Cheap but Happy Knitter

The worlds falling apart...Lets Knit!!

2011-11-12T04:15:00.001-08:00

While I may not be able to help balance out the difference between the extreme rich and the growing poor, I can at least help myself by knitting and selling it to supplement my almost non-existent income for disability. Ha!

Right now I'm trying to find the best way to sell my stuff so I can purchase yarn and supplies to make socks and gloves for hospitalized and/or homeless veterans. I'm not doing too bad on e-bay as long as I keep making Jayne Cobb hats. They go pretty fast, but I get discouraged when people pick one up at the opening bid price and it doesn't get bid up to the amount I put in for "Buy it Now". I also tried out Listia. People really love to get my gloves, but the bidding doesn't go up very well and I never make enough points to use to buy yarn with. I keep being outbid.

So today I gave Yardsellr a try. I'm waiting to see if my stuff will sell there. I bought some yarn from it tonight and I like the fact that you don't actually bid on the stuff. I have a pair of gloves up for sale there now. I have been finding some good deals on yarn on e-bay lately. If I'm going to use cheap acrylic, I like it to be "soft" yarn. Unfortunately the soft stuff costs more than just getting a Super Saver skein of the cheap scratchy stuff.

I almost got a spinning wheel last month. My room mate moved out and was going to give me a chunk of money to make up for all the rent that he wasn't able to pay while he was living with us, but at the last minute he told me that he couldn't pay me after all. I had even researched and found the right starting wheel that I could afford and was researching places to get wool to use to spin. Oh well, maybe another time.

That's about all my news about cheap knitting. I have managed to acquire another blog that I'm writing about doing fiber arts with fibromyalgia pain and neuropathy in my hands. http://fibropinsandneedles.blogspot.com/

It's All About Dog Sweaters

2011-08-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

I'm on a dog sweater kick right now. I decided to attempt selling my knitting again as well as teaching knitting and I'm trying to get stuff made up to open an online shop. I plan to make gloves (a lot of people express interest in my fingerless gloves), socks, scarves, hats, and dog sweaters.

I found a book with several styles of dog sweaters as well as a couple patterns online. The first one I made from the book was extremely easy and a simple design. I made the sweater in one day. The second one that I started isn't going as quick. I ran into problems with the pattern where the pattern mixed up the right side/wrong side and it wasn't matching up. I had to take it out and restart it in order to get it to come out right. The collar ended up looking really cute, but it took some work. It has a cable design and I'm not too experienced with cables. I'm working on the torso part now.

I found a great sight to get yarn cheaply.
https://www.listia.com/
Its a bartering sight and I already picked up some needles. You have to put items up to barter in order to get points to "purchase" things. I put up a pair of socks and they are getting bid on.

Life goes on here. It's always busy. Nothing like having a couple room mates move in that are in their 20's to keep things jumping. Our household has two 20 year olds, one 30 year old, and me at 52. Somehow we make it work so that we all get what we need.
That's about all I can think of right now since its late and my brain isn't functioning real wall. Happy knitting.
Peg

Sock of Doom!

2011-02-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

I figured I would post my latest work in progress. I was knitting away in my usual knitting trance (yeah, I know, "Knitting is my Yoga"), when I realized that the arch of the sock was way bulky and weird looking. Upon putting some actual concentrated thought into it, I realized that I forgot to take account of the heel stitches on one of the needles before pulling up my gusset stitches. I had added five extra stitches to each side (gusset) needle and it was making the arch of the sock too bulky. Frog time (I love that word!) . Now, usually when I frog, I end up battling with dropped stitches, get frustrated, and end up tearing out the entire sock and starting over. This time, however, I somehow was able to get the stitches back on their respective needles and was able to remake the heel the way it was supposed to be. Even though I lost an entire day of knitting, I was victorious and felt triumphant!

Here is my sock after my heel crisis.

Finally in my own place!

2011-02-21T12:40:00.001-08:00

My daughter and I moved into our own little apartment and things are going smoothly. I have a nice little herb garden up and going and my health issues are under control at last. I really love our new apartment. They have all the amenities that I need here; a swimming pool, an exercise room, lots of tree lined lanes to walk on, and they come out and fix things quickly.

My knitting as picked up as well. I have a list of items that people have asked for and I'm working them off one at a time. Right now I'm working on a pair of camouflage socks for my son, John. I'll post a picture when I get them done. I made a Jayne Cobb hat for a friend and here is my daughter modeling it for me:

I also made a hat just for my daughter, Michelle. I used the same basic pattern that I used for the Jayne Cobb hat, but tapered the top instead of just gathering it. I didn't want all the lumps on top. I also changed the ear flaps and left off the pom pom. She wanted ferret ears on it, so I designed that and used a little fun fur to set them off. I used Lion Brand "Tweed Stripes" yarn for it and used the color "Tundra", color 203. I loved the yarn, it was very soft and plush and it worked up easily and fast. Here's a picture of her in her hat:

Another thing that I've been working on are fingerless gloves. I love this design because it leaves the entire fingers free for working on the computer or for knitting. I have a pair for myself that I made up in worsted weight dark blue. These, I made for a friend. I used Lion Brand Wool-ease and size 5 double points.

That's all my knitting news for now. I have a shortage of camera and have to get Michelle to take my pictures with her cell phone for right now. Hopefully that will change and I'll be able to start taking some pictures as I go on some of my projects. I have a couple more Jayne Cobb hats to make for friends (People see them and ask for one for themselves!) and some more gloves to make for a friend who likes to go to firing ranges to shoot and thinks these will be perfect to keep his hands warm while he does.
I joined a charity, Volunteer Angels: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/volunteer-angels.html and I'm hoping to get some things made for them soon. I also got my knitting business up and going after closing it down for a couple months during the holidays and while moving.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/momsalittleoff

Take care, and more will follow! I promise!!
Peg

2010-11-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a horribly long time, but a lot has been happening in my life. I'm living in Las Vegas now and have three very nice roommates that I share a house with. My daughter is one of them. I have my little dog, 2bits, living here as well along with two other dogs and 4 cats. It's a pet friendly environment!
I started a new Etsy account to sell my knitting and am making socks and pet sweaters. I know its an odd combination, but it was what I do best.

I have a lot going on, health wise, right now and I am really active with my needlecrafts, computer games, housework (I am the one that keeps the house afloat while the other girls work long hours) and with the animals.

Jayne Cobb hat

2009-07-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

I finished a hat for one of my daughter's roommates. I visiting her in Las Vegas and brought my yarn and needles along. She told me in advance that she was a huge fan of Firefly and Serenity. So here is the hat She was very pleased about the finished product and is wearing it as we speak.LOL

Other than that, I've been making socks like crazy. Not really outstanding, mostly solid colored, fast to work up socks that I can donate to charity and not work on them forever.

Happy knitting

Peg

2009-07-06T13:02:00.001-07:00

I finally finished John's socks. This whole posting things on the blog is new to me, so if the picture turns out weird, that's why. At least I hope you get the general idea from the picture. He's napping on the couch right now with his new socks on. They are acrylic, worsted weight socks, so they are big and comfy.
I haven't been doing a lot of knitting lately because of dealing with feeling yucky, but did start up again yesterday and got John's socks finished. My next project is some socks for a craft exchange on one of the Yahoo groups I belong to. They are going to be violet with a dark purple and white design in them. Should look nice. (I hope)LOL

2009-06-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

I was handling this whole Fibromyalgia issue pretty good, well...ok...as good as I can, when suddenly, Bam, I was completely knocked of course by a simple inquiry for a swimming pool, in my neighborhood, where I could exercise. Let me tell you what happened:

My doctor told me that I should contact the Arthritis foundation and he gave me the number he had which was for a city that is about 50 miles from us. (I should state here that I go to the VA hospital that is also about 50 miles away, for my health care). They referred me too someone in Los Angeles which is about 100 miles from us.

Thinking that kind of weird, I checked online and found, on a national Fibromyalgia, a number for a chronic pain support group in my area and e-mailed since that number was also long distance, In our financial situation, our house phone doesn't have long distance and my husbands cell phone was out of minutes.

I got a message back that she wanted me to call her. My husband added minutes to the phone, ouch, and I called. She was in charge of the support group for the entire county.

The person I called informed me that the resource for swimming, a program set up for therapeutic, warm water exercising, was closed down for lack of funds. Then the woman started bemoaning the fact that the recession was making it so that most services were being cut out and I agreed that it was a sad state of affairs. Then, well, I guess she needed someone to talk to, because she started rambling on about how she was sure that our State government was taking a nose dive and our entire state was going to be in a state of upheaval. She let me know that if I really needed anything I needed to start working out bartering agreements with people in the area to get the help I needed with housework and other problems I was having. She told me that the best advise that she could give me was to move out of state and start new somewhere else. I can't remember what else she said beyond that. I was already in tears.

I, at first, was alarmed, but it turned to disappointment that a support person would give such discouraging and depressing information to someone that was just diagnosed with a chronic pain problem. But then as the night wore on and I reflected on the call, I was more able to put it in perspective. After all, most support group leaders are people who are also dealing with the same disorder or have a loved one that is. Why wouldn't she be just as affected by it as I am. It could be that she was having a bad day or was depressed herself.

She did finally give me the phone number of the lady that leads a support group in my city and I'm now just a bit nervous to give it a call.

As far as my knitting goes. It's something that helps me when I'm stressed better than just about anything else. I put a pretty good dent in my pair of socks I'm working on, last night, as I tried to calm down so I could sleep.

Happy knitting!

2009-06-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally had a piece of the puzzle put in place. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at my doctor appointment today. Now I know why I'm having so much pain and why I fall asleep right in the middle of knitting. I know a lot of things, now, that I didn't understand before. I guess that is how it is with any diagnoses, when you know something is wrong, but you can't figure out what and sometimes the doctors can't figure it out as well.
At least the symptoms that get worse with stress can be eased by knitting.LOL

Happy Knitting!

Still knitting

2009-06-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

I finished the first sock (striped man's sock) and am working on the second, but I seem to be running out of steam. I plan to take a bit of a vacation to get away from some of the stress around here (unemployed husband and son and the finances are starting to make me crazy) and will be spending a week in Las Vegas with my daughter. She's coming Friday to pick me up and take me away.LOL I'll take my knitting, of course!

found another great giveaway and want to post about it. Its for sock yarn, a vital substance for sock knitters like myself.LOL

http://knittingarden.blogspot.com/

Take a moment and check it out!

Happy Knitting!

2009-06-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

My lastest pair of socks seem to be dragging a bit. I haven't been real ambitious the last couple days because of not feeling real chipper, so I figure I'll be up and knitting like crazy when I feel a bit better.

On the other hand, they are turning out pretty nice looking. I think my next project will be another attempt at a toe up sock. Just have to find a free pattern that uses worsted weight yarn, since that is what I have the most of

Happy knitting!

2009-06-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!! Just saw some really cute stitch markers from a blog for knitting related give-aways and, wow! Very cute! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/ Check them out if you have the time.

I didn't do a lot of knitting yesterday until evening. Randy and I like to turn off the air in the evening and move our chairs outside to enjoy the cool evening breezes. I take out my knitting, of course, and we chit chat while sipping lemonaid and he reads and I knit. Very nice way to finish up the day. We always bring out 2bits, our little terrier mix dog and let her move around without a leash. She usually curls up under one of our chairs.

I'm working on a pair of white and camoflage green socks. I made the ribbing solid white and am doing the cuff in a "one row white, one row color" pattern. Don't know if I'll make the heal white or color yet. They are for the VA again. I hope to have several pairs to take down with me when I go for my appointment next week.

Happy Knitting
Peg

2009-05-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I've done it. I started my next pair of socks. white and OD green stipes this time. I will no doubt be taking it to the VA the week after next.

On a seperate note; I found a great giveaway for a tote bag that looks fun. Its from a company called "Hip Mountain Momma" http://suzysunshine-suzy.blogspot.com/2009/05/offhand-designs-giveaway.html

If you get a chance, go check it out!

and this time, I'll attempt to post a picture of my socks when I finish them. I just didn't think solid white socks would interest many.Haha

Peg

and it's.......(crowd gets quiet).... a sock!!!

2009-05-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

I finished my second large, white, man sized, sock! Now on to something a little more fun and colorful!LOL I can only create bland colored, not flurished socks so long and then I have to get wild again.

Its reallllly hot today. I had to turn the air on early and my hands are still sweating and making my needles sticky. I may have to put just a touch of baby powder on them while I'm knitting, just hate to have baby powder get on the yarn. Hmmm. I'll have to think it over first.

I better get knitting. Just wanted to stop in and write a bit.

Peg

2009-05-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

It's my favorite time of the day. Morning. I'm enjoying a quiet moment to reflect and knit.

I had a great day yesterday, knitting my big white man sock and browsing through everyone else's blogs. There is some great stuff for knitters in other people's blogs. I even joined a give-away or two.

My project for today is to find something to make a foot form out of, then dust off my camara and find a battery for it so I can take a picture of my man sock and post it. I also plan to attempt to get the match to the sock made. They are slotted to go to the VA hospital so I can continue my mission to keep my fellow veterens furnished with happy feet.

Everyone have fun knitting!
Peg

2009-05-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Thought I would put in that I'm on the Ravelry site also. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/momsalittleoff and I've added some more pics of some of my finished projects there. Here are some of the things I have done

White socks

2009-05-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a pair of solid white, ankle length socks, using a skein of worsted weight Red Heart yarn that I was given a while back. Because I feel that the yarn I'm using tends to turn out a bit scratchy, I decided to use a large (#7 US) set of double points. That should make them fluffier. They are large enough for, and the skein is large enough for, a pair of man sized socks. I plan to put them in the box for the donation to the VA.

I decided a long time ago to start donating to the VA, for several reasons. First, I'm a veteran myself and feel like I have a tie with the people there. Second, I go there fairly often so I can take the socks there and not have to come up with money to mail them. Third, I know they will except them gladly and make use of them. There won't be any question as to what yarn was used or if I can do certain stitches or use specific patterns.

I attempted, recently, to join a group of knitters that were making socks for a charity that used a specific pattern and type of yarn (for a good reason, I might add) and I was very excited to join in the cause. But after some more thought, I realized that there was no way in the world I would be able to come up with the money to buy the yarn that was required, so I withdrew my request to join. When the forum sent an e-mail asking why I left, I explained my reasons.

A couple hours later, I received an email from the woman that was running the group. She explained that the group provided yarn to people who needed it, all I needed to do was send in a pair of "recreational" socks for everyday use and she would be able to tell from that if I knew the required stitches needed to knit the socks from the required yarn.

I e-mailed back, telling her that I would be pleased to and the next e-mail I received was a bit weird. She wanted to know if I was an author that she heard of, letting me know that if I were, she didn't think I was in such a bad financial situation to not be able to afford the yarn. I told her that, no, I had never even heard of the author.

Her next e-mail asked me what kind of yarn I intended to knit the "recreational" socks from, because they didn't allow anything but good quality wool yarn for them. After several e-mails back and forth about the type of yarn I would use (I spent an hour digging through my yarn stash to find the two small balls of wool yarn that I possessed and that I had bought at a large craft retail store near here) and I told her the brand that I was using. She explained that she normally would not allow that brand because it wasn't high enough quality, but I could send them for her to see my ability at using a Kitchener stitch and she just wouldn't include them in a shipment.

Getting all that ironed out, I started knitting the socks. As any knitter knows, you have a lot of time to think while you knit.

I thought about the conversation, via e-mail, that I had had with the woman and felt a little irritated as I started. By the time I finished the ribbed cuff, I was beginning to more angry. As I started the decreases for the heal I was already rethinking my decision to join the charity, and once I got to the toes, the sock was already slotted to go to the VA hospital.

Since I'm disabled and am attempting to get Disability and don't have it yet, and since my husband was just layed off of his job, I felt a bit discouraged from the conversation I had with her. I looked up the author she had mentioned and even though the name was close to mine, it wasn't the same. I guess you just have to help the people you can and not stress over the folks that you can't help. As more people are struggling in this economy, more people are going to spend less to help charities. It's a fact that charity organizers are going to have to face.

That being said, I know I rambled, I'm off to work on my white socks.

Happy knitting today, everyone!

Off and running..um...knitting

2009-05-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

This is my first entry, so hopefully it won't be too bad! Ha!

I felt I needed to make my own nitch in the knitting blog world. I enjoy knitting with a passion and do it almost constantly. My favorite thing to knit would have to be socks. Something I do for every person in my immediate family, rather they want it or not. Since I am a veteran, I also have a dream to start my own little charity, making bed socks for the VA hospital locally. I also have dabbled in sweaters, scarves, gloves (both with and without fingers), and hats.

Having said that and made my claim to be a knitting junkie, I also have to admit that I'm too broke to buy fancy yarn. Yes, you heard it here...no wool! It just isn't in my budget. I'm sure I'll hear from plenty of people who will argue that its better to spend more to get a better product. That might be so, but if you don't have money for necessities, you can't justify spending on hobbies. Soooo ... I'm the woman you see with six skeins of acrylic super saver yarn at the checkout at the local discount store. Oh...and the 99 cent store...and the thift store...and the yard sales. I'm even looking into the idea of recycling my own yarn from sweaters I can find. Yes, I'm cheap, but at least I'm still knitting.

I will attempt to make a stab at sharing some of the great, free, pattern sites I find online as well as some of the knitting and crocheting charities I come across, along with my latest projects.

I will also, most likely, bore you to tears with non knitting topics as well. Like the fact that my youngest child graduated from high school this month, my addiction to computer games, and other fun subjects.hehe

Thats it for my first entry.