Knit n Things

2010-01-16T12:26:00.001-05:00

Resistance is futile...I caved. I got a new toy.

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2009-12-25T01:08:00.001-05:00

HA! Made it...it badly needs blocking - and it hasn't been lined but it has all the appropriate parts :) so I'm calling it done!

Merry ho ho to you & yours!

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2009-12-22T23:30:00.001-05:00

Somehow I just don't think I'm gonna to make it.

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Brace yourselves....

2009-12-04T15:33:00.004-05:00

There will be actual knitting content in this post. Try not to faint. Its really not that exciting.

Just a couple of hats I did for the Caps for Kids project that my guild does every year.

The candy cane hat is my favorite.

2009-11-24T12:51:00.001-05:00

Hi blog! I've been thinking about you a lot. I want to make time but .... obviously thats not happening very often. Soon though...

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2009-10-16T08:50:00.001-04:00

Everyone blocks sweaters in the car on the way to Rhinebeck...right?

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Ummm.....

2009-09-03T09:08:00.001-04:00

Your kidding right??? *Photo swiped from the preview of the Interweave Knits Weekend Issue

2009-08-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

Hi - long time no blog! Only reason I'm checking in now is cuz I'm sitting in an airport bored off my gourd.... I'm going on vacation :) so exciting! My rents and I are headed down to Florida for the week. A much needed break for all three of us! I'm so excited. Now if we could hurry up and board the dam plane I'd be even happier.

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Fail!

2009-07-08T11:35:00.003-04:00

I have some crazy memories of my mom canning a lot when I was young. It involved HUGE amounts of vegetables, an entire weekend, much back breaking work, and completely trashing your kitchen. Not my idea of fun.

Then I saw some yummy canning goodness happening over at OSOH. Canning, in a New York apartment? (Not that I've ever been in one - but I imagine the kitchens to be tiny.) I was intrigued and just had to try my hand at home canning so I ran out and bought this book.

I decided to try tomatillos and strawberries for my first try. It was an .... interesting experience. I have never handled a raw tomatillio... they smell kinda gross so I couldn't imagine them tasting yummy at all. They look pretty though.

I'm not really the kinda cook that measures things... usually I use recipes as a guide rather than a rule. That didn't really work out so well. I added too much lemon juice & it threw off the balance of the flavors. (Luckily it's still edible - even almost good)

I also didn't add enough stuff to the jars. Mom bugged out about there not being enough stuff to hold the seal properly. I was just stoked that I got a good seal to start with. That little pop was extremely exciting! (my life... so exhilarating!)

Next up were the strawberries. Sigh - I totally screwed those up. Again measuring bit me in the ass - I measured the sugar but not the strawberries - recipe said 8 cups of berries at about a pound and a half. I had 2 pounds I don't need to measure, except there's WAY to much sugar. It's suppose to be a strawberry balsamic jam - but I forgot the balsamic. It's way to loose. Not really a jam - more like a syrup. I tried it over ice cream last night - it's like candied strawberries. It's too sweet to eat. I was suppose to get 6 jars full - I only got 4 just think about how much extra sugar is in there.... yuck. So now I've got 4 jars of strawberry syrup - that I have no clue what to do with.

I must say though - I had fun... can't wait to try it again.

Guilt

2009-07-01T16:28:00.001-04:00

I spent this past weekend camping with my family (there’s nothing quite like camping in the rain with a toddler – but we’ll get to that another day.) If you’ve never been camping a big part of your trip is eating, sometimes it seems as if your whole trip revolves around the food. Well, all weekend long I had to listen to my SIL every single time she put something into her mouth. “I’m so fat” “I shouldn’t be eating this.” “I need to eat this [insert food here] like I need a whole in my head.” For the record my SIL is not fat – she’s a mother of two with a curvy figure who looks fantastic. She beat herself up over everything she ate. It was exhausting.

I went to lunch yesterday with a co-worker & had to listen to her do the same thing. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do women beat themselves up constantly over their eating habits & their body shape? I have another friend who is a size 6 who just loves to tell me how she needs to loose 10 pounds – cuz her “back fat” is out of control. Seriously?! I’ve got bigger rolls under my chin!

I have my own issues with food (don’t we all). I used to have a very dangerous relationship with food. I was a serious binge eater – and probably would have become a bulimic had I been capable (I can’t make myself – I’ve tried.) Over the last few years I’ve done a lot of soul searching and developed a much healthier relationship with food and my body. I let go of the guilt. I eat what I want when I want & answer to no one for it. I’ve found that without the guilt I eat less. I even eat healthier – by not denying the bad foods I allow myself enjoy to “good” foods more often.

You all have seen pictures of me – I’m a big girl, but I’ve accepted my body and learned to focus on the positives – I have great legs, and cute feet, and an awesome rack. ;) Is my tummy a little pudgier than it should be – probably – does that define me as a person? Absolutely not. When I stopped letting food define me I became a much happier person.

I’m healthy and I’m active and I’d rather be fat than go through the mental torture I used to put myself through. Letting go of the guilt was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It took me years. I still have my moments of guilt/depression triggered eating – old habits are very hard to break. But I’m SO much better than I was. I can count my last binge in months instead of days.

I had a point… what was it…. I forget… oh yes, my SIL. So I spent the weekend with her & her guilt & her issues and it made me feel really shitty about myself (she is much smaller than me & if she’s fat then I’m the size of a house.) I hate that I let her make me feel like that. I hate that women do that to each other all the time without even realizing they’re doing it. Don’t even get me started on clothing stores & Hollywood. It’s ridiculous. I have clothes in my closet that range over 6 different sizes, but we’re not going there. My point is we’re all beautiful regardless of shape or size. And be careful when you criticize yourself – you may be hurting someone else in the process.

Round Valley

2009-06-18T15:03:00.000-04:00

Went camping with Gretchen & Paula a few weeks ago... I'm so behind - not having a computer to deal with pictures is such a pain. The number of photos on my memory card is down right frighting!!

We went to Round Valley State Park - can you say gorgeous!! The water was so crystal clear & so blue. It was amazing. Just look at the water behind me in this photo - you can see clear to the bottom and I'm in maybe 10' or 15' of water - it was surreal.Paula & I have been doing this kayaking/camping trip for a few years now & we always have a blast. This year we added to the fun by bringing Gretchen & Paula's daughter.

We had a great time! Even when the heavens opened and started dumping water on us in torrential amounts. There's nothing quite like camping in the rain!

It really was something else - we plan to go back later in the summer when the water is a little warmer - I totally want to do some swimming in that crystal clear water :)

Baby Gifts

2009-06-12T14:50:00.005-04:00

I never showed you the baby stuff I did

for Kim - who incidently had a healthy baby girl on May 20th.

I love the way the Starwars onsies came out. I especially love that I made them for a girl! I'm such a rebel.

I also made her this. I bought this pattern many eons ago before I ever learned to knit. And it turned out just as beautiful as I new it would. Also... it's stash!!! You would think that would be a good thing but I ran out of white & had to buy more & wound up with two skiens more than I started with.... oh well I tried right?

I knit therefore I am?

2009-05-19T11:34:00.004-04:00

I feel like I owe you guys a bunch of stuff.... probably because between my two camera's I've got probably a thousand pictures that need to be downloaded. I'm dreading the sorting - it goes back to Christmas.

My computer is toasted - I've got a friend fixing (we all know how efficient that is) we're going on maybe 3 months with no PC at home. I bought myself an itty bitty laptop cuz I couldn't have NO computer - but it sucks for dealing with pictures so I haven't bothered to download anything. Putting pics on the work computer is probably not such a great idea... but...tough... a girls gotta blog right?

I made mom some socks for Mother's day. I think these are called Rainy Day Lace or something like that. They're from, the now defunct, MagKnits (my tendency to hoard patterns paid off.)
They're a sport weight sock (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino) - which worked out well since I've been so busy knitting time is minimal.

Busy, busy - did I mention that I'm back in school? I can't keep anything straight these days. This semester kicked my ass - I took intro to Philosophy.... why, why, why? Blech - most annoying class ever. I'm way too analytical for all that crap... I did well in the end but it was such an evil class. Learning is supposed to be fun. I've got some fun stuff lined up for the summer - it better not disappoint!

Smiles

2009-05-06T16:24:00.000-04:00

Go watch this... best thing ever!!! Totally made my day!

Woot!

2009-04-16T11:47:00.000-04:00

I got a new toy!!
Now if the weather would hurry up and get warm I could go play with it.
Also... that's my new car in the background - aint it cute!

Eh

2009-04-13T11:42:00.000-04:00

I finished the EZ baby sweater - I wasn't super pleased with the way the buttons look. But I didn't hate them enough to cut them off and figure out an alternative.

This is going to the same Mom-to-be that I made the snowboarder onsies for. She's a first timer so my Mother and I put together a big basket full of goodies.

My mom made her this "rag" quilt. The otherside has all the seams cut up and frayed. It's really cute - but for some reason she didn't take a picture of the interesting side.

Freezey Eazy Peazy

2009-04-03T11:35:00.003-04:00

Why have I not done these before??? So easy and so dam cute! Freezer paper stencils are my new favorite baby shower gift! Mom-to-be is a piano teacher & dad-to-be is an avid snowboarder.

The snowboarder ones are my favorite.

Baby-to-be will be named Penelope - so I couldn't resist doing a "penny" as well.

I've got another baby shower next week dad-to-be is a huge Star Wars nut. Can't wait to see how Yoda comes out!

WHY???

2009-03-27T09:21:00.001-04:00

Somebody please.... explain this madness?

2009-03-16T11:17:00.002-04:00

My friends always make me the nicest things. A tissue holder made by my friend Nicole in her first sewing attempt outside her class. Beautiful!

PS - I figured out I can blog from my cell phone - exciting!

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Wow!

2009-03-12T09:33:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the Spring Knitty??? OMG - I wanna make this, and this, and this, and this is has a really intriguing construction thats very tempting and these are ridiculously pretty and ... does anybody know where I can pick up a few extra hours in a day?

Getting to know you...

2009-03-10T12:18:00.002-04:00

This just sounded like such a good idea - I'm sure you know way more about me then I know about you - and I'd LOVE to know about you!!

Shamelessly stolen right off One Scheme of Happiness...

I want YOU to all to do a little cut and paste, fill out the questions below and post them in the comments. I don't care if you think I already know, or if you think I don't know you well enough to care - lurkers, this is your chance to come on out and play!

So get in there and tell me all about you. If you post questions on your blog, let me know and I'll click through and answer there as well! Short or long answers, whatever you prefer. If you don't like the question, change it to something else and answer that ~ I'm not much for rules.

1. Can you cook? What?
2. What was your dream growing up?
3. What talent do you wish you had?
4. Favorite place?
5. Favorite vegetable?
6. What was the last book you read?
7. What zodiac sign are you?
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
9. Worst Habit?
10. Do we know each other in real life?
11. What is your favorite sport?
12. Is a glass of water half-full or half empty?
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me (after we called for help, of course)?
14. Would you share an embarrassing moment with me?
15. Tell me one weird fact about you:
16. Do you have any pets?
17. Can you read a book upside down?
18. What time is it where you are now?
19. Who was the scariest fairy-tale/children movie hero ever for you?
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22. What color eyes do you have?
23. Ever been arrested?
24. A cop or a robber?
25. If you won 10,000 pounds/dollars today, what would you do with it?
26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?
27. Favourite fastfood restaurant?
28. Do you believe in ghosts?
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30. Do you swear a lot?
31. Biggest pet peeve?
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Spring is for Babies

2009-03-09T15:56:00.003-04:00

How fast can you knit a baby sweater? I can knit one this fast...

I got an invite last week for my brother's best friends' baby shower. Figured the new arrival could use a little knitted love and cast on.

Gotta love EZ - I've made this pattern before - and other than the fact that I forgot that I didn't like the buttonhole situation I love this little thing. So cute and so fast! Now I just need to get it done before the 28th so I can finish the blanket I need for the 5th. The blanket is crochet & half finished so once this is done that will hopefully go pretty quick - but seriously what's with all babies??? Haven't had to knit for a baby in over a year and now I've got two!Sheesh.

Luv that new car smell!

2009-02-20T18:40:00.003-05:00

The silver lining of crappy accident is that I get fancy new wheels! I got a (new) 2008 Dodge Caliber in khaki - my first car with a light color interior - and other than the fact that I keep having palpitations about getting it dirty I loves it.

Look a sheep!

Coolest feature right here! Yay no more fuzzy iPod signals!

Um... I just realized I forgot to take a picture of the outside - I'm such a dope.

Good Reads

2009-02-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

A few years ago - out of curiosity - I started a list of the books I read that year. I got a small little notebook and kept it next to the bed to jot down the info in when I'm done with the book. I had so much fun with my little notebook that I kept it up - just for me cuz I find it amusing. I never really got into the idea of making a spreadsheet & sharing it with others - to much like work for my own entertainment.

But I found the coolest thing! Have you seen this website? So easy!! In like five minutes I posted a whole mess of books I've read - just off the top of my head! It's like Ravelry for book worms... very fun.

Not Fun

2009-01-23T10:05:00.000-05:00

I got rear-ended. What a nightmare. I'm fine... my car however...

Not really what I was planning when I said I wanted to take more pictures. And as an aside - having a car accident is a really good reason to keep you car clean - what a freakin mess.

Miss You!

2009-01-22T09:53:00.003-05:00

I miss the blog - it keeps me on a knitting schedule & I actually keep track of whats done & not done. Plus all my knit buddies out there.... I'm gonna try - we'll see how it goes. I'm not gonna feel guilty for not being here though.

So I got a new toy for Christmas. There was some returning and exchanging - that took a while -but I managed to get this earlier this week. It's small and easily fits in my purse so I'm hoping to be more of a picture taker. Maybe that will jog my blogging - or not who knows. We shall see.

Chocolate covered twinkie - oh my good!!!

The Saga

2008-12-11T10:55:00.002-05:00

This is going to have to be a two parter cuz I just realized I never took pictures of the finished product.

Mom's birthday was on Sunday - Happy Birthday Mom - and she's been making Christmas stockings for my cousins forever. This year I decided she should have her own stocking. So I checked out some patterns - found a couple I liked and cobbled them together. This is the first draft.

I decided I hated the arrows I had put in with her name. I'd done it so I could do the name in Fair isle without messing with duplicate stitching or intarsia - but it just made everything way too busy. Unfortunately I didn't decide this until I'd already started the foot - no way I was ripping out weeks worth of knitting. What's a knitter to do?

Why cut the stocking in half of course! I picked up the stitches at both sides of the section I wanted to remove - and then cut it out.

Then i put them on a needle and re-knit the section for the name in plain white.

Then I sat down and grafted the two pieces together - for TWO hours. Much to my annoyance - the gauge was off (plain knitting vs. two color knitting makes for bigger gauge) and I had to do this whole process twice!! I'll never need to read kitchner instructions again. Then there was the re-knitting of the foot section (dam you gauge!) but I'll save that saga for the finished project pics.

Happy Thursday

2008-11-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

She Knits???

2008-11-22T15:19:00.004-05:00

Figured it's about time to show some knitting. Unbelievably I do still do that. Wouldn't know it from this blog though.

So here's some things that are on needles - the sock edition.

Firestarter socks in STR - bleeding hearts colorway. Love the yarn - love/hate the pattern. The directions for the gusset are kind of sort of unclear. It's one of those that tells you where to put the marker (which I ignored) and then bases the rest of the directions on where the markers are located. I've already done it once & wound up with my cable stitches in the wrong place - I didn't like it so it got ripped - now they're in time out. This is why I usually don't follow the directions for the heel & gusset.

Socks of my own recipe in this wonderful stuff I got at MDS&W last year. Wish I could find the label cuz I'd by more. It's that good.

These are in time out too. I think they're destined to be ripped - the fit sucks. Look at that gathering in the heel - ick. The yarn is Koigu & I think it's just too fat for the pattern as it's written. I've already worked the pattern as is to the toe - but they were WAY to long. I could gift them but I'm to lazy to re-work the numbers to make the lenth work with the awsesome patterning on the bottom.I'd rather just rip 'em out - I think.

Stash...

2008-11-17T15:07:00.002-05:00

What do you do with your stash? Mine is in these.

A total pain in the ass when you need something in the bottom tote. Stuff usually winds up sitting around in bags & piles till I get the motivation to get into the totes. Totally getting on my nerves. So I bought these under the bed bags.

They're AMAZING!! Less space - more room! How is that even possible???

I heart them SO much! The yarn actually gets put away & it's easy to get out. It's wonderful to not feel overwhelmed by all the yarn!!!

Suprise!

2008-11-12T15:05:00.003-05:00

My niece came to my house this past weekend.

I want to knit her 10 more - it's SO CUTE!!! How did I not know it would be this cute on her??

But how do I make the sleeves longer? For the life of me I can't remember which end is knit first and wether or not I can lengthen the sleeves. I knit this sweater - I know I did - but I don't remember how it works... guess that's the suprise *g*

Are you kidding me???

2008-10-22T13:04:00.001-04:00

Last night between classes I headed over to the campus convenience store to grab a soda. I get to the counter and the kid scans my snack and my soda, it comes to $2.15. I hand him a five, half a second later I hand him a quarter. But he's already put $5 into the machine - no kidding he breaks out the calculator, but that doesn't work. So he tries to switch the screen on the computer to get to the calculator in there. He fumbles around with it, pushes some buttons, he looks pretty panicked. Finally I take pity on the kid:

Actual exchange

Me: "it's $3.10"

Kid: "what?"

Me: "my change, it's $3.10"

Kid: "are you sure?"

Are you kidding??? A convenience store - on campus - run by STUDENTS!!! Holy crap - I need a drink.

Crack Pages

2008-10-21T14:53:00.003-04:00

It always breaks my heart a little when they turn a book into a movie. Thousands and thousands of people are going to miss the experience of a really amazing book because they go see the movie - which inevitably is some awful abomination of the original story. Every single time they transfer pages to screen I'm disappointed but I know that I'll see the movie eventually. However there's no way in hell I'm going without experiencing the book. (I still haven't seen Prince Caspian because I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.) So when I heard that Twilight by Stephanie Meyer was going to the big screen I put my name on the library's waiting list.

I downloaded the book audio book like a month and a half ago - Twilight wasn't anywhere near the top of the to be read list. I finally started the book Saturday. I have to say - first few chapters not really that impressed, what's all the fuss about? Teenage angst - moving to a new school blahblahblah - the narrator being rather blase didn't really help. I kept listening giving it more time to get good - much easier to do in audio than paper - that and I don't have any other audio books downloaded at the moment.

Then all of a sudden - WHAMMO - I can't turn the dam thing off! I've been walking around with headphones on all day - only reason I'm disconnected right now? Cuz the battery on the MP3 player is dead. Book? Still not that good - I mean not really, it's simplistic and the main character is ridiculous, I've definitely read better - but I'm addicted. I can't put the dam thing down! It's like crack - I wouldn't believe it when I started it - but holy cow sneak attack (luv it when that happens!) Now of course I'm screwed - the waiting list for the second book? 40 people. Grrrr...

This is important!

2008-10-03T12:34:00.002-04:00

I don't know have a clue how to make YouTube & blogger play nice so go here and watch this.

Happy First Day of Fall!!!

2008-09-22T12:03:00.002-04:00

Yea! Fall is here – the weather is cooling off and it’s lovely! Can’t wait for the colors to start changing.

I know I’ve been ridiculously scarce. I’ve just been so busy that when I’m not busy I just want to sit around and RELAX for a minute. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. I’ve given up TV completely to try and make more time but it doesn’t really seem to be working. I usually give up TV during the summer anyway – but the fall TV season is starting and I want to watch my shows… it’s hard to give it up but I just don’t have the time.

Where’s all my time going?? Well – I’ve decided I need go back to school & finish my edjamakaton. Not going to college after high school was a good decision for me at the time. I wasn’t ready then. I went back about 5 years after graduation and did really well, but I tried to work full time and go to school full time and after a year of that I burned out. Too much at once, I needed a break. One semester off turned to two ….

So now its ten years later and I’m going back, and.… OMG what the devil was I thinking?!?!? This is hard. I don’t think my brain works anymore. I had a quiz last week – I panicked over the first question. Spent way too much time trying to figure out the answer & probably bombed the rest of the test. It’s been ten years since I had to take a test. I must be nuts. I don’t knit, I barely read, I do math problems till my eyes cross. I keep trying to tell myself, it’ll calm down once I get used to my new schedule, you don’t have to give up your fun stuff forever, you’ll get the rhythm of it soon. How long do you suppose that will take, cuz dam I miss my fun stuff!!!

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

U-G-L-Y

2008-02-11T15:45:00.000-05:00

You ain't got no alibi - you ugly! LOL I think that everytime I pick them up. Ugly or not I luvs this sock!!! It looked really pretty in the ball and it does have it's redeeming qualities. It's like one of those dogs that's so ugly it's cute - and you can't help but luv it. I figured since I couldn't make them much worse I'd try out some short row heels. Once side is beautiful nailed it perfect.

The otherside - eh not so much. Am I picking up the wraps backwards or something???

Jeanie

2008-02-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

Not sure how I'm feeling about this. I'm using STR in Rook-y. Which is lovely but I don't think it's makin it. I feel like the yarn is too tight - does that make sense? The pattern called for Dream in Color Smooshy but I had a gift certificate for Blue Moon - and who wouldn't want a whole stole in STR? Besides I couldn't pick a color I liked in the Smooshy - the colors looked different at every place I found it - sometimes the internet sucks.

At anyrate - this may be destined for the frog pile - I'm just not loving it, and it's too much work if you don't love it. At this point I wish like hell I'd have swatched - it would be a much less painful ripping experiance. Oh well lesson learned.

Whirling Wednesdays

2008-02-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

Title shamelessly stolen from Kelly - I just couldn't help myself it's so clever! Also don't expect it to be a regular weekly feature. I might shoot for once a month though. That's actually a really good plan to make me spin more often. You heard it here first - the first Wednesday of the month (cuz that's what today is) will officailly be Whirling Wednesday! Come hell or high water I will have something to show you - I hope ;)

Onto the good stuff. I finally got over myself and fixed thebackwards plyed bobbin. I think I've pretty much fixed my hitchiker plying woes with all that treaddling - must untwist and then re-twist the right way. Who knew you could get a workout spinning. My poor achin leg.

It's kinda wonky from all the extra twistyness but I'm hoping that comes out in the wash. I've got another chunk of it to ply (that's not backwards) and then I'll throw it in the tub.

While the backwards plyied stuff was in time out I spun up this bobbin. It's merino tencel - shinny & pretty. It gave me fits at first and then I dunno something clicked and I did all this. Now I'm on the second bobbin and it's giving me fits again. But that's OK cuz the fits are the reason the other stuff got fixed - well that & I'm "reading" a great audio book - yea for audio books - I just had to continue sitting still to finish it.

Suprise!

2008-02-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

I'm going to have a new neice in about four. I was suposed to have another 2 months but they think they goofed on her due date. So I figured I should get crackin on her sweater. It's going to be a Baby Suprise jacket - with random stripes thanks to my ultra high tech random number generator! I hope it looks ok when it's done cuz I have no idea what part of the sweater I'm making at the moment. Unknown sweater bits and crazy random stripes - yea fun!!

Mulit-D scarf

2008-02-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

I've got a couple of new projects going on but it's been a bad week for pictures so this is all I've got to show ya.

The scarf progresses. I'm starting to loose intrest. I've only got a a few more triangles to go - maybe four - but it's starting to become tedious. As all scarves do eventually.
I learned something very interesting on this project. I've been knitting for probably three years now and I just now learned that I do SSK decreases backwards - through the back loop. Hope the knitting police don't come banging on my door to make me fix three years worth of twisted decreases.

@#$(&%!*

2008-01-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

***Any knitters with queasy stomachs should probably bypass this post. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Way back in the summer time I started this beautiful lace stole. Because lace takes me such a ridiculously long ass time to knit I decided not to bore you all with the details until I had one half finished and had started the other half (it's one of those deals that you do two halves then graft them together.)

I' mostly a social knitter complex projects don't get a whole lot of time, but I diligently worked on my stole for months and then put it away for x-mas knits and other interests.
X-mas knits are over and Laurie's hat has been gifted (she loved it by the way - was very excited about the foldedness said it would keep her ears warmer) so I broke out the waves stole to start work on it again.

There are no words to explain what happened. Well - actually I had quite a few choice ones at the time but none that are appropriate to put in to print. Can you see? No? I'll blow it up for you - hold your breath...

Yea - ain't that some shit. My guess is something ate it. Makes a knitter want to cry. There may have even been a few tears. Took me a month to gather the strength to photograph it. Still haven't the heart to throw it out. (*&%$)@#\$#&^* BUGS!

Oops...

2008-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

I think I did something seriously wrong.

I have a hard time plying on the hitchhiker so I plied it on the Ashford. The whole time I'm plying I'm thinking - this doesn't really look right. Only an idiot would do the ENTIRE bobbin before she decided to investigate! Hi my name is idiot - it's very nice to meet you. I think maybe I plied it backwards. The entire bobbin... I suck.

Luckily I have cool ass non-knit friends who find me cute little knitting things to make me feel better.

It's got yummy green apple mints in it. However I'm sorely tempted to dump out the mints so we can skip ahead to the stitch marker tin.

STR

2008-01-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

Wow. Just wow. This yarn is so beautiful. It's one of the new STR raven colorways. It's called Rook-y. It's going to grow up to be Jeannie. I can not wait to start!!

Newbie

2008-01-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

The startitis is kickin my butt. Meet the multi-directional scarf.

Any of you who may have been here a while may be a little shocked. I'm knitting a scarf.... and loving it. Here's hopin the love keeps going till I get to the other end.

Week to spare

2008-01-15T16:06:00.000-05:00

Luckily my startitis has been slightly tempered by some finishing. This is Shedair from Knitty. It's too big. Maybe I'll re-name it the cone-head hat a la' SNL

Not sure really weather or not to give it to her. Her birthday is this weekend - I thought I was so good on time till I started debating on making a different hat. It's for my SIL who has a peanut head. Seriously - she wears her daughter's hats. Mom says she can wear it like this. I'm on the fence about whether like it this way.

Opinions? Also - do you know how hard it is to take photos of the top of your own head?

I don't think I'll be crankin out anything else. There's too much other stuff on my plate that I WANT to knit. She either gets this one - big as hell, or she doesn't get a hand knit. She does have a non-knit gift coming too. Whadyathink?

None of the Above

2008-01-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

Good morning poppets. I'm sure the suspense is killing you - it was killing me too - all the way to the gym, all the way through my step class, all the way home, all the way through dinner, until finally I could play with yarn. I still wasn't decided on what to knit but I knew what yarns would be involved so I wound a few of them up. Once they were wound, the decision was much easier. One yarn called to me over the others - and once yarn was picked what I was going to make with it was pretty much a given. Although because of gauge issues it wasn't one of the patterns I linked to yesterday.

I know - get to it already.

Natalya. I know totally boring right but trust me it's special .... and I'm reduced to craptastic cell phone pictures sorry bout that. The color representation is really off it's much more like this.

Hehe - yup - I spun that!!! I'm totally in love with this totally useless bit of knitting. I MADE THAT YARN!!! It's totally under plied and really weird in some spots but holy yarn batman - I made that!!!! And it looks good!! It's all very exciting. It's one of those deals were you keep knitting and knitting cuz the way the yarn behaves is SO entertaining and watching what the next little bit is going to do means you just can't put the needles down. I think I may need to ply the random singles lying in wait around the house cuz knitting with handspun that I made is such a high - I may become an addict.

2 Much 2 Knit

2008-01-09T16:32:00.000-05:00

No time to blog today - I've got a really bad case of startitis if I don't cast on this or this or this or possibly even this immediatley I might self destruct. I hate it when this happens.

Good Intentions

2008-01-07T13:20:00.001-05:00

I was gonna really I was. I had every intention of blogging on a regimented MWF schedule. I even took my little camera to work on Friday and took some pictures of the Shedir hat in the daylight. I sat down to do my post and then spent the next hair yanking hour looking for the camera cord to download the pictures. You would think the cord would be lying unused and dusty where I left it - in the big honking pile of USB cables that sits by the computer. I mean no one uses the little camera anymore - not since I got my new one in September. And realistically where else are you going to need the USB cable except at the flippin computer. It's not like it's long enough to play jump rope. I don't want to drag my other (much bigger) camera to work when the little one fits so nicely in my purse. And it's such a project to take pictures when I get home at night. It's dark and the lighting in my house sucks, and the flash on my big camera has the power of a thousand suns and washes out ever bloody detail there ever was, so I have to take out the tripod and do a ssssllllloooooowwww shutter and then the pics still have to be photoshoped anyway cuz you still can't really see the details. All that drama would be negated if I could just snap a quick pic with the point and shoot outside in the pretty bright sunshine - but noooooo my house at the dam cord.... again.

::deep breath::

I think I may need some wine to go with my whining.

I'm Back!!

2008-01-02T16:05:00.001-05:00

Did you miss me??? Probably not cuz I think I forgot to tell you I was going to take a holiday break. I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday. Mine was lovely. I got to spend three days of my vacation in my pajamas snuggled up with a book (or four). Pajama days are one of my very favoritest things - having three of them in the same week was fabulously indulgent (please don't hate me cuz I'm lazy.)

The Christmas knits were well received. Dad's mitts couldn't have fit better if I'd had his hands for measurements. Please ignore the little string hanging out of the pinky finger - gloves have many many ends, guess I missed one. Mom's sleep warmers were also a big hit & fit perfect. They were a double success cuz she's not having 3am Charley horses anymore. She's already making suggestions for sleep warmers part 2.

Aunt Sheryl loved her shawl - I didn't take better pictures - I couldn't muster the effort after the 5 course meal. She took it out of the box put it on and ran into the other room hollering "lookitlookitwhatJodymademeisn'titwonderful!" She didn't take it off for the rest of the night. Her reaction was perfect for getting a hand knit gift and it filled me up with the warm fuzzies - I suppose he fuzzies coulda been from the wine - but her reaction still rocked!

I can't believe I've written this much and have completely forgotten to wish you a happy new year - what a dunce.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I'm a big fan of resolutions - I make them, break them, make new ones, resurrect old ones. This year I'm going to make a few knitting related ones. Maybe you guys can help me keep them.

1. Knit for ME!!! Considering how selfish I am I have very little knitting to show for all the knitting I do. It's starting to get on my nerves so I must fix that. Either that or bribe people to knit for me while I knit for them - I wonder if that would work?

2. Spin more - I may buy a second wheel to facilitate this one. I haven't decided yet.

3. Pay more attention to the blog - and cease to feel guilty when I don't. You guys still love me even when I go MIA right???

4. Knit from my hand spun. I have this opinion that my hand spun sucks so it gets banished. But it probably doesn't suck - I really should knit with it and find out.

I think that's enough now. Don't want to bite off more than I can chew.

Where's the fork??

2007-12-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

I'm DONE!!!

Fingerless mitts for Dad.

You can't tell from these pictures - but due to my wonderful note taking skills both hands are completely different. You can only really tell with the fingers. The fingers on the left are noticeably shorter than the fingers on the right hand. I'm gonna try to pass this off as an intentional design element - Dad is left handed and I figure he'll need more finger exposure on the left hand. Think he'll buy it?
Sleep socks/leg warmers for mom. Which look utterly ridiculous empty.
With my very high tech - ultra expensive wire hanger sock blockers they look much more better. And last but not least the impossible to photograph shawl for Aunt Sheryl. Please excuse the craptastic pictures and also the unmade bed. I'll try to take better pics when I give it to her.
Very lightly blocked to give it a few extra inches in width while not adding extra length. Aunt S is on the short side and I didn't want it to hang to her knees. Also my rug wasn't really big enough so I had no choice but to block lightly. Having hardwood floors kinda sucks for knitting. Also I am apparently a slob who can't even pick up the towel off the floor to take a picture, please don't judge me - I may be loosing my mind. And why doesn't this seem like enough FO's for the insane pressure I was feeling??

Certifiable

2007-12-13T10:09:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure it's confirmed I'm completely and totally out of my ever lovin mind.

Legwarmers for Mom. She's dropped so many hints about wanting a pair of these that I'd feel guilty if I didn't at least attempt to make her a pair. At 5 stitches to the inch they should go fast.

Like I really needed to have another knit gift added to the cue. But am I working furiously on all these knit gifts??? NO! I'm lazin about reading a book. The whole time I'm laying there reading I'm screaming at myself "hey dumbass there are only 11 days till Christmas" (sorry don't mean to freak you out) 11 days or not - I didn't knit until I finished the book. With the stocking gone I just don't feel any stress to finish stuff. If I finish it - GREAT, if not that's OK too - and not having that "must finish" stress is kinda nice. But seriously I should stop casting on new stuff!

Crazy???

2007-12-10T17:18:00.000-05:00

I think I might be out of my mind. I cast-on a couple new Christmas projects.

This started out as a "maybe" gift but it's gone so fast I'm pretty confident I can finish it. It's actually more of a "thank you" than a Christmas. My aunt got two new kitties that LOVE yarn so she gifted me her stash - thank heavens it wasn't to big - this is a mohair blend that was part of it. It's too beautiful for her not to have it.

Very simple k1 yo knit to end. Goes super fast on size 15 needles.

A new hat for my SIL - I think it has decided it wants to be a birthday gift instead (Jan 21) cuz it took me an hour today to knit 3 rows. Doubt it will be done in the next two weeks.

I'm making great progress with Dad's mitts. I so totally want a pair!! They're a bit roomy in the palm area - I'm totally wingin' so I'm not surprised. Dad has huge hands so they should be alright.
Mom's socks did turn out to be to big. I've got to take out two pattern repeats. She was totally sweet about it and offered to keep them anyway but she already has two pair of socks that are too big - you'd think after all this time I'd learn to use a dam measuring tape. So I need to fix that and knit the mate - I hope I can remember what I did for the reverse sole. Plus there were a couple of other things on my knit wish list and I want to cast this on like right now - luckily (or not) I don't have yarn for it. Yup out of my mind for sure. But in a good way. ;)

Drive by

2007-12-06T20:25:00.000-05:00

I feel like I don't have time to sit and write so I've been neglecting the blog. But that sucks and I'm not having fun with it so I'm going to try doing a drive by picture upload. At least this way I won't feel so MIA.

The stocking is done and in the mail. About the only thing I liked about this project was not having to sew in ends. Never again.

But it's way cute so almost worth the effort.

Mom's birthday is tomorrow. I love her SOOO much I made her a sock.

Just one.... but it has picots!!!

Actually I only did one cuz I think it's too big. I want her to try it on for me before I make the other one. I also did this weird bit. I reversed the stitches on the sole cuz she was complaining about the purl bumps a pair of her socks. I thought I'd give this a try see if she likes it. It looked like crap until I blocked it - still looks kinda crappy - lots of laddering and unevenness. I won't be makin' a habit of this particular technique. Too much a pain. Mom's lucky I luvs her so much.

Smile Please

2007-11-28T20:16:00.000-05:00

For the record I'm not having fun - and thank God I'm a sock knitter cuz if I wasn't I'd be a total disaster right now. I goofed & my stitch count is all wrong -I've totally got to wing the whole foot - not like I ever follow the heel/foot directions anyway.

I'm just about done with the stocking - a bit more on the foot and then the really fun part... lining it - blech. No time to procrastinate about it though. Need to put this puppy in the mail ASAP! I want my Godson's mom to fill this baby up for Christmas morning. She is gonna hate me... it's huge! After my first not so stellar attempt at stranding the name I decided to duplicate stitch it. Came out much better except in some places. How come some stitches are determined to let the white show and others do fine and let the green sit on top. Example check out how full the "M" looks in comparison to the "E" WTF?!?! Am I doing it wrong?
The pattern called for me to do his mustache in angora and the beard in plan wool. Why? I decided that Santa's beard needed to be as fuzzy as his mustache so I picked up some other fuzzy type yarn in white white to do the beard. I'm not super pleased with how it came out - the mustache sorta looks dirty. It's to late to do anything about - Mom thinks if I duplicate stitch a mouth it will be less noticeable - did you notice that Santa doesn't have a mouth? Not in the pattern either - I'm gonna have to wing it. Hopefully I'll get a smile and not some scary grimace instead.

Christmas Knits

2007-11-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

If you happen to be either one of my parents - go away. There are Christmas knits mentioned in this post. Come back in January ;)

A few random pictures I took during a kayaking trip this summer to distract you while we wait for the parental units to move on.

Why are you still here? You've seen these pictures - shoo!OK - now that the coast is clear... by the way Christmas knitting sucks for blog fodder. Anyway - first up Dad. Dad made a request last winter for a pair of fingerless gloves. The pattern is kinda loosely based on this one. My gauge is completely different - I'm using a worsted weight - Cascade 220 - as opposed to fingering, and my dad has huge hands so it's VERY loosely based.

I must say that the yarn is wonderful, how have I never worked with it before??? It's cheap and it comes in cool colors and it's SO nice. Everything a worsted weight should be. Love it.

Next up - Mom. These are actually going to be a birthday gift - I hope. Her b-day is December 7th and I want to have the stocking done for my Godson by the first week of December so I may be pushing my luck. Luckily Mom's a knitter - I can give her one sock if it comes down to it. ;)

These are the Lombard Street socks from Magknits. The pattern is really great - easy to memorize and quick. The yarn - not so much. I picked it up in Rhinebeck - Aussie sock. It's beautiful and squishy and makes a really nice sock, but man is it splitty, and using super sharp pointy needles is not helping matters. They're coming out really pretty and I don't really have the luxury of starting something else so I'm sucking it up - but Aussie Sock... not a fan - which is a shame cuz it came in some slammin' colors.

Rip it some more

2007-11-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

**Edited to add photos

I'm currently at Megan's twiddling my thumbs while she's on the phone with her mom. So I figured I'd steal the laptop and and do a quickie update.

The Christmas stocking is progressing. I finished Santa's face (have I even told you what the finished product will look like?) Anyway it's a big Santa face - that had to be completely ripped out and done over. My mom had this really great idea to use needlepoint wool for the small bits to save money. Why buy a big hank when you only need a couple of yards. Really great plan for the small bits but I underestimated the size of Santa's head and needlepoint yarn is cut to 1 yard lengths. Let me just say it was a disaster (don't worry I have pictures - I'll put them up when I get home later). Anyway Santa got ripped and re-knit - for those keeping count that would be the third ripping of this stocking so far.

And while we're talking about ripping things - guess what I did this weekend. I cleaned my room (a very rare occurrence to be sure) - which involves finding homes for all the various knitting paraphernalia laying about. While I was finding homes for things I made some decisions. I decided that life is short... I ripped out all the projects that have been languishing in the WIP basket. A sweater, two pairs of socks, two shawls, a scarf, a baby sweater, and half a blanket. It was possibly the most liberating thing ever! Now I just have to fight the urge to cast on a bunch more projects.

Maiden Voage

2007-11-09T12:23:00.000-05:00

I love technology sometimes. Gretchen just sent me this picture via cell phone. Her birthday socks got their first taste of the big wide world today - and she shared the moment with me. How great is it when your friends send you pics of the knitting doing weird stuff!

Daylight Savings

2007-11-08T17:55:00.000-05:00

This time of year is a pain in the butt. I want to show you the knitting I've been doing (santa almost has a head - intarsia sucks) but by the time I get home from work it's too dark to take pictures. Unfortunately the flash on my new camera has the power of a thousand suns and makes a mess of any upclose shots. So until I get some knitting pics (I have high hopes for Saturday) I'll distract you with the pretty scenery.

This is the wall we climbed. Much fun. Even the part where I had a mini panic attack and couldn't get down. The best - we were filming our climb... got it all on video. Now if I could just get the video off the camera ;)

rip it rip it rip it

2007-10-30T17:15:00.000-04:00

The wash didn't help.

I'm having a fabulous knitting week - NOT. I started the Christmas stocking - I'm pretty sure I might suck at intarsia.

Puckers and pulls all over the place. I thought I was so clever with the two handed knitting. Oh well we're gonna consider that practice. No worries I forgot to change the needle size so it had to come out anyway - the stocking was way to narrow - no room for good goodies - and I did learn two cool things.

#1 - picots don't suck - they're actually very cute and almost fun to make. Doubt they'll be showing up on my socks but they don't totally suck to make.

#2 - it's a bad idea to rip intarsia / fair isle all willy nilly - regardless of the good blog shot. I'm not going to tell you how long it took me to untangle that mess.

And since I'm not an evil blogger...

The knee highs suffered no permanent injures from the taking of the above photo. They now have much shorter toes and fit much better. They still stretch a bit too much during wearing - I must get a handle on negative ease - but they're much better then they were.

Knitpicks Gloss???

2007-10-27T16:42:00.000-04:00

In case anyone is interested this is what I did to the knee highs. It worked fabulously. Time consuming as all get out to do - also fiddly as hell - but completely worth the effort.

I used Knitpicks Gloss for these socks - it's very nice yarn. These are possibly the most comfortable socks I've ever made. Ya know how when you spend the entire day on your feet in your hand knit socks you can kinda start to feel the purl bumps on the bottom of your poor tired feet? It just occurred to me this may be an odd quirk singular to me. Well anyway if I'm going to be on my feet all day I won't wear my handknit socks cuz at the end of the day I can feel every purl bump and it's most uncomfortable. These socks didn't do that. After 6 hours of shopping till I was ready to drop my feet were still nice and comfy in my socks. HOWEVER - they did have this little problem.

What? You don't get it?? Let me push my toes up to where they belong and show you again.

Get it now?

These socks grew - A LOT. Anybody have this problem before? Think they'll shrink when I wash them? I'm hoping. Judge for yourself the depth of love I have for these socks... if they don't shrink up satisfactorily when washed I am prepared to rip out the entire foot and try again. Hows that for feelin the love?!

The Haul

2007-10-25T16:07:00.000-04:00

OK now that the computer is performing at something other than dead stop - we can continue.

It's been days and I no longer know where most of this stuff came from except Rhinebeck - which is way to general to be helpful I know. It's been pawed through too many times and the business cards and receipts where the fiber came from are no longer together with fiber it goes with. At least I have a clue what the fiber content is.... mostly.

Merino Tencel - yum. Totally afraid to spin it though. It will be marinating for quite some time.

Merino top - both the little balls came from the same place - at lease I know that much.

The needles & the peachy yarn (Aussie Sock) I remember came from Seaport Yarns. I remember this cuz they are very sneaky people those Seaport Yarns peoples - yes they are sneaky sneaky.

Here's what happened. I had the yarn in one hand and the needles in the other - aren't they pretty, is it any wonder I had to have them? So this guy comes up as I'm in line to pay and he says "I can take the money for the yarn but you've go to pay her for the needles." In the confusion of having two people asking me for money at the same time and handling two transactions simultaneous I wound up paying 30 bucks for these needles. See sneaky - they distract you with pretty colors and many people until you don't know what your doing - just blindly handing people money without a thought. Do I regret it? Hell no theses needles are fantastic - they actually did me a favor cuz a 30 dollar price tag would have made me put them down. But they're still sneaky as hell. (Before you ask yes there are five of them - I didn't notice till after the picture that one rolled off and into the couch.) I think these next two are blue faced lester but I can't swear to both of them - the pink for sure, and the shop I got them from had Diana in the name, or maybe Sara.

Here's a lesson about buying stuff in braids -when buying fiber in a braid be sure to turn the thing over and inspect it from all sides maybe even un-braid a bit and look inside. I was going through the haul looking at the things I bought and I saw this. "Hm, what in the world possessed me to buy this - it's kinda ugly."

This is why I bought it - the other side - much more like something I'd actually buy. I'll have to be clever when I spin it - make sure I break up that giant hunk of icky brown/black.

That's it - I know not much. I'm usually much better and I can't believe I only bough ONE skein of actuall yarn. Very weird. I must of been really high on wool or something - not only did I buy very little this year I also totally spaced on the blogger meet-up. I just completely forgot and I didn't see anyone. :( I'm such a spaz.

Rhinebeck

2007-10-24T16:24:00.000-04:00

Two knitters... two days... packing light is obviously not in our vocabulary. It was so beautiful up there. Just amazing. The colors hadn't even reached peak yet and it was spectacular.

This is the house we stayed in. 7 knitters - one bathroom. Nuff said.
I was going to do a bunch more photos but it took so bloody long to upload these that my sanity (and the future life of my computer) is in serious danger. I'll do the haul tomorrow.

Here They Are

2007-10-18T20:01:00.001-04:00

How cute are these seed stitch heels? They're a little bulky in shoes but I luv them anyway.
I bought these shoes specifically for these socks... I might be a little bit strange - but I look cute.
I'm actually pretty impressed with these socks - they fit. I made so many modifications to the original numbers that I'm ~~shocked~~ ~~surprised~~ impressed as hell that they resemble socks at all. They actually fit really well - I think the sag factor is the yarns fault (shut up it is too!) I used Knitpicks Gloss and don't think it has the elasticity required to hold up heavy knee high socks. Speaking of ... I need to get to sewing - I'm going to attempt to put an elastic band into the top of these to help them stay up. If you don't see me wearing them on Saturday it didn't go well. Your probably better not mentioning it - I may cry.

I'm off to Rhinebeck - FOR THE WEEKEND!!! I'm very excited. I'll be back Monday to make you jealous of all the spinning fibers and sock yarn I buy.

;)

*Sorry G - my camera doesn't like you. Nothin but fuzz.

Three Days to Spare

2007-10-17T08:55:00.001-04:00

The Clessidra's are done. I tried to take some pictures last night but my self portraits suck. G is coming over later - I'll make her take some pictures. They're beautiful as long as I don't move. Just going back and forth three feet to set the timer on the camera made them sag - there's no way I'll be able to wear them without making myself insane.

I went to Joanne's and bought some elastic to sew into the cuffs but they only had black. I bought skinny sewing elastic I was just going to weave it through the ribbing - but it shows. How do I sew black elastic into burgundy knee highs without it showing? Mom suggested a thicker elastic - like you would use for a waist band - and sew it in with needle and thread. I'm afraid that would make the socks uncomfortable - like wearing garters. She may have a point though - it would definitely be easier to hide burgundy thread. Maybe I'll try it - can't be any worse than pulling up my socks every four steps.

Sock-it-to-me Baby!

2007-10-10T17:33:00.000-04:00

I finished the sock-it-to-me swap socks. They are currently on they're way to Cheryl. I like how they turned out - and she'll never have to worry about cold feet while she wears them ;) Hope she likes them.

I also got my SITM package. LOVE THEM!!! They're not really so orange - I had a rough time with the color & sorry but I'm too lazy to photoshop. I think the colorway is cabin fever.
The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill (one of my favorites) and they fit fantastic! Wish I could get the socks I make to feet my feet as well as everyone else does. My swap partner was Sherry . She put together an awesome package with some bath salts and lotion, the cutest heart shaped stitch markers (which have already been pressed into service), the Knitting on The Road book and a cute little decorator box type thing with notecards in it. In my enthusiasm to take photos of my new socks I totally neglected to take pictures of the rest. I totally LOVE the non-matchy!! And did you see the picots?? She made me picots! I must totally rate!
She also sent me a skein of my new favorite sock yarn Colinette Jitterbug!! Love the colorway - bright charcoal. She was even cool enough to ball it up for me - which is sorely tempting me to cast on for new socks right now! Alas new socks must wait - I want to wear Clessidra's to Rhinebeck. Thanks so much Sherry!!

THANK YOU!!

2007-10-01T09:13:00.000-04:00

You guys are the sweetest bunch of peoples ever! Anytime I start feeling a little icky I'm going to go read all the wonderful comments yall left - thank you :D

I'm totally excited that I can wear this dress to a formal wedding but the consensus is that I need a fancy ass shawl to wear with it. A fancy ass shawl that I don't own. Chances of me getting a shawl knit in the next two months?? Slim to none. Maybe if it was January I might have a shot, but I can't abandon the yet to be started Christmas projects to knit a shawl. Crocheting something may be an option. Anybody have/know of any good crochet shawl patterns?

While I stew about the shawl issue I started a new project - a project that is not Christmas knitting, shame on me. Anyway I have a question - if you ran across these directions how would you do it?

Slip 1 st to right needle. Sl st to cable needle, hold to back. Twist stitch on left needle. Sl 1 st from right needle to left. K2tog. Purl st on cable needle.

It's the "Sl 1 st from right needle to left" that I'm getting stuck with. When I twist the stitch on the left needle am I moving it over to the right needle & therefore just moving that stitch back OR am I moving the last stitch I knitted back to the left needle therefore knitting it twice. Whaddya think?? Nevermind I totally just figured it all out - see how wonderful blogging is!! It helps too when you read ALL the directions I wasn't slipping the first stitch to the right needle before I slipped the stitch to the cable needle. I get it now. Thanks you guys rock!

Opinions Please

2007-09-26T17:23:00.001-04:00

blk&red dress (4)
Originally uploaded by jaftlc

But be gentle. I was invited to go to a formal "black-tie optional" wedding in November. I'm trying not to spend money on yet another dress I will never wear. Think this dress is fancy enough? If I glam it up with some fancy shoes, blow out the mop, and some good accessories? Why are all the fancypants bridesmade dresses I own spring colors???

New Toy

2007-09-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

Earlier this summer I bought Kelly's little hitchiker wheel. It's the cutest dam thing - look at that foot treadle - how could I resist?!

I haven't really talked about it because so far everything that I've spun is crap... don't want to really share the ugly ass yarn that I made -maybe after I knit it and felt the crap out of it I'll let you see.

At any rate I went to the NJ Sheep Breeders
Fiber thing this past Sunday and I picked up some new roving - just because I can't do it doesn't stop me from wanting to buy, buy, buy!! Besides I had to fill up the pretty basket I got at the new knitting shop last month. It's a pretty small festival only about 50 venders but they have lots of fiber.

I got the blue and the green from Gryphon - I have to confess she was the main reason I went this year. I just can't resist meeting a blogger in person. Well that and she put up pictures of some of the roving she was bringing and I had to have it. The red stuff I got from Twisted Fiber it was one of those instances where you walk past three or four times and you keep touching the same thing over and over. I think the woman thought I was a nut - I visited this merino three times before I bought it. I'm so glad I bought it though. It's SO nice and look... my first ever non-crap spinning. I mean it's still not "there" but I'm not embarrassed to show it to you. That's progresss!!

Santa is coming

2007-09-14T15:28:00.000-04:00

Sooner than you think. It occurred to me yesterday that September is almost over. That leaves me just about 3 months for Christmas knitting. I’m not going nuts just a few things. Something for mom – something that will be useless for blog fodder cuz she reads the blog. A new hat for Laurie – I love seeing my knitting being used on a regular basis it makes me smile. There will be a few “caps for kids” for the guild - that’s a late November project.

Then there’s the biggie.

My brother, my cousins, and myself have beautiful hand knit Christmas stockings, bought for us by a good friend of my Grandmother’s. After my Grandmother passed we got a few more cousins and my Mom felt that they should have stockings that matched the rest the cousins. She started in July and knit the three young cousins stockings matching the ones that we had. It started a trend. When my cousin Maria had a baby she made him a stocking, my niece Alexis has one too. Mom’s is making plans for a new stocking for this year’s new addition. Stockings for everyone – the woman is nuts.

I’ve got myself new godson. I suppose he needs a stocking to match the rest of the crew. Did I mention these stockings are extraordinarily complicated bits of INTARSIA?!?!? I don’t do intarsia. I don’t want to do intarsia. Intarsia is not one of those knitting techniques I’d like to learn. It doesn’t look like fun. It doesn’t sound like fun. I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna! Mother swears if I just suck it up and do it one stitch at a time like any other complex bit of knitting it’s easy. She thinks I might even like it. I think she might be smoking something when I’m not looking. I’ve seen the ugly tangle of yarn that comes from all those bobbins. I’ve seen her spend an hour sorting it all out before she begins to knit.

Please, please, please tell something wonderful about intarsia. Tell me it’s not as awful as I fear it will be. Tell me your favorite tips and tricks to keeping it all sorted out so I don’t get a big ass mess of yarn barf. I’m one of those knitters that feels the knitting absorbs the good vibes you give it. I don’t want to hate this experience and give Cameron a stocking filled with not so much love. Tell me something good…. Please.

Yea for Blogging!!

2007-09-06T17:13:00.001-04:00

Planes are wonderful places for getting oodles of knitting done. MP3 player with a book or some music and just look what turns up.

This is sock is destined for my sock-it-to-me partner. I have a little bit of fixing to do on the toe - I decreased one round to many and gave it a little nipple - not so cute. Easy fix but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

I still have mixed feelings about the yarn - just look at that halo. The socks are very soft & very warm but I dunno how they'll hold up in the long run. I'll have to remember to send my pal the leftovers (of which there will probably be A LOT) in case of blow-outs.

On to other things. My clessidras. I have only touched these once or twice all summer. Something about not being able to wear them when I finish is keeping me from wanting to knit them. We're getting close to sock time :) so I'm thinking about them again - I got to wear jeans the other night :) Last week I mentioned I had a problem with them. So I took them out of the bag to take pictures of my issues and get an opinion on fixing them. See the problem?

How bout now? See it now? Sock #1

Sock #2

Can't see the problem?? Hehe... me either! Yea that means I don't need to fix it!! :) Yea for taking pictures of your knitting!

I know - you can't figure it out and it's killin ya. The problem was - despite copious note, taking and working both socks at the same time I managed to goof the decreases on the last few rounds. See that small section of purl stitches at the bottom of the "v" well on one sock it's a few rounds bigger than the other sock (I think sock #2 is the one that's correct). I thought it was a noticeable issue & I'd need to unknit one sock to fix it - I can't rip cables, unknitting would have been a nightmare. You know when I realized I screwed up I threw them into the knit bag and haven't looked at them since. After letting them stew then taking them out for closer examination the error is really negligible. I really had to look for it when I was taking the pictures so no one but me will ever really notice and I can totally live with that.

For the record the first one of you in person smart alecs that says "hey your decreases aren't even" is gonna get it with a dpn. Luvyou!

Dragon*Con

2007-09-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

***Warning Picture Heavy Post

Holy cow - what can I say. It was amazing and weird and it totally blew my mind. I had such a fantastic weekend I'm still trying to figure out how to really get it into words. Instead of making myself nuts trying to explain my geekdom - I'll just show you some of the 350 pictures I took. Who needs words anyway - pictures say so much more. This is the only one that probably needs an explanation. The woman on my left is one of my favorite authors. She signed three books for me - she was super sweet & I was a total goon and gushed like a little kid. Authors are the only people that can make me star struck - go figure.

The rest of these shots are just random people - I use that word lightly - from around the con. It was truly amazing the costumes that people came up with. Theoretically these should be click-able for a bigger image.

Oops...

2007-08-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

I didn't realize I'd been gone so long. Let's see what's new. Um... nothing? Sock-it-to-me socks have a heel but I don't have a picture. Knee highs have a problem but I don't have a picture. I bought some new yarn but um.... I don't have a picture. Seeing a pattern here?

I'd luv to say I'll be back tomorrow with pictures but I've got to be realistic - not gonna happen. Why? I'll tell ya - I can't believe I'm going to confess right here in front of everyone what a total geek I am. I'm going here this weekend and I'm so excited that I can barley stand it. You thought it was a pain to decide what knitting to take? Try figuring out what books to take to (hopefully) be autographed. I'm going to Atlanta for three days - my suitcase is frightening. I'll be back on Monday with lots & lots of pictures - but probably not of knitting. :)

New socks

2007-08-14T18:28:00.000-04:00

I started socks for the Sock-it-to-me swap. I think after these I'm going to hold off on making socks for other people for a minute. I haven't made myself a pair of socks in eons. Anyway these were inspired by a pair of socks in the Interweave Favorite Socks book. I don't actually own the book so I'm kinda wingin it. I like how they're coming out so far.
The yarn is new to me. It's Bearfoot from Mountain Colors in Rosehip. It's hand dyed wool & something blend. It's very soft & squishy but very warm. These are NOT summer socks. They're not even really summer knitting socks. No park knitting with these babies.

Rockin-paloozas!

2007-08-10T19:13:00.000-04:00

I got my sockapalooza socks! My pal Johanna completely blew my mind. My crew thinks I'm nuts cuz I keep making socks for complete strangers. There is a reason I love these swaps so much.

I opened up my palooza package and the first thing I see is this smallish skein of yarn. I think to myself "um.... this is possibly the littest skein ever - what am I going to do with it?" I'm also thinking - I'm not really lovin the colors but I have faith in my pal and move on to see what else the package holds.

Then I see these - OMG how flippin cute are these little things!! They're a gift for Allison.

I definitely got a little weepy I was so touched that she was nice enough to send a little something for my friend's baby. She makes them herself and sells them in her shop if you need to get a pair for any little ones you know. I can't wait to put them on Allison's little feet.

Then I open these. OMG! LOVE THEM!
Apparently that smallish skein is the leftovers from these beauties. She actually re-hanked the yarn instead of sending a little ball - that totally threw me - I though she'd bought an itty bitty skein of yarn. ;) She also, unlike yours truly, remembered to take a picture of the itty bitty skein - it's a lot of yarn for leftovers. You see why I was confused. Right?

I LOVE my socks. See this is why these swaps are cool - they force you out of your box. I probably wouldn't have picked up this skein of yarn. But I love these socks just the same. It occurred to me as I was taking the pictures that I'll might even wear these socks more than some of the other hand knit socks in my drawer because of the colors.

The colors are really great - worked up - I still have doubts about the skein - it looks a little muddy. The fit is positively fantastic! I'm awed by the ability of people to get it perfect without my feet - when I've got my feet right here and I screw it up every time!

Thank you Johanna my socks are awesome & I will wear them to death making the little skein a very useful thing to have. ;)

Not Enough

2007-08-03T20:34:00.000-04:00

As in there are just not enough hours in the day! The pile of books on the nightstand is a little scary. There's knitting I haven't touched. There's rocks to climb, a new wheel I have yet to show you, grass to get cut. There just isn't enough time for all of it. Here's a wonderful example of how behind I am. I made these for Gretchen for her birthday. Her birthday was July 7th. The SEVENTH people. Almost a month ago I gifted them to her and I'm just now showing you. Pathetic.

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug (wonderful stuff - a new favorite) Pattern: Unst from Knitting on the Road - wonderful pattern - easy to follow, fab for the busy yarn, and easy to follow while watching the huge back log of movies from Blockbuster (unlike the other two projects - the only two projects I have on the needles at the moment.)

Yes you read that right - I only have two projects on the needles at the moment - oh the horror. My Clessidra socks (close to the ankle on both legs) and the MS3 (almost done with clue one). Both of which involve paying close attention and charts. I'm desperate to start something new. Something that has a pattern I can memorize. I'm off to the yarn shop tomorrow to find that something cuz the stash failed to inspire me.