Knit n Things

Um Hi....

2008-08-15T09:32:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's August already.... I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long. The longer I stay away the more overwhelming it is to try to come back. There is just so much to catch up on. So I'm totally going to skip it all or I'll never get back to this.

We'll pretend that I just spent the last two months in a black hole and didn't do anything exciting... like go to Medieval Times for the first time to be wowed by it's awesomeness

and definitely I didn't do a wilderness camping trip into the pine barrens on a kayak with barely enough water to make the boats float;

oh and there were NO surprise birthday parties in which super secret knitting projects were gifted;

there also wasn't a trip to Lake Placid;

there were no climbing/hiking trips either (the scale of this picture is hard to tell - I'm actually sitting on the edge of a cliff);

Nope I've had a really boring summer where I didn't do anything cool at all.

Foto Friday

2008-06-06T10:12:00.004-04:00

Because I'm a dope & left the picture card at home I have to do an alternative picture for today. I found this really cool game over here. Feel free to play along.

Flickr game:
the rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker).

the questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (**I had to alter this one a bit my flickr id had no photos)

Foto Friday

2008-05-30T16:33:00.002-04:00

Since it was my first week with most of my evenings to myself I took it easy and did next to nothing. Bliss...

I did hit the book store.

I'm something of a book ho - it's worse than the yarn if you can believe that! I'm really trying to get it under control so instead of buying every single book that sounds even a little interesting I take notes and look for them in the library. Or in this case I took pics. And you think knitting in public is weird - try taking a picture of a book with your cell phone. The looks I got.

Foto Friday

2008-05-23T17:48:00.003-04:00

Rugby boots Tomorrow is the last game of the spring season.

I'll be very happy to hang up my boots till September and get most of my free time back.

I've never really photographed a completly ordinary thing for no reason. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. And narrowing it down was rather difficult. I must of took 30 shots... of dirty shoes and I liked a LOT of them.

Karaoke Crochet?

2008-05-21T12:44:00.000-04:00

I went out to the bar this weekend for karaoke night. Aside from the
really old hill-billy singing "Baby Got Back" I saw the strangest
thing. Well maybe it wasn't really that strange but it caught me by
surprise.

I saw a woman crocheting – in the bar. Of course I was completely
without camera to capture the event – not even the craptasic cell
phone camera. I knit in public all the time so I don't know why I
found it so odd to see this woman in the bar crocheting. Maybe because
the lighting in the bar left a lot to be desired; maybe cuz she was
all by herself – if it had been a knit night out or something I'd have
found it less strange (which probably makes me strange); maybe cuz she
was sorta on the stage for the whole bar to see - there's raised level
where the karaoke happens and a few tables – she was at one of those
(I'd have been in a corner with my knitting partially under the
table.)

I feel bad I didn't go talk to her – even when I walked right past her
to do my own singing I couldn't bring myself to say hi – which is
weird because I'm never that shy. I'll talk to anybody but for some
reason I just couldn't talk to her. I gotta give her props she sat &
she did her thing & then she got up to sing and kicked butt. It
probably bugged people out when she choose metal over something light.
I gotta say I don't hit the bars very often but when I do it's always
an adventure!

Foto Friday

2008-05-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

It's much harder than I thought to capture a child. Don't know why in the world I thought it would be easy - musta been smokin crack.

Tisha's daughters by the way.

Sarcelle

2008-05-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

I think I might be abusing that title - how many times have I used it now?Tisha told me I wasn't doing it justice so I took some beter pictures.

I just finished the corner and I'm on to the even section so this will be the last we see of it here for a while.

I do want to finish it in a resonable amount time so I'll give you progress reports - it'll keep me working on it.... I hope.

SSP

2008-05-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

Better pics of the super secret project. All will be revealed.... eventually. First about a milliion seams to sew.

OMG - I saw Sweeney Todd this past week. Fantasitic! Totally sick and twisted - loved it!!!

Foto Friday

2008-05-09T12:00:00.001-04:00

Maybe a new feature maybe not. I'm trying to do a project 52 - it's not workin out so well. Maybe if I make it a feature I'll actually do it - like with the spinning. We'll see.

When I go to MDS&W I stay with some friends that live about a hour west of the festival - one hour drive home is way better than three. This year they were away for the weekend but let mom & me stay anyway. This is Gizmo their cat. Who'd been alone for the week prior to our visit.I haven't owned a cat for a while now. I've forgotten how spoiled rotten they can be. This cat had me opening windows and doors. Moving over on the couch to make space for his highness, putting away knitting to leave hands free for petting, and turning on faucets so he could get drinks.
Spoiled brat.

Whirling Wednesday

2008-05-07T17:26:00.004-04:00

Blue Faced Lester - totally shoulda been my first spinning project. It was so much easier to draft than my previous attempts.

I didn't get a lot of yardage though so I don't know what to do with it. I may have to resort to scarves with all this bits of handspun.

Also the new toy I picked up at MDS&W. An ebony and zebra wood spindle. I don't really spindle spin - but I had to have it!

The fiber with it is merino tencel from C*EYE*BER Fibers. The color is just amazing and it's so soft! I doubt I'll spin it on the spindle though. I'm not that good with it and I don't want to mess it up.

Totally Random

2008-05-02T11:27:00.003-04:00

I always seem to forget how boring super secret knitting is for blogging. Next week I should be entering the crunch phase so expect a bout of startitis sometime after that.

I'm very excited - blogger just announced scheduled posting! Yea!! I tend to write a couple of posts at the same time anyway so it will be extra cool to not have to get back to the computer to get them posted. Maybe I'll actually post to the blog more than once a week this summer.

I have to return the Ashford this weekend. The amazing woman who let me borrow it for the past year has finally asked for it back. I can't tell you how unbelievably sad this makes me. It isn't even on the list for wheels I'm considering buying so it's weird that I'm so upset to see it go. I suppose you always have a soft spot for your first.

I'm off to Maryland this weekend. It'll just be me & mom this year - so I expect a much slower paced relaxing day. Mom and I both have a very lackadaisical attitude about shopping. I may even take pictures if it doesn't rain. If you see me say Hi!!

Maryland???

2008-04-28T12:13:00.002-04:00

MDS&W - who's going? Is there a meet-up? Where's the meet-up? How come I can't find anything about a meet-up? I've missed the last several meet-ups cuz I'm a flakey spaz or I was traveling with non-bloggers. I don't want to miss the meet-up this time and I can't find anything about it. Help!

Bitten!

2008-04-22T15:23:00.003-04:00

I've been bitten by the knitting bug! After having next to no knitting mojo for a few months it's almost weird to want to knit obsessively again. Maybe it's the weather - finally warm enough to hit my favorite park for a relaxing lunch hour with my sticks.

The colors are much more subtle than this in real life.

This is such a great knit. Easily memorized - no need to check the chart obsessively and believe it or not - easy enough to work on in social situations! It's perfect!

Busy busy

2008-04-17T09:10:00.003-04:00

There's not to much going on on the knitting front - which is why I've been so quite. I'm busy as all get out with rugby and softball and general spring goodness - but the knitting not so much. I have been working on this super secret project. But I can't tell you about it cuz the giftee has been known to pop in on occasion. Since I hate those people that say OMG I have a secret but you can't know about it ... here's a little sneak peak. (sorry bout the yucky cell phone shots)

That's really the only thing I've got on needles at the moment. I finished my multi-directional scarf. I think this is only the second scarf I've actually completed since my very first project way so long ago. I made it extra long and I'm so glad I did. I loves it berry much - and if it had been even a little bit shorter I'd have dubbed it too short and never worn it. Also - how wonderful for me that the day after I finished the weather broke & I now have no need of a scarf - typical. Maybe that's the secret to gettingthe warm weather to start - finish up the cold weather knitting ;)

Since I hate only having one thing to knit I started this yesterday. (again with the junky pic)

I decided I didn't like the drape of the Jeanie in STR - it's just too stiff - so it's going to get ripped out - I bought a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy (the recommended yarn) to try again but I'm not in a rush. In the meantime I needed something to do with the shawls worth of STR that I've got. I've loved this forever. Mine won't be as delicate cuz I'm using a fingering weight instead of a lace weight and it'll also wind up being much bigger but I don't really have a problem with that. I figure if it's not in lace weight the odds of it being finished sometime in this decade go up exponentially and I'd rather it be done than be exactly like the picture!

Happy Spring!

2008-04-07T17:30:00.008-04:00

I welcomed in the spring with the cold that just wont quit - today is my first functional day in well over a week. Blech - I'll spare you the details.

So to celebrate spring - hehe - thought I'd show you a winter project that never got blogged. (I started a handy dandy note book so we should have less of the forgetting to blog stuff now.) This was my Christmas gift from my mother. God I love having a knitter for a mom! My Mom - Bless her little knitter heart - surpassed my every knitting ambition with this one. The woman made me a sweater. In secret! Without any help from me! I'm without words for how amazing this is - oh - and the sweater is pretty amazing too!

Details: The Dickinson Pullover (Ravelry link - only one I could find)

Yarn: Moda Dea 100% superwash Merino

Other deats like needle size & whatnot I haven't a clue. I do know she made the second to largest size and it's a nice comfy fit.

I'm just the luckiest kid with the bestest mom!

Planning?

2008-03-24T18:12:00.004-04:00

I sat down to blog today and realized - I have no current pictures. Oops. It's my new habit to take all the pictures I'm going to need for the next week or so at the same time. It helps me immensely with keeping the blog updated - lack of pics is usually what keeps me from blogging. Notice how I've been so sporadic the past month? Yea - haven't had a chance to do my weekly photo shoot. Anywho - I've noticed that I wind up forgetting things (ex: the Lombard socks & the handspun mitts were finished eons ago - but there's no photographic evidence).

I also have a couple of projects that I photographed - and then ripped out before they ever got mentioned on the blog. Kinda no point in blogging something that doesn't exist anymore. Ex: about a million years ago I got to test knit a pattern for Kelly - the pattern thoroughly kicked my ass - no one will ever let me test knit again - and the socks got ripped (well technically they're not ripped - I just don't have it in me yet - but they will be, I've accepted defeat and all that just need to get on with the ripping.)

I guess my photography rules the blog. If you never hear about a project again - it's not always that it hasn't been finished. It may have just never been photographed. The blog is a great way to keep track of your knitting - but how do you keep track of your blog to make sure it all gets in there???

What's in a name?

2008-03-18T16:14:00.003-04:00

I've been seeing this all over the place recently. On a whim I did mine. It's rather eerie how right it is. It's good that it says nice things - mostly.

What Jody Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.

You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries.

You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.

You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.

At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.

You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.

People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.

You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.

You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Colinette Socks

2008-03-15T13:44:00.002-04:00

The "ugly" socks are done. I luvs them lots & lots. They fit me perfect - which is rare for socks I make for myself, and they're not even ugly anymore. I find the chaos of colors rather pleasing actually. Plus with all these colors I can were them with everything!

I used a simple pattern that was inspired from Nora (that links right to the pattern) mine are bit different - because I don't follow directions very well - she writes k1 p1 - I do k2 p2 - not that it matters. They came out great anyway. A simple texture that doesn't fight with the yarn and keeps me entertained!

The last suprise...

2008-03-14T16:23:00.002-04:00

Here's the final shots of the baby surprise. I opted to only do one button at the top - cuz seriously who buttons baby jackets???

I also felt like it looked unfinished - especially on the edges where I carried the colors up. So I put on a reverse single crochet edge (aka crab stitch) .

Considering I hate miles of plain knitting this was a fun knit . For some reason garter stitch is less annoying than stockinette - who knows why - and because you have to pay attention to your numbers it doesn't get too boring. It's huge though - this thing will probably fit her till she's a couple of years old ;)

Welcome

2008-03-12T15:28:00.001-04:00

Cheyenne Helena

7 lbs 8 oz 19"

8:18 am - 3/11/08

Whirling Wednesday

2008-03-05T17:22:00.003-05:00

Two posts in two days I know - try not to faint from the shock.

Anyway - I finished up the rest of that backwards plied green merino. It hasn't been soaked yet, but it's been hanging about relaxing for a bit. You can barley tell which skein I screwed up on.

I forget the yardage but it's quite a bit - have no clue what to make with it though. For now it just goes in the basket to look pretty.

Suprise!

2008-03-04T11:37:00.006-05:00

The amoeba is done. The plan was to have this stuff ready for her due date (the 11th) and bring it to the hospital. Her friends decided to have a shower, I found out on Monday about the shower on Saturday. Nice.

I woulda been able to seam the shoulder and buy a button (I'm only using one at the top) but I wove in ends as I knit. Thought I was doin a good thing. Half the ends are woven in on one side - the other half are woven in on the other side - as in the right side. Brilliant.

My brother mentioned to my mom on the QT that she was disappointed that she didn't get any hand knit stuff for the baby. He told her (Laurie) we probably waited to the last minute & weren't done with whatever we were making. I resent that. I finished three weeks early dammit! Ya can't win.

A certain Mad Housewife mentioned she like to see some shots of the the putting together of the amoeba. Here's the easiest way I could find to explain it.

Find the little cut outs you made for the neck.

Put them together.

If it doesn't look like something you could where put them together the other way. Long ends together vs. short ends together.

That looks more like it.

Fold the sleeves. Sew the shoulders and your done.

Explanations

2008-02-27T16:45:00.002-05:00

This says it all... I have nothing to say - and I'm not gonna feel guilty about it. So there!

But I will soon. I'm almost done with the BSJ - it's so cute!

Not Enough

2008-02-18T10:36:00.006-05:00

Last weekend Mom & I took a knitter's feild trip down to a not so local yarn shop. While we were down in the area a friend recommended we stop by this quilting shop down the road. Which we did.

You wouldn't believe some of the stuff - sooo beautiful! I am a very bad blogger - didn't take a single picture. I was surrounded by amazing quilts, miles of beautiful fabric, and a Mom that knows how to quilt (once upon a time she took a quilting class). It would have been a sin to leave without something right? Lesson - fabric is almost as bad as yarn.

Mom found these cute little things called Jelly Rolls. All the fabric you need for a quilt pre-cut into 2 1/2" strips in quardinated colors. Wonderful! No picking out colors for hours yea!! We bought a jelly roll in a colorway we liked and book with a bunch of design ideas specifically for jelly rolls & we were on our way.

Meet Mom's Kenmore - circa 1970
Lot's of little strips to sew together - easy.
Look Tisha I even managed to sew a straight line!
Strip "units" all sewn up ready for cutting.

Some fancy cutting & sewing - more straight lines! And we've got some little squares ready to make pinwheels! I really can't belive how fast this went. The top half of the quilt is just about finished - and it took just a weekend. Granted we abandoned the idea of a full size quilt in favor of a more managable baby size - to go with the new baby we're getting on March 11th (they didn't change Laurie's due date - yea!) This was a lot of fun. Sorry for the lame pitures - it's overcast today and I'm being lazy about draggin out the tri-pod and the good camera - it would take up quilting time!!! Like I didn't have enought obsesive hobbies.

**must also apologize for any spelling/typos I didn't catch blogger won't spell check - what's up with that???

Happy Turkey Day!

2008-02-14T10:47:00.002-05:00

Even though it's an evil non-holiday created by some shlub to sell cards & chocolate & make single women feel like total failures for not having that "special someone" to share it with I'd like you all to have a wonderful Valentines Day.
Luv you guys lots and lots and lots and lots and lots - you make my day - even the evil ones. :D