Please don't eat the needles

I'm baaaaaackkkkk.....

2008-07-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, not sure if any of my original readers are still out there, but we're going to give this puppy another whirl.

I think it will be easier for me to connect with other knitters if I keep a separate blog. This way if ever am fortunate enough to meet any of you IRL, you won't feel all weird about knowing all the personal business I spew out on my other blog.

Lots has happened since my last post here - my son is now almost two. And well, I still haven't knitted him anything bigger than a hat.

And I've found Ravelry, which I totally love. Find me here.

Right now I am frantically trying to knit baby gifts, there are 5 babies that need my hand crafted goodness and another two on the way. People, can you please stop procreating long enough for me to finish a small sweater, I beg of you.

So far this year, I've made a pair of socks:

Pattern: Azure from Knitty
Yarn: Risata sock yarn from Knitpicks
Method: Toe up, two at a time using magic loop
Comments: These were my first toe ups and I really liked it. First time doing two a time too - because I'm crazy like that. Although I had to do the heels one at a time, but in the end not having SSS was a major plus! The yarn was just eh. The pattern is totally awesome and I can't wait to make them again in better yarn for myself.

I've also made three hats for my friend and fellow adoptive mom Sig, who unfortunately has been going through chemo.

Pattern: A basic crocheted hat I modified from a fellow raveler
Yarn: Peaches N Cream in Strawberry Creme - one ball
Hook: I forget - F or G I think
Comments: Alternating the single crochet in front loop and then in back loop made a pretty ribbed pattern.

Pattern: Basically the Gulf Shores Hat

Yarn: Red Heart Carefree Cotton in lilac - one skein

Hook: F or G again...

Comments: I made more single crochet rounds before starting the shells.

Pattern: Koolhaas

Yarn: Red Heart Carefree Cotton in Black - one skein

Needles: 6? Whatever the pattern says, I forget now.

Comments: LOVE this pattern. I didn't do as many ribbing rounds to start, but I should have because it's a tad short. Easy and well written pattern and knitted up quicker than I thought it would.

Now excuse me while I go slog away at another baby wrap.

Yarning Over

2007-09-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Over to my main blog that is.

I won't be posting here anymore - all knitting stuff will now be incorporated into my other blog Hell & High Water.

Come see - there has been fiber related activity!

Yarn Swap!

2007-03-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sheesh it's been a while. Life sure gets in the way sometimes..what with having a new baby and a new job, my old hobby is feeling the neglect. So I decided to force the issue by starting my own new swap! Lord knows if anyone will participate, but I'm going to give it a shot.

It's the "Dyeing to Dye Socks" swap on Swap-Bot. Go check it out. And if you've never dyed yarn before, this is the perfect swap for you!

I've always wanted to participate in a dyed yarn swap, but was never confident enough in my dyeing skills to do it. So this swap is for those of you who have either NEVER dyed yarn before, or have done it only on occaison.

You will dye 100g of sock yarn, using whatever dyes and methods you'd like. KoolAid, Wilton cake dyes, acid dyes, whatever...there's tons of tutorials out there to help. Color choice is up to you, although I'm asking that if you are adamant about receiving (or not receiving) certain colors, you post your preference on your own blog or in the swap-bot comments if you don't have a blog. Knitpicks is just one source of dye your own yarn - you can also purchase light colored sock yarn and overdye.

The idea is to be flexible here, because first time (or relatively inexperienced) dyers know that what you wanted is not always what you get! If I get a good response I'll set up a flickr album to display all the yarny goodness.

And speaking of swaps!

For Favorite Color Swap 2, I was paired with Ruth once again! I felt bad that I couldn't communicate too much with her this time, I know she felt like she got a lame partner, but I couldn't give anything away. She seems to have liked everything I picked for her. Can't wait to see her make something fabulous with the quilting fabric.

Also, I have been most remiss in thanking the partner who gifted to me. I have met another new cyberknitter friend - Mark...(yes, a man!) who did an awesome job of picking out fab yarn and other treats. You can see here (I stole Mark's pic until I can get mine up ) he did great job of obtaining yarn in my three favorite colors: Raspberry pink, aqua and periwinkle. I really drove him crazy with those very specific color requests, sorry Mark! Along with the yarn I got some delish minty chocolate and a GREAT CD! I was so excited to get that..I just love music and am always interested in hearing new stuff. I hadn't heard any of the songs before, so it was a real treat listening to each one. All of it got immediately loaded to the old ipod to add to the collection.
Please check out his blog - he has become quite the knitter, and is a hell of a movie reviewer too (I agree with him on just about everything that I've seen). Hope you had fun on your first swap Mark. Now howz about dyeing some sock yarn??

Favorite Color Swap 2

2007-02-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

I have recently joined the second round of the Favorite Color Swap. This swap was a great success last time, and I had the opportunity to meet my new friend Ruth...someone I still keep in contact with today. Below is the questionnaire:

1. What are your top three favorite colors?
Raspberry pink
Aqua/ Teal
Periwinkle

2. What crafts do you really enjoy?
Knitting/Crocheting
Decorative painting (on decorative wood items, and wall murals)

3. What products do you really covet?
Yarn (anything very soft or interesting non wool fibers; colorful sock yarn)
Knitting/crochet patterns (particularly for socks or kids)

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things?
My husband and I are warm weather outdoors people, so hanging out at the beach, nature walks, etc. I enjoy cooking and baking (mostly baking) using new and interesting recipes, going to good restaurants (especially Indian), drinking wine with friends. Playing with our son.

5. Is there anything you collect?
I tend to collect nautical things for our home…decorative items with shells, crabs, starfish, etc.. The whole entire house is kind of Pottery Barn meets Coastal Living (at least that’s what I aspire to).

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol?
Cancer

7.What are your favorite
……scents/smells?
Caramelly sweet smells.

…types of music and/or bands?
Adult Alternative (favorite band: Counting Crows)
My favorite Satellite radio station is XM Café (45)

…authors?
Stephen King
Diana Gabaldon (obsessed with the 0utlander series)

…animals?
Crabs!…

places to shop?
Despite the fact that I can afford to shop at much higher end stores, I still prefer good old Target & Walmart for almost everything besides work clothes!

…season?
SUMMER

…yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies?
See “What products do you really covet?”

…candies or goodies?
Any and ALL! Though I am partial to mint chocolate and raspberry chocolate flavors.

8. Do you have any wish lists?
Nope

9. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope

10. Do you have any pets? What are they?
Two tonkinese cats

11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy.

As most of my readers know, I just adopted a baby boy from Colombia. My adoption blog has all the details you never wanted to know about it, along with some other tidbits about me you may or may not find interesting. See my sidebar for the link ------ > I am trying to get my butt in gear to do some scrapbooking for him, so boy themed stuff might encourage me to get started.

Getting back into the groove

2007-01-13T10:07:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm back from all the big adventures. Believe it or not, with three weeks waiting around in Colombia, I hardly did any knitting. Who can knit when you have this adorable little thing to play with:

Now that we are back home, I am starting to think about all the little things I want to knit him. We like to dress him in real little boy clothes, not baby stuff. I didn't think I'd be so picky about his clothes, but I am! This has really made me rethink the stuff I knit for gifts. I don't think I'll be doing any more powder blue babyish stuff anymore. Take his hat...it's the first thing I have made for him since he's been home. He has a green and gray hoodie sweater from his aunt, so I made this to match. Ain't it just the cutest? Here's the details:

Pattern: Max's first hat
Source: The yarn girls' guide to kid knits

Yarn: Bernat chunky in gray (less than 1 skein) with a little green and blue

Mods: This is not the right yarn for the pattern, so I cast on 22 stitches with size 10.5 needles (8's for the ribbing), which fits his head perfectly.
Comments: Great, easy, quick pattern. Someday I'll learn to step away from the acrylic and go with natural fibers. This would be even better with a nice cotton/wool blend.

Also, see the cute little fuzzy black cat the boy is holding? That adorable little toy was knit by the amazing Del. We had this wonderful little package waiting for us when we got home. Thank you Del, it is really great. Thank you so much for thinking of us, it is truly appreciated. And the boy thinks it's pretty ~~good~~ tasty too.

Now I am crocheting a new christening blanket. The one I had done previously (and almost finished too) was too lacy and stretched out of shape too much. I have a smaller, more dense pattern in the works.

Thank you to all of my knitting friends who have followed my adoption story. It has been great sharing the experience with all of you! I'm sorry that I haven't been keeping up with your blogs as much as I should have. I promise to get caught up and to start commenting regularly again!

The baby knitting will now commence....

2006-11-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

I HAVE A SON.

Forgive me blogger...

2006-11-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

...for I have sinned. It's been over a month (!) since my last post. Well I did finish my Bubble Wrap sock in October, I swear. I didn't knit it's mate yet, and well, I'm going to argue the technicality that it was Socktober, and not Sockstober. The fit is pretty darn good, and I do plan to do the other one sometime ~~soon~~ eventually.

I have been knitting other stuff as well. The Lace Wrap continues to grow, but I still have a ways to go. I think it will be done in time for Colombia which now appears to be in the Jan-March timeframe (boo). I also did what typical knitters do, in that, I stopped all projects on my list and started completely different projects. These included a scarf for my mom's birthday:
Pattern: Dreamswatch scarf (adapted from this pattern).
Yarn: Lion Suede in Teal; 2 skeins
Needles: I don't remember now....6's? 8's?
Comments: This yarn, like any chenille is tough on the hands (no sproing factor) but it is really soft and cozy. It's hard to get any great pattern to show with chenille, so this did the trick nicely I think. The color is my mom's favorite so she loved it. And it's short, because she's short.

I also made a scarf for myself, because one day it was cold and I thought I needed to hurry up and make one before my neck froze. Little did I know it would be over 60 degrees every day since then. But I'm all set for when winter really does set in:

Pattern: Winged it garter stitch scarf. CO 135 stitches and knit for about 30 rows.

Yarn: Catalina Chunky (in claret) & Moda Dea Prima (in burgundy) - one strand of each held together throughout.

Needles: Circular 17's

Comments: First time knitting with Alpaca and it is DIVINE. The Prima yarn is just enough to make it interesting without being overbearing. I LOVE the color of this and now want to find similar colored yarn to make some fingerless mitts. Thanks again to Kerry who gifted me the fabulous Catalina. Here's a closer pic, but the picture is way too pinky, it's more of a rich, well, claret is really the best word! I think I need to block this sucker better.

Lastly, I did start the crocheted white baby blanket as planned, in fact I'm almost done. Here it sits in it's usual resting place, waiting for me to work on it while I watch tv. Next post should have a finished pic.

Well, if you read my other blog, you know that's all thats going on in my life right now...hence the lack of posting. Now I have to do some Christmas knitting. I want to do two lace rectangular wraps, oh and I got a bright idea to knit a table cloth out of cotton for my MIL. I'll let you know how that idea pans out. Yes, I know there isn't much time left before Christmas, don't remind me!!

My so called stash

2006-10-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

I am making progress on my sock:

I think I am okay on the sizing, and everyone loves the colors. The Lorna's Laces was a good choice for this project. As I am used to knitting children's socks, I keep looking at this thing every few rows and glancing at my feet. I am so worried someone is going to look at this on the train and be like, why are you knitting socks for a giant?? I think I just need to get used to the bigger size.

On the socktoberfest site, we were asked to flash our sock yarn stash. Okay, ready? Prepare to be dazzled and amazed:

Yeah, that's it. How pathetic is that? And if not for the kindness of secret pals, it would be even worse. I should have my knitting license revoked. So all of you with your ridiculously large sock yarn stashes...I'm thinking you should just randomly pick out a few skeins and send them my way...I mean, you won't even really notice, right? And it will make such a difference to my stash, really. It's the only decent thing to do.

I've received some generous donations from several people for my Warm Feet Warm Hearts project...

I am very grateful for the generosity of internet friends who have sent me some really great stuff. However, instead of asking for yarn scraps, I think I may start asking for full skeins of Lorna's, Koigu, STR...you know, for the kids....

In other knitting news, I have started the Lace Wrap I was dying to knit.

I love this wavy lace pattern, and I envision using it alot more in the future. I want to make a table runner out of kitchen cotton with it...the wavy pattern will be perfect for the beach look of our house. I think it would also make a neat baby blanket...not too lacy that it wouldn't be practical. I may be using too small needles, as after a few rows my hands are killing me, but it is knitting up very dense but soft and springy. It will be very warm, which is good.

I better hurry up though, despite my denial, fall is here and winter is fast approaching.

Socktoberfest

2006-10-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've joined Socktoberfest! This was the perfect thing to join...all you have to do is knit socks. In October. That I can handle. Especially since I am doing them anyway. I've cast on for the Bubble Wrap socks from Sockbug using Lorna's Laces in Vera.

I've never really made adult size socks before so I'm not sure how this sizing this is going to work out. I can't seem to get myself to swatch for socks. With the time it takes, you might as well just start knitting the darn sock. So I'm using size 1 addi's and the pattern calls for 8 spi. I tried size 2 at first but it was immediately obvious that the fabric was too "loose". I was on a business trip and didn't have an opportunity to find a better pattern. The Bookland bookstore didn't have any sock knitting books, and neither did the Hancock Fabrics, the only two stores within walking distance of my hotel. Apparently there was a Hobby Lobby nearby, but since I didn't have a car, or shoes without heels, and also since Birmingham Alabama is apparently not a fan of having sidewalks, I didn't attempt it.

I suppose my problem is that I don't knit enough socks. I'm sure all of you know off the top of your head what your guage is with the most common sock yarn. Anyway, we'll see how this goes. Here is the questionnaire from Lollygirl:

When did you start making socks?
I think I first tried it last year, but really started to do it seriously this year.

Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I took a class at a LYS, but I was sorry I spent the $75. It isn't that hard, and I could have taught myself.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My first attempt was not a "pair". I tried two worsted weight patterns using wool-ease. One came out good, the other did not. I never made the mates to either one. My first real pair was a gift for a child who has probably outgrown them by now.

What would you have done differently?
I still have the mateless socks, so I should probably make a second one.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
I really liked the Knitpicks sock yarn to start out with. It was inexpensive and came in pretty colors. Great for learning and you can even buy dyeable sock yarn there. Now I enjoy superwash or cotton...I wish more sock yarns came that way. Wool socks are nice but they are hot and a pain to clean, not to mention impractical for kids. I am dying to try socks that rock and koigu though. The colors are amazing. I love variegated yarn, can't get enough of it.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I think I have crocheted some baby socks before, but I wouldn't do them for adult sizes..too cheezy looking. I prefer magic loop (thanks to Kerry)! I really don't understand how people prefer dpns..too much fiddling! Magic loop is so easy to learn and really makes things easier. I use 40" addis.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I've only made a flap heel...guess I should branch out, huh?

How many pairs have you made?
I have never made a pair for myself. The socks for Socktoberfest will be my first pair just for me! I mostly make them as gifts for babies and children (see my Warm Feet Warm Hearts project over there on the side bar ---------->) I think I must have made about 7 or 8 pairs so far.

I have to seriously rethink my knitting list. Apart from my socks, I have the following:

Entrelac baby blanket (20% done)
Jasmine edge baby cardigan (1% done)
Some kind of pink scarf with sock yarn I love
White baby blanket for Presentation Day

Booga Bag
Cotton table runner for new fabulous dining room table

Crappy list, I know. I really want to knit myself a cardigan and the Lace Wrap from VK Fall 05. And I haven't even THOUGHT about Christmas knitting (I'm leaning towards THINKING I'm not going to do any this year). I want to do the wrap NOW, like go to AC Moore (Patons classic wool is all I need for that) tonight and cast on. I see everyone in the city with these chic wraps now that the weather is cooler and I want to be just like the cool kids too. If I wait much longer I'll need to be knitting a parka. Okay so wrap, white blanket, then Booga and then table runner. Screw the baby cardigan, the entrelac baby blanket can wait some more, and I still have time before I'll need a scarf. Now I have to research which cardigan to make and fit that in somewheres. I need to measure myself this weekend. I'm terrified to make a sweater that I'll hate.

That's why I love socks.

Favorite Color Swap

2006-10-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

My favorite color swap package arrived this week! Thank you Karla for a really great package! She sent me some really great yarn (including my first skein of trekking and some really cool chenille), a hand knit funky scarf and some really great beachy things. My favorite are the little shells she collected from her very own beach. I love everything Karla, thank you so MUCH!
Alas, this will probably be my last major swap for a while (yeah, I say that now), I really need to start preparing for this baby's arrival. I am trying to formulate a plan for the nursery, the creative crafty type in me just won't allow for a gender neutral room. So I actually need two plans, and each one must be able to be deployed very quickly. We will only have about two weeks to get our asses in gear from the time we get "The Call" and having to travel to Colombia. Of course, boy or girl will both get a beachy room, it's just a matter of the details. Right now I'm thinking mermaids for a girl.

We recently found these two gorgeous mermaids in a nautical shop not far from us. If we have a boy, I'll just leave them where they are in our dining room, living room. Aren't they beautiful? The nursery (formerly a guest bedroom) is currently a soothing shade of dusty turquoise. I think these white mermaids will look great in there.
Of course you realize, this means we're getting a boy. No matter, I'll come up with something!

Randomness

2006-09-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

As I sit here watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (am I the only person who thinks Johnny Depp is hilarious in this movie) and surfing the web, I am fascinated by the wonders of Statcounter. I love seeing where all of my visitors are coming from. Hello Rancho Cucamonga!! Oh, and if you are the person from Merrick, please come back! I do not have ONE friend IRL who knits! Who are you mystery knitter? You leave very near me!

Yeah, that ought to do it. Scare the friendly knitters away why don't I. That reminds me, a month or so ago I was taking a different train to work. This was back when I was knitting Ene's Scarf. A woman sat down near me and starting knitting too. We noticed each other and smiled, and briefly spoke about what each of us were making. When it came time for me to transfer trains, I did something WAY out of character for me. I wrote down my blog address, and as I was leaving I handed it to her and told her that if she ever wanted to get together to contact me. It didn't seem like she thought I was a psychopath or anything...but she never contacted me... Are you out there? I'm not crazy I swear. Was my knitting that bad? Was my outfit wrong? Maybe I misspelled my blog address in my rush. Who knows.

Today I convinced my husband to go to my not so L LYS, Granny's. Love this store! I bought 2 skieins of Noro to make a Booga Bag (and later realized I needed 3, oh well, I'll have to go back) and 3 skeins of some Wildflower dk to make a baby sweater for a friend. Sorry I missed you Kathleen, but Granny tells me you are having a wonderful time in Buffalo.

Thursday I had to fly to Florida and back for a meeting so I finished the mate to the toddler sock that I made during my one day trip to Buffalo. Traveling sucks but at least it's good for my knitting progress. I'm going to Birmingham AL in a few weeks, more knitting time! Picked up the entrelac baby blanket again which will be my tv watching project. Not on Thursdays though...I'll be riveted to The Office (she didn't marry him!), Grays (he's in love with her!)and ER (I'm in love with Luca!) thank you very much. No one is allowed to talk to me from 8:30 on. Train knitting will be the mate to the Fetching fingerless mitts. Although now that these came out, I may be sorry I started Fetchings.

*Yawn* Off to bed. Wow this was a boring post.

Contest: Who's a bigger idiot than me...

2006-09-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Apart from yesterday, I haven't been knitting much. I think I have arthritis in my shoulders. They ache like hell these days, and the damp and rainy haven't been helping at all. I am not one of those people where knitting relaxes me. I am a product knitter, not a process knitter, so I find the need to go as fast as I can so I can be on to the next fabulous project. Sock! Done! Scarf! Done! Next! Hurry Up! So the fast and furiousness has aggravated the aforementioned shoulders, so I gave myself a rest. Until yesterday that is. I had to fly to Buffalo and back in one day. And no self-respecting knitter would endure an airport wait and plane ride without a project. So I knit almost an entire toddler sock, which is pretty good considering I spent more time traveling than at the actual meeting I attended. Oh well, can't complain about getting to knit on company time. Even though I had to endure every flight attendants comments, including 'Oh I wish I could do that". What do you say to that? You can learn? Yeah, too bad? Shut up and get me my diet coke, we land in 15 minutes and I've got limited time with this tray table in the unlocked and non-upright position?

Anyway.

I entered this photo in this contest:

Actually, I guess I technically entered Kerry in this contest, since she did the beautiful knitting and the buying of funky shoes. Don't worry Ker, I will gladly share the spoils if we win. I knew when I saw the contest I had to enter in the "Best use of Color" category, I mean, does it get any better than purple socks and pink crocs?? The funny part is how this photo caused me much pain and suffering (okay, just really major embarrassment).

I was lounging around the house on Sunday because, well that's what Sunday's are made for. Getting up late, not showering until you absolutely have to, bad tv, good snacks...you all know. I'm wearing this kind of raggedy red t-shirt and worn out high-water grey sweatpants. (You know, the kind you've had since 8th grade and maybe even has the year right on the shirt and you only wear it to bed now because who keeps a shirt for that long and advertises it, and it's been through the washing machine the exact number of times it takes to be perfectly soft and fit just right). I don the socks and crocs, which go so FABULOUSLY with my outfit...pink, purple, grey and red..I'm quite a sight. I grab the digital camera, and go out my sliding glass door into the backyard to take the picture. My fenced in, tree surrounded back yard, so that no one can see me in this get up taking pictures of my feet in odd positions so that I don't get a shadow. I take about 5 pics and head back into the house. I start to slide the door back open and it stops.........in this position. Oh shit. Push. Push Push. PUUUUUSSSSHHHHH. It won't budge. Then I notice this: Can you see it? There was a box leaning on the other side of the glass door that I pushed out of the way when I opened it from the inside. However, when I closed it behind me, it fell back into place, preventing the door from opening. Oh crap now what. First I take pictures, because such idiocy needs to be documented. Then I pulled up the little wrought iron garden flag holder in the flower bed and wedged my arm in that little opening and tried to push the box out of the way. No dice. I tried the extended watering nozzle. All that did was get my carpet wet. I tried the metal pole from our tikki torch. All that did was get dirt on the now wet carpet. The cat meows at me from the opening and I'm pretty sure the translation was "What the F#%$ are you doing and what is with that outfit??".

Ah Ha! My mom lives down the street a ways. I could just walk down there and ask her for the key. So what did I do? Did I walk down there looking like a white trash clown or did I take off the shoes and socks and walk barefoot (just white trash)?

I went barefoot. And my mom laughed at me. And the two neighbors I passed thought I was insane. The picture isn't even all that great in the end. But I did enter the contest. Maybe we'll at least get an honorable mention for the effort. Only fair, no?

Better

2006-09-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Before:
After:

So I ripped back as planned and added length to both the wrist and finger portions of this pattern. Although it was definitely cute as the original, this way is just much more functional for me. I probably could have added another row of cables at each end, but I am not ripping this back again. On to number two!

Okay, Kerry, you asked I delivered. Here is a new project with the fabulous Lang Tosca you sent me. I give you Entrelac! (or Interlock as my husband says!) A baby blanket was perfect for this yarn, as you predicted.

This is a brand new technique for me and I LOVE IT. It is so much easier than it looks. Really. Right after you go and learn magic loop, you need to learn this. I read somewhere, and it's true, that Entrelac is kind of like turning the heel of a sock. You just need to trust and follow the directions, and then magically it turns into something great! I love the way the variegated yarn makes solid blocks of color. I basically followed the Lady Eleanor Stole from Scarf Style, except I made 11 base triangles instead of 7.

And the best part? I'm saving this one for ME.

You won't believe your eyes...

2006-09-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

My SP8 Pal is Revealed. I had the privelage of being spoiled by the one and only Kerry. She was a hostess too, good thing I behaved! I am so glad that I got matched with Kerry. We've really made a connection and I am glad to call her my new friend. She is a wonderful mother to 3 great kids, and I can only hope I can learn a thing or two from her on how to raise kids right. Not to mention her sock knitting skills - amazing!! Thank you so much for all your great gifts Kerry, and your emails too. You are an amazing generous person.

Her final package was chock full of all the things she loved, that she was thoughtful enough to share with me:

Cherry Tree Hill, Catalina Alpaca (DIVINE), Artyarns Supermerino

Lang Tosca (she suggested Entrelac baby blanket, I'm thinking YES) & Melody Sock Yarn

RubySapphire Yarns in "Stephanie", Fleece Artist Mohair * Blue Face Leicester (YUM), Catalina Chunky Alpaca (AMAZING)

Adirondack Treats (mag, maple syrup, apple butter & Indian spices), Knit wash and Prespot (there's a story)

Greenies cat treats (this is the best picture I could get of the feeding frenzy, I think they liked them)

THE BEST PART: My first pair of knitted socks just for me on beautiful sock blockers. (*sniff* just the BEST). And hand made dishcloths (or maybe washcloths cause they're too nice for spills)

They fit like a dream and the Crusoe pattern is awesome

And last but not least CROCS!! Woo Hoo - Don't hate me cause I gots me a pair of funky pink crocs!! I am so cool now, just like all the kids. Also two adorable flip flop keychains (cause I'm all about the beach - in my crocs).

Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Your thank you package is in the works. Shut Up. Yes it is. And you will like it!!

A Productive Labor Day

2006-09-05T17:50:00.001-07:00

Well rainy days are good for something...finishing very old ufo's. I took out all my yarn from it's various hiding places for the purposes of consolidating and re-organizing. It was quite a surprise to see it all in one place. Even more surprised was my husband when he walked in. He had no idea my habit was so big! I managed to get the stash down to three bins and one bag. The three bins now hold (1) baby yarn, (2) all acrylic and (3) what I dub "the good stuff". The good stuff being "real" yarn that I am proud to own (most of it from my secret pal - who by the way shall be revealed when her final package gets here any minute now - she deserves her very own post). In the mix I found some unfinished objects and I found the courage to deal with them. I frogged a couple, threw out a couple (acrylic, no love lost) and decided to finish three:

The lavender ombre one is another Pixie Cables cardigan from the "Soft and Sweet" Red Heart Book. I think the sleeves are way too big for this sweater (would you agree?), so I'm not sure what to do with it..donate it maybe. The deep pink one is the Sweater with Square Set-in Sleeves from Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss. I made this in Lion Brand Soft Baby to see if I could do it before I invested in better yarn. I think it came out great and would definitely make it again. The white one is the Wraparound Top from Crochet for Babies & Toddlers. I made this eons ago with the intent of putting it on our first child. Well our first child will likely be too big for this (he/she will probably be about 4 months old), but I'm not sure I can give it away. It is so soft and adorable I need to do something special with it, but I'm not sure what yet. Maybe I will donate it to the orphanage. So now the only UFO in my possession is a matching soaker to the wraparound top. I still have the required yarn and I couldn't bear to frog it. I am so proud of myself!

I did start to knit something for myself as promised. I've been meaning to make the Fetching wrist warmers for myself for some time now, especially since it uses only one skein of Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran. Over the weekend I got the first one done:
Don't ask me what color it is, I lost the band already, but needless to say it is a deep rosy pink. I think it came out really nice, but I'm not sure I am going to keep them as is. They are really more like palm warmers, and therefore not exactly what I was hoping for. I need them to be longer so that they help with the draft I get from the sleeves on my winter coat. And I need them to cover more finger...I really just want the tips of my fingers sticking out. So I need to frog this back to the the thumbhole and make the necessary adjustments. Of course this means this project is now double the price. Oh well, I'm worth it, right?

I am soon to start a lacey scarf with some pink (what else?) Fleece Artist Merino sent to me by my secret pal. It's too gorgeous to go on my feet. I am playing around with a few patterns, I'll let you know which I settle on.
I leave you with a Book Meme since I was recently tagged by Cozy. I read a ton of books, but I have a bad memory...but here goes:

1. One book that changed your life:
I don't think any book really changed my life..but the only thing that comes to mind is Watership Down by Richard Adams. This book was in the young adult section of the library, and being the voracious reader I am, I read it very young, like 11 or 12. I remember this being my first "real" book and it opened up a whole new love for reading, especially big epic novels.

2. One book that you've read more than once:
The Hobbit

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - romance, adventure..the whole series is so awesome, I'd want to bring them all.

4. One book that made you laugh:
Any "number" book by Janet Evanovich

5. One book that made you cry:
The Grapes of Wrath - not really cry, more like anger and frustration. I couldn't believe it ended that way after that whole big journey.

6. One book that you wish had been written:
How to know when to stop fertility treatments and get on with your life. I wish I read it three years ago.

7. One book you wish had never been written:
The last 4 books by Richard Patterson - I think they were all the same with different covers. Yikes, what happened to him.

8. One book you're currently reading:
The Husband - Dean Koontz (it's just okay).

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
The Great Gatsby - Can you believe I never read it??

10. Tag 6 people:
Play along if you'd like!

Steriogram

2006-08-31T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am working on an updated post, but can't seem focus to do it. In the meantime, check out this crazy fiber themed video. All this is done with yarn.

I suck as a friend

2006-08-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't given one baby gift yet. Even though I pared my list of 5 down to 2 worthy baby having recipients, I haven't gifted a thing. I finished the buttercream kimono but I don't particularly like how it came out. (This is NOT blocked)
First of all, I did stockinette this time, and while my stitch guage was fine, my row guage was all off. When I got 40 stitches on the needle from knitting the front flaps, I was already even with the back. So there is no room to put two ties. I tried picking up and knitting some garter stitch rows which helped slightly (mostly to hide a sucky seaming job), but I didn't have enough cotton left over to make much of a difference. I also screwed up something when I decided to make the sleeves straight so the sleeve seams are a little wonky. Methinks I didn't pay enough attention while I was knitting this. But on the bright side, I made some matching booties and a hat, which I got from my recently purchased copy of Natural Knits for Babies & Moms.

LOVE this book. Simple designs in dk weight yarn but very adorable. The only complaint I have is that the hat, booties and little stuffed animals instructions are to knit flat and seam. I guess I could just do that in the round, huh? Not rocket science. I am not sure how the hat will fit, it seems a little mushroomy and too big compared to the kimono.

So now what. Well, Ms C-Section had the nerve to have a girl and spoil my plans of giving her the crocheted blanket I had. Since she already has a boy, and does indeed deserve to have a girl, I will forgive her and knit her something else. Not sure what yet. I need to get me some non acrylic dk cotton and make her something from the above book I think. Wool is so impractical for new moms. The crocheted blanket will go to my co-worker who's wife did in fact have a boy this very day. Not only do they already have a girl, they are irish too, which is a plus because the pattern is an irish chain. The kimono set I think I will give to my neighbor who is pregnant.

Wow, see how these things all work out in the end? Okay, now. I need to start something for myself. I just need to set aside 5 minutes and think about it. Socks or wristwarmers. I need to do a little pattern / stash comparison and I'll get back to ya....

Merry Christmas!

2006-08-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

My Secret Pal had the ingenious idea of sending me Christmas in July! Yes, technically it's August, but blame the postal service and blogger, what can I tell you... But it's the thought that counts and it sure made things brighter on the hottest freaking day of the year.

First, an out of print pattern book for knit Christmas stockings, complete with red and green yarn, addis and my very first chibi! Very special because my SP has made these for each member of her family and are part of her Christmas tradition. As she knows, we hope to have our new addition to the family before Christmas this year and need to start making our own traditions. I am very touched that she went through the trouble of providing me with everything I need to make them a part of our new family. (I swear this woman has given me a complete addi collection!)
And what's Christmas without the goodies? Awesome cookie cutters with a family cookie recipe. Yum. These will definitely be put to good use. And last, but definitely not least...are you ready for this...it's truly amazing:

Check out these stitch markers!! On the left we have tiny little santas! How freaking cute are those?? Makes you want to bust out singing Jingle Bells, no? On the right, CUSTOM MADE SANTA HAT WEARING PINK SHEEP!!! I can't get over them!! She had them made especially for me and I am so grateful. What a unique and wonderful gift!! I love them.

Well, I really should get cracking if that kid is coming soon, but I really did promise myself I was going to knit for myself once I was done with baby gifts. I decided that I couldn't possibly knit 5 baby gifts before all of those breeders popped, and so far I'm right...one already gave birth and the other is having a c-section tomorrow. So I have to pare down the gift giving...3 out of the 5 are work people who aren't expecting anything anyway, so they go to the top of the "if I have time" list. I have a beautiful crocheted baby blanket that I may give Ms. C-Section if she has a boy (light a candle for me) which will leave me one gift to have to make, which will probably be this:
I picked up the butter cream kimono again, and actually I had to frog this somewhat after this picture was taken...I cast off for the neck hole to late so I had to fix it...I am modifying this one to eliminate the sleeve decreases. So Ms. SP8 hostess, believe it or not, that is all that is on the needles right now. Oh, and I do have this mysterious little project that I am working on, but more to come on that if it works out how I plan:
I suppose after these two things are done I will do some baby knitting along with some "me" knitting...haven't decided yet what exactly that means. Oh, and for those that may be interested, the Ene's Shawl was finished and gifted to my aunt a few weekends ago. Yes, I gave someone a wool scarf in August during a heat wave, you gotta problem with that? She loved it, and besides, I wasn't going to knit a bikini for my 70 year old aunt...they're always cold any way those old aunts.

Pattern: Ene’s Scarf
Source: Scarf Style
Yarn: Knitpicks Shimmer in SweatPeas
Needles: Size 6 addi circs
Comments: Quick and painless, a pleasure to knit. I think I am going to make myself one of these in some pale pink alpaca cloud.

I also finished my first pair of socks using magic loop. Love it love it love it! I am so glad I learned this instead of investing in a million double sets of short circs. While two circs is certainly preferable to dpns, magic loop kicks ass. No seriously, it does. It is not even hard. It just sounds hard. It’s totally logical once you do it. Trust me. Now I must join the legions of other converts on their quest to convert everyone else! Go learn. Now. You’ll thank me. Anyway, no pics of these because they are adoption socks and I need to send them out still. I really want to learn how to do two socks at once with magic loop. I just have to sit down and concentrate on it…a little difficult to do these days, with all the craziness that is my life.

Is it me??

2006-07-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

....or is lace a BITCH to block?? The tips of my fingers are numb from inserting and removing pins. I guess you just have to suck it up and realize that you need to put a bazillion of them in there and not try to cut corners. Oh Well. Ene is done and is blocking.
Now on to baby things. There are 5 people who are expecting in my life and most of them close to the end! You would think with all of this blatant fertility around me, I wouldn't have the problems I do but whatever!!! So I need to spend some time today experimenting with super quick baby gifts. I may even *gasp* crochet, because it's 100 times faster than knitting and for babies it's cute. I may even try a crochet version of the baby kimono...I'll let you know what I come up with. If anyone has any suggestions for a baby gift using chunky yarn (other than a blanket), please let me know.

Oh and lest you think that my kitty up there only has a penchant for knitting needles, she also LOVES McD0nalds's French Fries! Proof:

Hope you're all staying cool!

Favorite Color Swap

2006-07-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

I've recently signed up for the Favorite Color Swap. Below is my questionnaire. I just love these swaps, they do so much to improve your mood.

1. What are your top three favorite colors?
Pink (especially raspberry)
Teal/Aqua
Purple

2. What crafts do you really enjoy?
Knitting, crocheting, making decorative things

3. What products do you really covet?
Covet is quite the strong word. If you mean what kinds of things make me drool these days...Nice yarn, particularly sock or baby yarn. Chocolate.

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things?
Reading, listening to my ipod, going to the beach

5. Is there anything you collect?
Beachy stuff (crabs, starfish, shells)

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol?
Cancer the crab. Not sure of the chinese symbol.

7.What are your favorite
……scents/smells? Desserty smells or tropical smells
…types of music and/or bands? 90's music; adult alternative
…authors? Stephen King, love horror/sci-fi/fantasy books.
…animals? Crabs, fish, ducks (beachy animals)
…places to shop? Yarn/craft, home stores, nautical stores
…season? SUMMER
…yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? any yarn
…candies or goodies? anything & everything!! love it all!

8. Do you have any wish lists?
No

9. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope

10. Do you have any pets? What are they?
Two tonkinese cats

11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy.
I am especially interested to receive things that have some meaning from the person who gives them, things they like that I may not know about, or things from their part of the world. I like these swaps not only to get goodies, but to meet others and learn new things.

We are adopting internationally and are starting to buy things for a new baby. I am crafty in general, I like to make decorative things I see for sale in stores, so I'm always looking for crafty bits to use. Our home is decorated very beachy like. Anything goes really!

My stash is officially born

2006-07-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

It was a very good birthday. I woke up early and went to the beach by myself. We live about 10 minutes from Jones Beach, which is one of the reasons I love living here. At 8am, the crowds hadn't started, especially since it was pretty hazy out. I parked my butt away from the lifeguard stands and about 10 feet from the edge of the surf. I spent the morning jamming to my ipod, breathing in sea air and learning magic loop. Of course, being someone who never does anything the easy way, I didn't start out with a magic loop pattern, but converted one from Knit Socks! as I learned. Fortunately I picked it up much quicker than I thought I would. I think that was mostly because I had originally learned with dpns, and then tried two circs. So by the time I tried this I was familiar with sock construction. I have to say that I LOVE IT! The best part is that there are no jogs between dpns, and no clanking of 2 circs. Plus, the addis (thanks again SP) are so smooth that I am sailing through this sock. I would show you a pic but this is another pair of my project socks that will be gifted.

After the beach I went to a going out of business sale at a LYS. I have only been in this store once before and didn't care for the owner. I guess no one else did either. She was still snotty when I went in (owners like that wonder why we all buy on the net). I picked myself up some birthday presents, all at 50% off! And I may go back before they close for good. Here's the loot, mostly Debbie Bliss, which I've never knit with before (too pricey for baby stuff normally):

After that, my mom was running a neighborhood barbecue so I helped her with that..it was a beautiful day and it was great to sit outside and eat good summer food. Yesterday my family had another barbecue especially for my birthday. I got no yarn related gifts from my family though...weird. Well, my brother gave me a gift certificate to Michael's which doesn't really count (good for books at least), and at work I got a gift certificate to a spa, and not that I'm not appreciative, but I work right next door to Seaport Yarns, and I'm not sure why they didn't go there! But I also got some more goodies in the mail, so yes, I continued to pretend they were sent especially for my birthday.

First, since I officially deemed my SIL unworthy of a homemade gift, I needed to find a home for all that Patons. Then I remembered a very good thing: the Knitty boards.

For the Patons I got 8 balls of cotton from Leslie (no blog!) and the satisfaction of knowing that the shitzu yarn found a loving home. More kimonos to be made, and I even got blue to try to even out the karma from the pink kimono already made, not to mention some karma free gender neutral beige mix. The pink yarn is Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in Peppermint that I swapped with Sharon for some Shimmer in a color I had alot of. Both were quick and pleasant swaps..knitters are just the nicest people!

Speaking of very nice knitters, Anonyknits graciously sent me some sock yarn leftovers for my knitting project. She was so generous, just look at the great stuff that came. I can't wait to make little precious socks from all of it! Holy cow I think there's actual Koigu & Lorna's Laces in there...I've never knit with those. (Seeing a pattern here? I am very sheltered...now that I got pretty good using Knitpicks, I think I can start justifying the use of some more expensive yarns).

And what to knit with all of this sock yarn? My SP has the answer to that (and everything else!). She got me a wonderful copy of Friendly Socks which is signed by all the authors and came with a beautiful stitch marker. I can't wait to delve into this gem! What a unique gift, and this one actually arrived ON my birthday!

It's been a great birthday weekend, alot of it due to lots of great yarn acquirements. With this and all the great stuff from my SP, I think I officially have a real stash now! I feel like I'm an actual official knitter!

Hey You!

2006-07-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

FREE Y@RN

Okay now that got your attention, didn’t it? Well sorry, no free yarn, but I had to find some way to get all you SP8 participants to stay here for more than 2 seconds (my secret squirrel counter thingie tells me many of you come but seldom stay long). I guess you are scanning the blog to see if I’m your SP? Chances are I’m not. But hey, stick around! There’s knitting here! And witty banter! And, and ….cat pictures!

Okay fine, go…but at least leave me a comment? If you do, I promise I’ll come read your blog too..and who doesn’t want more blog readers, right?

Well if you’ve stuck around this long, let me show you some yarny goodness. Did I mention my super fantastic SP sent me a ball winder?? I am so excited. Not only because I can whip up neat little yarn cakes in record time, but because I no longer have to BEG my husband to PLEASE just sit STILL for 10 minutes and HOLD this (no not like that, like THIS) so I can wind (stop moving!) up this (let up some slack!) yarn!! Sheesh! And here is some evidence of my winding prowess:

This yarn is my further attempt into the world of dyeing. I used Wilton Cake dye this time (on Patons Classic Wool), but apparently I didn’t get the memo on how some of the colors are unstable and break, particularly violet. If you can possibly believe it, these two balls came from playing around with only Violet and Moss Green. I found out too late that applying straight vinegar to some parts made the dark purple finally stick. I think the result is quite nice, although now I'm not sure what to do with these single skeins. Someone recommended the Sophia bag, which is a great idea! I was thinking some kind of small baby sweater, but I wonder if the worsted wool would be too heavy/itchy?

And, why am I so obnoxiously cheery you ask? It's my BIRTHDAY! Well, Saturday technically, but I've been celebrating all week with some very excellent packages. And Ah, technically they weren't sent for my birthday, but let's just pretend. First up:My latest SP package was (as usual) filled with awesome goodies (sorry for the crappy picture, it's non stop rain here). I got not one but TWO fibertrend patterns for felted clogs (child & adult), plus 4 skeins of lambs pride and two pair of addi's. Gotta love it when the SP gets you all the ingredients for a fun project, especially one I've been meaning to try! Also included was some great sock yarn. Two balls of Regia in nice denimy colors (has bamboo! very soft!) and a pretty Opal. If I can just get caught up on the gifts I'm making, I can actually get started on stuff for me! My SP is great, and I can't wait to find out who she is. Since we trade novel length emails every other day, it would be nice to at least know her name!! Apart from the great gifts, it has been so great to make a new friend.

Okay, enough gushing....Next up:

Debbie, A fellow adoption blogger, knew I was a knitter and convinced her Grandma to clean out her closet! When she emailed me and told me she was sending "a box", I never dreamed of this! She is awesome!! Lot's of great baby yarn here, very excited. (Debbie, just say when and knitted baby garments are yours darling). But look at those CONES. The pink on the left is unmarked, but it appears to be a gazillion yards of acrylic fingering. The pink satin and blue pearl on the right are about 4800 yards each! I assume this is machine knitting yarn, it's all acrylic from Kraemer Textiles. Not sure what the heck to do with all of this! I think maybe I could make a cobweb lacey something. Or I read somewhere that I can double (or triple) this up for heavier weight yarn. My SP suggested a solid afghan using different textured squares - a definite possibility... Any other suggestions out there? Has anyone actually hand knitted with machine yarn out there?

Well if you're still here, thanks!! Dont' forget to leave a comment (can a girl at least get a Birthday shout out??) so I can visit you and see what yarny fabulousness you've been up to!

Knitted Gifties

2006-07-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

Why does it always seem that when I am ready to sit down and knit something for myself, a new slew of birthdays, births and other events come along and I feel compelled to knit everyone gifts? I always do this to myself and I never have enough time. The latest crisis is a gift for my aunt who is turning 70 this Saturday. I didn't know it was such a milestone birthday until several days ago. Now this aunt knows I'm a knitter and not giving her a home made gift would be an insult. So I rummage through the stash and the books, and I came up with Ene's Scarf from Scarf Style using the left over yarn from the Leaf Lace Shawl. I was hesitant to start another lace project after the monotony of the last one, but I am actually really liking this pattern. Here is what I have so far: I think the biggest difference is that with this shawl, you cast on a large number of stitches, and then decrease as you go along. This gives you the sense that you are actually accomplishing something! Also, the charts are extremely clear and easy to follow, and the repeats are easy to memorize. I am so confident with this pattern, you'll notice I am doing lace on Addi's! I won't be done by Saturday, so I plan to give her a card with a little snippet of yarn giving her a glimpse of the surprise to come (hopefully) soon after.

I finished the baby kimono.... ....so freaking cute I now want to make one in every color sugar n' cream comes in. For the ties, I just took a double strand of the yarn and twisted it on itself. Much quicker than sewing in ribbon or making i-cord. I already started another one (I always like to have a portable project) in Butter Creme Ombre. I love the changes in colors. As for my SIL's gift, I am definitely ditching the wrap. Any ideas on what to do with 2 skeins of Paton's Divine? Think anyone will swap for this stuff? I am not sure if I am going to make her anything after all. She was a complete jerk last weekend and doesn't deserve anything. My MIL cooked a huge meal because friends of ours were coming over to help them with some estate planning. These are the friends who were integral in getting us hooked up with the orphanage in Colombia. Being italian, the woman cooked for an army, despite the fact that she has a seriously bad back. My SIL, who needed to come over and sign some papers, calls 15 minutes before we were supposed to eat and says "When are they coming over because I'm going out to dinner you know". My in-laws were floored that she wasn't eating with us. But you know, they didn't say one word to her. Wierd family. My mother would have screamed at me and insisted I eat there since she spent all day cooking (not that I would have been so rude to begin with). So now I'm supposed to knit for her?? Oh and I remembered that for my last birthday, she got me a cat figurine that was sitting on a purple base (reasoning: because I like cats and I like purple). First of all, I like MY cats, and that's pretty much where it ends. I don't have many knick knacks around the house, but the ones I have are NOT cats. Second of all, yes I like purple (but pink is my favorite color), but there is not one drop of purple anywhere in my house so where exactly would I put it? And third of all, did you think I was so stupid to not realize that IT IS A HALLOWEEN DECORATION??? My birthday is in July, so let's just guess how much she paid for that baby, huh?? Man I wish I could find that thing so I could show you how awful...

Excess Fur All Around

2006-06-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

I couldn't do it. Even for her, I just couldn't do it. I am hoping it's the pattern, but the wrap I was making was just too heavy and furry and fake. When I told my mom I was frogging the "dead dog shawl" she laughed and said, "I dont' know why, she would have given you the dead dog". HA! Go Mom with the funny joke. I am going to try to do a more open pattern and hope that does it. Any suggestions are welcomed, right now I am thinking of a feather and fan sort of thing. If that doesn't work, I'll scrap the idea and think of something else. Hey maybe a cute little felted bag...okay gotta go shopping now. See how these things spiral out of control?

I did try to sneak in a little project in between...

My girlfriend just had a little girl, and last Thursday we made plans to see her on Sunday. I decided to see if I could knit the infamous Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting in 3 days. I bought two balls of SugarnCream in Strawberry and set to work. I didn't make it. I did end up getting her something else, so once this is finished, I will decide if I will give it to her or keep it for myself. But I am convinced that if I buy girl things, I'll end up with a boy or vice versa. Anyway, I didn't have enough yarn, I guess with the SugarnCream (as opposed to the Peaches nCream) you need 3 balls, so again, need to go shopping!

Oh and look at this :
Is it some great new roving just waiting to be dyed?? Have I lost my mind and decided to learn to spin? Well.....no.. In reality, I just didn't brush my cat in forever. I know it's kind of icky, but it looked so much like roving I had to take a picture. I could make a whole 'nother kitten out of that! So she's all sleek and pretty again, probably wondering what took me so long to take off her winter coat, now that it's almost July! See how nice?

Okay, now I really AM going shopping because my friend just called and offered to pick me up! Happy Knitting!

I have an excuse...

2006-06-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is what I am knitting right now:

This is the "Elegant Wrap", a free Patons pattern using Brilliant and Divine. This stuff is God awful to knit with. It feels like I'm knitting with dead shitzu hair (and I'm no yarn snob either). I am hoping that after it's washed and fluffed it will be a little better. But I kind of have an excuse for doing this...

On Father's Day, we were at my in-laws having lunch. My SIL comes strolling in un-announced and everyone exclaims "Happy Birthday!"...everyone, that is, except me because I HAD NO IDEA. My IDIOT husband and I have this unwritten rule that we keep track of our own families birthdays, and remind the other accordingly. He apparently forgot this rule, and not only didn't tell me, but didn't get a gift or anything...how embarrassing. But I couldn't feel too bad, because my SIL, well, she's kind of special. She's basically a good hearted person, but she's very, well, self-centered and well, CHEAP when it comes to gift giving. My first Christmas with them I got a periwinkle blue fleece scarf and matching baseball hat beanie thing. DH and I still crack up over that gift, and how he wore it around the house just to make me laugh. The best story though, is the birthday story.

For her birthday a few years ago, I bought her a gift certificate to Kohl's department store. It came in a little cardboard sleeve thingie on which I wrote in pen, something like "$50; Happy Birthday M, Love me and DH". My birthday is about a month later, but for whatever reason we didn't see her for it. Every time I spoke to her on the phone she would say she had my present waiting for me. Finally she said she would put it in the mail because she wasn't sure when we would see each other next. I get a card in the mail, and in it was - can you believe it - the SAME Kohl's gift card, in the SAME envelope, with big black magic marker writing over my writing. You could see my words if you held it at the right angle. I didn't even acknowledge the gift...that may be rude, but I knew I couldn't hold my tongue about it. Don't get me wrong, I am not greedy, I would rather have NO gift than a thoughtless one. So, for her gift, I thought I would make her something, but nothing that required too muchmoney or too much time. This project is cheap and is done on size 17 needles - fits the bill nicely.

It's just the way she is though, and after almost 15 years with that family, I've learned to laugh about it. I mean, we couldn't get her to commit to plans on Father's Day because she wanted to "play her life by ear for one day". Her kids are exactly the same. Neither one could spare more than 5 minutes to spend with their grandfather on Father's Day. Oh well, all we can do is learn what NOT to do with our kids.

Anyway, in happier news, my crazy insane SP sent me a ball winder! Woo Hoo! I will wait to post a picture until I actually attempt to wind a skein. She also included two more addis for magic loop! She is the best!

My first set of socks are finished and are drying as we speak. I hope to have them wrapped and mailed tomorrow. Once they are received I can post the pics!

So, What's your worst gift story??

A quick little update....

2006-06-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Nothing much new to report. I've been recovering from a little personal issue this week, so there hasn't been much knitting. I am finishing a pair of socks for my sock project, but I can't show them here because they haven't been gifted yet. My Secret Pal has been a big support, sending me my second package a little early for me to enjoy while I am going through my ordeal. As usual, she has been incredibly generous. I hope to have some more exciting knitting stuff to report soon. Lord knows I have enough gorgeous yarn to knit with now! I can't even explain how soft and beautiful these yarns are! Not to mention sinfully deliciously smelling soaps and a peppermint cocoa candle! Great note cards (I love crabs!), body lotion and scrub (DH already stole the scrub) and stitch markers already in use on my 2 circ socks! I have the best SP!

Be back soon!

Happy Memorial Day!

2006-05-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well I certainly took advantage of this long weekend to relax and be lazy. We did a ton of gardening and went to the Jones Beach Air Show yesterday. We spent all day at the beach, and I was so exhausted from doing virtually nothing all day but sit my butt in a beach chair, that I slept from 6pm to 6am! A whopping 12 hours! I guess I really needed that! I didn't get much knitting done, but I started another pair of socks, and got about two inches done.

I also took a trip to a new yarn store (new to me anyway), Granny's Yarn Shop. I had been dying to go there for a while now, but it's like 40 minutes away from me and I hadn't been able to get a free Saturday to make the trip. Well I finally did and it was worth the wait! Great selection and very welcoming! I met Katy and Granny and both were so helpful and nice. This is now my ONLY LYS! Woo Hoo! I originally went to get another long circ for magic loop, but they were out, so I settled for two 24" circs and some cool Trekking. Thanks Katy, the two circs are working out pretty good so far!

And speaking of magic loop, and why I went to get another circ for that purpose, my SP was at it again. She is so incredibly generous! Check this out!

turned into this:

First, the elusive Rebecca Baby & Kids mag, which I've been dying for, and is all that I hoped it would be. The patterns are gorgeous! I've also been meaning to try magic loop for socks, so I got the booklet, a size one Addi and GORGEOUS sock yarn. I CANNOT wait to knit myself some socks!! I mean look at this:

All my favorite colors, I'm dying! The best part is that my SP is just the SWEETEST person; we have a great time emailing each other. I don't know if I can wait until the end to find out who she is. We seem to be very similar people, and I am going to figure out a way to meet her in person some day!! She deserves a hug for the chocolate alone! The Lime was delicious and I'm halfway through the Mint...gotta ration it ya know...

Is it abnormal to weep at the sight of chocolate?

2006-05-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

*sniff* Secret Pal, I love you man!

Tell me, who'll stop the rain......

2006-05-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

Yeesh, it's been so gray and rainy here the past couple of days, and it's supposed to be like this all week. I feel like I live in Seattle. Actually, I wish I was in Seattle, better than being around here these days. This weather is just so freaking depressing....not to mention work sucks these days. My boss is all disgruntled, and there is nothing worse than working for someone who bitches & complains - ok correction, someone other than ME who bitches & complains ALL DAY LONG and tells you how they are going to QUIT everyday (so go already!). Him and the rain are just sucking the life right out of me. *sigh* I need to be on a sandy beach right now. Can't take vacation time though, got to save up for the adoption travel. *sigh*....

Went to the bookstore and couldn't even get inspired by any knitting books. Actually the Knitting Rules book looks cute, but I didn't buy it. I also found "Big Girl Knits" which got rave reviews at Amazon, but I don't know...I don't know if I am THAT big. My bust is about 45-46" which is bigger than the biggest size of most "regular" patterns, and is the hardest part of me to fit. I guess I could make the smallest size out of this book and be okay. I kind of like the simpler pullover and cardigan patterns here...but I'll have to take a closer look and see if I can make any of these without spending a bazillion dollars on yarn. Bleah, I'm just not motivated people....

I do have some FO's to share. The baby gifts are finally done, AND before her original due date of May 31st I might add. She had to go and have the baby 3 weeks early, how rude!! But she is a cutie pie..maybe I'll go see her this weekend, new babies do wonders for a bad mood. Here are the pics:
Pattern: Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater
Source: Knitting on the Net
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Pink; way less than 1 skein (maybe half?)
Needles: Size 4 straights & dpns
Comments: Awesome pattern, quick and cheap to knit.

Pattern: Sweet Dreams Afghan
Source: Absolutely Gorgeous Baby Afghans by Terry Kimbrough - Book 4
Leisure Arts
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pink
Hook: Size H metal crochet hook.
Comments: My favorite blanket pattern, I make it all the time.

I know, I know, they're acrylic. But trust me, mom doesn't know the first thing about fiber, and is more interested in washability than quality. She'll love them, trust me.

That's it for now. Going to bed. Then get up for work. Then listen to my boss bitch. Then go home. Then go to bed... ah you know the drill...

Cash Free SP Revealed

2006-05-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well my Cash Free SP is none other than the funny and creative Bezzie. I got my final gifty from her last week and it was just great:
I got an AWESOME baby sock booklet and her extra sock yarn, perfect for my sock knitting project. Starfish notepad and cards, "S" post-it notes, a great handpainted pink bowl with flowers (man, I hope we get a girl), adorable soaps with a lamb/yarn on them, and a *ahem* half empty box of Nestle Crunch Sticks (yum).

It was really fun participating in the first Cash Free Swap. Bezzie was creative and thoughtful and pretty darn hysterical. Viva El Cheapo! Usted es una mujer muy interesante! Now I have to just finish up a few things for my secret pal's last package. I am a little behind, I hope she'll find the contents worth the wait!

I did also find a suitable vase for my needles. It matches my little seagull too, that's a plus. Now to find a place to store the dpns. I have to check out the SnB needle case and see if I can adapt it to the smaller needles. That will involve blowing the cobwebs off the sewing machine, but whatever!

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

2006-05-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

Okay here are the answers to my questionnaire!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I've only knitted with acrylic, cotton and wool. So with that said, I like wool. But I'm open to trying pretty much anything, even acrylic if its very soft. Don't like the novelty yarns. How many eyelash scarves can a person have? Maybe if it were mixed with something else for say a cool bag or funky scarf, just not too hairy...

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Right now they are in a drawer and in a box. I've been looking for a cool vase to display them in.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting seriously for about 2 years. I would say I'm somewhere between advanced beginner and intermediate

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like peppermint smelling stuff. I also like scents like hazelnut coffee, caramel...desserty kind of smells, particularly for candles. Also like tropical smells like coconut, pinapple and plumeria.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES!!! If it has sugar in it, I'll eat it!!
I like anything chocolate and have been recently trying all the fancy organic chocolate bars out there. Love peppermint with chocolate and raspberry with chocolate. Would love to try new and interesting stuff.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am an advanced crocheter. I am crafty in general, I paint a little with acrylics on wood. I don't spin, and really not interested either.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Adult alternative I guess you would call it...Huge Counting Crows fan (they're touring so if you have tickets in the NE let me know!!), DMB, Mike Doughty, Alanis Morisette...love music from the 90's. CD's would be great...love to download stuff to the ipod.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pink. But rich pinks, like raspberry and deep magentas. Love purples, blues, teals and aquas too. Tropical colors that go with the olive skin, you know?...Not so much into red, yellows and greens.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Live in a typical suburban home near the water with my husband of 9 years and our 2 tonkinese cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
NO PONCHOS. I don't wear hats either. But definitely scarves and mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I knit mostly baby stuff...seems everyone is having them around here and I am constantly making gifts. I am also currently into knitting socks. I'd like to make myself a sweater but it's hard to find a pattern that fits me where the yarn doesn't cost a bazillion dollars.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A baby sweater, a baby blanket (crochet) and socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
ABSOLUTELY!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I just bought the Denise circ set,so I am currently into circs. I have alot of bamboo, I found they were great to learn on cause it kept the stitches on the needles. I am now learning the value (and speed) of metal.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, but I am seriously contemplating a ball winder...Husband arms are completely unreliable and tend to be whiny.

17. How did you learn to knit?
Taught myself from books and the internet. The aha moment came from Stitch & Bitch where I finally got how to correct mistakes.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have a toddler sweater that's about a year old but other than that I try not to start new projects until I finish the ones I'm working on.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

20. Is there anything that you collect?
I like to buy stuff with crabs, starfish or seagulls on them...our house is kind of beachy so I tend to buy stuff like that. And plus, I'm a crab, in more ways than one.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Some smaller circs for sock knitting would be great, the Denise set starts at size 5. Funky straights are always cool. I don't have any subscriptions (patterns never fit me), although I am trying to find the Rebecca baby magazine.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
This magic loop thing intrigues me...

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I am! My feet are 10" long; 8.5" around . Wow, they sound like canoes when you write it like that.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
July 15th

Sunday, boring Sunday

2006-04-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that the shawl was given to it's recipient and she seemed thrilled. I am very glad that it will now live it's life with someone who can love and appreciate it, as I am happy to see it go. Here is the parting pic:

Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl by Fibertrends (large lace weight version)
Yarn: Knitpicks Gossamer in Sweat Peas
Needles: Clover bamboo size 5 circular

This pattern was good to learn lace on, but after the first gazillion repeats, I got it, and the two additional gazillion repeats were a chore. My next lace project will have to be more interesting to keep me interested. I probably won't do anymore shawls, unless they are gifts,because shawls make me look like a hoooouse. Maybe a rectangle would be better??

Next up I have three, count'em three projects going on at once. First I am making the seamless yoked baby sweater for my cousin who is due to have a girl on May 31st. I just have one arm left to go...In this pattern, you do the yoke, fronts and back all in one piece, then pick up the stitches around the arms and finish them with dpns. My tension is obviously different with the dpns...I hope that a good soaking and steaming will help make it less noticeable. But it is an adorable pattern, and I think the next time I make it I will somehow encorporate little pearly beads in the detailing.

I am also crocheting a blanket, but it's too early to show any meaningful progress. that will be my commuting project. Lastly, I have my first sets of socks for my Warm Feet Warm Hearts project. I ordered some perfect yarn from Knitpicks and I am excited to get started. I also ordered a Denise Needle set. I assumed it came with small needle sizes but the smallest size that is included is a 5. Oh well, maybe I should have bought the Needlemaster set instead?

Wow, this is a terribly boring post. Well there's not much exciting going on over here...The adoption process is at a slow but steady pace, but nothing major happening just yet. The weekend here was awesome, I got to plant some pansies in the yard today, but it's still too cold for anything else. Alright that's enough of putting you to sleep, gotta go watch Grey's Anatomy. Didja know Meredith is knitting a sweater? And how funny is it that the hunky vet is the kid from Scent of a Woman?? He's growd up purty nicely I'd say....

Shawl is Done!!

2006-04-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

Okay so first of all, StatCounter tells me someone actually got to my blog by searching "K2, gold teeth". Ya think they were disappointed when they got here??

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for some relatively inexpensive sock yarn, but still of decent quality, please let me know. I'm gearing up for my sock project (see Warm Feet, Warm Hearts on the sidebar) and I'm thinking about materials to use.

My goodness the stupid shawl is done. I had to block it over 3 times, what a nightmare. I thought I could use this sturdy floral wire for blocking but it started bending all over the place. I also started doing it on my king size bed, but it's too high and I couldn't get to all the sections easily and then I started to sweat. So I decided to put it on the foam floor blocks I have - greatest thing ever by the way....So here's the picture...I don't know what happened, it's not long enough...it's supposed to be 45" deep and it's only like 32" or so. I don't know what the problem is, other than I didn't do a guage swatch, maybe that's it (YA THINK?). It should still be okay though, right? The recipient isn't a knitter, so she won't really know what it's supposed to look like. I am so glad it is finally done! I have one and half hanks of this yarn left, not sure what to do with it...I don't think I would make another shawl...but a lace scarf for myself might be nice.

And I have a question - I really want to make a booga bag...not only because they are cool, but because I never held an actual skein of Noro (how do they not revoke my knitting license you ask? I don't know!). Is it legal to use a knit bag during the spring and summer? Or should I just knit it and save it for the fall/winter. Thoughts?

Got sock yarn?

2006-04-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

Check out this crazy idea I had:

Warm feet, Warm Hearts

Happy Easta!

2006-04-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here is my horoscope for today:

Cancer
Sometimes the most significant changes start from the most seemingly insignificant events. It's a good time to pay attention to your intentions as well as your actions. Life-altering events are in the making.

Hmmm..sounds promising, huh? I wonder if these life-altering events involve yarn? Well I was thinking of joining Secret Pal 8 (my first real SP)...maybe it's my destiny!

Anyhoo...
I am almost. done. with the. stupid. shawl. I have resorted to taking it with me on the train to and from work. I only have the edging to go now...or again, I should say.. I was halfway through it when I decided to actually look at what I was knitting and it was all off with gapey holes and mutant motifs...not exactly ideal for gift giving. I hope that when I am done I will have the grace to wrap it nicely and hand it to it's recipient with a big smile....right now I'm thinking about plopping it on her lap and saying "Here! Good Riddance!"

I have one Hot Tamale sock done and I have a serious case of single sock syndrome. They are a little on the thick side, so I probably won't really wear them until the fall. Plus I need to get moving on my cousin's baby gift ...She's due at the end of May. I am still deciding what to make...I need something cute and relatively quick...usually those two things are hard to come by because cute is usually complicated.

I am also planning to put together a little project to knit socks for newly adopted babies. More to come on that later once I've thought it through a little more. But if you have any unloved sock yarn, keep it handy....

I'm finally over getting sick..that really sucked. Seems like every blog I read lately, the author is sick...like we're spreading germs through our comments or something. Anyone read "Cell" by Stephen King? Creepy. Been watching alot of TV too. I am really into "The Office". But let me preface that by saying I can't stand Michael. He is stupid and predictable. But I am in love with Jim, and I want him and Pam to hook up so bad. His sarcasm and blank faces have me cracking up! And American Idol...is it just me or does it kind of stink this year? I really liked Chris, but he is starting to sound the same every week. Same with Elliot. Taylor lost his mojo or something. Kelly is so annoying I want to pinch her. Ace needs a good hair washing.

Other than that, just trying to get through this very quiet Good Friday (ever notice how it's always rainy and overcast? EVERY YEAR. It's kind of creepy). Happy Easta everyone (NY accent). I hope everyone takes a few minutes to think about this time of year...Lent, Easter, Spring...what does rebirth and new beginnings mean to you? Right now it means I gotta mosey over to the yarn store (I work right next to one how dangerous is that) and get me some springy green yarn for some baby socks!

New beginnings new socks!

2006-03-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Okay so the yarn is a little cheesy, but I am digging these crazy colors. They are very "me" and is just the right knitting project for me right now. Easy, fun and portable and very springy (the season not the tension). I am actually doing the slipped stitch rib pattern (I think I've called these everything but the right name) and it is excellent for breaking up the striping and pooling that would normally occur. You can see it in the top ribbing part, which I don't really like, but I'm thinkin' you won't really see the top of my socks much. These would go great with a pair of jeans and nice white sneaks!

I am home today, taking a much deserved mental health day. A little nap, a nice sandwich, some cheesy tv and I am in a pretty good mood! DH will be home soon, he is leaving work early to help me get the house in order for the social worker tomorrow (home study for the adoption). I have to serve this woman lunch and I need to figure out what to serve that is both 1) tasty, practical & presentable and 2) doesn't look like I am trying to bribe her into giving me a kid. I am thinking I am going to pre-make some sandwiches and serve a green salad. Sound okay? Any other ideas?

Gotta go wrestle the vaccuum out of the closet now. And brush the cats. And figure out how to conceal this cold sore so it doesn't appear I have leprosy. And hide the laundry, and.... sigh...

Stupid Uterus

2006-03-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

It didn't work.

Stupid Uterus.

Well, I had a good cry for about a half an hour, then cast on for the retro ribbed socks. I refuse to put any more energy into infertility, I already wasted 3 years. Focus on the future I say! Thank GOD I have a wonderful husband who loves me anyway, and doesn't at all mind adoption. I said to him today that if we couldn't afford adoption I would definitely lose my mind. No really, this shit can really make you nuts. I think if we couldn't afford it, I would beg, borrow and steal to get the money. We are meant to be parents, that I know in my heart.

Tonight I am going to throw away all medicines and other traces of IVF treatment and take much satisfaction in it thank you very much, and will probably follow up with something heavily laden with chocolate. It may seem to some that I am in denial, but I don't think I am. I have always been a person of action. If something doesn't work, try something else (makes me good in emergency situations...trust me, you'd want me there if you were on a sinking boat - which actually happened to me once). I'm sad, but I'm more mad that I failed, since I am an over-achiever. I read on a fellow blogger's post that you make a better adoptive mom after having gone through all this. It makes you stronger somehow. I like to think that the child we were meant to have wasn't due to be born until around now, and this was God's ~~sick~~ way of fending us off for the time being. Whatever, "it is what it is" is what I always say, and no more true than now.

Okay, so as promised, no more talk about this. Stick a fork in me, I'm done. Fat lady has sung.

Good night, Good Luck, Amen

Actual finished objects!

2006-03-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

Howdy. Just got back from the RE's office to give blood for the pregnancy test. Seems I should have went yesterday, because they don't do pregnancy tests on the weekend. Based on the "what are you a moron?" attitude from the nurse, I guess I was supposed to know that. Listen beeyatch, shut up before I shove a progesterone suppository down your throat. You of all people should be wary of women with dangerously high hormone levels. So call me Monday then, whatever, do what you have to do.... *Sigh*. I don't even care anymore. Can't you not wait until I don't talk about this anymore? Bleh, me too.

In happier, knittier news, I do have an FO to show off! I finished the manly cable scarf I was making the DH. I got the gray, cabley and wide part down, but I am about 10 inches off the length he wanted. He tried it on, and he says it's fine, so I'm leaving it. Ya gotta love cables, man. Very impressive with minimal difficulty. The only hard part is getting used to juggling a cable needle. BTW, I tried that cable needle-less thing...uh no way, too dangerous. When live stitches come of the needle my heart starts palpitating. I prefer a single bamboo DPN in the same size needles I'm working with. I've gotten pretty fast at it too! Here are the pics:

My Own Cable Scarf (10" x 50")
Pattern: Cable pattern from the front of the Aran Pullover from Vogue Knitting's Baby Knits Two
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Merino dk, 4 skeins
Needles: Size 6 bamboo straights

While cleaning up some of my craft stuff the other day, I came across a doily I crocheted but never blocked. So I did that too while I had the pins out:

It's easier to weave in the ends once it's blocked. And it ain't no easy trick blocking in a perfect circle...this was as close as I could get. I love making doilies, but really, how many of them can you have without your house looking like an 80 year old lives there?

The shawl is still coming along, I have only one more 5 row repeat to go and then I can start the edging. I bought beautiful amethyst beads to use, I can't wait to start that part.

Now, what to do next? Well, I'm going to do those socks I think, but that won't take too long. There is another shawl I want to knit for someone, but I'm not sure yet. At least this one is worsted weight and not lace weight!

2006-03-12T15:39:00.000-08:00

K2, SSK, P1, K2TOG,K2...K2, SSK, P1,K2TOG,K2..... K2, SSK,P1,K2TOG,K2 ...K2, SSK, P1,K2TOG,K2...K2, SSK, P1,K2TOG,K2

Say it with me now......K2, SSK, P1,K2TOG,K2

I love knitting lace... it's amazing to be able to create such intricate patterns, but holy yarn over batman, it takes forever! I didn't get as much done this weekend as I had hoped, but maybe be the end of tonight I will be almost 75% done.

I decided my next project for ME is going to be socks. I bought this sock yarn in "Hot Tamale" because I loved the colors...but I'm not sure I like how they look knitted up based on what I've seen in the blogs. I wish you could maintain the random variegatedness that you see on the whole skein somehow...instead of the colors separating into big blocks which throws me all off...anyway the yarn was cheap and I am kind of new to sock knitting so whatever...

I went to the "LAST TWO DAYS" of the Treasure Island closing yesterday and I got a whole stashload of goodies. Everything was 90% OFF!! I got all of this for under $25!! The best part was that I went by myself and perused for a good hour to make sure I looked at every little thing!
I got 5 books, 8 pattern pamphlets, Knit Wash, 2 sets of plastic DPNs, some phots sleeves and even that branchy thing for decorative purposes in my den. Yay!! I can't wait to make the retro rib socks in the Sensational Knitted Socks book! And my cousin is having a girl in May, so the Patons pattern is perfect!

Today I spent the day getting pregnant. Or so I hope anyway. Happily all 3 embryos thawed nicely (I have a visual of them sitting out on the counter overnight like a package of chicken cutlets) and they put them back in today. At this doctor's office, they don't let the husband in the room for the transfer, which is kind of weird. I'll be sure to tell the kid that his father wasn't even in the room when he was conceived. My acupuncturist met me at the hospital and gave me a treatment right before the transfer. This is supposed to increase your chances quite a bit, so we'll see. If nothing else, it definitely helped me to relax after the one hour stressful drive (we were a little late) to the hospital. So now the two week wait. Ugh. If it doesn't work, at least I know I tried everything (everything I was capable of dealing with anyway) and we are still on track for adoption.

Sigh...and tomorrow starts another fun week at work! Woo Hoo, I love Mondays!

Introducing....

2006-03-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

Miss Woolamina Sheepskate!

What an awesome surprise from my secret pal, who did an amazing job of making this Sheepskate Secret Pal Mascot (get it, cheapskate, sheep...skate...sheep on skates...come on, work with me here). So now I have my very own little knitting pal to whom can now be the one I vent to when I need to curse and complain about my knitting. Her silent support will be a welcome change to my husband's "why do you even do this stupid hobby if it makes you so mad?" BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE BEATEN! *ahem* *cough* I digress......Here are some pictures of her first day at home, I think you can see she is settling in nicely:

Getting a little exercise in with those skates.

Sitting down for a bit of knitting.

Maybe Miss Woolamina will help motivate me to get my ass moving on the leaf lace shawl. These repeats are killing me. I f**d up AGAIN, the stupid needle pulled out by accident and now I have to figure out how to fix it, as I'm pretty sure there's a few yarnovers that left the building. But just to prove I am making progress, albeit, very freaking slowly:

And it seems to have turned purple too...I MUST get this over with!! Maybe today I'll go to Home Depot, and try to find something to use for blocking wires. Oh and I need beads for this thing...must find a bead store somewhere, because the craft stores have a limited crappy selection.

Nothing more really to report on the infertility front. My transfer should be in about a week and a half or so. I have been going to acupuncture a few times a week, and it is quite the interesting experience...I don't really feel any different, although my menses this month was just as painful, it was MUCH shorter which is good. Last night she taped these tiny gold beads in the inside of my ear and every so often I have to press on them for 5 seconds...for relaxation and blood flow to the uterus. Feels kind of like voo doo, huh? I am glad this is the last time I am going through treatment...It's too much for me and I now feel like I am turning into one of those desperate women who go into deep debt and deeper depression trying to have a biological child. I decided that buying one off the shelf is better for me emotionally and physically (no labor & no stretchmarks sounds like a deal to me!). I am just grateful we can afford it, cause kids ain't cheap these days...Although, with my luck I'll be pregnant with twins making my way to Colombia...My family thinks that great, ("Yeah! Instant Family!") Needless to say this is just one example of why they are all lunatics.

I leave you with another insane member of the family, Lucy. What's wrong with this picture?:

Baby it's cold outside

2006-02-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

Holy crap is it cold here today. And of course I don't have a nice warm hat or scarf because I can't seem to find time to knit for myself, and you KNOW now that I know how to knit pretty good, there ain't no way I'm buying them from a store. Days like this I wish I could work from home instead of standing on the train platform like a moron with my teeth chattering. If I could just win lotto I would be all set...

We had quite the amazing weekend. We had some really great news regarding adoption...it seems things might happen quicker than we thought. If everything goes as planned we may have a child before Christmas. God I can't even believe the words as I write them. We are a little freaked out to say the least. It was also hubby's birthday yesterday, so it was nice for him to spend it telling everyone the good news. To spare those of you who actually come for knitting content, I have decided to create a whole separate blog to write about the adoption process. Link is over on the side bar, feel free to pay a visit.

In knitting news, I am officially at the half way point of the leaf lace shawl. I am definitely getting a little sick of all these repeats. And the odd row "k2, purl to 2 stitches before end, k2," seems ENDLESS. I tried to do some of the cable scarf in the car this weekend, but I realized I missed a cable twist, and didn't feel like trying to rip out and restart while in the car. I am digging the Starsky sweater that just got added to Knitty. I have been dying to do something with a shawl like collar, and this might just be the thing...cause I also loves me some cables! I really better get some "me" knitting in soon, methinks I have some serious baby knitting to get to pretty soon (holy crap).

I also got some more good stuff from my SP, which just added to the happiness this weekend:

El Cheapo, you just crack me up. I loved the anti-poncho post card. I
especially like the purple number on the lower left. You're turning violet, Violet! She looks horrendous in that thing! I also love the stitch markers..great not only because they are starfish...get it...but because they are small and light...most stitch markers are way to heavy and end up getting in the way. Thanks girl!!

Time to try and get some sleep now.I feel like the kid on the disney commercial "I'm too excited to sleep".

Hey Kool Aid

2006-02-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

I wish I had witty things to say about all the little happenings in my life this week. Truth is it's hard to be witty. I thought blog writing would come easy since I have such a big mouth. It seems that all of my sarcasm is much better appreciated in person. Oh well, you'll have to deal with it, and try to arrange a meeting in person some day. We'll knit, it'll be great.
This week I met with a psychologist at work. Our genius president, who is too much of a...oh let's see so many words to choose from...snob, yes snob is good...social misft, yes, there's another good one...oblivious idiot, inept leader..well you get the point... He decided to pay someone alot of money to find out what is own staff is like...money, I might add, that could better be used in MY BUDGET to get some WORK DONE, especially since he continually demands us to CUT COSTS. Whatever...so I had to take 2 personality tests and meet with this guy for 2 hours to find out exactly what I already know about myself. You'll be happy to know that I am smart, honest, logical, questioning, thoughtful person, who can tend to overreact, and ignore things that I don't want to deal with. I am also a control freak who needs alot of affection. (I'm an ISFP for all you Meyers Briggs fans) As I said to the guy..."is that so wrong??" What a colossal waste of time.

Anyway...other than that I have been battling the raging hormones (getting better, I only cried 3 times this week!) and the dibilitating cramps (had to stay home today since 3 advil every 6 hours wasn't making a dent) but hey who's complaining? I went for acupuncture last night, which was very cool. It is probably too late to help any infertility issues, but I am hoping it will help ease the stress, pain and lack of sleep. It is really amazing how those pressure points can affect your body. I am also on some chinese herbal supplement (which hubby and I affectionately call "ancient chinese secret") and fish oil pills to cure my "dampness & stagnation" (which is apparently what is REALLY wrong with my uterus...who knew). That deadly combination is apparently very difficult to be cured with acupuncture, but we're giving it the old college try.

So what's a girl to do with all this craziness in her life? Get jiggy with some yarn of course! I continue to slog away on the shawl...I think I am reaching the halfway point tonight. But I decided to try kool aid dyeing for the heck of it. I won't bother to rehash the whole (microwave) method, there's plenty of instructions out in blogland. But here are the pics:

I couldn't get a great picture of the finished product. The one on the left has great variegatedness (what?) of blues, greens and yellows. The pink one has more subtle tones...somehow the colors all schmooshed together (technical term)with that one..I think a little grape goes too long a way. The colors weren't as rich as I expected either. I used 4 packets, one of each color, and I guess I should have used more. I think I am going to make the Sophie bag with the pink skein. I was thinking of doing one more overdye to add some orange & yellow in to make it more interesting. I have no idea what to do with the green/blue skein, but it was fun to do! And sorry for the crappy balls (love to see who I get on a google search for that one) but as you can see I desperately need a ball winder.

Medication time...Medication time...got to go take another handful of Advil before my uterus falls out. Carry on people. Ice skating finals on tonight...go USA!

Love and presents (yay!)

2006-02-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Valentine's Day to all you sweethearts out there...hope you had your version of a good day. Me and the honey had a fabulous dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant and it was dee lish us. Not enough chocolate was ingested, but my hips will thank me later.

Still slogging away on that leaf lace scarf - it is a relatively easy knit, but if you miss one dang yarnover you have to tink back to kingdom come...It is coming out great, but I already can't wait until I'm done. I decided I am going to knit myself a pair of socks when I'm done. Two socks. I make that distinction because I have never actually knit a PAIR of socks before. Come to think of it, I have never knit anything for MYSELF before. I have this crazy stripey yarn that is just my style...will have to pick a good pattern for that..hmmm....

Haven't watched much of the olympics...only what I catch from 8-10 while I am catching up on my life outside of work. Olympic knitting is just a ridiculous concept to me...but from what I hear 2000+ people jumped on the bandwagon...I hope you don't get any demerits for not following the blogland bandwagon...

After a long day of work, I came home to a GREAT gift from my Cash Free SP...here is what I found when I opened the envelope:
I was quite perplexed..at first I thought it was a baby album or something...and I'm thinking, well, at least my SP seems confident about this kid thing....and then I untied the bow, and opened it like a book....

What the heck?? I realized it wasn't a book at all....

It's like a pop-up (out? over?) thingie! It's a free baby pattern sweater, complete with instructions for both pullover and cardigan, with adorable teddy bear charts!! How COOL is that?? Props to you SP, I am totally impressed. It is a very unique and creative way to present a pattern!! It is just the cutest freaking thing EVER. I LOVE IT! Even the husband was impressed, and trust me, he just doesn't get the knitting thing... You've inspired me for my SP gifts...although I could never duplicate your amazing effort. Thank you Thank you, I will treasure this! (Am I gushing?)

Yay presents! Yay tomorrow is Friday! Yay I have off on Monday!

YAY!!

Manic Monday

2006-02-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought I would be spending the day getting pregnant, but alas it's wasn't meant to be today. My uterus continues to be uncooperative, so it looks like we have to put those suckers in the deep freeze and wait until next month. I guess I could have gone to work today, but between the snow, the railroad being inoperative today, and well, the I don't really give a fuck attitude today....well, it seems that a mental health day was in order.

So I watched a little "What not to wear", ate a peanut butter sandwich, knit a little of the shawl, and basically felt sorry for myself all day today...I did however, create a little package for my SP, and everyone knows that doing nice things for others is a real pick me up.

Anyway, just a little vent, I'll be over it by tomorrow....I was surfing the knit blogs and came across this interesting meme. If you find it interesting, tag yourself and let me know you did it too.

Directions: Open iTunes/iPod or Windows Media Player to answer the following. Go to your library. Answer, no matter how embarrasing it is.

How many songs: 1395

Sort by song title...
First song: #34 – Dave Matthews Band
Last song: Zanzibar – Billy Joel

Sort by time...
Shortest Song: “Blank” – John Mayer
Longest Song: That was a Crazy Game of Poker – O.A. R.

Sort by album...
First Song: Your Winter – Sister Hazel; 10 Things I Hate About You
Last Song: Three is a Magic Number – Blind Melon (album name blank)

First 5 songs that come up on Shuffle...
1. I see you baby – Groove Armada
2. Don’t come around here no more – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
3. My Vision - Seal
4. Call Me - Blondie
5. So Damn Lucky – Dave Matthews

Search...
1. "Sex"--How many songs come up: 11
2. "Death"--How many songs come up: 1
3. "Love"--How many songs come up: 74
4. "You"--How many songs come up: 166
5. "love" and "you" --How many songs come up: 15

Sleepy Saturday

2006-02-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

So I'm just sitting around here basically waiting for the snow to start...we're supposed to have a big nor'easter round these parts tonight... So with the hubby out buying provisions (soup, hot chocolate and the makin's for chili - that's why I married the man folks) I took up the official position as couch potato and did some knitting while watching all my DVR'd episodes of Will & Grace and ER. I loves me some John Leguizamo...

I was able to rip back the leaf lace shawl and figure out where my mistake was - note to moronic self - count those stitches before slipping in a life line, those yarn overs are sneaky little bastards. So here is my progress with only 1 bazillion repeats to go...

I have ripped this sucker back no less than 4 times...I am forbidden to knit this in my husband's presence because I am either counting out loud (KNIT 2, YARN OVER) or cursing the damn thing because I dropped ONE STITCH and unlike Grumperina, who would not only find her mistake, but be inspired by it and design a whole new shawl as she goes....I just keep ripping back until I get a row that has the correct number of stitches!!

I have also made some progress on the cable scarf, though I realize I am going to need more than three balls...this is just about one skein:

Alongside are some great notecards I got from my Cheapo Secret Pal! Little does she know that my hair looks just like that with the flippy thing going on...I love them. And of course Willow has to supervise everything!

This SP is quite the challenge..I swear my person (downstream/upstream whatever the lingo is) couldn't be more opposite of me!! Not that it's a bad thing, but for goodness sakes she doesn't even like ice cream!! I have a few ideas for gifts, but this is harder than I thought!

In IVF news, I laid 4 eggs yesterday and 3 fertilized. We'll be putting these three back in Monday morning, hopefully anway...of course as usual my uterus doesn't want to cooperate, so I have to go have a sonogram tomorrow morning, assuming of course the office is open and I can get there in the snow. I swear if you knew me this would be no surprise. I do everything the most difficult way possible. Sometimes I think God knows I can handle it, so he spares some other poor schmuck from losing their minds from the stress...other times I think he just has a very very sick sense of humor....

Thought I'd edit to include some pictures I snapped from the windows. We put out some birdseed in the backyard and were visited by a beautiful cardinal:

The Music Meme

2006-02-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

No one tagged me, but I read this at a blog I read regulary, and I decided to tag myself. I have to tag 7 other people, which will be a challenge...I don't think I know 7 other bloggers yet... but whatever...

Instructions: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Okay, we're just talking right now...and not my favorite all time songs, right?

Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple - love that retro sultry voice. "Be nice to me, or treat me mean..I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine".

Looking at the world from the bottom of a well by Mike Doughty - LOVE this guy..I am listening to the Haughty Melodic album over and over like a mental patient. He's just starting to hit the mainstream, after riding Dave Matthew's coattails a while. I listened to him way before this song was played on Gray's Anatomy. "Oh all the days/That I have run/I sought to lose that cloud that's blacking out the sun/My train will come/Some one day soon/And when it comes I'll ride it bound from night to noon."

Tremendous Brunettes by Mike Doughty - "slow down, dont f**k with my high, I want be left alone here with my monsters.."

You're Beautiful by James Blunt - I love the romantic notion of falling in love with a stranger on the subway "My life is brilliant/My love is pure/I saw an angel/Of that I'm sure."

Sugar we're going down by Fall Out Boy - can't help singing to this one when it comes on in the car. "We're going down, down in an earlier round. And Sugar, we're going down swinging. "

Breathe by Anna Nalick - Great voice "We're like cars on a cable/And life's like an hourglass glued to the table"

Gold Digger by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - I still love my hip hop from my college days..and this one cracks me up. Especially when Ellen sang it on her show! "Get down girl go head get down"

L. Cheapo is el neato

2006-02-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Behold, the sheepskate:

Secret Pal, you rock.

TGIF

2006-02-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

Yeah so I decided I hate Interlocking Balloons. No matter how hard you try, the knit stitches that make up the "balloon" aren't really straight and it makes the pattern look like something you would buy in the clearence bin at target. I think that's why they don't show you a closeup picture in Scarf Style, but rather a far away mostly fuzzy picture. And come to think of it, that guy doesn't really look like he likes the stupid thing. Anyway, I decided that balloons don't really equal "cabley" as originally requested. So I frogged the whole dang thing and am now using a cable pattern taken from a baby sweater pattern...pictures to come when I have enough rows to show some decent progress.

As for the leaf lace shawl, well, can you say "life line"? Of course I kept saying to myself, ya know I really should put a life line in here before I F#&$ - oops too late. Needless to say what I had already done became an instant cat toy and I started again, this time WITH a lifeline. I'm too embarassed to show you a picture.

So I joined my first SP thingie recently. It's a cash free version that seemed a nice transition into participation into one of the "real" SP events (that and I missed the deadlines)...but holy crap I am so nervous now. Cash free means I have to be creative and clever, and well, what if I can't live up? What if I am not cool enough? What kinds of stuff can you send for free or for nominal amounts? Well, I'm crafty, I'll think of something I guess. Man, the pressure!! My client presentation today wasn't HALF as nerve wracking!!!

Well I am glad we are having a girl's night out tonight to ease the pain..it's been a crazy week, so a margarita will come in handy. Lucy's Latin Kitchen in NYC, should be fun. Especially the part where I go into the bathroom and attempt to give myself fertility injections without anyone thinking I am a drug addict. (Maybe I should offer some around just for kicks) Booya!

(Oh, and note to whoever my SP is...sorry for...well, just, sorry. Do the best you can)

Mommy, where do babies come from?

2006-01-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

Well from these of course!:

Well, we hope anyway. So today is my first day with the new medication. There will be mixing of powders and injecting of liquids this evening...I'm starting to feel like a junkie here. It's always amazing to me how they trust people to do this to themselves and do it correctly. Thank goodness the insurance pays most of this, I only had to pay about $170 for all these drogas mas fina. Third times a charm they say, so we'll see!

We were also supposed to get some adoption papers notarized today. Didn't get around to it because I had to go buy this:

Treasure Island is closing and having big sales. I would have bought more, but hubby gave me the "I'm going to go wait in the car" line, so I tried to go through it all quickly. I managed to get a great deal on bamboo dpns, needle holders, the Baby Knits book and this awesome green shaker box! Yay me! What? What about the papers for the kids? KIDS?? I said there was a YARN SALE didntcha hear me?? Some things just can't wait!! Ah, what's a few days anyway...not like they're in any rush on their side...These papers (along with a lovely check for almost four grand) are just to get me a home study so the orphanage has proof we're not axe murderers. And the laugh of it is, the people verifying this are good old New York City Social Workers! We know how reliable they seem to be!!

Anyway, in other knitting news, I managed to start the Leaf Lace shawl.

After like 4 tries that is. First, I learned that I am not skilled enough with circs to cast on 4 tiny stitches with lace weight yarn. Therefore I decided to get it started on straights and then switch back to the circs. I got a great tip on Knitty to put circ wires in hot water to straighten them so they are manageable when new. Who'da thunk it.

That's it for today. How much do Sunday nights suck. Back to work this week, which includes getting up extra early in the morning for trips to the doctor..nothing like a little blood draw and vaginal sonogram to start your day!!

Today I leave you with a stupid joke a bartender told me this weekend:

"Did you hear about that actress that killed her husband today?"
"No who?"
"Reese somebody?"
"Witherspoon?"
"No, I heard she did it with a knife"

Baby baby oh baby (what a week)

2006-01-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

Man it is so hard to keep up with this blog, I don't know how some of you do it. It's been a crazy week at work, and I did manage to meet my deadlines for the baby showers. Julie got the blue pixie cables sweater and booties (free pattern here) and she seemed to really love them. I completely forgot to take a picture of them as I was in such a complete rush to get to the restaurant. She also got a beautiful crocheted blanket from a family member. The poor girl tried to smile through the whole thing but she looks like she's ready to bust. Sad part is she's not due until March 23rd!! Yikes!! Whenever I discuss the trials of pregnancy with my mom she always says "I still think you should just buy one off the shelf". Meaning of course, adoption...which gets more and more attractive all the time! (Actually, we started that process too..more on that another day) Whenever my girlfriend complains about stretch marks and drooping boobs, I make the motions of counting out money.... "How much did you say that was senor? And would that be in pesos?" We're a sick bunch I tell ya, but ya gotta have a sense of humor to stay sane!!

I also finished the Pullover for my friend at work. Of course three days before the shower I go to seam everything up and I find out the true meaning of "short sleeves":

Yikes man!! This my friends, is exactly why the tell you to make a guage swatch, but do I listen? Noooooo... So rip away, do some math and frantically get to resleeving. I was still a little off in the end, but nothing a little blocking couldn't cure. The yarn ended up much nicer after blocking too...very soft.

So here is the end result, along with matching baby socks from an EXCELLENT pattern that I found here and what was left from the 3 skeins I used. I think I'll make the miniature sweater from Weekend Knits with the excess as a goof for a co-worker who keeps asking me to knit him a sweater.

Pattern: Pullover from Design your own kids' knits 3-6 month size with rolled rib edging

Yarn: Zara merino extrafine color 1733 (3 skeins)

So next up is the Interlocking Balloons scarf for hubby for my daily commute project, and I am about to wind up the yarn for the Leaf Lace scarf for my sitting on the couch and concentrating project. Although the scarf chart gave me a run for my money today...I am new at charts and didn't really get that you just follow the directions of the row and not look at the row below...I was trying to match up all the stitches...what a dope. But I gots it now..silly chart...tricks are for kids! Here is what I have so far:

I'm using Debbie Bliss merino dk in a dark charcoal color. There it is with my half colored in chart..boy it is so much easier when all the purls are one color and the knits another!! I steal a few minutes every day at work and go to town with the highlighters. It is no easy trick to follow this chart while sitting on the train, but I've got my system down. Wish I could get the person next to me to hold up a magnet board for me ( a little higher honey, your straining my eyes..)

There is also my Willow, doing what she does best...eating the needles..all my bamboo needles have teeth marks on the ends..

Today I did a dumb thing. I left my wallet on a train when I switched to a connecting train. Just when the panic started becoming palpable, my cell phone rang. This lovely wonderful fabulous want to kiss her on the mouth (well no, ick, but you get me) girl called me and told me she found the wallet. Turns out she lived fairly near me. She was a very young girl living in a very bad neighborhood and she was the nicest person ever. Kind of restores your faith in this big bad world. I brought her the biggest box of chocolate I could find on such short notice (cause that's what I would want as a reward if it were ME). Shhh, don't tell my husband, he'll roll his eyes and not really be surprised I did such a thing... Okay, that's it for me, I'm already late for ER...I leave you with this moment of Zen ( or obligatory picture of knitters cats)...

Oh come all ye drunk & disorderly

2006-01-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last night was the company Christmas party (rescheduled due to the NYC Strike). Never ceases to amaze me how people can significantly damage their career with a little malibu & coke. I decided to stay dead sober this year and watch the show. At least my boss didn't show up piss drunk and make an ass out of himself this year. I wasn't forced to explain that I had no idea what his problem was, and no I am not going to tell him stop drinking, I'm not his mother... This year he didn't really drink, but kept a stupid joke going way longer than was really funny. Oh well. Sometimes I feel like I"m in the real life version of "The Office" sitcom.

A co-worker found out I was a knitter, so I have ceremoniously changed my real name on this blog, lest she find me. Seems she spends a great deal of time surfing blogworld. She's nice, but one of those "close talkers". The kind of person that has you clear across the other side of the room by the end of the conversation because you keep taking steps backward when she talks. She tried to tell me everything she ever knew or thought about knitting in about 15 minutes. I just did alot of blinking and nodding....and wiping my face from all the saliva flying about (blech).

Anyway, the Pixie cables sweater is coming along nicely..I just have one more sleeve and the neckband to finish. In my last post I neglected to take a picture of this very yummy yarn I bought at the union square market on New Years Eve day. I don't recall the name right now, but it was unlabeled hand dyed yarn in this fabulous rasberry color. I have to figure out what to do with it...It's kind of on the chunky side, and I think I only have enough for a scarf. But I don't want a plain old stockinette or garter, so I have to find some kind of pattern that shows off the color but isn't too boring.

On the fertility front..I am on the obligatory pre-cycle birth control pills, and will probably start the stimulation meds at the end of the month! Let the retaining of water begin!!

And so your back...

2006-01-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

From outerspace... Okay, we're going to give this blog another go...now that (I think) I get how to post pictures, because let's face it, a blog without pics is Bo-ring.

It's been a crazy few months, what with the holidays, and my uterus getting in the way of most things (more on that later)..but I still have managed to knit, and yes my friends I have pics to prove it...Exhibit 1:

Pattern: Cropped Cable Cardigan (#14)
Source: Vogueknitting Fall 2005
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky in Nantucket

While everyone said this pattern sucked, I kind of just rolled with it as suggested by Tipper, and it came out pretty great. Only the stupid button hole came out wacky, but I plan to fix that soon. Didn't have time before gifting it to my bro's girlfriend...can't figure out if she liked it, but I thought it looked great on her. Sorry the picture sucks, had to take it at about 11pm the night before Christmas Eve.

I also made 14, count 'em 14 Reverse Bloom Washcloths from Weekend Knitting using 14 different colors of the suggested Crystal Palace chenille yarn. I loved the way they came out (sorry, no pic) and I gifted them to all my staff with a big bar of soap and body lotion. No one oohed and aahed, but as stated many times before, if you gift to non-knitters, that's the risk you take!

I have also made two sweaters for my friend's twins. The boy's is the Knitted Bend it Like Baby Soccer Sweater from Lion Brand and the girl's is a free crocheted pattern I found on www.crochetme.com. Both use homespun, and I hereby do solemnly swear not to use this crappy yarn anymore. Mom won't notice or care, so I'm going with it...plus, she hasn't made time to see me to get these gifts, so it's part of her punishment.

I have two works currently in progress with deadlines of Jan 17 and 22nd respectively. Two baby showers for two baby boys. For my friend at work, I am using my favorite cheesy baby pattern called "Pixie Cables" from the Red Heart pamphlet called Soft & Sweet. I am going nuts and doing my first modification to make it a pullover instead of a cardigan and I am using Baby Soft yarn which is not too bad. I am about 20% done (left pic). For my other friend, I splurged and bought Zara yarn in bright blue (#1500) to make a ribbed pullover (right pic) from Style your own Kids' Knits...I'm a little skeptical about this one, as this book seems to have a few errors. I switch off between these two on my daily commute and evening tv watching. BTW, bought the yarn at "Gotta Knit" in NYC and despite bad reviews I've read, they were very helpful!

Okay, so after these are finished, then what? Well, take a look at this:

On the right is my first purchase from Knitpicks. I have four skeins of Gossamer in Sweat Peas that I bought to make the Faroese Peaks Shawl, but upon further consideration, it is kind of boring. I think I will use it to make the Leaf Lace Shawl since everyone is raving about it. This is for a very generous friend at work who will completely appreciate it, so I want it to be perfect. I will start as soon as that pattern gets here from Elann (why I had to pay as much for shipping as for the pattern I will never know, but couldn't find it anywhere else.)There is also two skeins of Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor tagged for Ene's scarf from Scarf Style to make for myself. It's more variegated than I thought it would be, and I am afraid it will take away from the pretty pattern, so maybe this will be a leaf lace something or other too. Next is 5 skeins of Elegance in Wild Rose. I LOVE this color, and can't wait to make myself a Forbes Forest scarf (also from Scarf Style). On the far left are 4 skeins of Debbie Bliss merino dk in charcoal gray (225301) that I will make an Interlocking Balloons scarf for DH. (Can you tell I really like Scarf Style??). DH almost lost his head when he dared tell me he planned on wearing this ratty old flannel scarf since it is getting cold now. Are you kidding?? You just have to ASK for a scarf and you'll get one silly rabbit...despite calling me "granny" and "nerd" when I knit. So I am "surprising" him with this scarf, based on his request of 10" x 60", gray and "cabley".

So that's what's on the knitting horizon for me...I just have to fit in one more baby sweater for my cousin who is having a boy in May. Need a really nice pattern for that one...will have to hunt for one. When we last left our daring heroin, she was crocheting a tablecloth (on hold) and a Pixie Cable sweater in pink (on hold)..no telling when they'll resurrect themselves, now that I am more experienced.

On a personal note...getting back to my uterus (if you are here for knitting content only, proceed to next blog). DH and I have been struggling with having a baby for the last 3 years. To complicate normal infertility problems, I was diagnosed with very early stage endometrial cancer. Weirdly enough, my oncologist and infertility doc still think there is a possibility I can get pregnant, as other women with a similar issue have children. I have gone through 2 IVF cycles with no success and in between cycles, the cancer starts to come back, so I have to take 3 months in between to take medication and have a biopsy. We are in the early stages of starting our 3rd cycle. We also have started the adoption process, and have not submitted all our paper work only because of the holidays and doctor appointments. I think this will be the last cycle we try, as it is too much emotionally to deal with (I thought the shots would be bad but they were NOTHING compared to wildly swinging hormone levels...can't believe my husband is still with me!). We are fine with adopting, so we will continue to pursue that route. There is a fabulous orphanage in Columbia, and we have personal connections that are helping us through it. So that's my story. TMI, some would say, but hey, you have to vent somewhere. Not looking for sympathy either, these are the cards I have been dealt, and we will deal with it. I have many other blessings to be thankful for, including my new found talent to knit!!

Happy New Year to all, and may it be a year full of good fortune, health and happiness, and serious yarn bargains!

I knit, really I do

2005-10-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

How annoying are husbands?? I was all ready to take fabulous shots of all my WIPs. Had the spot all picked out, lighting was good, decent progress to be shown. Then this: "Honey, where is the digital camera? Oh yeah, I left it at Pete's". DH and Pete went on an overnight fishing trip and caught oh, um, ZERO fish. Thank goodness they had that camera at the ready! So not only does it have no fish pictures on it, it is apparently sitting idly on Pete's coffee table doing nothing. So still no pictures...it's okay, no one really knows about this blog yet, so it's not like anyone is dying to see what I've been up to!! Trying to drum up more traffic, but it ain't easy!!

I did go on a short business trip to West Palm Beach, Florida...was able to crochet 3 whole squares for the tablecloth...making progress, slowly but surely. Never thought I would look forward to the hour wait in the airport (gotta love distraction free knitting/crocheting). Almost done with the left front of the cropped cable cardigan, which I do mostly when watching TV (which explains the frequent frogging).

Last weekend DH and I spent the weekend in Newport, RI. What a great place. Went to the boat show and stayed at the Ivy Lodge B&B. It was nice for the two of us to get away. I was a yarn tourist and bought some sock yarn at "Knitting Needles". Owner was very pleasant and helpful. Never made socks before, so this should be a challenge...but, have to wait until after all the Christmas projects are done.

Still here for now

2005-10-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Boy this blogging thing takes time to figure out. Changed the name of the site to "Please don't eat the needles" Said change was made because this is all I say when I knit...my two tonkinese cats like to chomp on the ends while I (attempt) to knit. This title will be much funnier once I post the pictures of the darlings in action.

Anyway, this will be a short post, as I still have no pictures to post. Wanted to do it today but DH went on a fishing trip and took the digital camera.

So imagine if you will...I have the back completed for the Cropped Cable Sweater from Vogue Knitting. Realized halfway through it that the pattern is coded with 4 bars to indicate it is for an "experienced knitter". Experience as in I am very familiar with taking on more than I can chew?? Cause I sure got that down!! Who do I think I am? Actually it didn't come out half bad...It's not totally perfect but I doubt the recipient will notice the few flaws.

I also completed all the pieces to the pixie cables sweater...just have to seam that sucker..boy I hate that part. Wish I could send it out to be seamed! Hey there's a business for someone!

I also have 3 (3! ah ah ah) stupid thread crochet squares for my MILs tablecloth...only 90 something more to go...yeesh, looks like the revised ETA is now Mother's Day. Oh well.

Here I am!

2005-09-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

OK so I’m new at this blog thing (translation: bear with me). Heck, I’m new at this knitting thing, quite frankly, but hey I’m up for new adventures. I am an accomplished crocheter (is that a word? Croshayer? Sounds dumb), as most of my relatives under the age of 2 can tell you. So I figured I was ready for the big girl stuff, and in my opinion, most of the crocheted stuff looks better on the kiddies (not all, I know, but most). So I tried knitting. I hated it. Couldn't figure out how to fix a mistake. I was used to just pulling the string and poof you undid what you just did. With knitting you had to have a major in engineering to figure out how to fix a slipped stitch. So I put it down and went back to baby blankets. But in the back of my head was that voice “are you going to let a little YARN and some pointy sticks beat you?? For goodness sakes you take on the good old boys of corporate America each and every day, but can’t seem to grasp a concept that even your grandmother can handle??” So I tried again. And failed, and tried again. Then one day the “Stitch and Bitch” book caught my eye in the bookstore. Hmmm…this looks interesting…oh and look, there is a section on fixing your mistakes….okay I’ll give it a shot. And THAT my friends was the turning point!! I was introduced to the wonderful world of scarves and nooses!! I get it now!! DUH!! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn. I haven’t made any of the patterns because of all the stick figure models wearing fitted, cropped things that someone of my *ahem* curvy stature wouldn’t wear in public for fear of burning out the retinas of innocent bystanders (actually, I would probably fit in, have you seen some of these people on the NY subways??). Anyway, seems I am now addicted to knitting.

So I decided to start with the old familiar, baby stuff. Went out and got Debbie Bliss’ “Baby Knits for Beginners” which I love. Very easy indeed. Although the woman has to be kidding with the price of her yarn to make baby garments (sorry, is that sacrilege to say? Did I mention I’m new here?). In fact, that leads me to the next digression, yarn prices. Some of you people are out of your mind. I don’t get paying $7 a skein the size of a golf ball for super merino silk fabulous funky garden whatever. Of which you need 15 balls to create even the smallest size the pattern calls for. But I guess if you are an experienced knitter and you know the thing will actually come out looking like the picture and will fit, you will have it for a while and it is therefore worth it (don't mind me I'm just jealous). I am obviously just learning about sales and internet purchases etc…I found Patons wool yarn for $2.50 a skein at AC Moore and I thought I was so cool going up to the register with 8 skeins (why yes, miss cashier I AM an experienced knitter, can’t you see by the number of skeins I have purchased? Can't you just imagine the complicated and fabulous thing I am going to make?)

Guage, on the other hand, is still an annoying frustrating beast that I am trying to beat into submission. Yarn substitution causes much hand-wringing and heart palpitating. If guage is 18/20 on 8 needles, can I use a yarn that says 20/22 on 6 needles? Yes? Are you sure? Are you really sure?? I have found that Lion Brand has some pretty decent substitutes at decent prices, particularly wool-ease in their various weights. I am obviously NOT a yarn snob. I believe every yarn has it’s place. Even the poorly regarded Red Heart can make indestructible sweaters for little boys. Most of my friends and family don’t know (or give a hoot) about the time it takes to make something, so no sense spending a fortune and a month with something they just want to throw in the wash because it’s got peanut butter all over it.

So, with all that said, what am I currently knitting? I have finished the Sweater with square set in sleeves in “baby knits for beginners", but have yet to put it together. Very easy and looks impressive. I am 50% done with a Red Heart sweater for my young cousin (it is admittedly a little on the cheesy acrylic side, but trust me, his mom won’t care a bit). I also started my first cable project on the most adorable pink baby sweater (Pixie Cable sweater from a red heart booklet that I am making out of some Bernat baby yarn). Cable knitting? Check. Not so scary my friends. I am going to give it to my girlfriend who has 2 month old twins. Better start on the blue one, there's two of 'em.

I have to get started on 2 Christmas presents. The Cropped Cable Cardigan from Vogue Knitting (fall o5) is going to my brother's girlfriend. Takes 5 skeins of Lion Wool-Ease chunky so it should go quick. My first adult garment...wish me luck!! Then I have to make a thread crochet tablecloth for my MIL. She is 76 and the hardest person to buy for and she actually requested it after I made her a doily for her birthday. What? It only uses 8,000 yards of thread (seriously).

So, in the future, I hope to post pictures of the items above and the various stages of my progress, in hopes of inspiring those of you, who like me, browse the knit blogs and admire all the work of the experienced knitters. Have faith in the fact that I don't know what I'm doing, but forge enthusiastically ahead anyway. If I can do it you can do it, even if the instructions say k2ptbl2yossk2kkskyo....in the end it's still just a long piece of string....