thoughts about knitting and designing have been darting in and out of my dreams. They look good when you are drugged, sleeping, hurting, but when they reach the light of day, Who Knows. Freedom 65 may be slightly delayed, but not forgotton. MommaBearKnits

The Count is Done! Life begins again!

I am home, the weather is terrible, treacheous drive but I am home and the job is done. Now the next phase will begin as soon as the snow and blowing stops. Looking forward to my Freedom 65.

MommaBearKnits, still

Counting the Hours!!!!

It is Thursday, January 29, 2009. I am sitting at my "soon to be former" Desk, in my "soon to be former" office, at my "soon to be former" Computer. It is 12:23 p.m. I just have today to finish and, although, I will be here tomorrow, how productive will I be, who knows. There will be some goodbye's and I am going to lunch with my "soon to be former" Boss. I bet the afternoon will be kind of redundent, bet I get out quick. I already removed my Green Glass.

Yahoo!!!!!!!

MommaBearKnits!!!!!

Coming, It's Coming, Freedom 65

I have five working days to go. Then I will be Knitting my face off. The last few days, will be a little weird, after all, I worked straight from graduating high school as a Doctor's Secretary, no college/university, worked until 2 weeks before my firstborn and I was a stay at home mom until my babybear( baby # 3) went to school full time (that was a period of approx 9 yrs). Then worked for 18 years at Sears Canada, accepted a VIP offer (nice way of saying your job is redundant and too many benefits cost too much, so good bye) It was a good offer so I went back to school for a year to upgrade my computer/accounting skills and do some co-op placements and then worked 16 years at the local Chamber of Commerce as the Executive Assistant. Now it is my time to do what I want, when I want, and where I want--kind of anyway, I still have my Cruster Ruster and my life partner of 46 years at my side. Not a lot of money, but who cares, it is my time to shine. I will be posting, designing, knitting, networking, shopping for yarn, and hopefully will design a few items for posterity.
I may be gone but not forgotten. MommaBearKnits

Three Weeks to Go!

Three weeks of work that is.
7 hrs per day; 5 days per week:
That equals (days at work that is)
15 days;
105 hours;
6300 minutes;
378,000 seconds

MommaBearKnits forever and a day.

The Quilter in Me is Begging to Get Out

I was a quilter (mostly the quilt tops, more fun and creative than actually quilting) and my favourite has always been the rag quilt made from scraps of leftover material with random colours. Actually, the lack of colour co-ordination is the beauty of the rag quilt. I also like log cabin squares. Soooooooo, while I was sitting looking at my stash and my leftover sock yarn (cannot throw out even the smallest little ball) I foolishly started to make garter stitch, log cabin squares. Well, one thing led to another and now a huge project is in progress. I will have more time after January 31 but will also keep on with my designs and socks of course (after all, I will need more scraps.) A Lot more scraps, believe me. I have worked out a pattern on a spreadsheet and now I know just how many squares I will need. That may have been a mistake as now I can really see "just how many squares I will need."

46 Squares, and 8 half squares are required and then a finished edge, that will be decided later. Right now I have 16 centre squares, 3 with the second row completed, 2 with the third row completed, and 2 finished squares. They will need some blocking before I display them.

I cut out the pattern to see how the cardigan will look. Then I went back and coloured the squares for a better look.

I will keep the posts coming and also will count down to Freedom 65.

I have 4 weeks to go;

140 Hours;

8400 minutes;

504,000 seconds.

Keep on Knitting, MommaBear will.

2009 Here I Come!!!!!!

Happy

New Year

To

All

Knitting Kooks

In

Cyberworld

MommaBearKnits

and

looks forward

to

"Freedom 65"

Sock Problem Solved, I Guess!

Cannot go back to this pair.

Received a box containing a ball of "Wisdom Yarns New York" colour # 224. I had already pulled the needles out of the first pair. Don't want to go there. I guess I will just let this go. The new ball can join my many balls of self patterning sock yarn in my huge stash. Perhaps some day I will pull it out and try it again. MommaBearKnitsToo...........

Socks Problem Still not Solved

I did contact the company that produced the treachrous sock yarn that dissapointed me greatly. http://www.universalyarn.com/ I was offered a replacement (not really a great deal, but something is better than nothing). First of all Jean Lux, Universal Yarn said she that this yarn is one of their best selling yarns and they have never come across this issue. She also said that she wished I had come to them with my concerns before posting it to my blog - Too Bad!!!! She also said that she would be happy to replace the yarn. Then she asked me if I would like to select another colour and asked me to send my choice and mailing info to Kathy, their Customer Service Manager. That, I did the same day that I received her offer. (December 5). As yet I have not even received a response from Kathy. I would have expected some sort of offer, not necessarily of monetary value, just some sort of promo or perhaps offer of info re: other yarns, samples, patterns, new product or at least a response stating that the replacement is on its way. Nothing!!!! I am still disappointed and will continue to post my concerns until the issue is resolved. I would even be willing to send them my defective yarn (at no cost to me, of course), because I certainly will never finish the socks. Until next time MommaBearKnits on into the future and am still not intending to purchase (which I do a lot of) any more Wisdom Yarns.
P.S. I could have gone back to the merchant but why should the store owner take responsibility.

Ticked Off Big Time

I don't usually complain about yarn but this ticks me off. And everyone knows that you should not Tick Off a Momma Bear.

I purchased Wisdom Yarns San Diego self patterning sock yarn. Colour 252 Dye Lot S1884. 75% Wool; 25% Polyamide. Feels good; looks good; but ----- see for yourself. If you knit you know just how long it takes to knit a sock past the heel on 2.25 mm needles, 72 stitches reduced to 60 by the ankle. Hate it, I tried to keep going hoping it would work out, NOT!!!!

I purchase so much yarn and knit continually. This is the first time that I vented on line. I don't even remember where I bought it, I know it was recently, what it cost (cannot be cheap), and do I really need more socks? Doesn't matter, I am a sock knitting kook and am very disappointed. Oh yeah, I email the company with a picture.

As alway MommaBearKnits and can go to her stash and get over her dissapointment. The only other thing about yarn that ticks me off is tooooooooo toooooooo many knots.

Well I am on the home stretch for my first baby leaflet which will include three different but somewhat the same baby cardigans. The white one above will be placed on hold for now and will get the opportunity to shine soon. Remember Baby "K"? Well now it has been upgraded, changed a bit, and has become "Katie". The lace trim version is "Sadira" named for my new grand neice Sadira, a.k.a. Sadie which will be the name of the basic cardigan that is also included in this pattern. I am fine tuning the writing and once again, with a sad heart will part with Sadira, Sadie & Katie a.k.a SSK and send them off into the knitting world. This whole process will still be dependent on Deb and Lynda of course.

I am also working on hats! hats! hats! Deb has decided to publish a hat book with a very unique turn. All the hats will be compatible with any yarn weight; from fingering (my fav), DK (second fav), Worsted (least fav), and Chunky (not my choice). It is a real challenge but one that I am willing to meet (or try to meet). I am looking forward to seeing all the hat designs from all the very different designers that are truly dedicated "Friends of Cabin Fever." This book will be a new kid on the block for sure. So, everyone, sort through your stash, this hat book will eat into your stash big time; that will make room for more stash, how good is that?

As always, no surprises here,

"MommaBearKnits"