February 26, 2008

Life has been absolutely crazy of late!  I guess it is pre-trip insanity. Doctor appts, hair appts, parent training…never dull!  The shower this weekend for Cara was a blast!  Best shower I have ever been to.  Ann is an amazing hostess–as always.  It’s always delightful to spend time with Nancy and Maribel.  What more could one ask for?  And Nancy brought carrot cake!  The only sad part–wait two sad parts–Norma and Sandy didn’t make it do to cursed weather.  And my cell phone fell out of my pocketbook and landed in a hot cup of tea.  It’s not the same…the front buttons are broken but it flips–so I can dial inside and the end button doesn’t work.  Anywhere–in or out.  $450 to replace it so I will make do! 

  I finished my (and by finished I mean did a loop and sewed a button) on my Koigu Kersti cardigan. (241)  The knitting was done ages ago and I was wearing it without a button but it is finally almost completely finished.  One last end to run.  What is my problem?  I use the excuse that it looks like I made it.  Sigh.

Work on the Colinette throw for my sister’s birthday progresses.  I may have it  finished before I leave if I don’t continue to screw up the chevron.  I seem to have quite a bit of yarn left over in the mohairs.  I have to cut fringe but there isn’t enough of the other yarns to make it longer.  Still, it will definintely be ready before July–which is awesome because a pile of mohair in my lap over the summer would stink! 

It’s all good December 18, 2007

Victory dances all around!  The Four Season Afghan is finished!  I sewed the last end in over the weekend and had a very unsuccessful photo shoot with Kevin.  Final details:  Berroco Peruvia 14 skeins altogether (3 of 2 colors and 4 of the other 2) and a US 9.  Admittedly, I was finished with this project at the specified 3 strips but the overall opinion was it was too small for two men.  I added another 2 strips and it is perfect.  I  continuously screwed up on the last strip as I was DONE but I kept plugging along and it was a happy day when I cast off.  Cameron loves it and asked for one of his own.  Sigh.  I can’t do it.

Teacher knitting was finished today too for Cameron.  A couple of super chunky hats, a pair of Fetching, a Scaruffle and a funky Tahki scarf.  Oh–a Pidge knockoff too.  I completely forgot about the speech teacher.  And see, I forgot her again.  I just need to sew on the buttons and run the ends. 

Owen’s teachers aren’t getting handknits this year.  I just couldn’t do it and finish the afghan too.  And we just had the most wonderful news for Owen!  The district bought him a brand new augmentative communication device.   I am not exactly sure what model…I pick it up on Thursday.  In my excitement, I didn’t really pay attention to what I was told by his coordinator.   I was just thinking of all the amazing things I hope to hear Owen say!

Has it been over a week? December 10, 2007

Really?  Why is time flying so quickly?  And why aren’t my needles keeping up?  I was uncertain what to do with the afghan/throw for my friend and asked in an email should I enlarge it by another 2 strips or just knit 2 throws as they sit on separate couches.  He said the smaller one would have been fine but since I have knit on just go with the 5×4 throw.  That works out to approximately 65×52".  I have opted against the crochet fringe as the shorter (would have been fringed side) is only 3 rows of garter.  Argh.  Why do I complicate things so?

Gracie wants the Central Park Hoody.  I took her on a stash tour but she was in the market for white.  White?  Is she nuts?  She reluctantly agreed to an off white/cream but I could seen the unhappiness in her face and asked her to just tell me her preferred color!  A worn sweater in new yarn is better than an unworn sweater knit from the stash!  Gray.  I have talked Grandma into knitting a back.  Thanks mom.  Another team effort.  Hurray.  I want to start Kevin’s sweater in the  Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran tweed.  I don’t believe the Salt Lake City Dale is getting finished very soon. 

Cameron survived his oral surgery.  Thanks for all of the well wishes.  His recovery was speedy as he wanted to go up to CT with us for the weekend.  We had a wedding and he wanted to stay with his cousin.  He was a real trooper!  And I can’t be photograped for anything…cheesy wedding shot with new do, fancy dress, and loads of make up by my sister.

This is very annoying.  This is centered while I am composing  it and not after I am finished.

Another lb lighter November 29, 2007

Not the greatest of pictures but I tried.  Today I had my hair cut again for Locks of Love.  They got 11 inches off of one side and 12 off the other (I did some hair management this summer on my own).  I have been anxious to go short again–especially with the weight loss.  I don’t know.  I may have been trying to hide behind my hair…but not anymore!  I don’t think it was really a pound of hair though but who cares?  It feels good physically and emotionally.

I added some small knit stuff to my Ravelry page but it was mostly throw avoidance.  Kevin declared the Peruvia/Manos knock off throw too small.  I wasn’t sure what to do but a little gmail chat with my friend Marilyn and I have decided to add two more strips.  One would have made it a square and I wanted to keep it a rectangle.  Six will keep it a rectangle.  But I was emotionally ready to move on after three.  I have to finish this before Christmas because I would never ship it.  Knit more and gym less?  I don’t think so!

Poor Cameron is having 5 teeth pulled tomorrow.  This is his second round with the oral surgeon.  His mouth is just too small.  Kevin and I have a wedding this weekend–in CT–overnight.  Woohoo!

edited to add…I just googled Locks to get the link and some people saying they aren’t exactly what they claim.  Must research this more!  The salon mentioned another organization…has anyone heard anything like that?  I am going to look into Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths.

Knitting on November 8, 2007

The throw is coming along.  With my knitting friends over today, showing it off, I found a mistake in the second panel, first square.  I am now in the 3rd square.  It isn’t awful and I can live with it.  The yarn is a bit hairier than I expected given there is no mohair but it blocked and bloomed very nicely. 

Knitting was fun today.  My mom, Ann, Granny and Peg came over.  Granny kindly made Uncle Buzzy’s broccoli cheese soup and my mom made Tapioca.  I made the coffee and tea.  I think it was a good deal for me.  As always there were plenty of laughs. 

My tomte came yesterday.  I have been waiting for him since January.  I absolutely love him.  Owen wanted him in his bed.  Cameron, Kevin and Gracie thought I made it myself.  He makes me smile!  Isn’t he adorable?

Kevin is out of town and I suppose I ought to pick up Cameron.   

Drive by posting October 26, 2007

Didn’t go to Rhinebeck after all as my mother was feeling poorly.
Progress on afghans continue.
Errata lost on Dale of Norway. 
They happen to be attending our guild meeting today. 
Lucky day.
Have lost 13lbs.
Go me.

That’s it. October 19, 2007

That’s it.  These are the colors and that is my final answer!  Of course I just posted an email to Brian asking if the colors are acceptable.  Truthfully, there has got to be nothing worse than working diligently on something and finding–or not finding out–the recipients hate the colors.  Crappy camera phone picture as I have no clue where the regular camera is.

In other exciting news, my mom and I are driving up to Rhinebeck on Sunday.  How could I possibly miss seeing Jody’s St. Brigid in person!  I had crazy ideas of trying to finish mine too.  Although Jody’s couple of months is far more impressive than my couple of years.  My new goal is the end of they year however I seem to have thwarted myself with an afghan or two.  Why?  And I am finally to the colorwork on Kevin’s Salt Lake City Dale of Norway.  Freaking 2002.  But the colorwork is done on a size 4 needle so it should move a bit quicker.  5 years quicker–probably not.

I kind of, sort of have a new sweater to wear for Rhinebeck.  The Kersti neckdown cardigan is finally finished.  I don’t know what motivated me to FINALLY lengthen the sleeves but it is done and on the blocking board.  Now to find a button of some sort.  That yarn is only from 2004.  I am seeing a definate decline in stash yarn though.  Woohoo!

Edited to add from Brian:

I love them, all four of them.

I cannot wait to lower the heat in the apartment because of the new
afghan.

Huh? October 15, 2007

So I have decided that I want to knit a throw for my friends Brian and Joel.  I thought Berroco’s Peruvia would be a nice substitution for Manos and promptly emailed Brian this morning with requests for colors.  Here is his repsonse: 

We are very earthy-toned at the moment, bleached wood and dusty dirt
and powdery sand and early buds and new stems and young branches and late spring leaves; all faded and soft and cosy wool.

                                   Does that help at all?

I don’t know.  Do you think that helps?  Oh, and he only wants me to use three colors.

If I don’t stop starting I will never finish! July 31, 2007

What is wrong with me?  I just keep starting things.  I am so close on the top down cardi.  Alright, I am annoyed that I was "technically" finished and had to lengthen the sleeves.  And I am down to the foot on the Neopolitan socks.  I think I have them as designated "waiting room" socks.

There was no reason to start a baby blanket.  At least it is stash yarn!  Although, I did buy a few more to supplement.  It is really just an inbetweener project.  I also started a Ruffles & Ridges shawl in the yarn my friend Marilyn gave me.  The alpaca is lovely to work with.  I don’t think I have ever knit a ruffle before and an i-cord edging is new to me also.

The second sleeve of St. Brigid sits at row 2.  Sigh.  I also started a Clapotis for the shop.  I was using Plymouth Royal Bamboo for a simple tank top but wasn’t thrilled with it and saw on Ravelry that a few had used it–quite happily–on Clapotis. 

My brother is visiting this weekend with his wife and daughter.  Gracie adores her cousin–she’s in high school.  And we are planning to go see They Might Be Giants with the kids.  Owen’s never been to a concert or show.  Hopefully, with his new ADHD medicine, he can handle it.  We think we have seen an improvement.  Hurray!

Simply finished February 8, 2007

The cable baby blanket from Simply Baby is finished.  I used Filatura di Crosa’s 501  in a sweet baby yellow.  I have no clue how much yarn I used as I attempted to use stash yarn with a little bit extra I bought.  Which I proceeded to lose–so I bought the 4 balls left.  And, of course, found the lost yarn the next week.  I think I have 4 balls left.  It will make some thing.  I love the color!

The funny thing about this blanket for me was it it’s simplicity made it a bit boring.  However, it was easy to pick up and put down because it was so simple.  All scrunched up it looked okay but a dunk and a block and it really bloomed.  And I was sad it was over.  I thought I was working toward a product–in truth, I think I enjoyed the process.  I highly recommend 501.  Many knitters say they don’t care for washable yarns–I think 501 may be an exception.

I have gotten back to the pulsewarmers and hope to finish two mates.  It’s funny to learn–again–why a project was put aside.  On one pulsewarmer I didn’t string enough beads.  I was about 60 short.  That’s a real pain because I don’t want to break the yarn.  On such fine needles, I hate to run an end unless I absolutely have to.  Last night I strung enough beads for the 2nd from the other side of the skein and will get back to the first after this is finished and feed the beads up the skein.  Never a dull knitting moment, right?  Another pulsewarmer was abandoned because the colors aren’t doing it for me.  I am using a cream colored yarn from Elann and it just looks dingy.

In other exciting news,  a new yarn shop is born! Sonny and Shear by Kris of the Knitting Wannabe .  I’ve placed my order–have you?