Mad Sack Knitters by Melanie Douglas

Rantings.. lol

2009-10-22T19:50:00.002-04:00

Wow I just realized I have neglected to rant in awhile lol! So here I go........

I have to say my mind is buzzing lately. I am still overwhelmed and finding everyday tasks sometimes overwhelming. My Hubbys is back to work after about 8 months of treatment at home. I have to admit I am scared still..he is coughing and wheezing at night a bit again. Is it the change of the seasons or is it..the treatment didn't work... time shall tell I guess.

So with a sick hubby and three smallish :) children..life is still crazy and stressful....so what do I do ...I KNIT!

I have just returned from a trip to Rhinebeck! Their sheep and wool festival was fantastic! It was so fun because I got to go with my mom and my friend Rebeca :) We had a fun girls weekend. And of course we came home with some fantastic yarn and goodies!!! I am inspired to take my spinning wheel out of hiding! ;) Maybe after all the holiday knitting is done. Meet some very nice people at Rhinebeck! New fiber friends yippy! I also put some knitting into the "Big Sock" , they are going for the G.book of world records for the largest hand knit sock , teeheehee and I was part of it! How fun!

This October the family and I participated in the annual Team Hope Huntingtons walk again. Not as big a turn out as there was last year , but we did help the bigger cause and raised some money for research. I have been toying with a thought of a couple knitting patterns to support Huntingtons.

Oh I almost forgot!! Among all this chaos..I have returned back to work part time at a physical therapy office...I am loving it! Although it does cut into my knitting time lol ;)

I have been working on Ishbel! I am almost finished :) Can't wait to see what it looks like off the needles! So off to it....( I only have two rows left I think ;)

Learning new ways...

2009-08-28T16:56:00.002-04:00

So I was inspired to pick up the crochet hook again. I have to say this time it has clicked!! I am first and formost a knitter but how fun to not be "locked" into a project! I don't have to limit what I create just because it's not a knit pattern. I do believe this is a start of even more ocd behavior. Hope the hubby and kids don't mind tooo much lol :)

Count down to the new school year!!

2009-08-22T14:47:00.002-04:00

As the summer days are flying by at a freightening speed we are forced to prepare for school to start. I must admit I have mixed feelings about this. I love having the children home , being able to do anything we choose. But I am looking forward to the routine of school, the kids are starting to bounce off the walls (as they bicker in the back ground, while I write this blog) !

I am looking forward to apple picking! And knitting with wool. It has been such a strange summer, raining or so humid and hot you can't breath. I miss knitting outdoors

Thinking ahead to fall.

2009-08-04T23:06:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking ahead. Started a scarf that is a cool spider on one end that breaks down to a cob web...so much fun! Several of us are knitting it together. I also started a kal on raverly!!! How cool is this going to be for halloween.

Also starting some christmas gifts.

Summer days

2009-07-24T11:17:00.002-04:00

Summer days have finally arrived! Yea :) I have been working several projects. I love to pick up and play with cotton in the summer I have been playing with some dishcloths..fun...fun..fun.

And I have had a love hate relationship with the Montavilla Market Tote. I started a Knit Along on Raverly for the montavilla and it has been super helpful to hear tips and tricks from other knitters!

Rain.rain....

2009-06-14T09:09:00.003-04:00

Rain, rain, go away , my dyepot wants to come out and play! It seems we are stuck in a funk of rainy weather. It has been grey for days, weeks....... Yesterday we were teased with some sun (of course I had to be stuck inside cleaning). I want to start dyeing! Mom picked up some new yarns for me to play with. I hope they take the dye nice:) Hopefully the clouds will burn off soon :)

Seaside Bag Pattern

2009-06-07T08:38:00.003-04:00

I 've done it! It is official ! My pattern is up on Raverly. I have offered it as a free download. I am so excited and look forward to more designs. I hope everyone enjoys my pattern. The seaside Bag is a quick knit with simple cables and tear drop flap. Is is felted and finished with a glass pendent (found at your local craft store) to weight the flap closed and add some personal style!

Summer time......

2009-05-25T15:26:00.003-04:00

Well here it is already! The unoffical start to summer! Knitting by the pool, purling with the sound of ocean waves crashing close by. A lot of people put their knitting down for the summer, me , it is an inspiration to pick up my needles. There is something so wonderful about knitting outdoors for me. I truely enjoy leaving my big chair and venturing outside with my needles in hand. What would one do while sitting watching three little ones play without needles in hand. Multi-tasking, ahhhhh.. get some fresh air , some sun, let the kids get out some pent up energy, all the while creating something special.
This change of season also brings the time for me to pull out ye old dye pot. I can't wait to see the creations I come up with this year!

Hope for all of you to catch the summer knitting bug! Happy knitting ,
Melanie

Elections - No meeting May 12th

2009-05-06T20:47:00.001-04:00

Reminder - No knit night out on tuesday May 12th due to elections. See everyone on May 19th !

Test knitter wanted

2009-05-05T12:41:00.000-04:00

Melanie is at it again:) She has just designed a new bag and is need of someone willing to test the pattern. She will be posting this pattern on ravelry when it has been tested and is good to go. Thanks for the help .

Classes

2009-04-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

Sherry and Melanie would like to host a Bring a friend and we'll teach them to knit night! On Tuesday June 9th 7pm-9pm. Any one interested in this 101 class you'll need Size 8 needles and a light worsted weight yarn ( we prefer Red Heart) .

Melanies felted tote bag class comming soon by demand !!!!

De-stashing sale/swap

2009-04-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

Mad Sack Knitters will be hosting a de-stashing sale/swap. On Tuesday May 26th 7pm-9pm. This is a great opportunity to dig out some space in the closet. Bring your unwanted books, patterns, needles, yarn, notions, etc. Your trash could be someone's sweater!

Scarf Project

2009-04-29T16:02:00.000-04:00

Mad Sack Knitters will be collecting yarn for a "round robin " scarf project! We will be working on two scarves, one wool/wool blends and the other wool free! If you could go through your stash a find a skein of each of these in worsted weight. Please bring yarn into Knit Night Out Melanie will be collecting them. We would like to start this project soon! Thank-you!