Questionnaire

So I was perusing through the many facets of Ravelry (my favoritest thing ever!) and came upon the swap groups. and behold! there is a favorite place/favorite color swap! could there be anything better in this world? especially for someone with a horrible case of wanderlust?

anyway, I joined (duh!) and they ask you to post a questionnaire on your blog. for those of you not involved in the swap, read on for a glimpse at me!

here goes it!

warning: I'm in a bit of an indecisive mood..... sorry

Fun Stuff!

What is your favorite color(s)?
I love spring and winter colors... pinks, yellows, pale greens...
those slightly off shades of blues are great too! steely, turquoise, azure

What are your least favorite colors?
I'm not a big fall colors girl ..... red/orange/brown/gold

If you have a favorite brand of yarn, what is it?
anything soft and cuddly!

What weight yarn do you prefer?
anything from fingering to worsted.

Is there any weight of yarn you’d rather not have?
i have some bulky, but nothing too big, preferably

Do you enjoy novelty yarn? If so, what kinds do you like and dislike?
I have a few projects that I use furs with, but i don't really like using it if I can help it.

What are your favorite fibers?
I love animal fibers, the softer the better
although soy silk and bamboo are finding their way into my heart as well!

Do you have any fibers that you dislike or worse yet, have an allergy to?
hemp and I don't get along at all.

Do you have pets? If so, what do you have?
1 dog who isn't allowed within 25 feet of yarn. she eats it.... no dog near the yarn!

Do you spin?
I have a drop spindle that comes out about once a month... I'm hoping for a wheel in the next year or so.....

Would you enjoy receiving spinning related items, such as roving?
Sure!

Do you knit, crochet, both, or other?
I knit...

Is there anything within your craft that you haven’t tried yet that you’d like to try or learn?
I'm going to make an attempt at dyeing.... we'll see how that goes. me, as accident prone as I am, with anything that stains.... can this be a good idea?

Is there anything that you enjoy collecting, aside from yarn?
daisies, anything animal related, and children's books (I'm an elementary school teacher)

Is there anything else that your pal should know to help her spoil you?
I'm still a little kid at heart, and its often the smallest things that make my day.

I think that's it..... if anyone has any other questions for me, let me know!

A lovely gentle fall evening

you know, i complain a lot about being back here in this city, but really, it isn't always so bad.
there are so many things to do, but you have to know when and where. Amanda happened upon a small advertisement for a little shindig tonight. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (the 2nd oldest in the country?!? i didn't know that!) gave a free performance on Art Hill tonight to promote their upcoming season. Soft grass, wine, and great music... does it get any better?

It was an amazing night. 70 degrees and a tiny 80% humidity (which is good for here!) there was a light show off in the distance. lightening to both the north and west. (thank god the rain went around us!) and a breeze that made it all perfect.
and a magnificent moon.
it was breathtaking!
clouds moving all around it. playing hide and seek.
at one point, my sweater looked up (yes, I knit through the whole thing, what you think I've gone off my rocker and didn't take advantage of every second I was given!) and it was as if someone took a ruler and drew a line and then pasted freshly carded roving onto that line and into the sky.
just amazing.
and at the end of the night, they had a spectacular fireworks show.

great night.

anyways

the sweater is growing.
the sock is growing.
the pictures are waiting on the non-existent camera.
mom is looking through her box, if its there, i'll snap a few shots tomorrow.

mom did find a pic with me and Guini and the sweater..... perhaps I'll just share that one... Guinevere is just adorable!
Whenever she's around and my knitting is out, she makes me promise to teach her soon. She sits in my lap and watches every move I make.... so cute.



They are all cute at the age of 5 though, right?

So it was an interesting day today.
I went to work, and didn't do too darn much.
I did a bit of paperwork, knitted, did some computer work, knitted, shredded papers, knitted, well, you get the general idea.
Everyone on my floor was out of the office today and I had very little to do... so I made the most of my time.

Then there was horrific traffic trying to get home. I sat for nearly 20 minutes in one spot. I got alot of knitting done then too!

And then it was off to Beth's for dinner and a movie with Beth and Madalene.... a zombie movie.
Well, I did over an inch of knitting during that one! And I'll probably do another inch trying to get it out of my head........

Hopefully there will be pictures of the hellish ribbing soon. The camera is currently not in working order. Hopefully there will be a replacement soon.... very soon........

Now tomorrow holds a bit of promise. Craig Ferguson was sold out >:*o( so instead of all that fun and laughter (and an amazing accent!) we are going to head out to the Strange Folk Festival. I have heard good things about it... we'll see.

anyways,
time to attempt sleep

Happy Knitting!

Forever and a Day

It seems like it has been forever and a day since I updated this blog. Well, any of my blogs for that matter. (my computer screen died and so did my fix for it.... i have to wait atleast 4 months to afford a new one!)
Realistically, it has only been 4 months and 9 days since i posted here!
Since then, I've actually made some progress.
I finished the pink tank top. I wore it on my trip and at least once a week since then.
I plan to buy a beautiful eggplant yarn and make another one....... or maybe 5......

I frogged the yellow sweater. when i tried the 24 inches of stocking knit in the round (plus 2 sleeves) it was 4 inches too big around.
yuck
i don't love it so much anymore.

it is now 1/3 of the Combo Corset-T from Knitty Gritty.
Two of the girls from knit-night have finished it so it's my turn.
I'm currently on the never ending ribbing. But I am absolutely looking forward to using the Cascade Fun that I bought for the edging.... if only it weren't crochet!!!!!

I finished the first of the jaywalker socks and am stalled on the foot of the second. I have until November 1st to finish them (more about that later!)

I also started my first pair of toe up socks.
I used Angelica... remember her... the beautiful pink and black and grey?
I love her. And i'm making ankle socks in hopes that i can squeeze out a very tiny pair for my mum for Christmas.
The toe up is GREAT!!!! I absolutely wish i could make all my socks like that for eternity.
I know that will never happen. you may ask "How could you possibly know this?!?"
(sarcasm really doesn't come out very well on a blog, you know. must fix that...)

that was a very poor lead into the fact that we at knit night have recently decided to start a monthly sock along.
the theory is that the new people can get plenty of help without bugging Madelene too much.
we can all work on some wonderful socks for ourselves and our loved ones.
we can make fun new patterns.
and most importantly, we can start making a dent on our stash!
yeah, like we aren't going buy new yarn EVERY month!

well, since October, our first month, is the plain vanilla from the yarn harlot, and i get too bored and don't finish the second plain vanilla, i'm going to finish my jaywalker AND Angelica.
both second socks MUST be finished by Halloween.
hmmmm, think I can do it?

i'm not so sure.............


anyways, HAPPY KNITTING!!!

The End is in Sight

In the last month I have accomplished very little.
No surprise there.
I finished the back of my tank a week ago, all it needed was a half inch adjustment on the staps.
I'm finally getting to it tonight. I'm going to kitchner them in about 15 mintues. Then I get to pick up stitches for the edging. YAY! I'm excited. This might actually get finished in a timely manner.

In other knitting news, I changed my mind on stitch patterns for the shawl 5 times. I am now doing a beautiful ribbed stocking stitch. well, something like that... I really need to start remembering the names of the stitch patterns I use. It is amazingly beautiful, but I think i'm short a couple of skeins of yarn... a discontinued yarn that i can't afford anyway.
I'm going to rip out the 6 inches I have and add in more yarn over segments. perhaps that will stretch it a bit more.
Knit night is soon, I'll ask everyone's opinions then.

Yay for knit night!

Right, back to straps.
t00w00t!

happy knitting!

nothing new but a d d

Well, I finished the front of the tank.
And then worked on the jaywalker socks
And then started a shawl
and then worked on the shawl
and then the tank
but, no, more shawl
eh, maybe the socks
naw, the shawl
no, socks i think



i'm in total knitter's ADHD mode.
this does not bode well for my tank.

pictures to come soon...

Purling is a good thing

I never thought I'd say it, but I'm relieved when I get to purl rows....... Yes, please don't faint, I did just say that. This anti-purl girl has finally learned to love it..... when it isn't on size 2 needles and in a horrid ribbing pattern it is kind of nice.

Spring is here..... 80 degrees consistently. I'm hating the record setting heat we are looking ahead to.
The good thing is, at least I will have an adorable new tank top to wear!
I just finished the front arm shaping and I will, in a few rows, get to bind off the neck line and start the straps. I can't believe how fast this is coming along..... after doing the sweater in the round.... and in my very large size.... ug, it was just so tedious. This is so relaxing!

I'm going up to the knit shop this afternoon. I need to purchase the yarn for the back of this top. I just now started the 3rd ball and I'm up to the neck so it looks like I will only need 7 balls where as I thought I was going to need 9.
This is a very good thing considering I'm out of the yarn part of my budget for the month..... stupid addictive sock yarn....... I won't even mention the fact that I have 3 skeins of beautiful kettle dyed, hand spun (expensive) silvery-purple yarn sitting in Madalene's reserve fridge screaming at me to forget eating and just bring it home.

You know, there has to be some sort of yarn addicts anonymous support group out there. I could really use a meeting right now. I absolutely feel like Gollum right now, pining away for my precious. But the first step is admitting addiction and I'm fully aware of that.

But in all honesty, my pretty, she really is worth it. so soft, with a beautiful bright sheen to her.

Kind of like the charcoal soy silk roving that I just had to have last week. but it will make the most beautiful cabled fan and feather wrist warmers you will EVER see! I have already started writing up a pattern for it and it isn't even spun yet!

right, I really do need to find that group...........

Hello. My name is Megan. I am a wool addict.

March

It has been all too long since I last blogged. Life always gets hectic this time of year.... and it's my knitting (and therefore my sanity) that suffers.

One of those pretty skeins i spun became these cabled wrist warmers......




I got as far as the elbow on my yellow sweater, and now we get the 80 degree weather! I've decided to finish the second sleeve and then put it on hold until August. All I'll have left is the yoke so I can wear it all fall. It is just too hot to think about sweaters.

Instead, I started a pretty pink tank top. Big Girl Knits--"Cherry Bomb"-- in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed color 21. It seems to be going pretty quickly. Perhaps I'll have it done in time to wear it!

Hmmmm, other knitting news......
Knit nights have been going well. They've been quite crowded. We have alot of fun new people which is always great!
And Madalene has been teaching elsewhere on Fridays..... and Cassie and her cute little ankle-biters have been watching the shop..... so i go to play. Yesterday, there was a delivery and I'll be damned if we weren't going to open up that box.
yes, it was a shipment of soysilk roving!! AND SOCK YARN!!!!!!!!
we dug straight in, openned it up and took what we wanted before we even got a price for it.....
Tofutsies. SuperwashWool, Soysilk, Cotton and Chitin.... 1 pair of socks per ball!


and as if the day couldn't get any better, they had also sent a sample skein for Madalene....... and we started knitting it up for her (she walked in half way through and busted us. oops!). Cassie knit 2 rows of the mini sock then i took a turn and knit 2 rows. we alternated all the way through the heel flap before it was time to close. Cassie was going to finish it up today. perhaps i'll get a pic of it this week...........

I think that's about it for now.... I'm planning some book scarves and a sheep, we'll see if that happens....

I'm off for dinner and knitting through a movie with Beth and Madalene....
Ta for now.
happy knitting!

A quick note

I wound my first mini skein today. (on the left)
and then I spun my second and wound it too! (on the right)


I'm so proud!

I'm going to turn them into wrist warmers.
and if I have any leftovers I'm making a mini-sheepy.

I'm so excited. The pink and purples are next.........

Happy Valentines Day!

If you haven't read the Yarn Harlot's Vday post, please go read it now. I cannot tell you how much I believe in what she is saying. So much so that I actually did all the laundry in the house, cleaned the kitchen, and I am giving up on my knitting in favor of organizing my room (mom has been on my butt about it for a week).

I was intending on spending my v-day in my room with my knitting needles.
I'm still working on my sleeves. They seem to be taking FOREVER!!!!
I need a break so I'm making more pygmy puffs.
red and pink ones for the day.

I decided that I should probably share my pattern with you all. It is just a quick short-row ball done with a fun fur or a plush, but I know I had a heck of a time figuring it out myself. and it should be made as easy as can be so that every HP fan can have one in the next 155 days...... or however long is left on that ticking clock to the right.....
anyway, here it is.

Pygmy Puff Pattern

(Short rows version)

Materials
US size 3 or 4 straight needles
Tapestry needle
Brightly colored Fun Fur (one ball will make several pygmy puffs) Cotton balls (3-5) or another type of stuffing
2 beads, sequins, or googly eyes
1 bead for a nose (optional)
2-4 inch scrap of red or pink yarn for tongue(optional)
**Note: Fun fur and an additional sport or dk yarn can be held together to give the ball more body. Two or three strands of fun fur may be held together instead of additional yarn for a more furry finish. This is not necessary if using a plush yarn as most will have enough body. In addition, longer or stringier types of fun fur may need pulling through knitting as you go so as not to trap all the furriness inside the ball.

Directions
CO 9
Row 1: K6, W&T
Row 2: P3, W&T
Row 3: K5, W&T
Row 4: P7, W&T
Row 5: Knit to end
Row 6: Purl to end

Repeat rows 1-6 a total of 6 times.
Bind off stitches loosely.
Cut yarn leaving a 9+ inch tail.
Use tail and running stitch along side. Pull tightly, drawing closed.
Use tail to mattress stitch CO and BO sides together.
If you want to add a tongue, do so now. Simply add a string of scrap yarn near the bottom front of the ball. I usually double the yarn and knot it several times at the end. If giving the pygmypuff to an animal or small child, I will secure it more firmly by weaving in and or putting in a drop of superglue.
Turn ball inside out.
If you are sewing in the eyes, it is easiest to do so now before stuffing. Place them about ½ inch above the tongue
Stuff your puff firmly with cotton balls or stuffing. Overstuffing will give a better shape.
Use the remaining tail and a running stitch to draw bottom closed.
Weave in end to secure then pull remaining yarn through ball and out leaving as your pygmy puff’s tail.
Fluff/brush pygmy puff for maximum fuzziness.

I will sometimes leave off the eyes and add a bit of catnip to the stuffing. My friend’s cats LOVE to play with the puffs.

that's it for now
happy knitting!

Another Week Gone By

This has been a very long and occassionally exciting week.
My birthday was last weekend, and as usual, my friends made it worth being another year older. The tattoo is healing beautifully. I'm so happy that I got it. It is perfect for me. A bit bigger than I originally intended, but then again, so is the place where it is located!

Saturday was my first spinning day. I sat at my LYS for 5 hours and spun my practice roving. It looked great! and it was holding up!
until I got it home.
As soon as Madalene wasn't there, it started to pull apart every time I went to spin it. So I put it down for a couple of days (or a week) to let the process sink in before I try it again.
Here is what I have done though. Isn't it pretty!

You can't really see it very well, but I'm proud of myself. I'll get better eventually. And Saturday mornings are now going to be for spinning.
I'm trying to decide what to do with it. maybe another little pet, seeing as it is my first spinning. maybe some wrist warmers. although, it might almost be enough for a lovely scarf.
I do have quite a bit more of this white to do before i get to the pretty colors that are sitting and screaming at me from my stash. Pinks and purples. I can never resist the pinks and purples.

Sunday was my birthday. and Mom gave me the Blessing Basket that I requested around Christmas time. I love it!

such pretty colors. And it holds my spinning, my Trekking socks, and my sweater project!! Now all I need is a liner for it. I almost lost a sock needle the other night as it slid through one of the holes. We can't have that now, can we.

My work week went about as slow as it possibly could. I can't tell you how thankful I was for Thursday to roll around again. Knit Night was rather tame this week. A couple of girls finished some big projects. A few started some interesting things. I helped Bella start some hunting socks for her hubby.

And then the sweater project came out..... neither Madalene nor I had the brain power to deal with it, but Cassie wants to see me finish it and insisted.
I pulled it out. I hadn't worked on the body in over a week. I started a sleeve (which I pulled out last night due to the fact that I somehow had 20 extra stitches! how does one get 20 extra stitches?!?!?!?!?!?). Well, we looked at it and drew it out 10 times. Then we did it again. After 30 minutes we finally figured out what they wanted. our mistake . . . . . read to the end of the pattern FIRST, especially when you are trying to adapt it to make it seamless. We couldn't figure out why the back was supposed to be so much longer than the front! nor could we figure out which way the armhole decrease were supposed to go. We got it eventually. and i went home and finished it. Now it is just waiting for me to finish the sleeves so i can add them on and start the fun part, the yoke.

well, sleeves here I come. no extra 20 stitches this time!
and I read the whole pattern first! lets see if this goes a little smoother this time.....

well, as smoothe as smoothe can be for me anyways

ta for now.
happy knitting!

February Second

I love February second. I always have.

It's Ground hog's Day... which means Punxatani Phil (how in the world do you spell that???) will tell me that Winter is going to last FOREVER and snow will fall every day for the rest of my life. yes, that may be wishful thinking, but, hey, a girl can dream.

in addition to the lovely little hairy rodent day, it is St. Brigid's Day.
Brigid has always been my favorite saint (i was raised catholic, and some things you just don't let go of). her legend is wonderful. and she founded Kildare. and she is the second patron saint of Ireland. and her cross is beautiful and very simple. so anyways, happy St. B's day! turn some earth and have a pint.

oh, and i can't forget. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN! miss you!

last night was knit night.
it was great, as always.
and we actually had a full crowd! it has been a while since we filled all the chairs (and had people on the floor). 5 new knitters i think i counted. and they were all nice .... and held their own in conversation .... without being offended..... or making anyone want to drive a needle through an eyeball. YAY!
Beth made me shortbread. YAY! it's one of my absolute favorite things in life. and Allison and Madalene and i walked to the coffee shop for hot cocoa to dunk it in. YUM! it was wonderfully delicious. and i have some left over!!!! can you say breakfast?????

and i finally got to the 14 1/2 inches i needed on the sweater. and then chaos. i couldn't quite figure out what i was supposed to be doing. there was some confusion due to the fact that i'm doing it in the round and not flat... and i can't figure out why the back is supposed to be 2 inches longer than the front . . . doesn't make esnes to me. and some parts go on holders. some parts are supposed to be bound off... then picked up again... then added on...then, hell, i don't know! and i have 2 balls attached now, not one. and i 'm confuzzled. i think i'm supposed to be working just the sides right now.... armpits?? hell, maybe i'll just do the sleeves.

so what's on the agenda for today? well for my day off i usually sleep in, but not today it seems. today, i am going back to the LYS to try to get my head around what i am supposed to be doing with this sweater....
then i am picking up a couple of friends who will be accompanying me to get a tattoo as a bday pressie to myself. normally my nerves get the better of me with stuff like this. i'm not good with anticipation.... or adrenalin.... or anything somewhat adventurous.
but for this i am completely calm. no butterflies yet. no anxiousness no nerves. just a hint of excitement. so far in my life, that has only happened a few times. first overseas flight. first day of college. moving to Scotland. and now this. all the other things were right. the beginning of something. i don't think this is the beginning of the tattooing of my whole body or anything, but something, perhaps.

perhaps.

What a day

To wake up to such news as the release date for the final Harry Potter book! That in itself was exhausting.... and then learning the actual date!
uuuuuuuuuuh.
Jo has thrown me for a loop. i figured i would have at least until fall. i mean, really. to release the 5th movie only a week and a day before the final book! insanity!
it just can't be smart. i can't afford both!
not with the trip, five years in the making. (cross my heart, i started planning this nearly 5 years ago.)
unless....
yes. i think i have it.
I'll fly over for the movie and stay for the book!
genius!
until i looked at the airfare. winter fare (non holiday of course) i can usually find for between $400-$700. summer fare.... runs $1,000-$1,400. that, with food and tourism and housing... more than i anticipated, 3 months before I anticipated it.

with all that, i sat down and looked at my finances. i came up with several solutions:

option 1. get a part time job. this was already in the making. i am up for a part time position at the LUSH going in at the nearby mall. but it doesn't start until the end of Feb or March. so it is no good to me. but with my morning coffee.... my usual barista handed me an application. i am on my way to turn it in as soon as i finish typing here.

option 2. take out a loan. probably from mom, but a loan all the same. i can by my plane ticket now (or at least in the next few weeks) so as to lock in a reasonable price. and i can pay it back when i get my taxes back and with each paycheck.

option 3. the most relevant to this particular blog... and my least favorite of all..... a yarn fast.
i was on a yarn diet, but now, an all out fast must be put into place if i'm going to be able to afford this.... i'll give up yarn for lent.... maybe that'll help

all i can say is that at least i have enough in my stash to keep me going.

my sweater is at 13 3/4 inches. hopefully i'll start the shaping tonight..... or a sleeve.

and i have some pink Silky Tweed on sweater plan.... i can take that out a piece at a time, when i'm ready to start another big project.

and my socks haven't grown much. they'll have to be finished.
and Angelica is still calling me
and as if i didn't have enough sock yarns ....i bought this 2 weeks ago
(i didn't have a pic until today)

it is a very colorful (and slightly shiny?) bamboo sock yarn. I love it! it is so soft. absolutely lovely.

it'll have to tide me over.
until fall?????
not going to happen. but hopefully it will get me through the new spring yarns coming out!


and i'm starting spinning!
Saturday mornings are going to be for spinning now. it was a new years resolution. and i have enough roving to get me quite a while i think. some white to practice on, some white i had intended for mittens, some pink, purple and a blended pink and purple for something fun.
hopefully that will keep me going... hopefully.

for now it is off to Starbucks to turn in an application.
and then to knit night! YAY!
one of the girls baked me a pressie for my birthday.
i'm excited.
i hope it's shortbread!!!!!

LA

I'm not a complete moron this week!

last week, i was acting a complete moron. i couldn't do anything right.
i read my pattern wrong....
11 1/2 inches and then start the shaping!
sounds good to me.
i'm almost there.
1/4 inch left.

but this morning, i pulled out my pattern.
and i read it. smart move # 1.
with my glasses on. smart move #2.

and there, before my eyes not an 11, but a 14.
14 1/2 inches!
oh no, not 1/2 inch to go. 3 1/2 inches.
uuuug.
i was so ready to start shaping.
i'm tired of these HUGE circles with no progress!

but now, today, there was progress.
i had 2 classes cancel on me and i finished all my typing. and then i knit for almost my entire lunch hour.
that makes 3 inches today, so far. I intend to finish the last 1/2 inch tonight while watching Gilmore Girls.

and then i'll work on my socks tomorrow. i miss them.


oooooooooooooooh. i almost forgot.

YARN PORN!
This is Angelica. She arrived on my doorstep yesterday.

Isn't she pretty!!!!
I have vowed not to start anything new until i finish either my jaywalkers or my sweater. so for now Angelica shall sit with my sheep (still without names!) and be my little pet.

happy knitting!

YAY for Weekends

I love Thursday.
It is by far the best day of the week. And the start of my weekend.
I work until noon, grab a bite of lunch, run a few errands, take a nap, and by 6, I'm ready for a social life.

Thursday is knit night. A great group of women gather at our local yarn shop. It always seems to start off rather mild. Alot of knitting. Someone will inevitibly need help with a project, or technique, or picking out new yarn or a new pattern, or finding some else's pattern. And usually there are several gals ready to help out. We'll all do a progress check on whatever project has grabbed our attention the previous week. There is plenty of time for show and tell. And of course a basic catch-up on what happened in everyone's lives since the last time we got together. A typical knit night, I suppose.

And then, as time goes on, it all changes. A core group stays entirely too late talking and such. Last night we went on our first field trip. A naughty one. A lot of fun. A lot of giggling. Attempts to set one of the girls up with a rather hansom young security guard. She didn't go for it so we shall be slightly more devious next time, especially with plans for future fieldtrips.

Ah well, I should be going. It is Friday.
And we made plans last night for dinner and a drag queen show. it's been a while. should be fun.

LA

Rambling history of a sweater

I tried one sweater previously. But i was my usual moronic self. i tried a pattern that had extrememly complicated cables on front and back. and all pieces were made seperately. well, sure it wasn't all that, but with having not done cables before, the complexity of what i was doing was a bit overwhelming, especially when i realized my guage was off. i was 15 inches into the back and i was on my 9th repeat of the cabling pattern out of what seemed like 100 .... and then i was going to have to do the finishing too! it was endless and had lost all its appeal. i liked how it looked, but it wasn't quite what i wanted.
i finally said forget it. and i frogged the whole bloody thing. i liked the yarn alright, but it wasn't quite what i wanted in a sweater. it wasn't as soft as i hoped for. very very pretty though. a blue-grey. i still haven't decided what i'm going to do with it.... something lovely.


right, so on to the next sweater. but first some important information
I love my mom. She drives me up the wall, but still, she is the greatest.
I must say she is the best gift buyer in the history of this world! and even though i haven't tempted her to knit, yet, she understands the addiction.
for Christmas:
a gift certificate to my LYS.
2 skeins orange Alpaca Chunky.
knit picks options needle set
Knitting Nature
and these cute figuring because she though they would be cute next to my computer with some of my favorite yarn pets. i know this is about sweaters, but LOOK!

aren't they cute!!!!
unfortunately, the sheep still don't have names, but isn't Hilda (the cherished teddy) adorable.
(do you see the pygmy puff? he's the result of my post a few days ago! he doesn't have a name yet either. I'm open to suggestions!)

i am rambling again!

so anyways.
i stopped in my LYS for a chat the first week of January, and i realized that with the gift cert and the 2 skeins, it was almost the exact price of the yarn for the sweater that i'd been dying to do.
I bought all the Cascade Yarns Bollicine Dolly color 902 that she had. (and she is ordering a bit more for me)

this sweater is going to actually get finished.
it is the Phyllo Pullover from Knitting Nature.

I love the beautiful buttercup yellow merino. i'm so excited. it is so pretty! i'm doing it in the round so there will be no seeming. YAY! i'm horrible when it comes to seeming. grafting i can do no problem, but seeming. YIKES!

right now, i'm in the middle of that dead space where you knit and knit and knit and then you measure. and nothing. you've only gone a quarter of an inch since you last measured. and then you pull out a couple of hairs and keep going.
i am starting the 4th ball of yarn now. i have somewhere around 9 inches. i'm extremely excited that i get to do some shaping soon. i'm determined to finish this...and soon!

i'm going to stop my rambling now so that i can go and do a quarter of an inch of that sweater.
its growing! or atleast that's what i'm going to tell myself.

ta for now!

good intensions

i intended to spend this day recovering from my 3 day headache (it turnedout to be sinus).
well, that doesn't seem like its going to be happening. My mind is in overdrive.
i wanted to post here about my sweater, which is coming along slowly but surely.
now i'm not in the mood.

so i jump over to the YarnHarlot for my daily laugh fix (Steph is amazing if you haven't been over there!). and someone has asked her about a summer version of the Knitting Olympics.

my brain started spinning (not my hands, that is on Saturdays! well, atleast it will be soon.)

why not hold the Knitting Olympics as a forum. there has got to be a good place that can host it for free. sure, my previous forum experience was very small. and this would be HUGE.
and could a free server hold it all?

and do i really want to get myself into this???

i am realizing i really don't know nearly enough about it all.

BUT being a Friday

and me not having anything to do

i start looking up free hosting sites.

i fear this is getting dangerious.
our dearest YH, it seems, gets herself into trouble by coming up with great ideas and putting them straight into motion. a lack of planning if i recall properly. do i really want to do that?
or should i just keep my trap shut until i've really looked into it all????

i think i'll turn off my computer so as to not tempt myself.

but i'm sure i'll be back later to put up something about my sweater. as soon as i touch it i feel the need to talk about it. addiction.
that's what this is
pure addiction
atleast this one is productive!!

Current Sock Project

I thought that it is about time i start sharing what i'm working on now

it seems that i am always knitting stuff for other people. i decided to make a new years resolution to put myself first with my knitting. just for this year. and no large or tedious projects unless it is something that i will be wearing twice a week.
so far so good.

here are what will very soon be finished (i hope) my new favorite socks
(did i mention earlier that i have a great love...bordering on fetish... of socks?)

it is a pattern i have fallen in love with
JayWalker
it is fun and interesting
and with this yarn, i am never fully sure what is going ot come out next!

i'm using Trekking XXL. i think it is Ombre 101, but i can't seem to find the label.
i was stupid and started it on size 1 needles. i really should have done size 2s.
and instead of starting the heel flap for the first sock, i decided to start the leg of the second sock. even though this pattern is addictive, i do tend to get very serious cases of second sock syndrome and i'm attempting to prevent it. we shall see how that goes.


did i mention that i LOVE it?

really, i do. it makes me smile every time i think about knitting it.

i think i am going to start toe up socks with whatever is left over. i love this and want to squeeze every millimeter i can out of it.



next up?
my first sweater.
YAY!

Weekend Thoughts

Well, it has been a pretty good weekend as weekends go.
some of our neighbors came over for a game night. they are signing up for knitting classes this month. we shall see how that goes. they are making an attempt to talk my mother into going too. she really could use it, but i doubt that i'll ever be able to actually get her to start.

my grandmother, too, is contemplating taking knitting up again. i think it would be perfect for her. she really needs something to fill her time with. my grandfather died 2 1/2 months ago, and after 60 years of marriage and spontaneous travelling and constant intellectual conversation, grandma doesn't really know what to do with herself. i think knitting would keep her busy and make her feel productive.

i'm having my usual problem, as far as knitting problems go. i'm feeling the ADD.
any ideas on how to overcome this??
the projects on my needles are all going swimmingly.
the projects are all addictive.
they are extremely beautiful.
i can not wait to finish them.
i can not wait to wear them.
yet, for some reason, i feel the need to start something else.

and it didn't help that i went to a new yarn store today.
why
why on earth would i do that to myself?
sure, i didn't make any purchases.
i showed self restraint (all i have left until pay day is gas money, that helped)
but i saw 4 or 5 patters that i am absolutely DYING to try.
and i saw roving that is begging me to start spinning.

why
why do i do these things
i should know better

well, have a great week. i'm going to raid my stash and find something to start. . . . i'm really in a manos mood . . . . . . . maybe the purple and yellow . . . . . . somthing warm and pretty . . . . but what?
or some lovely colorwork
or another bag
or that stupid golf club cover i promised uglyMike.

somethign that i can finish today

aaaaaaaaah
PYGMY PUFFS!!!!!

i'm making myself a pygmypuff!!!

oh lord
what have i started this time?????

Layout Changes

I have spent today not knitting, but attempting to get this blog looking the way i want it.

i love sleep deprived ideas, they just come so fluidly.
at around 3am i had a bit of an epiphany. i remembered where i had put the html tags for linked buttons. yay! and then i figured out how to add them to this blog.

on the right there are lovely links to some of my favorite knitting websites, communities and such.

and i finally got my hands on some of the pictures of a few of my finished projects. they are now (after hours of trying to get them onto and off of my mini drive) up on flickr for your viewing pleasure. i intend to add more of my recent projects to the list, but it may take a while until i fix our digital camera.
and p00t sends me a picture of her in her scarf (hint hint hint hint)

i think that's it for now.
i'm going to put on a strange movie and enjoy my knitting
and the beauty of the ice covered trees