Granny Stripes - Day 2

So here is what I have now! I can't believe how quickly I am blowing through this pattern! I am on the 7th color about to change to the 8th! I have been thinking of leaving the red and yellow out and replacing them with the next colors in the pattern. I am still waiting on my yarn I ordered, from Deramores. I have ordered Bright Green, Grape and White. It will match my personality better that way. I will keep the red and yellow for something else.... they just stand out in the original that Lucy made :

The red and yellow that start in the bottom right corner are the colors I am speaking of ^^^^^^

They are pretty colors, but I think they take away from the colors.

5 colors now

pretty pretty yumminess!

Granny Stripes - Day 1

So it took me three days to decide what I wanted to make. First I thought about a bag, but I didn't want that. I was leaning towards blanket. Now between granny striped or a ripple. After comparing both, I saw ripple used more yarn than the granny stripes, so the stripes was the way to go!
Let me tell you, it looked hard, and I really didn't want to try it... either pattern actually. They have been the two patterns I have avoided always. I even have an old pattern book from the 1970s for ripples only and I will can't bring myself to commit to do one. I did a small (think small rug sized) one for my son's bed... like extra little blanket for his feet in the winter - my kids and I have "rat-feet-itous" cold little rat feet when it's cold!

Here is what I have done so far!

My chain of 240.... that sucked! lol (This is the pomegranate colored yarn)

This is a bad picture (too much color) of the plum yarn being used now

Now with Fondant colored yarn being worked

True to life color... as best as I can get on a cloudy day... lavender colored yarn being used

The hardest part has been getting the ends right.... but I have been doing okay... so far!
I can't wait to see how this is going to look, but NOT looking forward to how heavy it will be as I work it, when it gets much bigger. I will occasionally update on the progress of this as it grows with a finale post of the finished project! Enjoy!

Saturday Sweetness

Such a wonderful morning! Sunny, fresh air, snow melting, warming up! Spring is coming! The bird feeder is filled and awaiting the flying feathered friends we are anxious to see. My green thumb is itching to start the garden and community garden plot as well! Times like this, I miss living back 'home' in sunny California. But I love the snow, the Black Hills, and of course the Pronghorn Antelope! I get made fun of all of the time for my love of them from locals to this area. (Anti-goats, Prairie-Rats, etc)

A mother Pronghorn Antelope with her two babies Memorial Day 2011

Me at our local museum with a beautiful Pronghorn Antelope 2011 (yes, I made the scarf)

I am nearly done with my squares for the swap I am doing. I have seven more to send out, but have finished four! I will have just enough yarn to do it!

 Swap Pictures (that I didn't update before the last shipment)

The current four finished squares and the remaining yarn

 Then, I am going to work on the "ME" project - the Stylecraft yarn is calling out to me. I am also awaiting another Deramores delivery. I realized I needed white yarn for whatever I make (I am leaning towards a blanket, even though I swore to myself I wouldn't make another blanket!) But, I couldn't buy it online, because my total was under $10! So I just had to buy another color (I purchased the last two white balls on Deramores for Stylecraft Special DK) so I bought one ball of grape and one ball of bright green) which equaled out to be $10.76 before discount. I actually thought of purchasing another 7.00mm hook, but they were all sold out. Here in the US, it is hard to find 7.0mm hooks,  but in Europe it is a common size. **Updated: I meant a US7/4.50mm (typical me getting the numbers mixed up) I have one that is Susan Bates, but I can't find anymore.... now I know I can order them from the website.

My cloudy day picture of my "Lucy Pack" - excuse the mess in background, the housework fell out of my priorities when I got the yarn! LOL

 
My little "L" is lounging on the sofa, playing a Dora game on my iPhone whilst "A" is playing with his Star Wars Lego set. I am enjoying my new computer, which I was in desperate need of! The 'old' one was a 3 year old "netbook" that just wouldn't handle doing anything anymore. The little people will be able to use it to play their learning games now and I have bought myself a nice Toshiba that is so powerful and under $500! I am a happy camper! We also had to go shopping to get this mommy some clothes since I have been wearing whatever I could get my hands on in the clearance... I do not enjoy buying myself clothes because I am not a size 5 anymore (like I was 4 years ago) and I have hid under my clothes.

My typical clothes

Not a size 5 anymore, but learning to it in my new clothes

And of course, some heels, which I might add are amazing!

 
I finally need to go job hunting now and needed decent clothes to work in an office. Because of my recent decision from the Veteran's Administration (VA) I was found to be 40% disabled. Sure, I will get financially compensated, but that will end the benefits/shorten the amount my kids receive. It's now time to get back on my feet and get back to work. I am happy because I hate having to get help, but the fathers of the little people don't take any action to help (until recently, now one does the minimum).

I am okay with it. I have a great cousin whom we live with that helps us with anything we need. Without that family member, we (the kids and I) would be in a bad way, that I know. So thank you "AB" for all of your help! We love and appreciate you!

Off I go, to buy some chocolate (not for me, surprising, isn't it?!) for a lady in the UK whom doesn't get the American Reese's candies. I want Cadbury and Kinder, so we are swapping - we have already swapped squares for our granny swap! :)  I also need to send off the squares I have finished so I don't get "L" running around with them, claiming them as her own!