Champagne Tastes

Roommate Issues

2008-01-29T23:16:00.000-05:00

Issue 1: I have three roommates
Issue 2: They like it HOT in the apartment
Issue 3: One is a slob and smokes pot in her room (I have asked her to stop...didn't work)

I am fed up with all the issues but I snapped on issue 3. I grabbed up all the dishes that she left in the sink, put them in a trash bag and left them at her door. Then I wrote a note stating that I am sick of her slovenly ways that she needs to start cleaning up after herself.

I come home and the kitchen is clean and she is cleaning the bathroom! Nice! But then she leaves a note on my door:
"Thy bidding is done and your people skills are appalling."

I write in response:
"Pot smoke is appalling
Loogies are appalling (she spits them into the sink and shower that she never cleaned)
Dirty dishes in the sink for weeks is appalling.

Your ass is lucky that I didn't call the police on you for smoking (pot). Your attitude sucks and I have been way nicer to you than you deserve.

Keep up the good job with cleaning up after yourself."

I have had it with her. I have been way too nice. I have provided her with dishes, driven her to the store, fed her and have cleaned up after her for months now. I haven't called the police on the four separate occasions that I have had to endure her stinky pot smoking. I have listened to her cough up whatever is living in her lungs since I moved in here.

She's 22, thinks she's always right so its not surprising that she acts this way. I think I hate her.

I am knitting though! Check out my Ravelry page if your can my username is cherbear01!!!

2007-11-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

I was nothing because I had an exam the next day. Ok that was fun now back to work.

First Day of School

2007-08-27T08:22:00.000-04:00

I just found out this morning that my baby Missy has been sleeping in my bed back home. And I was thinking that she didn't even miss me. This makes the first day of school bittersweet.

Here's to you Missy a great dog that never attacked my yarn even though it was always in your face!

I'm HERE!

2007-08-22T19:15:00.000-04:00

Well I am here in beautiful (rainy) State College. Classes officially start on Monday the 27th and I am already stressed. Hearing what you have to accomplish in 5 years all at once really gets the heart pumping. Now my commitment to my education is really being put to the test and I am freaking out. For the past few days I have been working on my other Embossed Leaves Sock but now I can't even look at it!!! Grrrrrrr how long will this last? How long will this anxiety over my new situation in life last?

I don't know when I will next post about yarn or knitting. I hope it will be soon because all my yarn is up here with me and it winks at me when I walk by.

Moving

2007-08-17T15:04:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow I move to school. A great day because I have been wanting a PhD since I was in highschool and now 10 years after graduating high school I am finally starting on my way to that dream.
I meant to post my finished Monkey Socks but I have discovered that I am not as familiar with my new computer as I would like to be. I got a MacPro and its silver and go-geous !!! Even though I have always been a PC person there were a few Mac's that I had to use at my previous job so making the switch hasn't been difficult at all until I have to learn the various applications like iPhoto and iMovie and iThis and iThat but in time it will become second nature.
I am almost finished with packing (I packed all my yarn first Hee!) so I better get back to what is left over.
Next time I post I will be an official student and not a jobless bum!!

FINISHED OBJECT

2007-08-11T16:55:00.000-04:00

I am finally done!!! (I should have been done MONTHS ago though...)

Project: Ribs and Lace Tank by Jodi Green, Interweave Knits, Spring 2007
Materials: Paton's Grace, Lavendar. Just under 7 skeins.
Needles: Denise Interchangeables US7 for the lace, metal US4 for the ribs.
Start: Feb 2007
Finish: Aug 2007
Size: 40" bust

It fits, it feels good, I'm wearing to lunch on Wednesday!

SOLD!

2007-08-07T10:56:00.000-04:00

BEAUTIFUL!
If I had known that Anne was going to put out a retangular version of her Bee Fields Shawl I would not have purchased the kit for the shawl. Don't get me wrong, I WANT THE SHAWL, but now I will feel guilty if I start the stole while my shawl kit is just sitting there! Of course I will be very busy with school and won't have time for either :( ...damn school.
Oh and I am TOTALLY knitting the stole in black JaggerSpun zephyr laceweight as shown...I'm all about black right now.

Procrastination

2007-08-05T10:59:00.000-04:00

Instead of working on the many WIPs that I have going I casted on for a new sock!

I like Monkey. It is a snug fit so I was uber paranoid when I casted on for it. I used a 2.5mm needle and casted on 80 stitches instead of 64 and used Cara's cast-on method for picot edges (she does her cast on over two needles for to make it very loose, which is fabolous!)...too big! So I ripped and re-knit using the same needle and 64 stitches...too tight! So I ripped and re-knit using a 2.75mm needle...awwwwww now we have lift off. I added a eye of partridge heel and even though I messed it up I just love it to pieces.

The yarn is Koigu color P304 and I almost left it on the shelf at the LYS until the clerk picked it up and told me how much she loved the color. I still didn't care for it but I bought it anyway mainly because she was so funny. It sat in the stash for a bit because I didn't like the color so I decided to knit it up and get it out of the way. NOW I LOVE THIS COLOR! I love Koigu, I love this color, I want more Koigu, I will have more...in the future.

In more procrastination news I am completely distracted from PACKING TO LEAVE FOR GRAD SCHOOL by Ravelry. Despite the slowness of my computer I am still on Ravelry. I almost didn't even go to sleep last night just to be next to the computer to look up random stuff. Its wonderful!!!!

But Cheri you need to pack!

Thanks to my new friends for the adds on Ravelry, you have also aided in my procrastination but how could I be mad at you ladies?! And if any of you are on Ravelry look me up I am cherbear01!!

Ravelry!

2007-07-31T13:53:00.000-04:00

I finally got my invitation to join Ravelry and oh my lord I wish I was on this thing when I still had a job because I would never have been bored at work. Right now I have so much cleaning, organizing and packing to do that I can't list all of my stash and projects right now :( but soon I will. Actually right now it would be a pain in the but to work on my Ravelry account because my computer is sooooooo slow. This problem is being taken care of as we speak so maybe it is good that I have something else to do. Who am I kidding, I'll be putting stuff up there little by little and by the time my slow computer problem is fixed my entire stash and WIPs will be on display for the world to see.
If any of you are on Ravelry already I am cherbear01 so look me up!

Tears of Joy

2007-07-24T15:35:00.000-04:00

I am so happy right now that I could burst into tears.

In the Spirit of Eye Candy Friday

2007-07-20T11:01:00.000-04:00

I have to put "in the spirit of" because I do not regularly participate in Eye Candy Friday but I wanted to post something today because I don't feel like doing any work.

My pumpkin-butt Missy isn't represented enough on this blog and I don't know why. She is always around my feet whenever I am knitting and taking pictures but she is incredibly camera shy. Here she is after a long walk on a hot day.

She isn't paying attention to me so I was able to get a good photo of her. I used to carry one of those portable dog bowls around with me when I would walk her or take her to the dog park so she could drink out of it but she never would. This is the only way she will drink water on the go...from a water bottle...she prefers it cold and filtered...diva.

I like lace!

2007-07-17T10:31:00.000-04:00

So the mamaship lurves her new shawl/scarf. "Something to cover the shoulders", she said, "when its chilly at the office". I think this has been accomplished.

So now I am free to move on to a new lace project and I already have. I started this little gem and I am captivated.

Sunday I started Eunny's Print O' The Wave Stole using the Malabrigo Lace in Cactus Flower that I just recently acquired. Right now I am in LOVE with the pattern, the yarn and the color. I wasn't so sure about how I would like the color variations when I first received the skeins but right now I am loving it. Its so light and soft and PINK! I wanted to make a very modern looking stole to wear and I instantly took to this pattern when I first saw it (lord knows how long ago that was) and to me it looks modern and the PINK color adds the extra umpf to it!

What I am not in love with is the mistake that I made.

Can you see it?

How about now?

That entire partial repeat has the same mistake. I don't know what I did. It almost looks like to me that the pattern got moved over a couple of stitches and then the entire repeat wasn't finished. I can't really figure it out so I kept moving on. I would have ripped back but I couldn't see the point since its not that noticeable plus I like the idea of an error in my lace, makes it more real to me that I actually made it.

BUT that doesn't mean I want more mistakes people! As a rule of thumb I do not like mistakes! If they happen so be it but if they can be prevented then by all means lets prevent them. So I have engineered a new method of reading my pattern...notecards!

They are in order by color and number because I am that messed up in the head. NO I just like it when colors are in the ROYGBIV order. This notecard method so far (just one repeat) has reduced my stress while knitting. My brain doesn't have to work as hard to find the beginning of my repeat each time. Now I just need to keep the cards in the proper order at all times, which isn't hard because of ROYGBIV!

Finished Object Alert!

2007-07-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

I remember at a minute where I didn't want to knit so I started a new project in hopes of bringing me back to the knitting fore front and I think I have surpassed that!
I present you the Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style.

Project: Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style
Materials: Elann's Peruvian Baby Cashmere in Pink!!
Needles: Denise Interchangeables US5
Start: 29 June 2007
Finish: 14 July 2007
Dimensions (blocked): 50" wide 24" long

I had a good time knitting this shawl. My first lace shawl and I am addicted! Just like when I started knitting socks, I was mesmerized by how quickly they knit up and how comfy and beautiful they are when done.

The pattern called for US 6 needles and only 10 repeats of the pattern. I used US 5s and made 12 repeats. I wanted it a little less airy than it appears in the book so that is why I went down a needle size. I increased the number of repeats in order to keep the shawl the same size. It came out a tad smaller than what the pattern said (54"x24") but it works for me.

I would wear it more like a scarf than a shawl. I am planning on making a bigger shawl (I have already pre-ordered the pattern and yarn) so I don't mind that this one is a bit on the smallish side. What the hell am I talking about! Its a gift for my mom so I don't get to wear it at all! I love it though so I know it will be well received.

BYE SHAWL!

P.S. Right after I finished blocking my shawl the yarn for my next LACE project had just been delivered! Oooooooooooh I luuuuuuurve it!

Shimmer in the Morning

2007-07-12T13:07:00.000-04:00

Finally a pic of my Shimmer Socks. I dig em! They feel just like store bought socks, which to me means they are not burning up my feet.

Cool news is that I have TWO projects nearing completion and when I mean nearing completion I mean like weaving in ends and shit! Stupor exciting! Also I will be able to debut my not-so-secret yet secret project, which is a gift for my mom. It should be finished by tomorrow and blocking will begin on Saturday.
(I don't want to do anything this Saturday except clean...scary!)

Knitting Mojo

2007-07-06T09:59:00.000-04:00

Why is it that I have completely lost my knitting mojo yet I still knit? Instead of going straight to bed at night when I am exhausted I force myself to knit two rows on my not-so-secret secret project. Why is that? I am not super excited about the project anymore or any project for that matter yet I still work on it like its homework or something.

I know my knitting mojo is kaput because I won't even take a picture of my finished Shimmer socks. They still sit in my knitting bag waiting to be useful in some way. Sorry socks, maybe this weekend (I think I have said that before). But just to keep those that are interested here is a photo of what the socks look like. I call it my Mona Lisa!

Yes this looks believeable!

This dead mojo thing is good because it keeps me from buying more yarn forces me to focus on things I need to buy like SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!! I bought a bunch of school supplies last night and I was smart, I found a list online of things I that I will need once I am in grad school and I stuck to that list and voila! I already feel successful! I still need to get some storage binders and a bookbag or messenger bag or kid to carry my stuff. There is nothing more exciting than school supplies. New pens, post-its, the promise of organization, the vision of studying and doing well on exams all because you have a shiny new stapler that can staple through 15 sheets of paper.
The part about the article I mentioned above is that is says your desk should be free of clutter and distractions. Hmmmm...I was all set to buy this for my desk. Would that be considered to much of a distraction? Would it add to clutter? :O

Excited!

2007-07-02T14:38:00.000-04:00

Ok during my weird funk I decided to cast-on something new. Using the yarn in my stash and one of my knitting books I started a project that is is more than 75% complete! I can't believe how fast it is knitting up! So fast in fact that I am not even going to put it on the side bar as a work in progress AND I am not going to say what it is until it is done. Really its a spirit lifting knit something quick, different and a gift at the same time.

Also I am excited about the current issue of Magknits. Most of the time I don't get some of the patterns that are presented in Magknits because...well...I just don't like them. I don't always like Knitty either but Magknits has less patterns to offer than Knitty so less of a chance that I will like everything. Anywho I love this vest. I love it so much that I immediately went to Elann to purchase the yarn in the exact same colors that is modeled here, but alas Elann is out of these colors at the moment. I don't know if it is the colors I love or the vest itself but whatever it is I must posess it. I do have yarn in my stash that is the same gauge as devon, the yarn used for the vest, its just all one color and hell I might even have enough to make it but I want these colors (I guess it is the colors I love), we shall see.

The rest of the patterns (the other 4) aren't that hideous to me either, I actually like them. not enough to knit any of them at the moment but they don't suck. That is something to be excited about!

Blogging Issues

2007-06-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to blog lately. I don't feel like taking pictures and all my knitting is taking soooooo long to finish. I don't even know if I will even take any pics this weekend.

I guess I have been really tired and stressed. Stressed out about work because my last day is exactly 30 days from now and they seem to want to over work me to death. I am realizing just how much I will miss my dog when I leave and I have come to the conclusion that I suck at all personal relationships.

Ok that's a lot. I better take some pictures of my knitting soon before this blog becomes really whiny.

My sock stash grows

2007-06-20T20:23:00.000-04:00

I ignored the warnings that once you knit a sock you are hooked but now I am a true believer. I have really become obsessed, the only thing keeping from going overboard on buying tons and tons of sock yarn (if I have not yet done so) is the fact that I have to go to school in 2 months and I need to conserve funds.
Anyways, here is my growing sock stash (some shitty stuff is missing like Lion Brand Magic Stripes so its not pictured but it will pop up one day). I am really happy with my stash right now because I love everything here but I am most excited for the Socks that Rock. The first time I saw this colorway I fell in LOVE and I HAD TO HAVE IT! So now all I really have to do is get these other socks out of the way and I can start on new socks!

Starting from left to right:
Mega Boots Stretch #713
Hand Dyed Sock yarn from Sharing on Etsy - Confetti
This yarn is soooooo bright! I LOVE IT! I love bright sock yarn!
Socks that Rock - Watermelon Tourmaline
(top) Koigu KPPPM - 304
This color is my attempt to break the colorful streak in me. Its olive with purple streaks and I like it but its not bright, which is the point right?
(bottom) Supersocke 100 Highland Color - #71
Knit Picks Memories - Smores
Too brown but it smores!
Knit Picks Memories - Spring Prairie

I have patterns in mind for a few and I can't wait to start the next sock, I just need to work on my current socks. NO MORE NEW SOCK YARN! MUST SAVE FOR SCHOOL! A'IGHT?!?!

I Almost Frogged

2007-06-17T09:26:00.000-04:00

First here is a pic of my shimmer sock and shimmer socklette.

Crappy pic but it shows the heel and I likes the heel a lot!
Shimmer is not what I almost frogged (although it crossed my mind). What I almost gave up on is my embossed leaves sock. I didn't like the stripes, I couldn't see the pattern, the brown in the sock blended well with my skin, etc. So last night I made the decision to terminate the project but to make sure to take pics before for evidence that I was right about the sock being a bad idea.

I'm glad that I took the pics because I like it! Now just to finish it so I can start another sock.

No Pics Today

2007-06-15T10:47:00.000-04:00

So I finished my first Shimmer Sock and I j'adore/dislike it.

What I J'adore!
1. Decision to make it an ankle sock was spot on. I prefer it that way since the majority of the socks I wear are ankle socks.
2. The colors are so wonderful. I lurve to stare at the sock from time to time and I really that is all due to the pattern because without the pattern the sock would just be some plan old stripey, pooling mess.
3. It fits!
4. Feels like one of my normal everyday socks. Not too warm and comfy.

What I dislike :(
1. Merino/Tencel has noooooooooo memory. When I am not wearing the sock it looks like a sloppy ass mess.
2. It is slightly too big. Just enough so that when I am walking around it slides around my foot but it does stay on through the night.

So the pros outweigh the cons so the sock stays! Good thing because I already started the second sock. Don't know if I am sold on the 50/50 merino/tencel blend, it feels good on the foot but we will have to see how it holds up over time.

Since I have no pics yet of my finished sock, check out these other Shimmer Socks in the meantime...they are so cute! (If you hadn't notice I tend to get a little obsessed about a pattern before and while I knit it)

Aminonogatari
A Good Yarn
The Soapy Knitter
LadyEowynOfNJ
Knitting on the Catbus
Zeitgeist
Joko Knits

Sock it to me!

2007-06-13T14:00:00.000-04:00

Front and back of my shimmer sock. Its further along now, actually I'm ready to bind off the first sock. I decided to go for ankle socks because I like ankle socks and because I thought they would look better that way.

I have also started my embossed leaves socks and I am super excited for them. The only problem is that you can't really see the pattern because the yarn stripes green and brown and I have brown skin and everything seems to blend really well but I still like the socks. Maybe I just need to look at them in better lighting.

I'm on a sock kick right now. I want to make millions of socks and wear them everywhere. MORE SOCKS, MORE SOCKS, MORE SOCKS!!!!

Siegfried and Roy like Knitters and really who doesn't

2007-06-09T10:51:00.001-04:00

I want to participate in Eye Candy Friday but I never remember to do it but dammit I want to!!!

I missed yesterday but with good reason, I was having ALL 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled. Talk about the craziest thing ever!!!

So yadda yadda yadda they are out and I here I am the next doped up on Vicodin posting for Eye Candy Friday.

This pic is from my trip to Vegas. We stayed at the Mirage and there Siegfried and Roy have a Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat and man that place is beautiful. Vegas will never let me down I tell ya. In any hotel and casino there are so many ways to get away from the smokey, boozey, crazy casino.

Here in the Secret Garden were these cutey llamas. Obviously Siegfried and Roy like knitting. Sure, I don't actually know this but its what got from the llamas being there.

WTF?!?!

2007-06-04T12:50:00.001-04:00

Why do I even bother?

This is why.

My Latest Purchase

2007-06-02T10:15:00.000-04:00

I have been away in the Fabulous Las Vegas so not much knitting to report. Even though I brought along TWO projects to work on I think I may have knitted 3 or 4 rows on one. So no new knitting pictures to show but I do have some pics waiting in the wings for such an occasion as this one.

I have been going through this organization phase. Since I am leaving for grad school in just 2 1/2 months (excited EEK!) I felt the need to create order and balance in my life so I started organize the hell out of everything. First was my jewlery because...DAMN that shit was everywhere. Second was my yarn and yarn related accessories.

I bought some bins for the yarn and moved works in progress to baskets and whatnot and my circular needles, well they needed a decent home too.

Lexie Barnes came through on this one. I have been holding out on buying anything from her only because I feel that the prices are too high to buy a bag to carry projects in. But when I found myself needing a needlecase to organize my circular needles well all suggestions pointed here. I almost didn't buy this because of the $50 price tag but sometimes to have to spend money to...well to have a comfortable sleeping area.

I just love the Dutch Treat print. The white backdrop gives me a feeling of cleanliness and that is just how I want to feel when I am organizing. I feel confident that there won't be any needles poking through the vinyl covering. The zipper closure assures that nothing will fall out while I am not around. The 20 pockets allows for maximum separation of various needles and since there are so many pockets I was able to slip in ALL of my double pointed needles as well. A small zippered pouch on the inside gives way for the storage of random things, which at the moment are my stitch markers and sewing needles. And last but certainly not least are note cards for writing needle info on and sliding in the pockets (as you can see in the 3rd picture). I ja'dore this because I have already forgotten which pockets are for which sizes.

Kitty was definitely worth the $50 plus I received free shipping from a code that I found here, which really was the deciding factor for me.

So if you don't already have a permanent home for you circular needles I would definitely purchase Kitty from Lexie Barnes (also available in other designs) because it has several durable pockets, notecards for maximum organizational delight and its cute!

Ahh the beginning

2007-05-19T11:28:00.000-04:00

I like the start of a new project. There is so much promise in those first few rows, the idea of what the garment will become, the joy in thought of enjoying it once it is done, before it has taken shape and begins to resemble what you are knitting. This joy that I feel has helped me to appreciate raglan sweaters and tops more. I mean I have to really, I just finished a raglan top, I have one going, and I just started a new one.

Or maybe because I just finished my Rusted Root that I can sit back and enjoy my new raglan knitting so much. Before now I wasn't such a big fan of raglan knitting because there are a lot of stitches on the needles and progress is slow. I don't know really what changed me but I think it has to do with finally being able to identify the fact that I am a process knitter. I love my Rusted Root but when I finished it I realized that I was much more excited about it while I was knitting. The anticipation of the finished product is what drives me to knit and so now when I look at my Cropped Cardigan in its baby form I get excited at just being able to sit back and knit.

The same can be said with my Picovoli. Its my on the go knitting, which I would like to be done with by July 4th, I appreciate just knitting on her. I can't even remember when I re-started her but I don't really care at this point. I am most excited to finish her though because the way the waist shaping is designed I think it will be the most flattering for my body, but we shall see.

Oh I guess you can tell by now that I decided to work on the cropped cardigan instead of the socks. Really, it came down to the simple fact that the cardigan had already been casted-on and I am really that lazy.

What to work on next!

2007-05-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

Stephanie Japel's Cropped Cardigan, which can be found here and here, has captured my attention. This is not a good thing because I have a tank to finish and a sweater for my dad to start. Do I really care about this? No.

Also since my very own Jaywalker has been put on hold I have been searching for a sock pattern to use my Knit Picks S'mores on and I have found it, Shimmer from Magknits.

Two good patterns, one big problem, which to start first? Obviously from looking at my sidebar I have no problem with starting two projects at the same time, but lately I have been really working on project until its done and then picking up another. This has been good for me since I have a problem with finishing things.

Well really I have already started the cropped cardigan so one would think that I have already made up my mind but I am this close to starting the Shimmer Socks tonight. I really want to make some socks since I frogged my Jaywalkers. Just 2 months until I will be in PA and I won't have the time to make some toasty socks for myself, so I will need an extra pair before I get there.

I really don't have that big of a problem (except for the fact that I can't see to finish the Ribs and Lace Tank) but right now I just want to work on one thing at a time, which is the cropped cardigan, shimmer socks, cardigan, socks, cropped, shimmer!!!!

Don't mind me just updating my KALs!

I am on a Roll!!

2007-05-14T19:40:00.000-04:00

Project: Rusted Root by Zephyr Gals

Materials: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, Color Lake, 4 skeins plus a tiny bit of a 5th!

Needles: Susan Bates US7, Denise Interchangeables US5 (for the ribbing)

Start: 01 April 2007

Finish: 13 May 2007

Check out one of my previous posts for all the details because I am going to walk the dog in my new top!

Finished Object Alert!!

2007-05-12T09:13:00.000-04:00

Finally, after taking these pics a couple weeks ago, I am finally posting the pics of my mom's turtle neck shrug.
Project: Turtle Neck Shrug from Scarf Style
Materials: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed, Color 02 (a beautiful maroon) ~5 skeins
Needles: Denise Interchageables US 6 and Clover US6 dpns
Start: 01 January 2007 (estimated guess)
Finish: End of April

I can't say that I enjoyed working on this project. I mean come on, two sleeves, in the round and its all ribbing!!! A very boring combo but I just j'adore the finish! We both that we wanted this shrug when I first received the book (like 2 years ago) and now its finished and with the most glamorous yarn to boot!

Silky Tweed is silky goodness. The merino content lends softness and a memory to the garment and the silk adds to the softness and luxury of it as well. One bad point is that now my Denise US6 needles are stained purple, but I can live with that.

The tweed is what really makes this unique because the little bits of blue and gold against a maroon back drop of a turtle neck shrug. I am happy to send my mother out into the world with something truly beautiful.

LONG LIVE KNITTING!!

I'm Bringing Progress back!

2007-04-28T10:35:00.000-04:00

Ooooh look at me I am the beginning of Jaywalkers using Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in chocolate strawberry stripes! I am knit on US 0! I am a total of 96 stitches and I am so cute and special!!! Ooooooh weeeeee oooooooooh!!!!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I AM TOO DAMN SMALL?!?! I AM 96 STITCHES!!! HOW BIG ARE YOUR FEET????

Yes you are cute just like my favorite cup but alas I can't get you over my heel! Such is life.

Now I am at a crossroads with this sock. Do I switch to bigger needles, say US 1 or do I just increase the number of stitches to 100? See I am using my Knit Picks US0 and I really like them. Smooth and pointy, pink and silver but I feel the same way about my addi turbos as well (except for the pink and pointy part). Decisions decisions.

My Rusted Root is coming along wonderfully! The yarn, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, is really soft and just plain wonderful to work with. Its so easy to zone out in front of the TV while knitting with this yarn because I am not afraid of splitting the yarn I just have to remember to pay attention when I get to the lace panel.

I fell in love with this top simply for the puffy sleeves. I have seen a few of these tops when not knitted in the suggested yarn (Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece) that have no poof to the sleeves. Keeping this in mind when looking for yarn, I had the idea that Cotton-Ease would keep the poof. We shall see after I finish a few more rows of the body I will then finish off the sleeves.

So sleeves alone wouldn't keep me working on this top. The lace panel really breaks up the monotony of raglan stockinette, which I am thankful for. Plus it adds that sexy peek-a-boo action to it. Mmmmmm Hmmmmmm!

Jaywalker Ankle Socks

2007-04-22T12:52:00.000-04:00

Project: Jaywalkers by Grumperina

Materials: Lion Brand Magic Stripes, less than a skein

Needles: Addi Turbos 2.5mm 47" for magic loop

Start and Finish: I don't remember when I started but total knitting time was about two weeks and then I took a few days off before I grafted the second toe.

Modifications: Well I made them ankle socks! Half an inch of ribbing and half an inch in pattern before starting the heel flap.

I LOVE these socks and so does my mom. I am sad to have to give them away to her but happy that she has new bed socks to wear. I have already started on jaywalkers for myself using the ever so soft Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock so I won't have to be jealous of my mom for long.

STASHBUSTER

2007-04-12T10:41:00.000-04:00

Hola, como estas? Yo estoy muy bien.

Last night I was soooooooooo exhausted from my very long day but I managed to finish a bit of knitting before I slipped into nightmare land. I offered to knit socks for my mom she just requested bed socks that are ankle length so I told her that I would pick the color and the style and she was fine with that. So last night I finished the first sock and gave it to her, she loved it, slept in it and it was still on in the morning. There were a lot of mistakes on it that I will fix with the next one.

I also finished her Turtleneck Shrug and she loves it as well although I am having a hard time pinning her down for a photo. This weekend I will pressure her into it but with the gloomy weather we have been having she might not have to go through with it.

I broke under the pressure of not buying anymore yarn and bought 6 balls of classic elite silk. Its been raved about on various blogs (one in particular here and here) and I just couldn't resist it when I saw that Webs was having a sale. I want to redo my Molly Ringwald using the classic elite but who knows what other pattern it will inspire.

Even though I broke my promise to me mommy about not buying anymore yarn (luckily she wasn't home when the yarn came) I am still stash busting. Her socks are being made out of stash yarn, her turtleneck shrug was stash yarn, my next socks - stash, and I even looked up a sweater that I have been thinking about for a long time and guess what?! I have some yarn in my stash that is MORE than perfect for this project. Look at me the STASHBUSTER!!!

I am really going to stick to this because I love knitting and I want to focus more on knitting challenging patterns and less on buying fancy yarn.

(I just recently lost 25lbs and now I really need to buy new clothes and cute shoes and well, that is winning out over the yarn!)

A Day Late

2007-03-31T09:36:00.000-04:00

Last Eye Candy Friday I eluded to receiving a very important package from FedEx. Well it came and the news was everything I could have hoped for and more.

I have been accepted into the PhD program at Penn State!

Go Lions!I can't wait to become a grad student once the summer is over. I have wanted this for so long and I really feel ready to take this school by storm. And in honor of my new university I am gearing up to knit some school spirit!

Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4ply in the Knight colorway, which is a beautiful navy blue with flecks of gold and green, and Knit Picks palette in white. Perfect for making mittens from my new book Folk Knitting in Estonia, which I picked up from my LYS a while back. I'll have to play with gauge a bit since every pattern requires size US 0 needles.

I also want to make Shedir with the tweed as well. I can't wait to get the whole family together!

An Idle Mind is the Devil's Playground

2007-03-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

I promised myself that I wasn't going to buy anymore yarn. I didn't say exactly when I could start buying yarn again but for now I am going to be done with it for awhile. I am buying more and more without looking at what I already have and what I have is project worthy but yarn is soooooo tempting.

So of course I am way bored at work and I start looking at knitting blogs and come across the most gorgeous yarn I have ever seen. Fortunately enough for me it is sold out because I pulled out my credit to prepare for purchase. This led me to start checking out socks, which led me of course to sock yarns, which led me to this sock yarn.

So what if I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anymore yarn? Who cares if I break a promise to me, I will forgive myself. But nooooooo stupid me had to make this announcement in front of my mother and well if you have a mother you know that you can't go back on your word to your mom.

Where does that leave my desire for sock yarn then? Well I already have some at home that once I leave work I will pull out and play with and hopefully that will curb my appetite for more yarn.

Goodbye for now

2007-03-25T16:14:00.000-04:00

Today was exciting because I decided to actually take some of my knitting off the needles and try it on. Afterwards though one of my garments to be never made it back on the needles. Unfortunately my "On the go Knitting" (Picovoli) had to be frogged. As you can see she wasn't that far along so its cool, I really only worked on her in the car on my way to work and back and sometimes at work (under my desk...just my hands not my whole body!) She was just a bit too tight so I will start her all over again in the next size up.

My Ribs and Lace Tank passed the test though!!!! YAY she looked so cute and sexy! I didn't take a pic of myself in it because well I had to take my shirt off and I am not about to expose myself on my blog.
This is how she looked right before I took her off the needles. The ribbing is very hard because A) Paton's Grace cotton is not that soft and B) Paton's Grace cotton on US 4 needles is even harder. For me doing the ribbing is not very fun but after trying her on today I got a second wind and I have already split the front and the back.

Old Finished Object

2007-03-24T11:18:00.000-04:00

Finally I am posting pics of my Molly Ringwald. I finished her in November '06 and wasn't happy with her being too big but I still love the pattern to death and want to redo it (someday) in a smaller size.

Project: Molly Ringwald from Knitscene Fall 2006

Materials: Patons Classic Merino, Brown, around 4 1/2 skeins

Needles: Denise Interchageables US 6

Start: 01 September 2006

Finish: 15 November 2006

I made it to fit a 46" bust and it came out gapping along my back. My mom suggested that not everything needs to hug me so tightly but I say it does!!! Who does like fitted garments that make you look your best?

My favorite part of the vest is definitely the ruffles on the sleeves and above the bust. When I redo the vest I am going to add another row of ruffles to the front because I think the ruffles somehow get lost since I have so much boob.

All in all I love this vest, its soft, comfy and keeps me really warm. I would almost wear it out of the house today if it fit better and didn't have carpet lint all over it (I am a bad yarn mommy). VIVA LE KNIT!

Eye Candy Friday

2007-03-23T14:14:00.000-04:00

I am not an official participant but I am super duper excited today and wanted to share that with the blogosphere today.

They are delivering me a very special package that will help to change my future. I love you FedEx!

Its ok to cry for yourself

2007-03-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

St. Patrick's Day was a hoot. I flirted with guys, danced all night, and had way too many diet cokes and vodka. Fun fun fun!! What was not fun was having my car towed from my friend's apartmetn even though it was parked in a legal space. Luckily the towing company is located a very short distance from my house and I my friend was able to give me a ride. I didn't have to pay a dime to get my car out of the impound lot BUT I do have to pay for my broken window.

Someone tried to break into my car while I was partying like Lohan. I guess someone thought that it was necessary to try and steal something in my car but fortunately, like in their own life probably, they were not successful.

After being a good girl and not spending loads of money I went out and splurged on the cutest designer bag Saturday morning (got 15% off on it too), bought lunch for my mom and I, and even a round of drinks for my friends at the club just to now be kicking myself because I have to shell out over $200 for a tiny rear window.

I'm mad and I want to kick and scream. This is also eating into my vacation budget for the summer as well. I called my mom to complain and she asks if I got the article that she sent to me about the condos that caught on fire in our neighborhood leaving more than 40 people homeless.

Grrrrrrrr is my reply "Back to me!!!"

I bitch some more about not having money and pout because I might have to return my purse and sure I can pull money out of savings but that is not suppose to be for purse shopping and after a minute I started to think about silly I sounded because my neighbors lost everything in their lives because somone left a cigarette burning and all I have lost is $215.

All I have to say is that its ok to cry about your personal losses even if there are those out there that have lost more because once you get everything you need off your chest there will be more room in your heart to feel for others.

This is strictly about the finished product

2007-03-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

I just can't stand it!!!!!

I've missed you dah-ling!!!

2007-03-10T14:27:00.000-05:00

I hate not posting to my blog because I started this thing to myself on track with all of my knitting. It does work because just thinking about my blog forces me to work on my projects, but I have been busy with other pressing matters. I want to talk about them but I believe in keeping news to myself until I have all the confirmation I need so that is what I am going to do now.

Oh what the hell

Last weekend I had an interview with a university as a potential grad student!!!!
The interview, I felt, went very well and I feel I got across my extreme excitement about going back to school. I graduated from undergrad in 2002 and have since been working in the same field as the program that I've applied to. I have always dreamed of going back to school and the stars lined for me and here I am.

Anyways, I was so busy preparing for my interview that I let my knitting slide and of course a new Knitty just had to come out and tempt me with a fabulous pattern (I must figure that since I have finished a pair of socks that I still can't wear I must be some sort of sock genius and can now tackle any sort of sock out there). I can only fight the temptation for so long but I will just have to. I've finally gotten to the bust shaping on my Ribs and Lace tank so I will post more pics soon.

Finished Object

2007-02-24T17:01:00.000-05:00

I FINALLY FINISHED MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!!!!

(fanfare, music, etc.)

I just can't wear the second because I accidently binded off too tightly!

Project: Universal Toe Up Formula by Amy Swenson

Materials: Claudia's Handpainted Yarn, Fingering Weight, in color 008 otherwise known as Midnight.

Needles: Addi Turbo US 1/2.5mm 47" (what was I thinking) circular for Magic Loop

Start: End of December

Finish: 24 February 2007

Technically they are not done because I can't actually wear them but fuck it, I'll fix it when I fix it. In an earlier post I linked to all the juicy tutorials for my sock like the Turkish Cast on and the Magic Loop both made the sock process fun.

If you studied the picture closely you would notice that the socks are not the same. The 1st sock (on the right) has a picot edge and the 2nd sock (on the left) has a double rib. I change the second sock because I had issues with the picot edge being too tight (ha ha ha) and rolling.

Oh well

The socks are warm though. One really cold night I wore the 1st sock to bed and when I woke up my foot was HOT and my feet are always cold even when I have my usual socks on.

Lace-ilicious

2007-02-19T19:54:00.000-05:00

Ribs and Lace Tank from Spring 2007 Interweave Knits

Close up of the lace patterns

I am almost ready to start the ribbing, I just need to make the final decision of whether or not this lace part is long enough. I haven't measured it yet but I think it is the right length because I stopped knitting it already...my gut told me too.

I pretty much put everything aside for a week for this top and I have really enjoyed working on it. My mom's little sleaves keep getting tossed aside and the yarn for my Dad's sweater has arrived but is still sitting in its box where it is safe.

The New Interweave Knits

2007-02-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

I just received my magazine yesterday and I must say this issue is the best I have come across. I know the preview has been out for awhile and I saw most of the patterns online but to be able to get a closer look at the patterns was great.

Since I have already committed my efforts to making a sweater for my dad and Picovoli for me (in red red red!) plus finishing up projects for my mom I may not be able to start on any of the patterns I want to make for awhile :(

Oh Cheri you know that is just not true!

Wooooooo! I want to start YESTERDAY on Jodi Green's Ribs and Lace Tank. It is just so what I want to be creating for myself especially since I have fallen for a new cotton yarn, Paton's Grace. The cheap cost, generous yardage and availability (Michael's thank you) have made it my new inspiration. I just bought a few balls of it to make Picovoli (in red red red!/cardinal) and now I would like to buy a few more for this tank. I love the idea of taupe or lilac, but there is this light pink that I think would look so perfect with this design, I don't know I will make my decision at Micheal's where a lot of my life's decisions have been made lately.

I also fell in L-O-V-E with Joan Mcgowan-Michael's Swan Lake Cardigan. I would sooooooo attach the tulle on it and everything. I love her because her items are so flattering to a woman's curves and since I have been told that I have nothing but curves why not show them off.

Eunny.

Need I say more?

I didn't think so.

I always enjoy her designs because she puts so much thought into everything she creates and I just really appreaciate her for that. How cool would these Entrelac Socks look in like white and black while wearing a little black school girl skit, white untuck shirt and black tie? Hee hee, cute. Plus I am already familiar with the entrelac since working on Lady Eleanor, now all I need to do is finish it!

Katy Ryan's Eyelet Rib Bandeau with its picot edges makes me weak, Nora Gaughn's BonsaiTunic is totally wearable and not a boring knit and just like Eunny I love everything Nora designs. Wenlan Chia's Tea Rose Halter is totally badass in the respect that its a chunky knit that is made to look delicate and feminine. I always love it when opposites come together in a beautiful way, like men and women, lions and lambs, ice cream on hot apple pie, Brad and Angelina. It warms my ittle, wittle heart. I could see this halter is black with a fuchsia tank underneathe or vice versa.

Kate Gilbert's Keyhole Top and Stephanie Japel's Cable Down Raglan really made me stop and think about how to these two women come up with such designs. Where does their inspiration come from because I am always surprised by their simple yet intricate uses of ribs and cables.

Of course I just j'adore every piece in this issue and I want to make Grumperina's Rosa's Socks because I just happen to have some Lorna's Laces sock yarn at home in a stripey pink and brown. I wonder exactly how many of these items I will even get to make. I definitely want to start on the ribs and lace tank soon and eventually get to the swan lake cardigan, we shall see.

As for my other projects in the works I will post more about those this weekend. I need to keep my focus on my dad's sweater. He picked out his own pattern and I already ordered the yarn, plus he wants to pay me $100 for it. Fine by me, the yarn cost $73 including shipping so I have no problems with taking his money!

To check out the other designs that I did mention just follow me!

News Flash

2007-02-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

My dad has asked me to knit him a sweater vest!

I wanted to knit him something for X-mas but I never did and now he wants a vest! This is cool except I haven't come across too many cool looking men's sweater vests I have however come across many brilliant men's sweaters. I was thinking of either altering a sweater pattern into a vest that he would like.

But first I must finish the items for my mom, one is the turtle neck shrug from Scarf Style and a pair of ankle socks.

My exciting Friday night

2007-02-03T19:13:00.000-05:00

My favorite dinner (a pita pizza and salad), a diet coke (a treat since I don't regularly drink soda) and about 5 hours of recorded TV shows that I needed to catch up on. To me this was absolute heaven. Oh and how could I have forgotten my second sock (the first one was up soaking and bleeding in the bathroom sink).

I know what you are thinking now

How is she spending her Saturday night?

Oh my friend...a bit of the same only this time a little more food and some wine!

Where there is Sun there is Dog

2007-01-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

Curious as to why I wasn’t being nudged awake by my dog this morning I ventured downstairs to discover her basking in the sunlight pouring through the backdoor. So just like Missy I took this opportunity to bask my current project in the sun.

May I present to you my first ever sock!

Well part of a sock.

In the past I have told family, friends, strangers in forums that I would NEVER knit a sock. Over time looking at sooooooo many socks online and in magazines really softened me to the idea plus handpainted yarns! Give me a break! Who could resist the bold colors and the stripes!!!

One blog post in particular really pushed me over the edge. I just love the color of the yarn used and the cutey picot edge. That’s it. Nothing fancy about that except the picot.

Wow Cheri you are so easy!

Yes I am.

Then of course there are these socks and these socks I am in envy city!

So I jumped on the bandwagon and went straight to Stitch DC and found some lovely Claudia’s Handpainted Yarn in Midnight. I was looking for a pink and chocolate combo and found Chocolate Cherry but alas with only one hank available I went for the color that yelled the loudest to me. The main colors are purple and blue, which the camera isn't giving complete justice to. I also picked up 2.5mm 47” Addi Turbos and may I say that if anyone wants to start knitting socks this is the combination to go. The ease at which at I have been able to knit is amazing and the speed is perfect too. My sock has grown and grown!

Don’t let the pic fool you because this sock is RIDDLED with mistakes. I had to frog it once already, then I increased the toe to too many stitches, then I decreased not enough stitches and don’t even get me started on the ladders running down both sides.

But for my FIRST ever sock plus using a Turkish cast on AND Magic Loop I have to say that I am very happy with the results so far.

Did I mention that I chose to do toe up socks because I wear a 12 in women’s???

Want to make your first sock and don't know where to start? Try a simple recipe that I followed here!

I finally broke down...

2007-01-19T20:08:00.000-05:00

...and bought some MALABRIGO!

This stuff is as soft as is it legended to be. Sapphire Magenta on the left and Velet Grapes on the right. The sapphire magenta was an impluse buy and I am so happy that I did it because the green is just so beautiful. I am definitely casting on for hand warmers so I can knit comfortably in the basement (so really the yarn splurge is for medical reasons...preventing hypothermia!)

I also purchased some bamboo needles for a project I am gearing up for...its going to be interesting.

Vogue Knitting - Winter 2007

2006-12-29T10:46:00.000-05:00

January 9th...I'm there!

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-11-25T11:43:00.000-05:00

I am 27 today and in all my 27 years on earth today is my favorite birthday.

I received citrine stud earrings from my mom that perfectly match the chunky citrine necklace that I picked up at a craft fair a few months ago.

I heard back from one of the universities that I half applied to. They want me to hurry up and finish sending in the rest of my documents and they have already offered to fly me up for a visit!

PLUS I got Knitting Nature from my sister! Can we say Basalt Tank? I know that people have had lots of problems with the amount of errors in this book and especially this pattern but I don't care I love the top.

I hoping X-mas will be just as wonderful (I am hoping for a digital camera!)

Champagne Tastes

2006-11-15T11:20:00.001-05:00

I am thinking of changing around my blog. When I first created it I didn't know what to call it so I threw together anything that rhymed with knit and came up with the url.

I don't like it because really my dog isn't featured that much in this blog well because I prefer for her not to be around me when I knit. She tends to jump up on my lap when she feels she is not getting enough attention and that doesn't make for comfortable knitting. Plus knitting needles do not make for good dog toys.

Luckily blogger allows you to change the url of your blog whenever you want so this morning a title came to me: Champagne Tastes. Because that is what I have, but I ain't got the budget for it. We'll see how that works out.

In other news I finished Molly!!!! Schweet! I can wear her and everything, which is super exciting. She is my very first garment and I am very proud of her. I just need to weave in a few ends and voila!!!!!

More good news is that my Ipod works again. I took it into the Apple Store at the mall and a very cute guy fixed it for me (I need to start hanging out with computer geeks more often). So now I am super excited about taking my camera in the the store to see about getting that fixed. I don't want to get a new camera at all, but if I have to maybe they will have one on sale at the fix it store. I really want to show off Molly and the beginning of Lady Eleanor. Lady E is just sooooooo beautiful in Noro #148. I have no words really to describe how mesmorized by it I am and my mom is already laying claim to it saying that she wants to wear it. I take no credit for it, its the genius of putting that pattern to that yarn, that is where the magic happens.

27th year on earth

2006-10-28T16:58:00.000-04:00

Have you ever woken up and realized that you have nothing figured out? The activities that you have absorbed yourself in you no longer want to do. The friends that you have made you really never wanted to make them. The guys you date...well same story has the friends you made.

Maybe there has always been that one thing you have wanted to do but were too afraid to try for fear that you would fail or peer pressure kept you from trying.

My knitting obsession has taken a backseat to my graduate school applications. Sure I could do both but an obsession is something that takes over your life so my graduate school obsession has completely drowned out my knitting. That is a good thing because I so want to go to school and I need to focus all my good thoughts into this right now. And if I do half as well with my applications as I did with my knitting then I should be a shoe in for school.

I haven't touch my knitting in over a month and that is ok because its not going anywhere, but looking at the preview for the new Interweave Knits has gotten my knitting juices stirring, or maybe that is because I am almost finished with applications.

Bottom line is really I am not a knitter. I knit for fun and for pleasure but its never going to be my life. How simple that would be for me right now because I have all the tools I need to be a knitter so all I have to do is do it. I don't have all the tools to become a Virologist, first I have to hope some school will accept me. I never want to take the easy route in life I always have to reach for the sky. Maybe knitting was becoming too easy for me. (Impossible I still have yet to learn how to do fair isle knitting).

Hopefully by my 27th birthday (November 25th) I will have submitted all of my applications and have a lovely Molly Ringwald to wear. (I started finishing her today, slow going but this is not my obsession right now).

I feel like crap! Crappy crappy crap!

2006-09-21T13:24:00.000-04:00

Prednisone is the devil I tell ya! Not only does it make your body puff up like a balloon but it makes you crabby as hell!

I hate everyone right now and it is BEST that co-workers stay away from me. I know that is very rude but I have been doing my part to isolate myself from everyone and it seems to be working. Its better that they think I am being a bitch today rather then they get their head totally taken off (like I almost did to someone this morning).

Guy: Did you use all the flasks of cells?
Me: Yes
Guy: You were suppose to save me one.
Me: I did, I split the last one into 6 new flasks.
Guy (starting to whine): You weren't suppose to do that! You were suppose to wait until Friday to split them into 6!
Me (not caring and losing patience): Oh, well you should have written that down then and mentioned the fact that you were taking off these last couple of days so mistakes like this don't happen in the future, so quit crying about it because what's done is done.

This seriously happened. This guy cries about every mistake anyone makes yet will make the same mistakes as you and say its not a big deal. I decided not to talk to him for the rest of the day because I really wanted to say something nastier to him but I still need this job for now.

There is also a lady here that wears too much perfume. I have been staying away from her too because of my affliction but she will get an earfull of how annoying it is to smell someone an hour after they have left the room.

Ahhhhh the joys of working with people [you can't stand] while you are on prednisone.

By the by the front and back of Molly is done!!! I have kickboxing tonight and a celebration on Friday (my friend just got accepted into Med School) so Saturday I cane spend the morning with my blocking materials. Miss Ringwald will be my first completed sweater (or vest) and I am super excited about it and now I must really get on the ball with fixing my camera because I have absolutely no progress pics of her and I want to get a pic of her before blocking.

Since she was my on the go project Shedir has now taken her place. I want to finish this hat in October (breast cancer awarenss month) and ship it off to its recipient (currently battling breast cancer). Seems like this one is falling all into place!

Oaf!

2006-09-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

I am such an oaf! How do I expect myself to actually complete Molly if I keep having to rip it because I forget an increase at the end on the row? Once I was ready for my next increase I realized that I hadn't done the previous increase at the end of the row so I had to rip back 7 rows, no biggy right UNTIL I DID THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN!!! So all my work last night amounts to 8 new rows completed. I wanted everything taken care of before my blocking pins came in so I could start blocking, seaming and starting on the sleeves so Molly will be done and I can wear her with my cute shoes!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!

Last night I picked up the new Vogue Knitting, which if you haven't seen it its new to you! I love the way the magazine is laid out. It doesn't give you a crafty feel at all, it gives you a fashion feel and that is how I want to feel when I knit, like I am right there alongside fashion designers in the trenches creating fresh new looks with them. I am resisting the urge to buy yarn for the Patchwork Jacket in the Fall 2006 VK. They don't have a pic of it up on the their site but I like it. I love patchwork hobo looking clothes especially in my fall color state of mind. I also love the cabled ribwarmer, the back is what really spoke to me the most. My sister has a shrug? like that (I guess its a shrug) and its cute but I feel it accentuates the bust too much and I don't need any help in that area but the style is nice and I am in love with thick cables right now.

Speaking of cables I signed up to be apart of the Fall 2006 Cable KAL. I have Shedir going on right now and once I get my camera to work I can post a pic...grrrrr...no camera make me no happy.

So tonight's homework is...
1. work on camera problem
2. finish the back of Molly (ha)
3. make final list of knits for X-mas gifts. I'm pretty lucky on this because I know what to make for mom and already have the yarn swatched. Sis - I have ideas just need to finalize. Stepmom is getting the misty scarf. Dad - well that's tough. I want to do a simple cabled scarf in a nice grey but I have this deep brown wool at home and the laziness is kicking in and I just want to use that. My dad likes brown for some stupid reason so I want him to like the scarf but I just don't want it to be brown. Brown is ok for me because I know that I don't have a lot of brown items. Ok I am getting annoyed with myself now. I'll figure it out.
4. Don't look for yarn for the patchwork jacket!!!

HUGE PLANS!!!! yeah right

2006-09-17T10:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was my DAY! I had the final three discs of LOST Season 2 and the final 1/4 of the back of Molly to finish, but instead I got to spend 5 hours in the ER.

Oh my stars what happened?!

Well I have eczema and I have had it since I was a kid. It flares up every now and then but I maintain it very well and see a dermatologist about it. Well yesterday I woke up with a swollen, oozy eye, swollen cracked lips, horrible looking hands, and I itched all over and if you ever wake up looking like this try not to live with you mother or you will end up in the ER.

It wasn't too bad though. I got a double chocolate doughnut and caramel coffee from Dunkin Donuts before heading over to the hospital, mmmmmm. I brought my knitting and a book to occupy us both but we just ended up talking the whole time.

So yadda yadda yadda I finally get to a PA (short for "I got my 2 year medical degree and I work in an ER just until my band gets famous") who told the doctor that I just ran out of my eczema cream. He must have been seeing things because I pulled out the HALF FULL tube of cream and showed it to him and explained that it simply wasn't effective in taking care of this severe problem that I am currently faced with. After both my mom and I tag-teamed the nurse about how ridiculous it was for us to waste our time in an ER just to recieve the same medicine that we already said didn't work we finally got to see a real life doctor and she wrote me a precription for Prednisone (to clear the rashy, crusty rash all over my face, hands, neck, and bends or knees and elbows) and a prescription to stop the itching and when I say itching I mean I would itch myself in my sleep until I bled.

Of course once the prednisone is gone the rash will flare up again but when it does it will be easy to maintain because it won't be as bad as it is right now AND I have time to make an appointment with the ever so busy Dr. Berman and get better cream? Is there better cream out there? I don't know but there has got to be something.

All in all I did get to finish LOST and let me tell you what a nail biter that show is. I don't know if its just me but 12 episodes back to back like that really stirs up the emotions for the characters. I can't wait until Season 3 starts, maybe I won't cry so much when I watch it.

As for Molly, the back is nearing completion and I can't wait to block her and then work on the sleeves. I want to wear her in the worse way so I know she will come out looking stunning because I refuse to accept anything less!

FALL IS NEAR!

2006-09-13T09:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at lunch I had a brief conversation with a strange man that works in my building. I guess from living in DC all of my life I think that anyone that randomly wants to make conversation with a stranger is strange. We spoke about the weather turning cold and how this weekend he was hoping for warmer weather. I on the other hand am ready for fall...bring it!

I am ready for fall clothing. I want to wear sweaters, boots, pants, gloves, etc. Never have I been more excited for fall clothing, maybe its because of the Ugg boots I got on-sale at DSW, or the faux shearling lined clogs I got on-sale, or the cutesy poo Molly Ringwald that I am making (to match the clogs of course...now I need a mate for the Uggs!).

I can't wait to start and finish Lady Eleanor from Scarfstyle either. Last year I never would have dreamed of taking on a project such as her but when I saw all of the beautiful FO from the Scarfstyle blog I knew I had to make her. I have been sitting on the yarn (Noro Kueryon of course) for a year now and once the back of Molly is done I will block her and start on Lady E.

Oh Fall how I am sooooooooooooo excited for you! I am happy for your changing leaves, crisp breezes, Markoff's Haunted Forest OHH! and I almost forgot my black suede, 4 inch, boots!!!! OHMIGAWD I love these boots and I have stared at their box all summer itching for the day I can break them out again and extend my 5'9" frame to 6'1"!!!! I love being tall because then people notice you more and then they notice what you are wearing and either love you or hate you but secretly love you.

FALL FALL FALL FALL FALL FALL FALLFALLFALLFALLFALL!!!

I just blogged to say I love you

2006-09-07T14:21:00.000-04:00

I have nothing of interest to report. I haven't knitted anything, my deadline to gift Shedir is tomorrow and only the ribbing is done. I just got out of a meeting and why does it always seem as if my supervisor is trying to ream me in front of her boss? Thinking about work makes me want to knit even more and now I am sad because I am not joining in on the new SKC KAL for the Simply Knitted Bodice and Sizzle. I like both patterns but I probably wouldn't put either one higher than Molly or the Corset top but its just the fun of buying new pretty yarn and joining in on the fun with everyone else. Yes I still get to see all the finished tops and get all the info on the best yarns to use but its not the same. If I were joining a long I would make the Simply Knitted Bodice is some sort of varigated color and use a matching solid color for the lace parts.

Right now I am really in love with tweed and varigated yarns.

Tonight I will cast on for the back of Molly and get that done. I feel like a failure for not getting Shedir done but I just haven't been in the knitting mood at all. It is that time of the month and everything in my life has suffered as a result. Few clean clothes, no fruits, I don't want to drink water, I don't want to walk the dog, work kills me, people make me sad, and I don't want to eat anything but at the same time I want to eat EVERYTHING!

Definitely when I get home the pooch and I will go out for our walk maybe we will even walk to the smoothie place. I want her KNOCKED OUT this evening so I can relax.

Oops! I told me mom I would make vegetarian chili this week...all I want to eat is yellow cake with white icing, but I don't want to eat at all!

P.S. How do people feel about Rowan Summer Tweed? I want to buy a yarn that 70% cotton and 30% silk and read that it is VERY similar to the Summer Tweed. Does it knit well? Does it feel good? Soft? What kind of give (if any) does it have? If you have worked with it would you do it again?

Back to School!

2006-09-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

Yes today is back to school day for all those little Virginian ankle bitters out there. Ha ha ha, get back to learnin' and hopefully you will have lots of homework to keep you all from darting into the streets and startling the shit out of me as I drive through my neighborhood. Of course this means that all of your moms and dads will be back on the roads to go to work and make my drive to work worse due to the traffic so I guess we are even.

Well I have had a nice week or so off from blogging. I got the front of Molly Ringwald complete, I worked on getting my blog back to the way it used to be before I tried changing the template and losing all of my added features (thanks blogger!). I also started to clean up my stash and make everything look nice and neat in my little yarn room. (One great thing about living at home is turning your sister's old room into your stash room). OH the knots that I untangled! Its still looks messy in the room but that is because I am a weirdo, I just HAD to get the knots out of everything before I could straighten up and that caused me to make a bigger mess than before but the knots are gone in the 5 balls of yarn that I had to untangle from each other, not to mention the several WIPs that were tangled with the balls plus randome strands of unidentified yarn strands. To help with the struggle I bought a ball winder and I am so in love with it! It really helped to speed of the organizing process so I would live to give big ups to my ball winder.

The three day weekend didn't allow for much knitting. Why? Because I just didn't feel like it. I worked like a champ for a week on the front of Molly. Every spare second I worked on her and I cannot wait to start the back but I just wanted to chill and not knit, which means that Shedir won't be done by Sept. 8 and that is the day I am suppose to have dinner with my sister and friends to give the hat away. I really want to have the hat done and if I could I would stop working just to do it but that is not an option. We will see what happens but I will work on the hat only until then.

What else...oh yes I ate out like 3 days in a row and I feel GINORMOUS! That is all I will say on the matter.

Oh yes, my camera is on the fritz again and my Ipod nano died on me. I could just cry right now. I don't know what to do because both are so expensive to replace.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

2006-08-24T16:08:00.000-04:00

How does one just not love Eunny?

Have you ever?

2006-08-24T15:16:00.000-04:00

Have you ever come across a pattern that was so beautiful that you had to make it but then didn't because it looked too difficult to attempt and every night you went to bed dreaming of the day that you could find a similar pattern just as beautiful?

That day has come for me...meet the Corset Top! I can't believe it! It looks just like its sister! I NEED to make this top. Why? I don't know but its one of those knits (and you all know what I am talking about) that doesn't just look like every plain boring FREE design. This has punch and pizazz that makes non-knitters take one look at you and run into the store and buy needles and yarn. Of course this is going to have to wait until I finish at least one of my "On the Needles" items is complete. Hell it might even have to wait until after X-mas but that is ok because I want to buy the most special yarn for her in the prettiest colors ever and lavish her with love and attention worthy of such a pattern. Thank you Annie!

In other news and I am happily still knitting away on Tweed McPuffy Sleeves but out of sheer boredom I casted on for Miss Ringwald. All is good and the ladies aren't fighting so I am pretty happy.

Work is going to have to stop on both tops for just a little bit while I make a hat for a friend. My sister just went to her 10 year high school reunion and discovered a friend of ours is fighting breast cancer. She was a great friend to my sister all through high school and at the beginning of college and even though I haven't seen her in so long I just know that she is a great wife and mother as well. We are having dinner with her and few other of my sister's old classmates (my friends as well) in a few weeks so I want to make Shedir for her because its cool, its stylish and I have the softest yarn already in my stash DYING to be made into a hat (and nice pink hat at that) so I want to get started on this hat right away so that it will definitely be done in enough time for our dinner next month.

2006-08-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

I don't have to anyone to make the Cyclin Aran for anymore...

...its good but sad. Sad because we are no longer BFFs...good because that knocks the X-mas knitting down!

Gotta find the silver lining somewhere.

I wish

2006-08-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

I wish that I could knit faster because then I could knit more items like "Molly Ringwald" from Knitscene.

Here is what I guess is the fun, fresh, and breezy view of the same top!

I am however very pleased with my tweed sweater right now. I just joined it in the round and tonight (or tomorrow morning) I will take it off the needles (again) and try it on. I'm nervous about the sleeves. I want them to be puffy and I can see a little puff in them now but will it be enough once the sweater is complete? I of course am going to add a bit of waist shaping the sweater and I have some ideas rolling around in my head about using cables to shape the waist, but I am no where near ready for shaping, maybe a week from now or more depending on how lazy I feel.

I wish that I wasn't so lazy when I get home in the evenings. When I get home I have to walk the dog (a true joy actually) make and eat dinner, pack lunch, exercise, shower, watch TV (this is the only thing that truly calms me down) and knit. But sometimes sitting and yacking away to my mother gets in the way of all of these things and I never really get anything accomplished in the evenings.

I wish that all of my applications were finally sent away so I can say to people "I have applied to Grad school" instead of saying "I'm going to apply to grad school".

I wish that the guy that I like would be more mature and not such a dweeb so I could at least befriend him again...but I would choose be able to knit faster or this one anyday.

I wish that I could start designing earrings but knot with just beads but with mesh chains and silver wire, sodering irons, and hammers.

Susan Bates Silverado...The poor Woman's Addi Turbos?

2006-08-10T22:14:00.000-04:00

You be the judge.

Ok this time I will finish!!

2006-08-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

So maybe my first finished sweater wasn't meant to be Wendy's Somewhat Cowl and I REALLY didn't like the way my vest was looking. This time will be different! This time I will actually finish a pullover of my very own!

I am very excited to say that I have already started my tweed pullover with the puffy sleeves. I spent the morning measuring myself, calculating stitches and inches, reading various patterns and my Barbara Walker book Knitting From the Top and off I am. My sketch looks adorable on my model from my Stitch 'n' Bitch Design Journal that my wonderful sister Randi bought me for my birthday last year (I sketched other designs in it too but none of which have actually jumped off the paper). Right now my only problem is the yarn itself. Its Highland Tweed and it is VERY scratchy plus I had to buy Susan Bates circular needles because the wool was definitely not agreeing with my Denise Interchageables. I of course knitted and blocked a swatch and it is much softer after a nice soak in cool water but that doesn't help the hands with the rough and scratchy wool that is currently on my needles.

Alas all the scratchiness in the world wouldn't keep me from being excited over my sweater. The color is deep and rich (the camera makes it a bit too bright) and the design is something that I really want to do so I can't wait until it is a finished product. Luckily for me I am sick tonight so I have no choice but to knit all night long!

Frog Land

2006-08-03T18:55:00.000-04:00

Now you see it...

...and now you don't

That was my sweater vest that I was working in the round from the bottom up. After I was 3 rounds into the ribbing I was done with it. Can you see the ugly cast-on? It looks crunchy and crazy!!! I said to myself "Yeah it look funny but when it is stretched out it will look ok" but it kept bothering me. Plus I really wanted to knit this from the top down but I started it from the bottom up anyways. Why? I don't know but the entire time I was knitting I felt as if everything was wrong so bye bye!!!

I do LOVE LOVE the colors together. Lilac and cream (the lilac looks more blue in the photo) looks so soft together the yarn is just so soft too.

And I just got this tweed yarn from Webs and I am sooooooo happy with it. I have this dream of a puffy sleeved cropped pullover with a deep V-neck made with scarlet tweed and when I found this yarn I almost cried. I have been searching and searching and searching for tweed yarn and there it was for $12/lb (just under 1000/yards). The color looked so beautiful on-line and when it arrived I was just so excited because its just what I had in mind. I bought another pound of blue wool yarn that I don't know what to do with but it will definitely become a sweater of some sorts. At 1200 yards it might become a short-sleeved or 3/4th lenghts or maybe I find another color to mix with it.

Can we say too much yarn??

And in closing July was Missy's birthday and we went to Petsmart (with a $6 off birthday coupon) and she got to pick out her own toy and I just had to show it off. She is a crazy-ass dog!

Happy August!

2006-08-01T16:18:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh yes August 1st. One month away from September 1st, which is my sister's birthday.

Also August 1st is the absolute beginning to my craziness about submitting applications for grad school. I put two other school on the list, two other schools that I must agonize over whether or not they will accept me.

The University of Texas Medical Branch where they have a program in Tropical Infectious Disease (the field in which I currently work) and USUHS (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences) where all of my supervisors hold adjunct positions. It makes sense to apply to both of these schools because of the affiliations to my job...blah blah...and so I won't have to actually HEAR my supervisors suggest to me to apply there.

Actually I do have a fondness for USUHS because I used to work in the lab over there but as for going to school there...well its not a change in scenery or lifestyle for me...and I really want to get away from my current job, which if I went to USUHS I wouldn't be able to do.

I'm still scared to actually apply anywhere but my fear of never trying and living with my mom for the rest of my life is bigger so I am applying anyways.

So I finished the OSW for my family reunion...no pics because I am sick of looking at OSWs!!!! I already have another order from another relative but I doubt that I will start on it anytime soon. I still have one more to finish and it is moving slowly.

Glampyre's new pattern that is available at Stitch Diva is soooooo cute. I know I would use Patons Classic Wool in a lime green color...but I have a lot on my plate right now and starting a sweater that would just end up stuck in a drawer somewhere is not cute so I will hold off for now.

I want to post a pic of my new t-shirt that my BFF Tar-tar made for me and I also need to post pics of the horror that is my latest T.B.F.P. (To Be Frogged Project)!

Stay Tuned...

Always late to the party

2006-07-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

I am filling out my graduate applications and my insides are slowly eating away at themselves. I wasn't the best student when I started college. I skipped classes, watched a lot of TV and didn't study a lot and now I am paying dearly for these sins because I want to earn a PhD.

My last few semesters for school I really pulled my GPA up. I studied so hard and if you knew me then this would make sense to you because I am such a nerd about viruses. I have been so afraid that I would never be accepted into any graduate program and for 4 years I have worked really hard in my field in hopes that the life experience would help to get me into school. Only now have I worked up the courage to even apply and I am so scared that I won't get in anywhere. Just filling out all my early coursework and the grades next to it felt like a punch to my gut.

I think this feeling deserves some of my homemade double chocolate espresso cookies huh?

I know that I could get a Master's first and then go on to earn my PhD but why should I wait when I know what I want now?! I have never been one to settle for second, I have always strived for number 1 but I am also realistic. Along with my applications or PhD programs I am sending out applications for Master's programs as well.

Deep down inside there is this feeling that I wil be accepted to my first choice, The Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Program at the University of Pittsburgh but I CANNOT allow myself to get my hopes up but I feel that that is where I should be.

Because I have this feeling down inside that I will be going to Pitt I am preparing some cold weather wear to take with me (like a year and half from now). Panta because Seven Springs is very close to Pittsburgh and well I's likes me the snowboarding.

Me on a hot day trying to look oh so cool with my Panta

I also started on the wirst warmers Fetching from Knitty. I had some Elann yarn in my stash in lace pink and leaf green, size 7 dpns and a desire to knit something quick.

A dramatic picture to go with a dramatic post

I love the way the top looks like tulips almost like I planned it that way (I totally didn't). I don't normally touch dpns but I have to say that they are funy to knit with because they are challeging, I almost want to knit a pair of socks now!

Oooooh looks like flowers!

Christmas time is not here quite yet

2006-07-18T08:31:00.000-04:00

A while ago I stated that I was going to give all knitted gifts this year for X-mas. I thought it was a brilliant plan because I wouldn't have lots of money to buy gifts seeing as how I am saving and paying off credit cards in preparation for going back to school. Anywho...I have 5 months until X-mas and I am starting my list NOW. Since I don't have a lot of people to knit for this should be easy right?

Charlotte - my stepmom and a short lady. I want to make her a scarf. Scarves are safe and an easy present to give. She wears a lot of blue so I didn't want to make her anything blue (I have great logic) but I didn't want to go too girly either so I picked for a project that I started many many moons ago the Misty Scarf from Scarf Style! Its light, feminine, and will keep you very warm under your jacket.

Dad - My dad is easy because he never hates anything my sister and give him. I was thinking a cabled scarf with a matching hat. The hat might be a bit much but I can decide that later. A nice grey merino wool scarf, some cables that I pick out or maybe I get lazy and pick an already existing pattern.

Tarvor - BFF! I know he doesn't read my blog only because I haven't told him too, but if he did I would still put up what I will make for him...the Cycling Aran. I ahve already said this, but this sweater is him and I know he will love in black. How do I know this? WE ARE BFF!!!

Randi (sister) - Oh Randi the times that we have had together. The fighting, the fighting, the name calling, the fighting, the drinking, the fighting and especially the fighting. For you dearest sister I choose the One skein wonder (which by the way I am so done with making) because you have asked for it first in pink and then is black, I like the Brea bag for you (well really for me) but I want to make it in a burnt orange perfect for fall. You have asked me for a black hat...that gives me a lot of freedom for design but you are plain so I know to make it plain for you. It would be cool to put a bunch of pink skulls all over something for you...maybe a wristband if there is time. Wow girl I am going to have to get started on your stuff now!!!

MUMMY!!!! - Everything I make she takes so I have to make something that she has yet to see me do yet. Seeing as how I live with her this will be very hard but I want to make her the Shetland Triangle also from Scarf Style. I can always hide in the basement while I am working on it, this shall be interesting. I don't know what else to make her but I think she will really like that. I already have the yarn, Elann's Peruvian Baby Cashmere in Petal Pink.

Me - Well everyday is X-mas for me but I want to design myself a shawl using Elann's Peruvian Collection Baby Silk. This shit is like butter and I want to smear it on myself! HA HA HA HA HA HA........seriously.

2006-07-15T11:26:00.000-04:00

So Eunny finished her Twisted Stitch Sweater that she designed. From the moment that I saw the cabling on the mid-section I had already fallen in love with it and didn't even really need to see the finished product. Well the finished product is absolutely GORGEOUS and it caused a bit of controversy among the readers who didn't mind sharing their thoughts in the comment section.

Why do beautiful things always cause so much trouble? Helen of Troy. Bennifer. Brangelina.

A lot of the comments (that I felt were kind of pointless) were made that the top was too revealing and provocative for someone who claimed to be so conservative and that she should write the pattern to appease those that choose not to show so much of their assets. Other comments were made that Eunny shouldn't knit SO much because one day she will be hunchback and fat.

I don't see the difference in someone sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day staring at a computer screen and someone who chooses to knit as a career. Who is to say that just because someone turned out a BEAUTIFUL top faster than someone else can knit a mitten means that that person is a lazy knitter who never sees the light of day or who can't exercise.

I don't think that it is right to make assumptions about people's personal lives that you don't even know. Yes Eunny's blog is popular and she is in a position to be criticized by whoever but honestly can a person be criticized when you don't know them? Can you criticize someone because you think they might be doing something wrong?

Just add water

2006-07-14T15:01:00.000-04:00

I just had to post a picture of Micheal's coffee filter dress from wednesday's season premiere of Project Runway. Its just too cute!!

Today is not a good day

2006-07-13T12:57:00.000-04:00

So my allergies are murdering me, my co-worker is trying to drive me insane, my hands itch, and tonight is my exercise night.

Really my allergies are making me crabby today. When I am at work everything always goes wrong, machines beep at me, things spill, break, run out, fail, etc. but when these normal things happen to me on a day that I can't stop sneezing and can't breathe out of my nose well then the world seems as if it is falling apart.

Luckily reading knitting blogs helps to relieve some of the stress I feel especially when I am at work. I just open my own page and start going down the list of the "Blogs that Inspire Me" and read read read. I usually come across new blogs and start reading them and eventually add them to the list on the side. My new blog to visit is Hello Yarn. Great free patterns, pretty pictures what more could a girl ask for. I came across the perfect gift to make for my bestfriend, the Cycling Aran. When I first saw it I so knew it would be perfect for him in black. I just need to measure him but I just have to make it as a X-mas present. This of course gets me thinking about other X-mas gifts, but I need time to think up or stumble across more perfect gifts.

So last night was the start to Season 3 of Project Runway. I got hooked when I started watching all the marathons of Seasons 1 and 2 on Bravo. Its just a great show because it has drama, design, bitchy chicks, bithchy queens, you name and its there. Apparently this season is suppose to have the best group of designers yet, of course everything looks fabulous to me, but after 2 seasons and many arguments with my bestfriend on whether Santino or Chloe should have won last season (I picked Chloe) I have a better understanding on garment construction.

Anyways I made the ever so popular Panta this week. I got so tired of knitting with cotton (one skein wonders numero 4 y 5) that I had to get my hands wrapped around some wool, so I grabbed a ball of Peruvian Collection Highland Wool in Orchid Pink from Elann. Very soft and very warm, too warm for the weather now but it was easy to complete and a nice change of pace, definitely makes a cute last minute gift a friend especially if that friend likes to ski or snowboard. I'll post pics as soon as I take them. I wanted my dog to be my model but my mom thought that was stupid so I'll just get her to take pics of beautiful me, hopefully in the sunlight if there is any sunlight (I look best in sunlight!) how many more times can I put sunlight in a sentence?!?

Life

2006-07-08T13:24:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of things that I want in life...my PhD., to find my true love, my own office, a clean and organized room and work space, no debt, and perfectly polished nails and toes. Of course only I can do these things for myself with lots of hard work and determination but I right now I am too lazy. I am however ready to start applying to grad schools!! I am so excited about going back to school I can barely contain myself. I am going to have a PhD, what I have always wanted then I can live a happy woman until I realize my next dream and then be miserable until I achieve that.

Right now though I would settle for a clean room and organized stash. Oy my crap is everywhere yet I don't want to clean up I just want to get a pedicure (I have a b-day party to attend to tonight). I can do my own nails but I don't like bending over to paint my toes. My pearly pink or pearly purple nail polish I can do on my own but I want RED toenails and when I do that on my own I take a billion years to make sure everything is perfect when the pedicure people just take an hour and BLAMMO perfection is achieved.

Back to organization! I joined two yarn of the month clubs with Elann and with the Yarn of the Month!

Mom:Why did you do this? As if you don't have enough yarn?
Me:(shrug)

Well I need to meet more yarn and understand it more because I want to design my own knits. I LOVE touching all of my samples and looking at them and getting all sorts of ideas that never materialize into anything. I think I am depressed because I don't know what to knit or to design and I keep making the G one skein wonder over and over and over again because its cute and easy!!

Take a breath

Right now I need a nap and a large box to hold all of my yarn samples in until I am ready to play with them with needles and what not and there are so many new patterns out there that I am dying to knit its so overwhelming. I need to pick one thing and stick with it then again that would mean staying away from the computer forever and I already made that promise once and broke it all to hell so I am not going to tell myself the same crap over again, but I will just keep it in the back of my mind and just tell myself that even if I spend a million gagillion dollars on yarn NOTHING will be accomplished except 15 more one skein wonders and maybe a swatch of some bamboo yarn.

DORK!

I still like my yarn samples and I may or may not get a pedicure today but I am soooooooooo taking a nap because I feel like a 3 year old having a hissy fit!

More on San Fran Trip!

2006-07-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

There was was some knitting in San Fran I mean how else was I suppose to keep myself entertained on the plane and in the hotel room while my sister forced me to watch sports?

I worked on the 4th, count it 1 2 3 4th One Skein Wonder for my mom to give away at our family reunion at the end of the month AND a 5th OSW for a 16 year old at my job this summer. (She is my boss' daughter and no I am not sucking up to him I actually think she is a good kid and she asked, plus she is tiny and I knew it wouldn't take long to knit).

On the plane knitting and listening to back episodes of Cast-On
So when my sister first informed me that we would be going to San Francisco I remembered reading about a yarn store there and naturally I found it here! This article really got me excited about visiting ImagiKnit because of the Samovar Tea Lounge. I envisioned myself playing with beautiful yarn while drinking nummy tea...well reality was better than the dream. Samovar proved to be just what I needed after just a day in San Francisco.

We caught the bus from our hotel and walked a ways to Imagiknit and its a big store just full of all the yarn youcould possibly shake a stick at. There were two large rooms seperated by a wall of yarn. I tried stay hidden away from the bored look of my sister. Pictured left is the yarn I bought. Two balls of Royal Bamboo from Plymouth Yarns. The ball on the left is color #01 and is brown, blue, tan, greyish, whiteish, yellowish...I don't know. The one on the right is color #19 and its so pretty with its pink, brwon, white, and yellow colors. This stuff is soooooooooooo soft and silky (or should I say bambooy?) it just feels so sexy. I made my sister touch it and asked her if she thought it was sexy...her look made me go hide again in the other room.The third yarn I bought is a repeat offender in my stash...the Noro Daria Multi in color #15. I can't remember the number of the first color I bought but I loved it and crocheted a change purse out it. I think I might do the same with this guy except this time I will knit it.

Unfortunately I had to leave Imagiknit but I must say it was such a wonderful yarn store to visit. So big and roomy and there were a lot of customers in there and I didn't feel crowed not once!!! There was even a place for my sister to sit, relax and map out our next bus route. Afterwards we walked right across the street and had lunch at the Tea Lounge while I played with my yarn but I didn't play for long because I was too busy enjoying my Black Lychee Tea and Smoked Salmon Salad. I never felt more relaxed on my trip than I did at that moment.

For me the Imagiknit and the Tea Lounge was a perfect way to relax on my second day in San Francisco. Knitters Review has reviews on at least two other yarn stores in "The City" but I just went to one because...well I had other buisness to attend to in California!

P.S. Now I know why everyone hates blogger so much...now that I want to put up lots of pics the damn thing won't let me :(

I'm Baaaaaaaaack!

2006-07-03T19:10:00.000-04:00

So I just returned from my vacation to San Francisco and I must say I had a fabulous time. I tasted wine, got to experience life as a prisoner in Alcatraz, ate some wonderful cookies in Chinatown and of course visited the biggest yarn store that I have ever been to!

First thing first. I managed to finish my mini-Clapotis before I went to "The City" and its a good thing because it definitely came in handy in the 60 degree weather.
Me freezing on the way to Alcatraz

The yarn is ONline Linie 89 – Jeans (Jeans is the colorway). Its 52% cotton, 35% polyacryl (acrylic), and 13% polyamid (nylon). I love it because it has this worn look of jeans and adds the perfect "edginess" to my mini-Clapotis. I bought the yarn along time ago and I only had 5 balls so I had to make it small. I used size US10 Denise Interchangeables and had a great time making it. Very easy to knit up and soooooooo soft! ME REALLY LIKEY!!!

More to come on my wonderful yarn purchases!!!

The Mind's Eye

2006-06-23T11:52:00.000-04:00

In my mind I have knitted hundreds on sweaters, tops, shawls, skirts, etc. with beautiful elegant stitches, designs, drapes you name it and all designed by me. So why don't I have anything to show for it? Why is it that I borrow books from the library, buy books online, download patterns, read blogs, create my own blog yet not have one piece of anything knitted that was designed by yours truly??

When I was in college and had to write papers I always waited until the last minute. Procrastinator? Yes. Works well under pressure? Yes. But I was also thinking. I would re-read the assignment over and over again and think about everything under the sun related to the question I would even think about things unrelated to the question and always at the last minute I would come up with the perfect answer and that would be my paper.

I find myself doing the same thing with my knitting. The question is "How do you knit a cardigan that not only fits me like a glove, compliments my shape, contains a cute and unique design element and looks fashionable?" Luckily I don't have a time limit on my project but I would like for it to be done by fall so I may debut it. I have made a lot of progress on it though.

First there was the idea of the edging of the cardigan.
Second I bought Knitting From the Top so that can know exactly how to knit the durn thing.
Third I picked out the ideal yarn and color.
Fourth I have settled on the buttons and the color that will be used.
Fifth a swatch has been knitted but I have yet to block it but its made!!!

Once the swatch is blocked there is just the matter of calculating the number of cast on stitches and away I go...while I start more yarn will be in the mail and on its way to me. I'm really excited about the process because there is no pattern to follow, just my body and my mind, a freeing and exciting thought to me.

When it comes to sweaters I find myself just not being able to blindly follow a pattern because my body doesn't conform to most clothes in the store so naturally its not seeming to conform to most knitting patterns I come across. Of course I have too many others plans in my life to make designing knitwear a career choice but I am in love with the idea that anytime that I think up an outfit that I can execute that idea...

Too Bad

2006-06-20T14:29:00.000-04:00

You Should Spend Your Summer at the Beach

You're a free spirit who is always thinking of new ways to have fun.And you don't just love summer... you live for it.So, you really should blow off your responsibilities and head to the beach!

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

Ahhhhhh yes the beach! That is exactly where I want to be this summer. Playing in the sand, diving into the surf...too bad I am going to San Francisco the land of NO BEACHES!!!!!

WTF! How can this be! My sister is going to die because she picked San Fran as our summer destination and I can't even swim in the water!

I'm still really excited to go, don't get me wrong but right now my body is aching to lay in the hot sun on a sandy beach reading my book and just when I can't take the heat anymore I jump into the water, splishing and splashing and dunking my head under the water. Now that dream is gone...sniff sniff...oh why me?!?!?!?

Apparently San Fran is chilly and evil and cold :( Well its not that bad but dammit it seems that way to me right now. Luckily I started working on my mini-Clapotis and I just have 2 balls left before it is done and of course I must block it. I just hope it will be long enough for me to wear it as I see myself in my vision. I can't really explain my vision too well...lets just say stunning and effortlessly cool. I'll put a picture up later of my progress. If it were at all possible to knit this and watch "Lost" at the same time then mini-Clappy would be finished...blocking and all. BUT I can't take mine eyes off the TV wondering if Kate is going to F'up and get with Sawyer instead of Jack or whether Locke is going to fall on his knife and need his wheelchair again. Oh its so good!!! (Netflix is great!)

Well well well, its about time!

2006-06-14T15:15:00.000-04:00

Alright! Finally here is a pic of my mummy's day present to me mum. I guess it doesn't really matter if I post it or not because its a One Skein Wonder and everyone has made one, and posted them on thousands of blogs so who cares. Well I guess I do because I am posting a pic.

She was doing her red carpet pose. You MUST show the back of your dress always ladies, what would Oscar night be if you didn't Nicole Kidman's skinny back?!

No case of the Mondays here!!!

2006-06-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

I'm back to not being able to post pictures on my blog due to extreme laziness. Ugh!!! I used to be such a go-getter, so enthusiastic, such a perfectionist. Now I am just a shell of a human being. My living space is crazy messy, my clothes, although washed, don't even know what it is like to be folded and put away. The kitchen is clean yet still a mess, and even though I am knitting and taking pictures, nothing is being posted to my blog.

Reading what I just wrote makes me realize that I am not a shell of a human, I am half a shell.

The good news is that at work I am working. For the first time in a long time I feel a part of my job again, I should say my career because this is my career choice. Its been tough to be working in your chosen field and be completely bored and disgruntle. But now I am excited about work (at least for this week) and I think I may know why.

(This method may not work for everyone so I suggest not to try it, but if you are already in this situation then know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.)

Fisrt, start dating someone at you job. I wouldn't call the relationship I had dating but we did go on a date.

Second, forge a friendship where you trust this person with your fears, your hopes, your dreams, etc.

Third, realize that there is something wrong with the person when on Monday they tell you you are there friend for life and how wonderful you are, then Tuesday they are ducking you in the hallways and pretending as if you don't exist.

Fourth, whenever you talk to them on the phone they behave in a crazy manner. Everything you say hurts their feelings. For example you say "Good luck on your exam tomorrow!" They say "STOP you are going to jinx me!" So you playing along say "Ok well then I hope you fail tomorrow!" Then they say "YOU ARE SO MEAN!!! WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT!!"

Fifth, limit your communications with that person until they send you weird text messages accusing you of practically being in love with them.

Sixth, receive stalker-like e-mail message from an anonymous person calling YOU a stalker and warning you against stalking your crazy friend.

Seventh, discover from another person that the crazy friend who you went on one date with and became friends with and have been friend with for a year and a half and who you see at work everyday told people that you were stalking him and those people told other people who decided to take it upon themselves and stalk you by sending you an e-mail to stop stalking your friend.

Eighth (here is where the good part comes in) after being shocked, and losing your appetite for a few days you develop an overwhelming sense of freedom because you finally have confirmation that your former friend is psychotic and you don't ever have to talk to them again. Plus you don't mind if you see them in the hallway at work because if you do you will be more than happy to tell them to "DROP DEAD" because that is ok.

The feeling of elation makes me work better because to me nothing is worse than having to had put up with this guy's craziness for the last 6 months. Plus I stay working in the lab and less time in the hall and less of a chance of cussing him out when I see him. Its really win win, I get a lot of work done and he doesn't get humiliated in front of his loser peers.

I love it when everything just works out!

GeT oUt!!

2006-06-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

Your Celebrity Style Twin is Paris Hilton

Sassy, sexy, and totally hot!

Who's" Your Celebrity Style Twin?

In other news...nothing really, it doesn't look like I am going to finish my Somewhat Cowl anytime soon, I started Calla and already messed and need to rip back to the ribbing. Also I am designing my own cardigan, but I am not so sure that Miss Hilton would wear it but I think she could appreciate it! I have plans to make my own deep V-neck sweater vest because I believe I should be able to do it myself and not have to rely on a pattern dammit!!!! I just need to cast-on but for some reason I don't feel like working on a sweater vest during the summer...it makes me hot just thinking about it.

The Real Yarn - Challenge #1

2006-06-03T20:20:00.000-04:00

This is a true story,

Of two strangers,

Picked to knit a pattern,

Block together,

And having their lives blogged,

To find out what happens,

When yarn stops being polite,

And starts getting real.

The Real Yarn, Washington, D.C.

Cheri: Hi I am Cheri. I’m 26 and originally from DC! I’m super pumped to be a part of the Amazing Lace ‘cause I know I am going to kick some serious butt!

My partner is ONline Linie 89 – Jeans but I call her Linny for short. The funny thing is is that we met online…ha ha ha ha that is so dope ‘cause her name is like ONline…N-E-ways the first time we met we really didn’t click and we would just kind of like pretend the other wasn’t there and after a while I was like Linny who? But now since I’m like going to San Fran with my sis and I wanted a totally cool wrap just in case I get like chilly I thought of this cool pattern Clapotis but like I am broke so I couldn’t by any new yarn then I remembered Linny and the rest was history…wow history is like HIS-story but couldn’t it be like HER-story ‘cause we’re both chicks?!

Linny: Hey I’m Linny. I’ve been sitting in the bottom of a box for over a year sleeping and hanging out. I’m partnered with Cheri for the Amazing Lace and…yeah. Honestly I’m not in the mood for being twisted up into a knitted garment but what are you going to do…I’m yarn and its my job. But the winning prize is a trip to San Francisco. I don’t know where that is…actually I don’t even know where Washington, D.C. is but anywhere that isn’t inside of a box is fine by me.

Books books books!

2006-05-27T18:38:00.000-04:00

I am slowly but surely making progress on my Somewhat Cowl. Right now I am doing the ribbing on the cowl...3 inches down and 3.5 inches still left to go. I don't hate the ribbing but I do wish the cowl was done because I still have the sleeves to do. I won't allow myself to start any other projects because I really want to finish this sweater. Its not hard to just sit down and do some ribbing while watching TV. maybe I will be able to do that this weekend since last weekend I was able to pick up all the stitches and get an inch of ribbing done (which in my world is an amazing accomplishment).

I went to the library and checked out a couple of books. The Sweater Workshop has changed me. How easy it is to make any sweater I want I just need to measure myself and BLAMMO! I gots a sweater. Right now I am designing a basic sweater vest. Its not going to be anything glam and fancy but it will be made up out of my own head. I would love to put some simple waist shaping in it but I am just going to take this designing thing one step at a time and not get too ahead of myself.

I also checked out A 4th Treasurey of Knitting Patterns which I am not too jazzed over seeing as how I am not so advanced as to design a sweater vest with cables and old timey looking lace I did however request the 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Barbara Walker's Knitting From the Top. I learned a lot just from Ms. Fee so I can't imagine what wonderful things I will learn from Ms. Walker!

The third book I grabbed is one that I have checked out over and over and over again. The patterns are just so interesting and the pictures make them even better. Just buy the book already Cheri!!!!

Amazing Lace

2006-05-18T09:35:00.000-04:00

I have joined the Amazing Lace and I will be knitting Clapotis using ONline Linie 89 - Jeans in a blue/green color. I have been meaning to make this for some time now so no better time like the present eh? I want to have it done before I go to San Francisco at the end of June and I think that I will be able to do it Clapotis looks easy to do and I'll be using ONline Linie 89 - Jeans in a blue/green color that I got from Elann. I haven't decided what size needle to use yet. The suggested needle size is US15 and a gauge of 12sts/4in but the last (and only time) I swatched it I believe I used a US10 of US11 and I prefered the way it looked.

Its going to look cute I know it I just hope I have enough yarn. This stuff has been sitting in my stash for a long time and I always wanted to make some sort of cover up that showed off its frayed edges really well. Now I will have two things that I have been looking for, a COOL looking shawl and the right pattern to showcase my yarn.

What do I like about knitting?!?!?!?

2006-05-16T13:56:00.000-04:00

So here is a picture of my nearly finished Somewhat Cowl. Since this pic was taken I have already started on the ribbing on bottom of the sweater. I am really dragging my feet with this sweater and I think I might know why. One reason, and bascially the disorder that affects my entire life, is my P.A.D.D. Reason numero dos is I am afraid of knitting the sleeves.

I shouldn't say afraid I should say terrified!!!

I don't want to knit the sleeves on DPNs. WAAAAAAAAAAAH! I hate DPNs! No! I taught myself how to knit on them and everything and I still dread them. I wanted an easy way out so I found a video on KnittingHelp.com and found a very helpful video about knitting in the round using TWO circular needles. This maybe the answer I am looking for, BUT (there is always a big 'ol but) I don't have the patience to learn a new technique at the moment. I need to get this sweater done before it goes in the land of OZ (where unfinished projects never return).

So for now I am just concentrating on finishing the ribbing around the bottom, then the sleeves THEN picking up stitches and ribbing the cowl!!!! OH the humanity!!! (I don't like picking up stitches either)

I'm just too lazy!!!

Mummy's Day has come and passed

2006-05-15T10:31:00.000-04:00

These are the close-ups of the Mummy's Day present to me mum. Can you guess what it might be???? I'll let you ponder this for a minute.

This weekend I accomplished something that has taken a lot off of my mind. I sold my old dining room table! I'm trying to clean out my storage unit because I am tired of paying the monthly bill. So I already got rid of a bed frame and a dining room table. There is still a few big ticket items left like a bookshelf and a HUGE desk (that is a serious bitch to deal with) so hopefully I will know what to do with these things soon!!!

So after I sold the table my mom (who was nice enough to accompany me so that I would have a witness to my murder if the people who bought the table were in fact murders which they were not) and I stopped off at Old Navy where I found a beach bag with a matching beach towel for my trip to San Francisco next month, a cool cowboy hat, and a cute toy for Missy.

On closer inspection you can see the teeth marks of approval
While in the checkout line I saw the most exciting of all of my purchases, a little calculator with a clasp that you can hook it on to anything. The best part...$0.97!!!!!!! I hooked this little puppy on my bag with my knitting and it is so exciting. No more writing up all my paper trying to do math now I gots me a wittle calculator!!!

(A note to the kiddies: math is fun and it is important to understand to handle ALL math problems without the aid of a calculator because when the earth is under a nuclear winter and there is no sunlight to power calculators how will you be able to do math? Something to think about.)

I have a picture of the calculator but Blogger is being a jerk and not letting me post anymore pictures. Yeah that's right I am putting you on blast Blogger so how do you like that?!?!?

Still not much more progress on my Somewhat Cowl but I will be working on it like a champ all week so I hope by the end of the week to be working on the sleeves at least. I have just about two weeks to pull this off before the KAL is over and I would love to have a finished sweater in by catalog of knitted items.

Nominations have started for the next KAL and I am either voting for Calla or for the Shapley Tank because well I have yarn for Calla since I planned in my head to do it awhile ago and the Shapely Tank because it is next on my list to knit. If either of those two don't win then I probably won't join in, depends on how much of my Shapely Tank (with a twist) I get done during the month of June.

So the pics of my mom's gift...its another One Skein Wonder (OSW) to go along with the first one I knit for her. She likes the extra warmth at work and this color is better suited, in her opinion, for the office.

I Like to Move it Move it

2006-05-10T08:35:00.000-04:00

So I didn't buy a new camera yet but I might not have to. My camera suddenly started to work and takes pictures again like a champ! I am excited because I'll have a working camera for my San Francisco trip. Now that it is working I really have no excuse why I haven't posted any pictures. Lately I have been getting home and immediately get dressed in my workout clothes and hit the "gym" (my basement). After my workout I eat dinner, shower, pack my lunch for the next day and then relax for the rest of the evening in front of the boob tube with my knitting.

What I should be doing is e-mailing my picture of my almost finished Somewhat Cowl to the Sexy Knitters Club moderator so I can be included in the drawing for a prize. Am I lazy? Yes because my camera works, I took the picture, but somehow I can't get the picture from the camera to the computer to my e-mail and to the moderator. L-A-Z-Y! Tonight I will do it. I will be victorious.

Even though I am lazy in the picture sending department I have a new excitement brewing for sweaters! The Somewhat Cowl is the first sweater I have ever made and I know I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of the SKC KAL. So with this found since of accomplishment I have set out to make some tops that I have been wanting to make for the looooooongest time but didn't have the drive. First is the Shapely Tank from White Lies Designs, which to me is the ultimate "I have big boobs" tank and something that I so want to make BUT I am going to make mine with a twist! I already have the yarn and the plan almost charted out. I can't wait to start this because man oh man I think its going to be hot Hot HOT!
Next I want to make the Donna Sweater by Caryn Lantz because A) its is the ultimate "I have curves and you better watch out!" sweater and B) she is so pretty! I want to look like her when she is modeling the Donna sweater in MagKnits.

I know that I keep saying that I want to knit all of these things but the Shapely Tank (with a twist) is something that I have been thinking about for a long time but the tank and the twist seperately. Only recently did I put the two together and then BLAMMO I got all giddy about it. I can't wait to start it I just need to get all of these other things out of the way like my Somewhat Cowl and the Mummy's Day gift, which I hope will be done by mummy's day. Its a simple project but its boring to me right now. My mom is not going to read this blog but I still don't want to say what I am working on but its boring but I want her to have it so I push through the boredom.

Projects on the Horizon

2006-05-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

So the list of items that I want to make keeps getting longer and longer but I still haven't started any of them yet. I really want to finish my Somewhat Cowl by the end of the month along with all of my other Sexy Knitters, plus I need to finish my Mother's Day present (Shhhhhhh!) and I only have 11 days to do that. I should be able to get it done but its tricky when you live with your mom and you don't want her to know what you are working on.

Back to the subject at hand.

There are always patterns that I see that smack me in the face and say "MAKE ME MAKE ME MAKE ME!" and there are other patterns that say the same thing and actually get made. One of those patterns is the Ferragamo Bag. This is a KAL on craftster that is really amazing. It started as one woman's dream to recreate this cool looking bag to a the reality of it all. Not only is the bag itself just so totally different from any other bag I have ever seen but its great that there is a pattern for it and you too can have a handmade knock off of a Ferragamo. I have to make this bag and I really want to make it because I would look so hot carrying around a huge version of this bag. You must go the theblog of the woman that started it all because she really became obsessed with this patterns and now it is here for all of us to share in the Fake-a-gamo!

Yet another KAL on craftster (you have got to love craftster.org) has gotten a hold of me and won't let go only I don't know if this will ever get made even though I really want it to...the Circular Shrug. Once you click the link you need to scroll down a bit to see the finished pics. Isn't it so cute?! And such a simple design. The design of this was copied from a shrug seen at Urban Outfitters and I have to tip my hat again to the wonderful people that worked on figuring out this design. I wish I had that gift but I am too busy trying to knit what everyone else creates because everything is just so wonderful. You can find a printout of the pattern here.

And Last but definitely not least we come to my crocheting. I have always wanted to design a sexy crocheted camisole for myself and my dreams are coming closer to reality. First I needed to learn to crochet and that is happening as we speak, next I needed to learn how to crochet different styles of bra cups and that too is happening as well. Once again craftster has come to the rescue (I should just rename this post "What Craftster has Done for me Lately") by providing me with a bit of guidance on how to crochet bra cups, which will come in handy when I design my crocheted top. The directions can be found here in this thread along with a pic of the finished item. I have the "Happy Hooker" so I know of the 3 tops in there but I want a sluttier looking top so I must go to outside sources.

This camisole is just what I was looking to create. It is similar to
Rowan's Butterfly (pictured right), which is so popular and for good reason too. But I want to crochet not knit so it is imperative that I learn to crochet (plus the crochet pattern is free!!! Click on picture to go to pattern).

OK! Well these are all of my dreams etched out into one little post. Will I be able to do all of this plus keep up with my diet plans the food not the knitting, but both do require a lot of commitment. But I don't think that it will be hard to maintain my running because that comes first because I really want to lose weight, blah blah blah.

YAY KNITTING!!!
YAY CROCHET!!!
YAY MISSY!!!
YAY ME!!!

Waaaaaaa!!

2006-04-27T10:26:00.000-04:00

I gave up on you...I'm so sorry :(

I was able to get a little bit of work done on my Somewhat Cowl last night. So why am I crying?!?!?! Because I can't post pictures because my camera is on her last leg. She has been sick for awhile and I heartlessly kept pushing and pushing her until now.

A part from not being able to take pictures and post them I am going to San Francisco at the end of June and I NEED a camera. My wonderful mother is trying to convince me to buy a new camera, and of course she is trying to talk me into the $250 model. I can't waste money anymore. I need to learn to be more thrifty, but why buy a camera that isn't better than the one I already have? Should I take a step back in life or foward? Plus, will a inferior model camera give me crisp and fresh photos of the west coast?

These are questions that need to be taken into serious consideration. Right now though I am trying to pay off serious credit card debt and buying an expensive camera doesn't help, it hurts. I have given up on buying new clothes, new yarn, forced to make my dog find all of her old toys (she really good at that by the way...take away her current toys and miraculously the old ones appear!!) and I don't even buy candy anymore!!! Candy people, I gave up on gummy bears and Mike and Ikes!!!!

I will not let my mom talk me into buying an expensive camera, but I must say once I bought my first digital camera I never took so many pictures in all my life. I made little movies and everything. It was a good investment for me even though it broke the bank at the time. I still have several weeks before my vacation so I guess we see what happens between now and then.

My first love

2006-04-26T09:19:00.000-04:00

My Fat Bottom bag from the "Happy Hooker" has been frogged. I realized that it was not going to be as big as I had hoped it would. I loooooooovvvvvvvvve big purses and I want this one to be huge so it is back to being just string.

Since there is no longer a purse to crochet I have turned my attention back to my Somewhat Cowl. Last night I finally joined the sweater together and another inch or two I'll be able to try it on to see that the sweater accentuates my very huge boobs. I'm not really expecting the sweater to fit me very well. This is the first sweater I have ever knit so I'm really more interested in the process and not the end product. Plus the yarn that I used was one of those Pound of Love deals you get from Micheals or A.C. Moore so the quality isn't that good, but every time I look at it I am impressed with how far I have gotten.

The reason why I got interested in knitting was to make items for myself that I couldn't find in the store or that I DID see in the store but wasn't cut right for my body. Really I wanted to design crochet cute tanks for myself but found crocheting to be difficult and feel back on knitting. Now I am back to the idea of crocheting and really knitting helped me with that. The more I have come to learn about garment contruction paired with different types of fabric.

I love looking at fashion and creating looks for myself to wear and feel good in. Now knitting and crochet are playing a big part in helping to create those looks but they can't replace my first true love...SHOES!

If I could make shoes I wouldn't even bother with any of the fiber arts unless it was to aid in the design of the shoe!!!! I LOVE SHOES!

Sunday = Funday

2006-04-23T11:47:00.000-04:00

Do you notice anything interesting in this picture?

How about now?

Here is a closer look.

My goodness if it isn't an earring being used as a crochet stitch marker. Its so cute isn't it? How wonderful that in a pinch my jewlery can step in and start earning its keep. The hinge makes for easy opening and closing so I can move the marker with every new stitch. I think my CZ earrings would look much nicer with this yarn but they are too busy sparkling in my ears for this project.

I am very tired today. Yesterday I took my GREs and today I volunteered to help out at the finish line at the annual Pike's Peek 10K race. I was up at 5am in the misty cold to help a couple thousand runners. It was nice and I got a lot of free food but I am tired and ready to sleep for a few hours. I did however manage to crochet a row on the above project so the day hasn't been a total loss. Now if I can only manage to pick up the slack on my Somewhat Cowl...

Big Girl Knits

2006-04-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

So Big Girl Knits has come out and I am interested to see what patterns are in this book. I don't have a lot of knitting books or magazines because I have P.A.D.D. (Project Attention Deficit Disorder) and I know I will not make anything at all. I do however have all the Stitch 'n' Bitch books because those patterns are more my style. But being a busty lady myself I am intrigued by what sort of patterns are in here.

Click here (I love that) and you can get a sneek peak into the book. One of the tops is the Laura Tee and I absolutely love it. BUT...I can't knit on 3mm size needles! My brain would hurt!!! I wouldn't subsititute the yarn because I want the top to look exactly like the picture so I could brag to everyone that would ask that I made this top and I am the bestest!!!! Knitting a top on 3mm should be outlawed.

I guess it is good that there is at least one pattern that I like so far. Maybe I will ask my sister to get this book for me (she gets a discount as a bookstore employee) as a future reference on how to knit around my big boobs.

Boo Yah!

2006-04-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

I am just a newbie to the world of crochet and I dectected a mistake in my "Happy Hooker" book! I am working on the Fat Bottom Bag and the stitch count in the book was way wacky so I adjusted the number of stitches in my chain and 12 rows later the stitch count is off again (or so I thought). By just search the webby web web I found found a pdf file that confirmed my suspicions and soon I will be on the right track with this bag.

The Fat Bottom Bag is so adorable and the yarn that I got for pink, brown and white and so pretty. Reminds me of ice cream!

I feel bad though because I am suppose to be working on my sweater for the Sexy Knitters Club and all I can focus on is learning to crochet. I can't put down my hooks because it is such a new challenge for me that I am in love with it.

What is it with me a challenges?

I loved the challenge of training my Pit, love the challenge of fighting with men (mmmmmmm that is fun) and now the new challenge of crocheting. Don't get me wrong, I still love knitting because its something that relaxes me and puts me into a happy trance but the movement of the hook is hypnotic and I find myself staying up late at night just for that extra bit crocheting. Its so fun and new and exciting (like a certain guy I have my eye on...mmmmmmmmmmm) that I can't help myself.

Luckily crocheting is there to keep me from focusing on other challenges (mmmmmmmm) that actually talk back to you. I wonder if I would still be interested in guys if they never talked back to me. I think yes and no. Yes because then I could do all the talking and I like when I talk but no because...I like the challenge!

Its so true!

2006-04-19T14:41:00.000-04:00

You Are a Double Espresso

Hey Energizer Bunny Girl! Do you ever slow down?
You're a mix of high energy and ambition, perfectly matched with strong espresso
When you want something you get it - by any means possible
You're driven, determined, and no nonsense. Which is just how you like your java.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

You're Part Diva

You know that a girl's gotta work it to get her way in the world.
And while you aren't about to throw a tantrum at every turn...
You do amp up the drama when you know you need it.
You mix charm, honesty, and kindness to get ahead.

Are You a Diva?

Now somebody get this Diva her coffee!

I like to knit

2006-04-11T09:38:00.001-04:00

So I have finished another One Skein Wonder and debuted it at the bowling alley where my friend held her b-day party at. Little did I know that my friend and her friend (I haven't seen either one in a while) both enjoy knitting. This is exciting because now I have some ladies, that I already know, to knit with hopefully. The best part is that they didn't even know that I knitted the shrug that I was wearing, a nice compliment to me.

My Somewhat Cowl is coming along nicely. I'm really amazed at the speed that some ladies in the KAL are making these sweaters. Some are already knitting the sleeve cuffs and I am no where near joining the sweater together yet. I planned to knit about 5" a week on the thing (we have 6 weeks to finish) and I am ahead of schedule so everything is good.

I have started to crochet a clutch out of the Happy Hooker to break up the monotony of the Somewhat Cowl. While crocheting I have discovered that crocheting into the chain is difficult when you are using Lion Brand Wool-ease that was from a frogged project while ~~tipsy~~ ~~drunk~~ wasted. So I had too many glasses of wine and one Cheritini (my own recipe for a martini) and had to give up on the clutch, but I started it and that is what counts.

This is just a picture of my MissyBear because I don't have pics of my OSW to post.

I love you blog

2006-03-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

I love my blog because I can type stuff and get out my feelings and post my pictures. I need to post more pictures of my dog because the URL is PitsandKnits and there aren't any pics of my Pit Bull Missy.

People laugh when they hear that my Pit Bull's name is Missy but her name is a contradiction to her image but fits perfectly with her sweet nature. Her ass ain't gentle but she is sweet.

Why is knitting such a snobby activity? Is it because its mostly women that engage in it and all women are catty? Women by nature are sooooooooooooooo catty. I worked in a lab with all women and two guys and let me tell you, the guys were terrified. There were cliques, whispering behind backs, grudges that were held, etc. We are always in competition with each other and when we lose, we get mad. When men lose to each other they shake hands and grab a beer, women we plot to destroy the winner and all of our girlfriends are there to help while they secretly plot against us.

I don't have a lot of girlfriends for this very reason. I am a honest, non-judgemental, and helpful woman. Usually I attract the opposite in females. Its getting better though, they more I learn the more I grow and the better I see the motives of others. This is probably why I have yet to join a knitting group. Other than my growing addiction to yarn and UFOs that would probably get worse once I am around others with the same problem, a lot of women together, in my experience, isn't good. I can't take the cliques, behind the back talking, the lying and yet constantly wanting to be around each other. I'm selective with my girlfriends and YOU SHOULD BE TOO! Don't let anothercatty female turn you into another catty female. That shit is contagious. I caught it once and it took that chick quitting and finding a new job for me to stop it.

I won't go back to that.

So that is why I love my blog because I can get all my knitting crap out in the open without having to talk to anyone. :D

My Two Pennies

2006-03-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

Last night Debbie Stoller had a book signing at my LYS and it was really great. My best friend Tar-tar accompanied me and we had a good time. Debbie was so cool about everything and the best part was when she said she knitted because she just liked it. Some people try to tell me that knitting is my passion and they are dead wrong. Knitting is my hobby because I like to do it. I like using my hands, creating awesome pieces and gifts and basically having something to distract me when nothing good is on TV. I got the impression at the signing last night that there are people that want some sort of recognition for doing this craft because they don't fit the mold of an old lady sitting in the corner rocking away in her chair knitting and/or crocheting afgans all day long. Its not a craft and we are not breaking down any walls with our needles in hand. Its fun, theraputic and cool I think. I just like to knit.

Finally!

2006-03-26T12:46:00.000-05:00

Here are my FOs that I have been meaning to post for so long. I'm happy to finally get this monkey off my back!
This is Odessa made with Lamb's Pride Bulky. I casted 70 sts US11 16'' circs and then followed the pattern from there. I wear this thing everyday and my head has never felt warmer.

This is the fabulous One Skein Wonder that I made for my mom. She was a bit iffy on the colors at first but once it was finished she was never happier. I bought her this tank top that she is wearing (white with gold sequines from Old Navy) so she will always have an outfit to wear the shrug with. Now I am jealous of her. The orange yarn is Lion Brand cotton-ease (discontinued) and
the white border is Lion Brand Micro-spun. The shrug was created from my stash and I couldn't be any happier about the outcome.

This is a wristband I made for my bestfriend and he loves it! I made it using the skull pattern from Glampyre and red heart yarn. I know I know red heart yarn blechhh!! But this needed to be knit in a hurry for cheap and for a person that feared the skull and crossbone look was over.

Here is another skull and crossbones wristband using some crochet thread and size 10 beads using US2 needles. This was just a spur of the moment thing and it came out cute. Of course my best friend wants this one too. I probably won't wear it but I know he will. This pattern I got out of the book Stitch and Bitch Nation. Since being on my knitting diet I have really found a lot of great patterns in books I already own. DURRRRR!!!

I have one more hat but I never took a picture of it and now I can't find it. Its cute, a bit big but that's how I like it!!! One day I will finish my grandma shawl but now I must knit where my heart takes me! (Cheeeeeeese!)

Its not a diet if you aren't hungry!

2006-03-20T15:27:00.000-05:00

Don't believe the hype!! You really do have to be hungry in order to lose weight. Sure you could eat a lot of fiber and feel full but then you will fart a lot. Yes you will be skinny but also very lonely.

A long with my food diet I will also have to go on a knitting diet :(. If this weren't neccessary then I would probably be crying right now. I have to take my GREs next month and apparently if I haven't been learning a new vocab word a day for the past 26 years then I am screwed. There are a lot of words to learn, a lot of essays to write and none of that is getting done while I am reading blogs, searching for patterns, looking at yarn, and starting to knit about a thousand things.

My plan is to cut down on reading blogs because they distract me so much. I want to knit what everyone else in knitting, and the learn the techniques that everyone else is learning, but that ain't me and I am focusing all of my energy towards the wrong thing. I need to focus on getting back into school and I only need to focus for one month, one teeny tiny month. That's not hard, plus once I cut back on all my blogs (except for the Sexy Knitters Club blog because I am currently in a KAL for the Somewhat Cowl) I will be able to focus more on my existing projects, like my friend Michelle's hat and my Somewhat Cowl and anything else I forgot to mention. Plus maybe when I boot up my computer this weekend I will finally post my pictures of FOs since I am too lazy to ever do it.

So I will miss reading all the knitting blogs, searching for patterns, looking at yarn and starting more projects than I can finish, but just like my food intake it is getting to be too much. Hopefully after my exam is done not only will I have a bigger vocab, but more FOs and less me!

Weekend List - Its another beautiful day in Zamunda!

2006-03-14T09:20:00.000-05:00

1. Post my knitting pics. I have tons, the shirug for my mom, my hats, and my bestfriend learning to knit.

2. Finish my other hat

3. Figure out my yarn to get for my sexy knitters club KAL

4. Register for my GREs. I have this new idea (well it was an idea told to me by my wonderful co-worker) to look at gradschools everyday online to keep me motivated.

5. Clean and fold away my clothes and hopefully buy a dresser and night stand set to aid in this never ending battle in cleaniness and organization.

6. Also start my running routine again. I'm going to San Francisco this summer (yay) and I am not saying that I want to look smoking in a bathing suit, I want to FEEL like I looking smoking in a bathing suit. There is a huge difference, because exercise makes you feel great and isn't that what's really important.

I'm sorry Mama

2006-02-28T11:48:00.000-05:00

She is the all knowing, all seeing goddess that I pray will not kick me out and force me and Missy to live in the streets. She gives us shelter, heat, light and food so it shouldn't be hard for me to finish the One Skein Wonder that I started for her about two weeks ago but it is.

The body - Done
Sleeve cuffs - Done
Ribbing around the body - Don't want to do.

WHY?!?!? Why can't I do it? Oh I know because I hate picking up stitches. I suck at it because I am impatient and when I don't want to do something it won't get done.

But it is for your mother who you love.

So...what is your point?

And you already but her a gold sequined tank top to go with the OSW. Don't you want to see her enjoy the outfit?

Yes you right! How could I let a perfectly planned outfit go to waste. I must finish OSW!!!

Didn't you already start another one in a really pretty Lilac color with yarn overs as the increases? And don't you want to wear that with a white tank top maybe with some silver sequines or a white beads?

Alright already!!! I feel bad enough as it is.

Why because you started a new Odessa and knit a swatch for some socks?

I'M SORRY MOM!! WAAAAAAAAA!!! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!!
Tonight I will only work on the OSW, I will not toucj anything else and I promise take the dog on a long walk as to tire her out so she won't annoy you by running around with her basketball squeak toy.

Man!

2006-02-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

I just love this hat. I wish and wish and wish that I could have something like this. Sure I can make it but would the colors even come close to looking like this? NOPE! Its so cool and wonderful and I am just overcome with happiness just looking at it. You know what it is, to know that something that awesome exists and I could if I wanted to make it for myself just makes me smile on the inside. I'm having a bad morning already (I have a bad case of the Mondays) but this hat that someone that I don't know made makes me feel good. The bright colors that make up the non-threatening skulls is great. Just grrrrrrreat I tell you.

Bad Blogger BAD BAD!!!!

2006-02-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

I have been bad. I started this blog to keep me organized and on track with my knitting and just like everything else in my life I casted you off to the side blog...I'm so sorry :(. Even though I wasn't here for you physically, in spirit I was always around.

Last time we talked I promised that my superbowl project would be Odessa and guess what???? I MADE ODESSA!!!!! I made her using Lamb's Pride Bulky on size 11 (I think) 16'' circs. I casted on 70 sts and followed the pattern from there. She is roomy (I hate tight hats, I am prone to headaches) but I love her warmth. She makes me so proud to wear and I was so excited to have made a hat in a day that the following weekend I made another hat. It was my own design and unfortunately I didn't have any circs. to make this hat so I knitted her on US10 straight needles and seemed her.

Side note: I hate sewing by hand and this was especially hard by the yarn was mohair and not something that I am used to working with but I did a good job and now I am not so afraid to seem anymore but I stills hates its.

Some new toys that I bought:
1. Denise Interchangeables
When I first picked up these needles to knit I felt like a kid playing "Knitting". It was weird to use these things because I am so use to feel and the weight of my metal needles and these felt like nothing in my hands. After a couple of days I must say that this needle set is amazing and I love it. I can't believe I waited so long to buy them.

2. 10 skeins of Noro Kueryon 148
Beautiful and I can't wait to start knitting with it. I am going to make Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style. I'm a part of the Scarf Style KAL and the most beautiful Lady Eleanors are being made and I couldn't hold back any longer. It took much time on my part but I finally decided on a color and I am happy with my choice. Sure it will be July probably when she is complete but that just means I will be well prepared for winter next year.

The knitting gods have smiled on me.

I have problems

2006-02-04T11:08:00.000-05:00

I want to work on my "Grandma Shawl" but I want to make Odessa. I guess this isn't really a problem except for the fact that I can't seem to get anything done, just started. What needs to happen in my life is a shelf full of knitted things. My friends, family, and co-workers all ask "What have you knitted?" And then I say "uhhhhhh...?" Of course they don't get how it works, you see a shawl you know would be great to give to your grandma, you start working on it and then you see a hate that would go great on your head so you start dreaming about it. The hat will be my finished object that I will gloat and brag to my world about. It will be my weekend masterpiece, something to keep me entertained in between Superbowl commercials. MONDAY I WILL HAVE ODESSA!!!!! (without the beads though, that will just slow me up)

I WILL TRIUMPH OVER MY OWN ADVERSITY!!!!!