Early Birthday Gifts

Spring break is coming to an end and I have to go back to school tomorrow afternoon (it is also my birthday tomorrow). This weekend ended up turning into my birthday weekend because I won't be home all day for my birthday tomorrow. My mom took me to see Duplicity and we had cake and ice cream. In addition, I got to open up my gifts. I ended up getting a ball winder, the ball umbrella, a Fiber Trends felted slipper pattern, Cascade 220 Wisteria (2) and Pesto (1) yarn, and size 13 circs. She also made me a coin purse since mine was stolen in Krakow, Poland. I was really happy to get the ball winder and the umbrella - yay, no more ball winding with a stick and wrists that hurt.

Yoga/Pilates Mat Bag

Pattern: Om Yoga Mat Bag from Stitch and Bitch Nation
Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream Solid (3 large balls)
Needles: Size 8 and 9

Last year, I started this project and finished the strap, but the bag was never very successful. As usual, I've had a few knitting ADD moments, so I picked up this project again. I ended up trying the lace pattern twice before it started to work. I found out that I have to not multi-task when working on it and I have to really focus on the pattern to eliminate mistakes. Thus far it is going really well, but really slow. I guess the key is that it has worked out thus far without any mistakes.

Dobby SockMark

I started this project a little over a year ago and had to stop because when I started it I've never knitted a sock and I certainly did not know how to do a short row heel. I was googleing videos of short row heels and came across this one that contains no wraps - it was very helpful. The project is finally finished, but one side is a little wider than the other. I'm not sure why, but I'm kind of disappointed with it. I have leftover yarn and I think that later on I will do this project again, just after I've knitted several other projects.

I used size 0 DPN with two different colors of Ellan Peruvian Baby Silk and followed the Dobby Style SockMark Pattern by Dee Brown. There is a free PDF pattern on ravelry.

Kitten Paw Dishcloth

My friend Susie never allows me to pay for anything anymore. Wednesday night we went to Pedro's for dinner and she wouldn't let me pay for my dinner. Since she wouldn't accept money from me, I decided to make her Kitted Paw Print Cloth by Rhonda White. I had some Lily Sugar'n Cream left over from a previous project and used it up for this one. I used size 8 needles instead of 7 because I like larger dishcloths. Overall the project went well, but because I used the larger needles, the pattern is a little bit harder to see.

Purple Socks

Now that I actually have time to do "nothing" for awhile, I've been working on my purple ribbed socks. I just finished the cuff and will probably work on the leg tomorrow for a bit. I cannot wait until the socks are done. Unfortunately it doesn't mean that I can start a new project once they are finished. I will have to work on projects that are in my WIP bin before I can even think about picking up a new project.

I am glad that spring break is finally here, especially when I get to have my massage on Tuesday. My whiplash is worse than I thought. My neck was starting to be problematic this past Wednesday and now a whole new mess of pain is starting to flare up. Yay for chiropractic care and massage therapy.