Monday, January 21, 2008

What???

So the other day we were out and my mom said something about how messed up it was that she had a daughter who knits and she's the only person she knows who doesn't own a scarf or hat. This is from the woman who has specifically told me on several occasions not to knit anything for her because she wouldn't use it. From this experience, I opted to ignore her comment. Night before last, though, she called me to say that she had been feeling sorry for herself because she didn't have a scarf and gloves. I reminded her again today of her earlier comments, but it's been decided that I'll make her the scarf and gloves that she wants. She wanted some cashmere but for the set, that would be quite expensive. I ended up choosing Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky for the scarf and some DK for the gloves. I've never tried the stuff myself, but I've heard good things. Here's hoping.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Yay for Sock Clubs....as if I need more

For whatever crazy reason, I thought that if I signed up fora bunch of clubs this year I would slow down my yarn acquisition. My reasoning fall somewhere in the lines of that if I don't feel the obsessive need to check out what everyone else who's in the sock cubs is getting, I'll spend less time perusing yarn websites and feel less of an overwhelming need to compensate for my sadness. As of now, I have received two club packages. I have also placed 2 orders for Vesper sock yarn, one with Wollmeise, one with Joann's, and one with Yarnmarket. Oh well. To be fair to myself, the Joann's order was for the red yarn-of-hell, with which I am to duplicate stitch the aforementioned "B". For the sake of my sanity, I'll just leave that one alone for now.
On to the yarn goodies!

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Yarn Pirate Superwash Merino in Kalamata
and
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Lucky Lurker Sock Club DK Duets
This was my first time seeing the Duet sock yarn in person. I've heard fabulous things, though. This is my second round of the Booty Club, and I've loved everything I've received thus far. I'm fairly certain that my first ever BMFA Rockin' Sock Club package will be shipped this coming week, so stay tuned for my dip into mania when it arrives.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Trick Weekend

Hmmm...now that I've typed that, the chosen title may give slightly the wrong impression of me. No, no....It was not that kind of weekend. In the typical way my life seems to go, even after checking, checking, confirming, and checking again that I had no obligations associated with the MSMTA conference this weekend, I still somehow ended up staying at the Marriott all weekend and playing driver girl. While this considerably cut into my planned ass-sitting time, I was able to make the most of my time by knitting and taking baths. I wish I had thought to take pictures of the shower head there because to me, it is a marvel. One of my favorite things to do in hotels is make use of their superior shower equipment and water pressure. However, I've found that the showers at various Marriott's across the nation are more suited to say.....the under 4'3 crowd. Trying to take a shower while bent over backwards in a bridge formation is not my idea of relaxation. The room service was fabulous though, so I was able to survive. And knit!

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Brian's sweater.....dubbed the "special" sweater. Right now one cannot truly witness its "specialness". I just looks like a little brown.....well, a large brown hat, really. That's because 1) I have yet to separate the arms from the body and 2) It won't have the giant red "B" that he demands be put on it until after it's finished. Hopefully the process of duplicate stitching a giant red "B" on my freshly knit sweater will induce such alcohol consumption that the letter will come out looking more like cool abstract art. Now, I'm not particularly old. I'm aged enough to know that I don't always understand all the lingo of the tiny aged people, but I like to think that I'm still pretty on top of fashion. I'd hate to think that wearing giant red initials, a la Alvin and the Chipmunks, had somehow gone into style and I completely missed it. I mean, the whole point of the Scarlet Letter was that it was going to be a noticeable label. As the book goes, people would notice the letter and go , "Oh my....that woman's a whore!!!". In my version of the story, The Scarlet "B", I see people taking notice of the letter and thinking, "Oh my....that boy's a reta-,uhhhh, I mean...BRAVE!!!". We'll see. As I should have learned many ties over from past endeavours, it's not always wise to confer with the giftee beforehand. Just make and give! Hopefully my sweater won't get mangled in a schoolyard brawl, or anything like that. That's my big concern. You know how certain "things" can happen to certain kids.....on a daily basis in the lunchroom by one group of kids, then again at recess by another....then again on the bus ride back home, only to start over again the next day when you wear a sweater with a giant red "B" on it.
Alright, time for dinner. Then maybe I'll feel like gambling and breaking off the arms of this bad boy. Not the kid, just the sweater. I'm not really THAT upset of the "B". My sisters family moving 45 minutes away has put a serious damper on my responsible plans of actually trying the thing on him. It's looking more and more like it's going to be more a game what I like to call "Wow, I sure hope this fits!!". I like to live on the edge.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Quant......the first of '08

Wow. It's only the 3rd and I have a FO already! Granted, it is something small.....but something none the less :)

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side 1
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side deux
Patten: Quant, by Star Athena....from the latest Knitty.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, No. 172
Needles: US size 8 straights and DPN's
I really liked this pattern as soon as I saw it. I've found that whenever I go to do an entrelac project, Noro is the first thing I go for. On this particular project, however, I wish I had used the Taos the pattern calls for. The color runs in the Noro are just too long for the short width. I still like the project....just not as much as I would had the color been more broken up. Luckily for me, I already have two colorways of Taos on the way from Yarnmarket. Oops. So much for that yarn diet. I like the way this one fits, though, and can see myself wearing it frequently. It covers my ears nicely which will be helpful in the freakin' miserably cold weather we've been having.
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Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Christmas Knitting in Review....plus some other stuff

FINALLY I found my friggin' camera cord so I was able to upload some pictures. My grand plan was to post one of those murals of all my 2007 knitting. As I went looking through my old pictures, I realized how haphazardly I've photographed a lot of stuff, how many things I haven't taken anything but baby progress shots of (helloooo...Lady Eleanor? And that's a kickass project, too), and finally, how many things I just haven't bothered to take pictures of at all. It's bad. So, I decided to scrap that project. I now have a new New Year's resolution to treat my projects right and give them the photoshoots they deserve. This is, of course, somewhat dependent on my developing some picture taking skills that don't blow. I'll work on that, too.
Ok, so since I'm not doing a year in review, I can at least cover Christmas.

First:

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These technically weren't Christmas gifts, but they were knit right along side all the others and gifted......so I'm just going to throw them in here. This set was knit for Sara's baby. I still have to make another set in pink for my nephews daughter. I made a tiny mistake by mentioning that I was sending a gift and hoped it would get there by Christmas in their card. Oops. I better get that started soon. Here's the info-
Pattern: Suede Bootys and Suede Baby Hat by Candi Jenkins
*available on KnittyGritty site
Needles: US sizes 2 and 3 for boots, 6's for hat
Yarn: Berroco Suede in colorways I'm not sure of and Berroco Plush in Creme
Second:
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A cashmere neckwarmer knit for my awful sister. I won't go into why exactly I would knit such a thing for someone like her, but those of you who know me well understand the motives behind such gifts This is not the best picture. I took it super last minute while ppl were gathering downstairs for Christmas Eve.
Yarn: Artyarns Cashmere 5, unknown colorway
Pattern: Neckwarmer from Pretending Sanity
Needles: US 8's
Third:
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The super secret super project. This is one the Colinette Ab Fab Throw kits in a colorway that's called Santa Fe something. Needle size 11. Making this makes me want to go buy one for myself REALLY. BAD. Maybe even 2 of them. I already have one that I made about 5 yrs ago but its just the vertical stripes. Not too interesting. I'd like to make this pattern and one with the mitred squares.
Fourth:
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This is the scarf and hat set that I knit for one of my other sisters. I have yet to give it to her because she didn't show up for the family party and I really don't see her. I'll have to mail it, I guess. I really like the hat and am eager to make one for myself.
Pattern: Scarf-basic seed stitch, Hat-Monk Hat over at RedThreadsUntangling
Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande and Eros Glitz...don't know colors
Needles: Scarf, 15?? Hat, 10
If I did this again, I would have used a larger needle on the hat. I had to do it fast and I the 16" tens were what had sitting near me. It is QUITE dense, but still very nice.
Okay, there it is. Soon, b/c I'm really, really going to work on this, I'll have some pics of what all I'm working on now. Till then......Happy New Year everybody:)