Tales of An Aspiring Yarn Maven

yay for FO's

2006-03-03T09:49:00.001-06:00

Remember this post from over a year ago? yeah, well I steeked the front, and hand sewed the zipper in and its done. It's my longest project ever. and nearly the most expensive. this stupid, and by stupid i mean favorite, project took TEN balls of Watercolors.
It knit up super fast, but I ended up re doing the sleeves because the pattern i used was all jacked up and way too tight and short for the rest of it. and i re did the front piece becasue i needed it to be one whole piece so i could steek it. So really i just used the picture as inspiration. Pictures tonight. Really.

yay for FO's

2006-03-03T09:49:00.000-06:00

Remember this post from over a year ago? yeah, well I steeked the front, and hand sewed the zipper in and its done. It's my longest project ever. and nearly the most expensive. this stupid, and by stupid i mean favorite, project took TEN balls of Watercolors. It knit up super fast, but i ended up re doing the sleeves because the pattern i used was all jacked up and way too tight and short for the rest of it. and i re did the front piece becasue i needed it to be one whole piece so i could steek it.

Go do this, cuz you're cool like that

2006-02-11T21:41:00.000-06:00

if you know me that is,
http://kevan.org/johari?view=Miranda

Update

2006-01-14T15:06:00.000-06:00

So obviously I've been busy / not in a writing mood. Heres what Ive been up to, in no particular order:
~Using my fabulously wonderful new sewing machine/ birthday present from my guy
~Dyeing sock yarn
~socks

~Big Bad Baby Blankets
~gloves
~Mary Janes
~Hats
~Scarves
~Camera Cases (I cant photograph the camera in it, for obvious reasons, so its rather shapeless here, but quite attractive in use)
~Taking care of a newly spayed Annie
~Planning my garden
And heres what my knitting accoutrements are now housed in. the organization inside is stunning, be warned.

and heres my esate sale finds for the weekend.

And the purse i made with my best birthday present ever. It took six hours and the pattern is from my own pretty head. you know you want one.

ignore this if youre only interested in knitting

2005-10-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

So i dont know where this post is headed. I cant decide if im up or down. Stupid fall. I started a new job, that I love so far. Im tired and end up staying late alot. but things are good with it so far. Its kept me too busy to get much knitting done though. Which blows, since ive got so many projects started and promised. In over my head a little bit with it.
And this weekend has sucked pretty hard too. Gettign my first check earlier in the week, and having a nice few hours with my mom yesterday has been the only good part about the whole thing. The rest has been at least slightly tainted. Completely out of my mind from being tired and pmsing hasnt made anything easier on me. hasnt made anything easier on the guy i thought was my boyfriend either. btu apparently he doesnt know what he wants, and doesnt know what we are and a bunch of bs that im still not sure what i think about, except that it pisses me off and hurts my feelings, but are probably not in that order of importance. because, wouldnt you begin to assume, even with out a direct convo about it, that if you know each others families, neither of you is interested in anyone else, you spend 90% of your freetime together, sleep together most of the time too, and have discussions about where our christmases and thanksgivings are gonna be at (ths year) that youre nost just 'seeing' each other, but have crossed over into the actual relationship territory? Cuz um. if not, then my bad. Oh, and i didnt bring it up. He did. apparently some chick i havent ever heard of wanted him to take her out and he didnt know what to tell her, since we hadnt talked about it in specific terms. but um, when i told him how one of my friends that was interested in me at the same time we met got pissy at me beacuse he realised i was seeing someone, he was all, youre nto gonna go out with him right?? so WTF. seriously. If i didnt like him so much and wasnt totaly worried about either overwhelming him or alowing him to think i dont care enough id have done something already. but i cant even manage to bring it up again yet. because i dont know how i feel about it for sure or what i want to do about it. except that i dont even a little bit, think i could handle him seeing someone else.

Here I go again...

2005-09-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

Theres way too many projects I need and want to start. Not all of them are a combination of the two. Take for example:
Picovoli from Magknits... I can probably make it with the Symphonia I love so much, and can use the gorgeous robins egg blue shade I found at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago.

Shawl Collar Cardigan (4) in the newest Vogue Knitting. ... could use Amore or a light boucle i can't seem to remember the name of at the moment, and Simply Soft. Color i dont know yet. Maybe chocolate like in the photo. Or ivory maybe? Something fairly neutral. And not black.

Shawl Collar Cardigan (37) in the newest Vogue Knitting. ... I see Simply Soft in black and a red fuzzy but not too crazy yarn i also cant remember at the moment. But i think its a Berroco or Bernat yarn. Slubby, soft, and lofty. Maybe a slubby yarn and an eyelash held together so its furry and still slubby?

Are you seeing a common denominator yet? Sweaters. For Moi. Anyone care to bet how many i will actually get done? Yeah, me either.

Theres also baby stuff.
I'm thinking the Mrs Hoover doubleknit blanket at Knitty.com. Maybe another baby Kimono and booties? And a bear, possibly with a rattle in it that could be removed later? Or is that too silly?

I have a Noro bag, a beanie, and a dog sweater on the needles right now. Plus crochet flowers for a shawl. And a few other things in 'time out' that i should really deal with.

We'll see how much i get done.

Sundays are for dreams

2005-09-18T18:54:00.000-05:00

Sundays are my dream days. It's not always been that way, but in the last year or so, no matter what time I go to sleep or awaken if its Sunday, it will be dream filled. I've always had prophetic dreams. Masked and other wise. Sometimes they cause intense Deja Vu weeks later, sometimes they're just telling me how things are at the moment. The Deja Vu is rare. A few times a year, but the rest of the time if I can remember enough of pieces I can decipher what my mind is trying to tell me about the present and the near future. There's only two times I can remember thinking how odd a meaning was, or how wrong it turned out to be later on down the road.
Writing them down never did anything for me. I'm too secretive to do that. I don't want things that turn out to be so true and important to me just lying about waiting to be found by nosy people in my life. Most I wouldn't mind knowing me so well, but its the handful that would take it the wrong way or be worried by how much I trust and believe in something that sounds so silly to them that keeps me from keeping better track of them. But I feel the same way towards many of the things they believe.

Knitting? Craftiness? Why yes, there's been some of that. I'm just partaking in national self absorption month, that's all. (what, you haven't heard? Oh, umm by national I meant Mirandas... hush.)
Sooooooo
I've made two beanies, one pair of blue kinda hippie-ish socks, working on a third beanie, and a dog sweater. And I need to start some things I've promised people, and more baby stuff (yes, more babies are on the way. gawd, will it ever end? No probably not. cuz then I'll start having them, along with all my friends. Good thing baby stuff is little and quick to do. And cute, that doesn't hurt any. If its a boy I'm SO making that baby blankie in the man issue of knitty!! Is it bad that I'm super excited by that? No, I didn't think so either.)

Um pics when I figure out why my camera and computer hate me so much.. yada yada, I know you've heard it for months.

I've created my perfect sock pattern

2005-08-11T23:56:00.000-05:00

I started a new sock two days ago. Toe up with an afterthought heel, in ModaDea self stripping yarn. And i'm already done with one, and about 1/3 of the way in with the second.
I used 3 US2 dpns's for the toe, because thats whatwears out fastest on my socks. So i wanted it to be a bit firmer.
I cast on using the figure 8 method, and stopped the increases once i got to 25 sts on ea needles, 50 total. since thats what fit my foot.
Divided the sts btwn three US3 dpn's, knitting around until it came up to my heel, knit half a row (25 sts) with a SMOOTH waste yarn, then kept on knitting around with the regular yarn until it was the length i wanted, did a 5 row k3, p2 rib and cast off purlwise.
Then worked the afterthought heel, tucked in all the loose ends, and flipped it inside out because i liked the purl side better than the knit. It looks great, fits perfectly, and was a BREEZE to knit. I see lots of these kinds of socks in my future... I'm going to get some more of the Blue/Grey/Tan colorway and make some for my dad. :D

awesome crafty person alert!

2005-07-26T23:07:00.001-05:00

I just found a really neat site thats got a tailorbird nest and some other crafty things. Like interesting journals and not-your-average-buisnesscards for sale.
quick, go check out IdentitySeven !

So Im checkign my emails...

2005-07-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

and i came across one from Berroco. And they have a new yarn. Which really isn't novel in an of itself. they have new yarns like every week. But this yarn, is exactly like the yarn I've been spinning with my drop spindle. Except I think I pick colors better than they do. Some of them dont quite work together for me. A lot like Kureyon. You'll be doing great, and them come along a mile long stretch of this compltely random color that looks garish even in the best light and of which a solid explanation of its placement would be whoever was spining it at the factory saw an extra piece of roving left abandoned on the floor, and went "oh what the hell. I'll give this one a bit extra!" mmm run on sentances. So anyway. They also went to the trouble of making up some patterns for me! So maybe I'll make this little bear, and a larger version of this bag with my over abundance of handspun. And i really like the idea for this scarf... its like crochet mesh or something, with handspun run through it. Might be one a those too... I'm picturing creamy chenille with my pale blue roving with shots of purple that looks like cotton candy right now. Or something.

2005-07-22T17:40:00.000-05:00

I love the idea of planting a unassmuing little bulb just before winter sets in, and brilliant flowers popping up months later after the ground finally warms up again. And i love, no LOVE tulips and Ive never had them in my yard. Just the occasional vase. I'm so excited i can hardly stand it!
So here's what will be poppin up in my garden next spring. Dutch tulips and blue grape hyacinths, Grecian Windflowers, Double Daffodils, Giant Hyacinths, and Double Red Riding Hood Tulips.

Maybe after its not 100 degrees outside i'll feel like knitting again. Because right now, i really cant bear the idea of it. Although spinning doesnt seem to bother me. SO maybe Ill have the first 1/2 lb of the roving i dyed spun soon. I think ive already done about an ounce of it.
And I'm so proud of it. :D It's spinning up just like i wanted it to! My plies are less than stellar though. So I'm gonna need some help with that.

Movie Meme - Top 100 Movies

2005-07-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

Movie Meme - Top 100 Movies
Bold the ones you've seen.

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)

2. CASABLANCA (1942)

3. THE GODFATHER (1972)

4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

7. THE GRADUATE (1967)

8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

9. SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)

10. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)

11. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)

13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)

14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

15. STAR WARS (1977)

16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)

18. PSYCHO (1960)

19. CHINATOWN (1974)

20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)

21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)

22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)

24. RAGING BULL (1980)

25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)

28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)

29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)

31. ANNIE HALL (1977)

32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)

33. HIGH NOON (1952)

34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)

35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)

37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)

38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)

40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

42. REAR WINDOW (1954)

43. KING KONG (1933)

44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)

45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)

46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)

47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)

48. JAWS (1975)

49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)

51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)

52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

53. AMADEUS (1984)

54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)

55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)

56. MAS*H (1970)

57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)

58. FANTASIA (1940)

59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)

60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

61. VERTIGO (1958)

62. TOOTSIE (1982)

63. STAGECOACH (1939)

64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)

65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

66. NETWORK (1976)

67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)

68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)

69. SHANE (1953)

70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)

71. FORREST GUMP (1994)

72. BEN-HUR (1959)

73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)

74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)

75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)

76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)

77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

78. ROCKY (1976)

79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)

80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)

81. MODERN TIMES (1936)

82. GIANT (1956)

83. PLATOON (1986)

84. FARGO (1996)

85. DUCK SOUP (1933)

86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)

87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

88. EASY RIDER (1969)

89. PATTON (1970)

90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)

91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)

92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)

93. THE APARTMENT (1960)

94. GOODFELLAS (1990)

95. PULP FICTION (1994)

96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)

97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)

99. GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (1967)

100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Um, maybe i should change this to a gardening blog.

2005-07-19T16:21:00.000-05:00

I really dont ever talk about my life on here. And the knitting has totally been over taken by dirt and flowers. If i could do both at once.. i would. Hopefully next year, i wont be doing as much in the garden, since most of what I am doing now is fixing the lack of care the last 10 yrs or so here. And getting land ready for beds. Ha, 'land' like ive got acres or something. But yeah.
I should really try to get a good picture of the whole yard, so that when i say 'ditch' youve got the idea that its a stone wall/stream kinda thing. Well, stream when it rains anyway. But its not a big ugly dip in my yard or anything. Its rocked and comes up about a foot above the ground, 3 or so below. And wont look so overgrown or baren this time next year. (Im waiting for the poison ivy i found the other day to die before i finish clearing it. and by me, i mean the kid were paying to clear it since everytime i get down to do it i get attacked by mamoth killer mosquitos that only like me apparently. )
I dyed the rest of my roving today. I think i've figured out how the dyeing transfers into the yarn after its spun. So its less experimental now. Which i like. Sometimes its good to just try things, but when I want enough pretty yarn do do a project? Experimentation not so hott.
I'll take pictures and post them later. Along with links to the gorgeous bulbs Im about to buy to cover the strip of grass on the other side of the ditch with.
I know. I have a problem. Shut it. It'll be gorgeous and you know it. And when we sell this house, you better believe its all commin with me too. (and it will prbly take one uhaul just for the yarn, books and plants. but thats ok. )

Boobholder disaster

2005-07-14T16:24:00.000-05:00

OK ... So I love this pattern. Its great. But apparently I can't make things to fit me. Unless I turn into a 34 B , this thing is not for me. But that purely my fault. Sigh.
I cast off last night at SnB. Seamed the sleeves just now. And then tried her on. At least i seamed the sleeves in a totally non permenant way with a nice smooth yarn and no knots. What all was wrong with it you ask? Well I'll tell you.

The sleeves are 4 1/2 inches too wide.

They also need about half the increases it calls for at the puffy part. Cuz too much puff. (i didnt tighten the sleeves at the end like it said to do. I already liked the length and i didnt need more poof with my broad shouders and chest. yikes. So i just did the garter for 7 rows instead.).

The chest needs to be about 2 inches shorter, and 3 1/2 wider to accomadate the boobage so that nothing stretches too much. So I'm going to start the increases called for after the separating of sleeves and body before that.

So now i have to rip the whole thing back to the sleeve increases. And prlby have to write another "So guess who ran outta yarn" email to Elabeth.
* I have half the ball left from the last one i got. So far I am on ball #5 of the Colorspun. And im holding it double. Not bad, eh?

Knitting pictures

2005-07-09T20:48:00.000-05:00

Where I got my roving. They have AWESOME yarn. Hands down, the best selection of non novelty yarn I've ever seen. Plus, they have dye, roving, spinning wheels, drop spindles, needle felting supplies and tons of other stuff.
The top portion of the Better than Baby Booties Braided Cable Baby Socks. I have more of it done than this, in the blue. But don't have a photo of it. You can use your imagination right?
And a penguin in a sweater just for good measure. I'm sure I should do a photo credit... But I don't know where I got it.

flowers, flowers everywhere

2005-07-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

These are flowers i knew id probably kill, but i couldnt resist them. I cant remember the name right nowm but when i find the tag ill put it in here.

Dahlia.. I want a ton of these next year.

Some of the few lillies that survived. The guy that mows our lawn weedwhacked them when they popped up. I won't mention how i told him about planting the bulbs just two weeks before, and to watch out for them ...

The only part of my garden i can get a decent picture of. Its under a large treem and has just enough shade to make picture taking quite a chore.

Dyeing roving... the lazy way

2005-07-09T20:20:00.001-05:00

Q: What do you get when you mix a few drops of food coloring (Wiltons and the regular kind) a dab of vinegar and a few ounces of roving?
A:

*. (DO NOT put vinegar in your black Wilton food color gel, it causes it to separate and you will get all the colors that make black) .... Unless that's what you want. And then go for it.)
**You must set in sunny spot and left outside until done. I recommend soaking roving in water for 20 minutes, then pouring dye over it however you desire, then microwaving until container is warm so Saran wrap will seal tightly. I put mine in glass pie plates. I noticed when I added water to cover the roving before setting outside, that the dye washed out of places when water hit it. So to test whether it was done, I took water out with me in a glass and poured it in a spot. If the dye stays, its done. If not, leave it where it is.
***results may vary

Dyeing roving... the lazy way

2005-07-09T20:20:00.000-05:00

Now I remember why I don't have cats anymore...

2005-07-09T17:47:00.000-05:00

So I went out in my back yard to see how a trellis, (um thats the one that arches over a walkway or somethign right? ) would work on the other side of our stone ditch. I saw one i really liked today that had lots of detail and was really sturdy. And i think it would look great next summer with some grapes hanging off it...
Anyway. I was out looking at how that would work, and checking on the bird feeders when i noticed a blue jay in my garden. Not just any blue jay, a baby jay. Gorgeous blue wings and fuzzy grey back. And nothing shy about him. Just curious and happy to be around. He let me get really close, within 4 feet, before he would scoot a couple hops away. He finnally had enough of my watching, and flitted to the other side of the ditch where he nesteled into a hole in the stones. So i walked off and let him be. I looked out the window at him every once in awhile to see what he was up to. And soon he was perched on the flat feeder we have hung from a branch, not eating, just looking around. And totally oblivious to the large orange tom cat staring up at him longingly.
And apparently i needed to be reminded of what a naive city girl i am. Because i didnt think to run off the cat before he could eat the pretty bird id just decided i was quite fond of. And before i realised it, he was leaping up at the blue jay, and had his back in his teeth. And no amount of yelling, throwing of objects, dive bombing parents, vicious attack poodles and an extremly upset blonde was was going to persuade that damn cat to let go of his prize.
I am not going to keep Mollie off that damn cat, or keep her from barking at him any longer. He's an awful pest, that eats my birds, and taunts my dog, and pisses in my yard. He can expect to be hosed the next time his furry ass crosses that fence.
And my longing for a lovely smoke grey cat to wander around my garden and decorate my yard is sooooo gone.
Bastard.

lol

2005-07-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

i just found the strangest site

2005-06-29T17:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.lostquilt.com
Its like a missing childrens page.. but quilts. quick, go now. There might be one in your house!

2005-06-24T20:29:00.000-05:00

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

oh and ..

2005-06-18T01:30:00.000-05:00

and i really need to update my buttons and links and stuff. and figure out why i cantget the photos for a template i found to work. i uploaded it to Flikr AND to Hello! and neither works. Sigh. Isnt it pretty though?

2005-06-18T01:11:00.000-05:00

I havent posted all week, not because I'm forgetful. Or because I'm soooo busy (eating, sleeping, watching tv, sleeping, naping, sleeping, watching movies) But because i have nothing to say outside of the typical whiny bullshit most sick people have to say. Till now.
I adore Six Feet Under. I forgot how much i love that show. Its the best show ever. It totally kicks every other shows ass. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. It makes you think. Not to mention captivating. And its not in the typical cheesy movie way either. I like watching it, like i love reading a good book. Its the same rush of a great story. But you get to watch it, and hear it unfold. Sometimes i expeect to hear the brush of a page between scenes. (Thats how you read books too, right? They whisk you off to another world.. and it plays out in your head like a movie no one else can see... Um if i sound nuts.. be kind. I'm sick *cough * cough* remember?)
Um.. knitting. Im 3 rows away from starting the heel on the Cabled Baby Sock. I know, crappy, but its hard to concentrate when im sick. Especially when its the kind of sick i actually break down and go to the dr for. which happens, umm never. Last time i went to the Dr i had a brown recluse bite. Before that.. well. Id call the citcumstances equal in severity.
ok. energy gone. back to bed i go. minus the six feet under marathon. Half a season in a day isnt bad ... right?? Shows some reastraint. Oh i made some hot fudge sauce tonight. It wasnt great. But it wasnt awful. Needed to be dark or semi sweet cocoa powder if that exists. And thicker. Like the kind you get in a jar thats like paste. um. yummy chocolate paste of course. anyway. bed. I'll thrill you later.

And I guess I had more to say

2005-06-13T23:29:00.000-05:00

Oh, and you know what sucks about being sick? You feel like you're a million years old. Watering my garden, not even by hand - except for the pots, totally wore me out. And that's about all I've done today. I've eaten. But not happily, since everything tastes like air. And all I can feel is the texture on my tongue and in my mouth. Its odd. I haven't noticed a lack of taste like this when I've been sick before. Sure, things wouldn't taste right. Or be sorta bland. But things seriously taste like nothing. Blech. Knitting news you ask?
Well, I knit(ed?)3 rows on the Baby Bootie. Including one that was a cross over row. But then I had to put it down and take a nap. Apparently brain / hand activity is too much for me. Talk about useless. Its driving me crazy. I didn't get much done that I planned on this weekend. And there's weed coming up in my garden, and little things like that I need to do, but don't dare. :/
I've got stuff for some RAOKs too, but I'm missing a couple "ingredients". Michaels & Hobby Lobby are out of them, and now that I'm sick, I don't need to go try to hunt down the other thing I wanted to get. Sigh. I don't see me going to doggy class tmrw. I don't think I can handle it. But we'll see. Ill prbly go to see what I'm missing. If I can talk at all. Otherwise, I ll just catch up next week. mollies already doin better than most of em I think. I hope I'm ok by wends though. I really wanna go to SnB. But I also don't wanna make anyone else sick. :/ If I don't feel better, or god forbid, worse, in the am I'm going to go to the dr. Which I never do. So that should tell ya how bad I feel. Id tough it out if it weren't for this throat and fever. That's the worst of it. Ok I'm done now.

As I Feared

2005-06-13T23:17:00.000-05:00

I'm officially hardcore sick. My throat isn't supposed to hurt like this. I have no tonsils. I slept awful last night. I had a fever, that didn't break til this evening. And I had chills and hot flashes all night. I ended up splitting the difference clothes wise to combat that. bc as soon as I took off or added a blanket, or stuck a limb out from under them, the opposite would happen. Id be too cool. Or be too hot. So all night I dreamed I was topless in public. And kept wondering why everyone was talking to me so much. Lol. But it wasn't a "hey my face is up here" kinda thing. It was like an ice breaker or something. I dunno. It was the most normal dream I've had though.Since mine are usually some sort of Magnolia-esque movie feel. Real life, with lots more imagination and less filler too. Have I mentioned I had a knitting dream the other night?? While I was knitting baby stuff like a machine, I dreamed I was knitting. Going through the hand movements and reading a pattern and the whole 9. That's when I realized I might need to let it marinate a bit. And move on to some other crafty endeavors. I so need to get a sewing machine. I think 90% of the other crafty stuff I wanna do requires one. Or some stellar hand sewing abilities. Which strangely enough I don't have. I can do it, but its craptastic. I can embroider like you wouldn't believe, but cant sew to save my life. At least not anything you'd actually want to hold up to any sort or wear and tear. Ummm I think I'll stop now. My medicated ramblings are wearing me out. I'm headed back to bed. Maybe I will sleep for more than an hour. That'd be pretty sweet.

I had such high aspirations for today... (btw ranting and slightly foul language ahead!)

2005-06-12T22:09:00.000-05:00

Mollie would just not let me sleep last night. She wanted up, she wanted down. She wanted in she wanted out. She wanted to play, play, play. And im sorry. when i want to go to bed, I WANT TO GO TO BED. Shes a damn dog! Not a baby. And its nto like she didnt get played with yesterday. SHe even got a car ride. Thats a pretty sweet doggy day. So wtf. And it continued into the morning. And as ussual around here, morning actually starts closer to noon than midnight. After 4 am, i gave up doggie duty, and passed out. Sorry bout your luck mom. but its damn time you take some doggie resposibility around here. Since she sits in YOUR lap all damn day, and im the one that takes care of everything around here ::anyway::.
I woke up feeling like hell. And I sound like a man. But a kind friend, who happens to be a man, said i just sound like Angelina Jolie. So, um, I'll take that.
I thought I was gonna get some killer yard stuff done today. Since i wont have much time to this week, but i guess not. If my nose doesnt stop dripping im going to cut it off. Did i mention the headache that totally feels like a hangover? Yeah. Just shoot me already. I cant even knit. I started the second Better Than Booties Cabled Baby Sock (Interweave Knits, Summer 05) and i only got 5 rows in before i gave up. But, it was 5 rows with barely a foul stitch to undo. So, not too shabby I guess.
I feel totally useless. I hate that feeling. I'm going to try to get some sleep now. Cross your fingers that its not like last night, mmm kay? Thanks

2005-06-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

That Patons cotton colors yarn got me to thinking about making a shrug. But just hasnt worked out with anything ive tried yet. And then i ran accross the Glampyre Minisweater (aka: boobholder) pattern, and decided i need one of those. Which as it happens, I have enough stash yarn for several. I started looking for buttons and broches to use as a clasp and founf a neat flower one that is enamled with the colors in some yarn in a green/blue/ivory 3 ply i got from Elabeth awhile back.
Double stranding the sock weight yarn that is working great. Ans working up pretty quickly too. To get gauge i had to go up to 10 1/2's. (it calls for a 9) So maybe I'll have it done in time to wear to stitch n bitch. Which is now meeting on wendsdays btw.
Ummm thats all i can think of for now. (can you say space case?)
Other than that, im in a crafty slump. If i want to do somethign i cant seem to find all the "ingredients". Or it just doesnt want to work for me.
Still need to sew the ribbon on the baby stuff. *blush* They'll have it before he's grown in to it, I promise!

Clapotis es fini!

2005-06-06T12:19:00.000-05:00

I just took her off the needles. Shes a bit shorter than id hoped.... Blocking might fix that. If not, I have almost a whole skein left. So i might just un finish it and work osme more straight rows. I'll post pics when its blocked and pretty.

In the home stretch...

2005-06-05T18:44:00.000-05:00

Clapotis is now in the decrease section. The rows are flying by, and it feels like every few mins im zipping down more dropped stitches. I love it! I think she will be done by tuesday.
The garter stitch baby stuff is done. Well. Almost. It needs ribbon attatched. But it will be done as soon as I find a box to put the Kangaroo and stuff in.
Um, how boring and to the point is this post? Can you tell I'm worn out? Gawd. I'll spare you and end it now.

Run down of my day so far...

2005-06-04T11:33:00.000-05:00

I rolled outta bed at 9 to take Mollie to the groomer... And it was alreasdy eighty million degrees and humid out. Just kill me. I was gonna go right home but there were all these yard sale signs... so i stopped at a couple. I got 12 skeins of Pattons Cotton Colors for $10. Yay! Um, not that i know what im makin with it or anything like that. But does that matter? Nope!
Theres also a cemente turtle ridign around in the back of my car that weighs a ton. He isnt very big, but damn, is cemente heavy! Its gonna take some creativity to get that sucker outta there. In the mean time, i hope he enjoys the ride.
And someday, when im not such a lazy ass about sitting on the phone for ten years talking to tech ppl about my poor camera, I'll be able to share pictures of all the lovely things ive been making and growing. Til then they'll also have to sit and wait on me, but in my camera rather than my trunk.
Looks like I'm going to spend a good part of my day waiting around. Too bad its saturday or i could call about the camera. Does it take anyone else 3 hrs to get ready? My mom has always been like this on saturdays. Its like she thinks the day will never end and she can sit in the bathroom futsing around oin the mirror and cleaning and doing laundry even when we've got somewehre to be. Lord. I could ahve done everything we we're going to do twice by now!
But um, enough bitching. Its been a good day. i'm going to go work on some RAOK's now. Watch out!

2005-06-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

I left for Home Depot and came home with a dog

2005-06-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

After I ate dinner, I decided to go to Home Depot and check out their Clematis, bc I found a wrought iron trellis this weekend to use in front of an ugly gas meter in my neighbors yard that detracts from my new garden.
And I had just pulled off of my street, when I saw this dog cross in front of some cars near a stop sign. She kept getting to one side, then after everyone started moving again shed decide to cross a different way. I'm near a pretty busy street, and she kept stopping traffic. She finally slowed down once she got in a neighborhood and I got her to come to me.
She was a lovely little pit bull I'll call Lucy. (Because she looked like a Lucille/Lucy to me) She let me pick her up, so I took her to my car. She rode real well, and didn't want to get out when I got her home. I got Lucy into the back yard, and had to find Mollie's old clip leash and yard stake since she decided my garden was a great place to sink her paws into.
She was the sweetest dog ever, and Mollie hated her. I eventually had to take Lucy and her stake into the front yard. Mollie would NOT quit barking at her. I'm sure she's got a sore little poodle throat right now.
We had to call the human society, bc I couldn't keep her here and wait for someone to claim her. Even though I wanted to put up signs and call all the vets and things. And cross my fingers that no one was looking for her.
If no one adopts her, she's coming back home. I already miss her...

Two FO's in one night? OH my!

2005-05-27T22:16:00.000-05:00

Two FO's in one night? OH my! Too bad I'm a lazy ass and didnt call the camera co and get it figured out, or I could show them in all their finished glory. Oh well. I can always upload the pics later.

I finished the Clebrity shawl I was working on in TLC Amore. I think if I make another, and I probably will, I will make it smaller. This is gargantuan! It goes way past my butt, and wraps around me quite a lot. I would drop down a hook size, and take out at least 4 repeats. But other than that, I <3 it. And it will get alot of wear. Prbly just at home though... since its unweildly.
And I've let Clapotis and the Garter Stitch Baby Booties out of knitting purgatory. Vlapotis is doing fine, and I've figured out how I (stupidly) messed up the second bootie. I should be able to finish the bootie tonight.

Its been a long time...

2005-05-21T01:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted anything in forever. Between trying to find a template I'm happy with, my camera not cooperating with my computer, and Blogger eating posts... Time has slipped by rather quickly here.
I've finished the baby sweater, and one of the cabled baby socks in the Interweave Knits summer edition. And I've done one bootie to match the sweater. I'm going to have to do the other tomorrow so I can get it blocked in time to give to the mommy before she goes in on the 26th. I'm not worried about the cabled sock, because it will be fall before the baby will fit them, so I'll get another set done too, and gift it later.
Clapotis is in time out right now. I started the decrease rows two reps too soon... And I'm dreading the unknitting for 8 rows. So its in limbo while I steel up for it. I've started the celebrity shawl from Stich Divas to fill its place right now. I'm really enjoying it so far. Its in an eggplant color of TLC Amore. I think I might make another with the cherry red color next time it goes on sale. It's going to get a lot of wear.
I've also neglected to post about my Secret Pals, I was Heatherly's secret pal, and Jackie was mine. And my lovely Bead It! pal, Danielle. I got both packages in the last week or so, and was happily surprised by them. Not only did I get stitch markers, (gorgeous ones at that!) but I got some super soft roving. I'd just been talking with Elabeth about spinning, and how id put off playing with my drop spindle til I could get some roving to dye, and then next day, there's some perfectly dyed roving begging to be played with! My secret pal box was awesome too. Yarn for two pairs of socks, a pair of bryspun needles, "Knitting on the Road" a some cute little goodies too! I feel very spoiled this week.
And I will get pictures up soon. I just have to find the day time to call the company and. Apparently my camera is unfixable online, and they have to walk me through what to do. Ugh.

Clapotis Check In

2005-04-22T15:52:00.000-05:00

This is my lovely Clapotis. Yes, yes i know. I have it too. Shes much further along right now, but i dotn have a pic od her. This is at the end of the Inc section. im almost done with the straight rows and am now out of yarn. So shes on stand by til i can run up to fayettville and get more. I should only need one more skein, but im going to get two just in case.
Posted by Hello

Baby Gifting!

2005-04-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

This is the adorable kangaroo (complete with a joey) that i got for a friends baby. If you pull the joey, it plays music! how cute is that?

Back of a baby sweater I'm working on for the same friends baby. The fronts are on the needles right now, but im stuck. Im trying to get an argyle on them, and my color skills arent up to par. Rip # 3 and counting.

This is my knitting basket, currently occupied by my helpful sheepy and the yarn im using for the baby argyle. Main color is white. Ribbing is in the blue, as well as in the over crosses of the argyle. daimonds are in the green tan and yellow. and dont worry, its not a total argyle. just a strip of them accross the chest. I think im also going to make matching booties with a green diamond at the center, and half the yellow and tan on either side with a blue strap. But we'll see. At this rate, he'll be 15 before im done!
Posted by Hello

Read me please!

2005-04-15T22:45:00.000-05:00

I am going to help Candyce teach a crochet class at the local Boy's and Girl's Club, and we need help raising the funds for it since charging a fee for it wouldnt be such a hot idea because it might exclude some kids that cant swing the fee. If you're interested in helping, check this out.

yay procrastination!

2005-04-10T16:05:00.000-05:00

Remind me about this if i ever start talking about wallpapering or putting up a border myself EVER again. Pulling down wallpaper sucks. So does putting up borders. And prepasted my ass! It doesnt count if it wont stick to the wall!! Has anyone ever hung a borer on a painted wall? Because any hints or tips would be very appreciated. Short of just calling some one else in to do something i should be able to do.
I feel like a monkey trying to earn a bananna doing something i cant possibly master. Im super crafty, and good not just passable at most everything i do. So why can i not seem to hang a stupid border!?!? I've hung drywall. I've built shelving. I've painted anything that would stand still. And i took down wallpaper in the same room that was hung with super industrial paste from the 70s. plus three otehr layers of paste beneath that! Just to do a stupid suede paint. Which, by the way doesnt go on so well at the ceiling line. Its super hard to do. Which is why i decided a border would be the way to go to cover it up... BAD idea folks. Bad idea. But I will figure this out. Because thats how i am. But it doesnt mean ill ever do it again...

2005-04-04T23:57:00.000-05:00

Heres Allans' Noro Kureyon beanie and scarf... yes, thats the best pic i could get. It looks better in person, but the stitch pattern is hard to get in detail.
Posted by Hello

2005-04-04T23:55:00.000-05:00

Here's some lace weight yarn I koolaid dyed a few days ago.
Posted by Hello

here's to ROAK!

2005-04-02T20:45:00.000-06:00

I just opened my email, and there was a GC for Adagio Teas sent to me by Lisa Y ! How sweet was that? Totally brightend my day. :D

Blah

2005-04-01T14:06:00.000-06:00

I feel awful. I have enough pain medication in me to knock out a horse and im still cramping. The phone wont stop ringing. And everyone needs something. Cant sleep. And when i can,. its not good sleep. Just shoot me already. Im sure it's crossed some minds already.
BTW, does any one want to run to the store for me? Id really like to make some peanut butter fudge.. but i dont have the right milk. damn it.
And i have pictures to put up here. but theyre stuck in my camera at the moment, and i dont think now is a good time to wrestle them out since im quite fond of said camera.
but pictures mean ive made progress on some of those projects right? well, yes... and no.
now i think my supposedly attention starved poodle and i are going back to bed.

I think it's time...

2005-03-16T20:59:00.000-06:00

I have realized the number of projects I have laying around is ridiculous. I know there are at least 10. So here's my list. maybe that will fuel the need to finish them if I see how many there really are. And then I wont start any more until I'm through with them... right?
1. Noro Scarf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%
2. Clapotis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
3. Colorblock Hoodie . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%
4. Enigma Wrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75%
5. Fuzzy Purple Wrap Sweater . . 45%
6. Turquoise Eyelash Mittens . . . 50% (expericening second sock syndrome)
7. Confetti Baby Hoodie . . . . . . . . . 95% (needs steeking, seaming and zipper set)
8. Confetti scarf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 % (one I-cord bow left)
9. Pink Bunny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%
10. Purple eyelash Shawl . . . . . . . . 20%
11. Mariah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%

What? A new project? Absolutely not!

2005-03-07T23:01:00.000-06:00

Ok, maybei did start something new. But don't tell any one. I don't wanna have to admit to how many I have going.
So... All those stitch markers I've made are about to come in reeeeal handy. I've started Clapotis. I couldn't help my self. Found the perfect yarn... GGH Safari. Its a smaller gauge than the yarn called for, but I like it that way. Wouldn't want to start listening to a pattern now, would I? I'm through the second increase repeat. So ive still got a lot left. But I really like it. Looooove the yarn. I highly recommend it. Especially since its got awesome yardage for being such a different yarn. 140m... So around 170 yards? Or something like that. And its in a similar color to the one on Knitty.com

It worked!

2005-03-06T00:09:00.000-06:00

Allan's Noro beanie is just like i want it! I can hardly believe it. When i came home today, it still looked big... but when i put it on, it was just like it needed to be! YAY! I was totally ready to threaten it if it didnt. And then throw it into some hot water to make it behave. But i guess it got those psychic vibe warnings and got its self into shape.

2005-03-04T21:27:00.000-06:00

I've got to start swatching for real. i kinda half ass it. bc i figure "washing cant make ::that:: much diffrence". WOW am i wrong. im afraid im gona have to rip out the noro beanie i did for Allan. :( ITs soooooo pretty. In a boy way... of course. So i got it done right? fit me perfect. well, fit me like allans hats fit me. which means too big. hits my eye brows and doesnt mess up my hair at all. lol, so it was gonna be great. and then i washed it. and it grew TWO inches folks. TWO god damn inches. i had no idea that would happen. so now im praying to the knitting gods to work theyir wool magic while it blocks. hoping it does that magical fits to the shape you put it in deal that ive heard about. sigh. its gonna be a bitch to unravel. but the scarf is lovely! ill post the pics of it that have been sitting in my camera for two days later tonight.

rants

2005-02-28T20:16:00.000-06:00

Holy crap, today sucked. Started out awesomely good. Slept in a little. Watched soem Daily Show before i left for work. Got to work on time. With a cherry limeade i might add, but somewhere along the way it went horribly horribly wrong. Im blaming it on hormones and the fact that i work with way too many women. 5 to be exact. Have i mentioned i dont get a long with women very well? well, now i have. Ive always had guys for friends. Get a long better. Less drama and aggrevation. More meaningful conversations that hardly ever evolved around who likes who, what so and so is doing, or other mundane bullshit i have to force my self to care about. Theres a few exceptions to that rule. Like the chics i knit with, they're a-ok. And a couple girls i went to HS with are fine. but other than that... theres not too many others.
So add in all the crap that goes on when more than 2 women are in a room together all freakin day, cramps, a headache threatening to be a migraine, ppl totally in cappable of thinking through a question in order to get the answer they desire, and my lack of patience with general stupidity, and you have a crappy day. but on a good note, Allan, youre hats like an hour away from being done. Now thats love.
and maybe later ill post some actual knitting content. like pictures of the fuzzy little girls scarf i made. or Allans noro beanie. or the colorblock boys hoodie im working on.

has anyone seen this?

2005-02-16T21:11:00.000-06:00

Im probably the last one to see this, but it's new to me, so deal for a sec. this is the best noro book i've seen to date. Not like i need another project, but butterfly is exactly what ive been wanting in a sweater jacket kinda thing and hadnt been able to find. Fitzgerald looks like something Allan would like... well, maybe more that id like for him. He's not quite as earthy as my imagination makes him sometimes.

It's official...

2005-02-14T22:10:00.000-06:00

I have a yarn problem. Hobby Lobby had sales on yarn this week, and last week. I bought more than i have room for... I'd show pictures, since ive been photographing everything else, but im slightly embarassed. I almost doubled my stash. but i have plans for most of it at least. Not that i have time to do anything with it though.
i finished the baby hoodie that looks like confetti cake. now it just needs to be sewn up, but i still need to steek the front. but theres no rush. i didnt make it for anyone in particular. Im going to make another one for my brother, in a blue/green boucle (some of the hobby lobby stash) I think it'll look great on him. I'm going to make a big boy sweater for his older brother, since he'll be starting school next year. I'm thinking i might do a child sized Mariah type sweater. well, cable wise, bc its not really that girly, right? We'll see how long that idea lasts...

2005-02-13T12:34:00.000-06:00

Meet Madison, my new project. (the dress, not the adorable baby girl wearing said dress) Im waiting, rather impatiently, on the yarn. I mean I've already amde the pearl stitch markers for it, come on already! It will be lavender, bc thats what the mom wants it to be. Now to find buttons...

and this is the front
Posted by Hello

2005-02-13T12:30:00.000-06:00

This is my betta, Jacob. i <3 Jacob in all his turqouise fishy coolness, and for putting up with my poodles weird habit of sticking her paw in his water when i dont pay attention to her.
Posted by Hello

2005-02-12T21:23:00.000-06:00

<
Heres some stitch markers i made
Posted by Hello

2005-02-12T19:52:00.000-06:00

The book and buttons are from my awesome secret pal, the bag i made, and the black blur is a plain ol ribbed beanie, and the fuzzy bit below it is a eyelash yarn shawl for my mom, that is imposible to photograph, at least at night. I'll try tmrw in daylight.
Posted by Hello

2005-02-12T19:49:00.000-06:00

This is what im making the bunny out of.
Posted by Hello

Yay! Presents!

2005-02-07T20:29:00.000-06:00

My secret pal couldn't have better timing! I was thinking about starting a new project, and wantwed to do something a little more ambitious stitich wise. (yes, i know another thing to add to my UFO pile.) And when i got home today there was a package waiting for me, with Knitting on the Edge and two pins and nifty card. :D Thanks ton! (I'll try to get some pics w my camera, but its screwy, so we'll see. I'm getting a new camera this weekend, so I'll post pics then too)

where did this week go?!

2005-01-29T22:17:00.000-06:00

I have had so little time to knit this week! I'm going through withdrawl! I started a new job monday, that i LOVE LOVE LOVE. yay! But its seriously cut into my knitting time. lol. I worked on a basic black ribbed beanie for a friend today, because it was really slow and i was caught up. Im starting this nifty little bunny now for a friend thats got the most adorable little girl. Im using some rosey pink fuzzy acrylic that was from a sweater i bought (for $7!!) and frogged so i could figure out the weird cable pattern it had. It didnt have enough yardage for anything really. bc it was a very skimpy juniors medium. adn it was the only one they had or i woulda bought like 5. so i coulda duplicated it in the same wonderful yarn btu big enough for me, and then had some left over for some socks. hehe Oh! and i got my secret pals info! and i know mine is watching, so Hello secret pal. I'm so excited. ok, thats it for now, im exausted. night all.

Secret Pal 4 Q's

2005-01-25T22:25:00.000-06:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- and/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?... i avoid red heart, but like some lion brand, like lanscapes and watercolors, but not theyre wool-ease and things like that.
2. Do you spin? Crochet? ... want to learn to spin, and can crochet, but dont if i can help it.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) ... not that i can think of right now.
4. How long have you been knitting? ... a year
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? ... knitpicks.com and amazon.com
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) ... spicy, warm, flowery scents
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? ... yes
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? ... anything, lately its been beading (making stitch markers and things like that)
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) ... most anything, it goes in cycles, right now, its classic rock and soul. and yes. my comp does.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? ... turqouise. (really any blues, but especially that one), black, chocolate brown, pink, grey, red, ivory,
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? ... live with my mom, and my poodle, mollie.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) ... besides wife to a fabulous husband/mother of happy well adjusted children? to be a midwife, open a birthing center, and maybe a yarn store/cafe
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? ... caron simply soft, enigma, ECCO superwash merino, koigu kpm, watercolors -lion brand.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? ... red heart, rough anything, wool-ease
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? ... cables, lace (totally inept so far though, grrr)
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? ... cables, and small sweaters. (instant gratification)
17. What are you knitting right now? ... eyelash yarn shawl for my mom, cabled scarf, mittens, ribbed hat, mariah, baby zip hoodie, wide chevron scarf/shawl, and i think thats it.
18. What do you think about ponchos? ... theyre ok, if the yarn is really neat, or there is a cool lace pattern.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? ... love both
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? ... aluminum, preferably boye. or addi turbos
21. Are you a sock knitter? ... soon
22. How did you learn to knit? ... books
23. How old is your oldest UFO? ... may or so... i guess thats 9 mos.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? ... shawn the sheep. and birds, bunnies, and turtles.
25. What is your favorite holiday? ... christmas
26. Is there anything that you collect? ... birds, suncatchers, lotus'

2005-01-23T01:21:00.000-06:00

I'm starting the Matthew seaman's scarf tonight for my dad. its in a slate blue color, in a nice cushy superwash merino by ECCO that I think I'm going to be addicted to. it's in great colors, and as merino goes, isn't too pricey. I think im going to get some of the natural color and work up a pattern with some cables and a nice hood to solve my craving for mariah. but I want it to be a pullover, with one of those v necks that has a toggle closure. I also ordered a ball winder tonight when I got home. We (Candyce and Elizabeth and I) went to 3 yarns stores in Tulsa, and I didn't find one. got some nifty nubby Cotton Flamme (Crystal Palace) from String, and the merino too, just because. I might do a chevron scarf or something. I don't know. but it was cheap, and nice, so gotta love that. I'll prbly need more though. I always either get too much or not enough... Also got a turquoise lotus bowl, like the kind you find at sushi bars, and it holds the merino ball perfectly, yay Salvation Army!

new pattern

2005-01-20T22:20:00.000-06:00

One of my UFO's is the "must have cardi" from HipKnits. Well, as usual, i cant follow directions to a 't'. I changed the gauge, significantly, to allow me to use Trendsetters Vintage and TLC Amore, bc i could only get 5 balls of Vintage and it ended up being impossible to find my color anywhere. So i used the Amore with it on 13's to get a nice cozy knit. BUT the cardi's neck line just didn't lay right w that yarn, and looked ... odd, for lack of a better word, on me. So i ripped back. (thats been happening a lot around here lately...) and i failed to mention my gauge must have changed when knitting the fronts, since it sat in my drawer for months. bc the fronts ended up overlaping more than necessary to button. it just so happed that it was enough for a wrap, so i think im going to do that now. Im trying to find the perfect neckline for it now, i cant seem to get the depth of the v quite right. but i will. And then i will have my first person sized original sweater pattern. right? bc if its a totaly diffrent gauge, and yarn, and fit and such from that pattern, even though thats what i meant it to be, its mine then right? hope so.

Ok, change of plans

2005-01-18T16:53:00.000-06:00

So... Mariah isn't gonna work for me right now. Im not going to rip the back part that ive already done, b but she's gonna sit and mellow for awhile. Im going to finish my second mitten, hopefully CO for it tonight at stitchnbitch, and mess with the lace cap from knitty. I finally got some smaller dpn's and ive got a skein of shocking pink koigu kpm that's calling out to me. So im going to try my hand at lace. Cross your fingers for me, mine will be busy. Im going to go to Michael's first, they're beads are on sale and I need more for the stitch markers im making. A lot of the ones I got in a set a while back are messed up. Lumps in funny places and such.
more later. I'm out.

what kind of knitting needle are you?

2005-01-10T22:43:00.000-06:00

You are pink aluminum.
Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic
things. If they're 99 cents at Goodwill all the
better! You are moved by striking colors and
tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch
session in the sun. Just remember, while
you're being kitschy cool, don't get too cold.
Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails,
baby!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

nothing too exciting

2005-01-06T21:47:00.000-06:00

Im taking a break from mariah tonight. Im trying to finish up a few UFO's. Theres a baby hoodie ive had on needles for awhile (since august *blush*) that just needs the sleeves and hood and it will be almost done. Its in Lion Brand Watercolors (bright clouds is the color). So far its used two skeins, im about to start # 3. its turning out pretty well. When its knitted up it looks like confetti cake to me. (the white cake mix you can get that has little colored sprinkles in it...)
I cant find any picutes to show of the yarn knit up, the kind of cake im talking about OR a photo of the hoodie from the bk im using. its like i have the only one or something. But thats just how my days been. sigh.

Mariah: (my) step one done!

2005-01-05T22:25:00.000-06:00

I finished the back piece tonight. I started with it, rather than the sleeves, because that'll be the fun part... And I wanted to save it for later, lol. I'm about to cast on for the front pieces, which, like the sleeves, I will do at the same time. The way it's looking right now, I'll have it done A LOT faster than I thought I would! I think this one might be a little too big... But I hope its just a little bit, bc if it is, I think I will steek the sides in before I seam to get some extra width out of there... I think its going to be too loose at the waist (almost for certain), and a little looser than desired at the hips because of the way it needs to stretch so the cables are visible. I have a cabled zip up hoodie that I love that I got long before I learned to knit, and I want Mariah to fit that way. But the chest is a little tighter than id like, and I wish I it was about 3 inches longer. I measured it last night, and when I compared the measurements of it to those of Mariah, I found that its several sizes smaller than what I have on the needles... BUT mine is ribbed all the way up ... It measures smaller than it fits. Its 18" lying flat, but stretches about 2 inches when its on.
Man. I wish id thought to measure my sweater before I started. :( I have a feeling I might be screwing up. I hope if I am, I can save it and make some curves all at the same time with steeking. Because I need the bust to be larger than the hips... Which is why I went with the size I did. Damn it. This is confusing, I hope not many ppl read this one, for all who do, I'm sorry for such a rambling post!

finally!

2005-01-05T14:14:00.000-06:00

ok, secret pals 4 is starting its sign ups! quick, go check it out.

the first thing i knit

2005-01-01T17:30:00.000-06:00

My dog, Mollie, in the first thing I ever knit. Technically the reason I started knitting. She was tiny, and she would get very cold out side, and I couldn't find a premade sweater in her size... So I made one. Out of rectangles. With a blue baby yarn and self striping fun fur held together. I knit it so tight, I cant frog it to reknit it into one that would fit her now!

2004 survey

2004-12-31T20:42:00.000-06:00

2004 survey
Created by millaboo and taken 133 times on bzoink!
What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?	Learned to knit, got engaged then unengaged, raised a puppy, redecorated three rooms all on my own, got drunk, and got the flu twice
Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next	didnt really make any, but i have for this year. mostly knitting related though. (do those count? lol)
Did anyone close to you give birth?	yes as a matter of fact. My cousin and my fatehrs chidlhood best friend each had beautiful baby girls!
Did anyone close to you die?	yes. my great great uncle Allen (my favortie person in the world), my great uncle Morris, and my great aunt Eliza.
What countries did you visit?	none but my own sadly enough.
What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?	a place of my own
What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?	november 2nd. because i don't understand how that many people could be soo dumb.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?	raising a fabulous dog.
What was your biggest failure?	taking care of allan
Did you suffer illness or injury?	the flu twice. my migraines came back. 4 brown recluse bites. mmm fun!
What was the best thing you bought?	a learn to knit kit
Whose behavior merited celebration?	my best friends
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?	my (real) mothers or gw's -seriously folks, its a tie.
Where did most all of your money go?	split between knitting related items and trips to tx
What did you get really, really, really excited about?	andrew
What songs will always remind you of 2004?	musicology
What do you wish you'd done more of?	been responsible
What do you wish you'd done less of?	everything i knew i shouldnt have done
How do you plan on spending Christmas?	next year? hopefully with andrew
Did you fall in love in 2004?	yup. a few more times for practice. once for real.
How many one-night stands?	too many
What was your favorite TV program?	Inside the Actors Studio (i think thats the name.. its on bravo)
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?	yeah, but not so much that id put their name here.
What was the best book you read?	intimate (sorry, dont remem the authors name)
What was your greatest musical discovery?	my dad
What did you want and get?	a dog and a car
What did you want and not get?	A sewing machine and an ipod
What was your favorite film of this year?	Ray. hands down best movie ive seen since... schindlers list or something...
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?	whats clean?
What kept you sane?	knitting.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?	collin farrel
What political issue stirred you the most?	gay marriage and abortion rights
Who was the best new person you met?	andrew
Tell the most valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:	dont believe everything youre told
Create a Survey Search Surveys Go to bzoink!

Mariah update

2004-12-31T15:29:00.000-06:00

I've managed to get past the 5" of seemingly never ending cabled ribbing on Mariah. I've been feeling yucky and flu-y the last few days and about all I've done is knit with a few random things in between. So it was probably two solid evenings before I got to the regular stockinette. Now its just flying. I miss-read the chart when I started cabling so I have the hold to front and hold to back cables reversed. But oh well. It doesn't look like I messed up so its all good. I ended up casting on about ten times because I couldn't get the stitches right, and after all that, I just couldn't go back and do it again. My head would've exploded with frustration. But I'm happy to report the Caron Simply Soft is working great. One of the girls at stitch n bitch said she wasn't sure it would show the pattern well because of the slight 'halo' the yarn has to it, but its working out great. (YAY)

Wow. What a slacker I am

2004-12-28T21:36:00.000-06:00

Ok. So I haven't even bothered to write one stinking entry since august. So shot me. I think its the lack of a decent digital camera that keeps me from doing so. Oh well.
ivy got tons of WIP's right now. Most of them barely started. I casted on for Mariah last night. (yes yes, I know the knit along hasn't started yet, but I cant help it.) I'm using Caron Simply Soft. In black. But only because I cant find a nice soft natural oat color or a nice heathery gray that wont be too expensive for me right now. (considering I might not ever finish it)
I am half way through a pair of mittens to match an eyelash scarf I made a couple a weeks ago. Its a color way that reminds me of the blues in the Monet painting ... waterlillies or something like that.
I'm also working on the cardi in Hip to Knit. But its not really working very well... The sizing just isn't working for me. I'm gonna have to frog the back and do it over. Too busty and hipy for it. Blah. Where are the knits for chics with curves. hm?? hmm?? They're either extra big or have to curves to them! grrr.
hmmm. What else am I working on...
oh! A shawl for my GrammaMom. (she's my gramma, but she's pretty much raised me. so anytime I mention 'mom' its her. k? k. Its in an eyelash yarn that's purple and fuschia. but rich jewel tones, not garish. itll be beautiful.
ok. I think thats it for now.

In the beginning ...

2004-08-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

I taught myself to knit in January 2004. I have always dabbled in crafts but usually set them aside before they're finished. Knitting however, has been the exception to that rule.
This blog is to help me keep track of my WIPs, UFOs, growing yarn stash lofty knitting goals, and all that other jazz. And this way, all you who care can see what I've finished instead of waiting for me to show you / send pics, you can look here as I go along. whoo-hoo!
This will grow into a site, but its going to take me awhile to get it worked out since its been a good chunk of time since I've worked on any.

Pictures are coming soon!