A little library enhancement

Past couple of weeks, I've been reading more Ravelry posts which turns out it can be dangerous to the size of one's library. So far, I have purchased Cookie A's book Knit. Sock. Love., pattern for The Princess Bride KAL (that's knit along for you muggles), and some great deals at Half-Price Books.

At Half-Price found:

1. Basic Rug Hooking- which looks to be a great rug hooking reference book and may need to go back and pick up one for my Mom. 
2. Punchneedle: The Complete Guide - again a great reference book for if and when I start punching again (does it count for again if I haven't completed a project?)
3. Stich Collection: Filet Crochet - I've done some filet in the past but thought this was a great source for knitting stitch ideas (dual purpose so more economical, right?).
4. Socks a la Carte 2: Toes Up! - Toes up are hands down my favorite way of doing sock, no Kitchner stitch!

In knitting news, my entrelac project for the Mystery 220 KAL is progressing nicely and I'm all set for the last clue today.  I'm thinking it's a skating hat, what do you think? If this is what it turns out to be, a pair of mittens would be a great way to use up the remaining yarn, just not certain if I will make entrelac mittens. After a quick search on Ravelry found the following mittens which makes me think I really need to rethink my reluctance for a pair of entrelac mittens but only if I can figure out resizing from fingering to worsted (which I used for the KAL.

My goal for today is to wind yarn and cast on the Monkey socks from Cookie A book, finish fingerless Hobo mitt (just needed thumb on 2nd mitt), get Jason's hat started and do a little felting. 

Best get cracking on these things but leaving you, have two more pictures of something I acquired in December which I think everyone should have in their knitting bag. 

Everyone needs a rubber duck in their knitting bag?

Nope, they need a tape measure silly!

Oops missed a week...

Last weekend went to Chicago with my Mom and Walker and James (2/3 of "The Boys") to see the Charlie Brown and the Great Exhibit (thanks Laurel for pointing this out to me!).

Next phone needs a flash with the camera

There was a lovely hat in the gift shop that my Mom modeled.

Nice vest!

After the Museum, we meet up with the rest of our group, who went to the Lego store, for lunch at Webber Grill in Schaumberg.  This group consisted of Jason (remaining 1/3 of "The Boys") and friends of The Boys', Liz & Jay.  Webber Grill has the iconic grill all over in their decorations - something to check out.

The whole reason for going to Schaumberg was to go to The Container Store and IKEA (Walker was on a mission). At The Container Store, I found this great bag.













Which I thought would be great for weekend trips but as soon as everyone else saw it, their first thought was, Becky's getting a new knitting bag.  Reality is that most likely the majority of the time it will be a knitting bag for several projects or larger projects.  Have a few afghans that have been languishing for cough, cough, a while.  To give you an idea how big is...

Rosie can comfortably fit in the bag, but doesn't like being in it

After the container store, it was on to IKEA.  I picked up a few things for my bedroom. Unfortunately bought the wrong size bed skirt so we will have to go back to IKEA so I can get the correct bed skirt, when are we going???

Oh yes, where is the knitting content of this post? Well I worked on my Dad's Packer hat while in the car and at the restaurant on the Chicago trip.  Also worked on the hat the next day while watching Lincoln (was my second time seeing the movie and didn't mess up the ribbing too much in the dark).  I finished it this weekend and gave to my Dad yesterday.

Look! It's only been a week and I posted again!!

Think the major thing that I accomplished this week is that I made it to The Cat and Crow this week.  I had made it there only for quick stops since the opening ceremonies for the Olympics so it was very nice to stay and knit.   While I was at The Cat and Crow, I figured out what was stumping me for the bind-off on the left Pine Tree Mitten and all that remains for this mitten is picking up the stitches for the thumb.  Will get that done this week and want to get the right mitten cast on before next Sunday.  The Pine Tree is a double knit and thought it would be nice to show you the two different sides of the mitten.

The other project I worked on at The Cat & Crow was my top down swing sweater that hadn't been worked on since early summer.  Took me a bit but I eventually figured out where I was on my top down swing sweater and hope to finish the body this week as.

I was very happy to have completed the blue cable hat that a friend from work commissioned.  Hopefully it will fit the intended recipient as the sample hat has been stretched out from numerous people trying it on.

Once the hat was finished, my reward was to cast on Clue #1 of Mystery 220 January KAL.  Had a few mis-starts on this project but think I have it now and can't wait for Clue #2 to come out tomorrow.

Think it was last year that I made the below hat for my Dad which was way too large for him. The ribbing is rather loose and the remainder of the hat is stockinette which doesn't really suite how my Dad likes to wear his knit caps.  

I cast on a new hat for him but I wasn't liking the needles that I was using as they were too short and a size too large.  So yesterday while running errands with my brother, I bought size 4 needles that were a bit longer and recast the hat (below).  As you can see, I'm getting a totally different look for the second hat than before.   Hopefully I will be able to maintain this as I use up the small balls of the yarn left from hat #1.  I'm certain that hat #1 is going to be frogged but I'm reluctant to do until I know for certain that I need to.