Hmmm.... February....the shortest month....
Let's see what I got done.
1. DS#1 ski hat using fair isle. It was worn once on a skiing trip and then left here when he went back to Florida. (Didn't he want to carry it around with him for sentimental value?)
Ummm.... I guess that's it. You've seen pictures of lots of other things but no other completed projects. I'll have to start finishing some things in March.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
All I asked you to do....
I wasn't making you clean the bathrooms.
Nor did I call up your teachers and ask for an extra project or two.
We didn't visit the dentist and have 3 extra fillings, just for the fun of it.
I didn't even make you eat liver and onions. Or chocolate covered caterpillars.
All I asked you to do was try on a wool sweater.
And it was just try on, not wear to school or out in public. It's not for you, and you don't have to like it.
I even promised not to take a picture of you in it.
But you'd think I was trying to hang you upside down by your toenails by the amount of complaining you did.
And you means "both of you", DS and DD, who did equal complaining.
"It itches, get it off!" you said of the Patons Classic Merino, in my opinion a very soft wool.
Or, "it's not my turn, it's his turn!" (Which was also wrong as his turn occurred while you were sleeping.)
The torture is about over, as I think the hood is turning out right this time.
However, the "trying on" is uneven, 2 times to 1. For even amounts of torture, I believe I'm still owed one more try on.
Oh, if only I hadn't promised no pictures.
Nor did I call up your teachers and ask for an extra project or two.
We didn't visit the dentist and have 3 extra fillings, just for the fun of it.
I didn't even make you eat liver and onions. Or chocolate covered caterpillars.
All I asked you to do was try on a wool sweater.
And it was just try on, not wear to school or out in public. It's not for you, and you don't have to like it.
I even promised not to take a picture of you in it.
But you'd think I was trying to hang you upside down by your toenails by the amount of complaining you did.
And you means "both of you", DS and DD, who did equal complaining.
"It itches, get it off!" you said of the Patons Classic Merino, in my opinion a very soft wool.
Or, "it's not my turn, it's his turn!" (Which was also wrong as his turn occurred while you were sleeping.)
The torture is about over, as I think the hood is turning out right this time.
However, the "trying on" is uneven, 2 times to 1. For even amounts of torture, I believe I'm still owed one more try on.
Oh, if only I hadn't promised no pictures.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Stop the presses!
It may be a new record, but for this whole week I've only been knitting on one thing--my cabled hoodie.
Here it is in a really bad picture.
I've changed it from knitting it flat to knitting it in the round, which means that the raglan decreases had to be changed, which is changing the neckline.
Most people would figure it out ahead of time to see if the numbers work out. Me? I'm totally winging it.
Will that mean I'll be frogging it? Very possibly.
Do I care? Somewhat, but not enough to figure it out ahead of time.
Hey, it's just knitting after all.
Here it is in a really bad picture.
I've changed it from knitting it flat to knitting it in the round, which means that the raglan decreases had to be changed, which is changing the neckline.
Most people would figure it out ahead of time to see if the numbers work out. Me? I'm totally winging it.
Will that mean I'll be frogging it? Very possibly.
Do I care? Somewhat, but not enough to figure it out ahead of time.
Hey, it's just knitting after all.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I had nothing to knit
This is my excuse and I'm sticking with it. I had nothing to knit, so I had to cast on for another project.
Here's my proof:
My fish are multiplying. In fact, I've used up all my right-sized oddballs and am not ready to use a bigger skein of yarn, so I couldn't knit fish.
My Cobblestone pullover has almost run out of yarn. This is sad, considering that I'm a way, far away, from even close to being done. I have more roving to spin more yarn, but it's not done yet. I've started to spin, and have spun about 3 little skeins, but they haven't been washed. So, no knitting on the Cobblestone until the skeins are ready.
I have swatched for my Mirepoix vest. However, I can't even start the grey ribbing yet since I don't have a 24" size 3 circular. (The only reason I can come up with that I don't have one is that when would I even be crazy enough to do a sweater on 3s? Apparently that time has come.)
I made a trip to my LYS to get the 3s. They didn't have any. While there, I picked up two more colors for the fairisle portion of the vest. I should have one main color (in my case, grey) plus 6 contrasting colors that are two shades of 3 colors. I have 5 contrasting colors that are 3 shades of one color and 2 of another. This is giving me anxiety trying to figure out where to use each color. I've colored out a chart on graph paper, but really, the best way is just to knit a bit. I'll try again soon, after I recover from my anxiety. Maybe the two additional colors will make it better. Or maybe I'll save them for baby booties.
To start this vest, I have to wait for my 3s which I've ordered from knitpicks. (A couple of extra items may have jumped into my shopping basket also.)
The Hedera socks are also in progress. This is the second sock, but after doing this much lace in one day, I couldn't do any more. (Take a look at my bent needle--I stepped on it a couple of days ago and bent 2 needles and broke a pair of reading glasses. On the upside of things, I didn't get hurt. Just annoyed. Who leaves my knitting on the floor where anyone can step on them? Oh, that would be me.)
These are my reasons, therefore, that I started a new project. It's a cabled hoodie that'll I'll give away somewhere when I'm done. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the simple stitches that come without too much thinking.
Now I have something to knit.
Here's my proof:
My fish are multiplying. In fact, I've used up all my right-sized oddballs and am not ready to use a bigger skein of yarn, so I couldn't knit fish.
My Cobblestone pullover has almost run out of yarn. This is sad, considering that I'm a way, far away, from even close to being done. I have more roving to spin more yarn, but it's not done yet. I've started to spin, and have spun about 3 little skeins, but they haven't been washed. So, no knitting on the Cobblestone until the skeins are ready.
I have swatched for my Mirepoix vest. However, I can't even start the grey ribbing yet since I don't have a 24" size 3 circular. (The only reason I can come up with that I don't have one is that when would I even be crazy enough to do a sweater on 3s? Apparently that time has come.)
I made a trip to my LYS to get the 3s. They didn't have any. While there, I picked up two more colors for the fairisle portion of the vest. I should have one main color (in my case, grey) plus 6 contrasting colors that are two shades of 3 colors. I have 5 contrasting colors that are 3 shades of one color and 2 of another. This is giving me anxiety trying to figure out where to use each color. I've colored out a chart on graph paper, but really, the best way is just to knit a bit. I'll try again soon, after I recover from my anxiety. Maybe the two additional colors will make it better. Or maybe I'll save them for baby booties.
To start this vest, I have to wait for my 3s which I've ordered from knitpicks. (A couple of extra items may have jumped into my shopping basket also.)
The Hedera socks are also in progress. This is the second sock, but after doing this much lace in one day, I couldn't do any more. (Take a look at my bent needle--I stepped on it a couple of days ago and bent 2 needles and broke a pair of reading glasses. On the upside of things, I didn't get hurt. Just annoyed. Who leaves my knitting on the floor where anyone can step on them? Oh, that would be me.)
These are my reasons, therefore, that I started a new project. It's a cabled hoodie that'll I'll give away somewhere when I'm done. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the simple stitches that come without too much thinking.
Now I have something to knit.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
awwww
Valeria gave me this award. Thanks, Valeria!
The official rules are as follows:
1. Copy the award to your site
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers
4. Link to those on your blog
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.
I'm going to have to break the chain 'cause I can't narrow it down to seven. But for all those that blog out there in cyberspace, thanks for keeping me entertained on a daily basis!
The official rules are as follows:
1. Copy the award to your site
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers
4. Link to those on your blog
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.
I'm going to have to break the chain 'cause I can't narrow it down to seven. But for all those that blog out there in cyberspace, thanks for keeping me entertained on a daily basis!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Daisies
When DD#2 is not hiding behind the daisies, she's busy taking pictures of them. Here are a few shots.
They were totally unretouched. I'm just amazed at how well she can do. I think I need to enlist her to take all my knitting photos. Think bribery would work?
They were totally unretouched. I'm just amazed at how well she can do. I think I need to enlist her to take all my knitting photos. Think bribery would work?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Knitting?
After my last blog (see below), I walked around my house looking for someone to make me the brownies. DH was hiding from me and DS#2 is away at space camp. (Really! A week at space camp! The house is lonely without him. Plus, there's no one to take out the garbage. We debated on whether to let it pile up for the whole week so he could have a welcome home present on Friday, but decided it would get way too smelly. Actually, that's what I decided. DS#1 thought we should just empty it on whoever gives in first, which I'm sure means me.)
DS#1, when asked if he'd read my blog, "Why would I read your blog?" (It's not as though it was even hard, I left it up on the screen that all he had to do was sit down at the computer and he was bound to notice it.)
Feeling that he was a lost cause, I hunted down DD#2 (my best bet anyway.)
Her answer was "maybe....." and she walked away.
I didn't give up so easily, though, and kept at her the next day until she finally gave in. Ah, persistance and a mother's guilt are wonderful things.
Really, though, if you're going to lick the bowl in plain sight, don't think you can hide behind the bouquet of daisies and think I can't see you.
The brownies were good. (I think they were cooled by now, but just barely.)
Knitting? I did a bit of knitting at DD#2's basketball game. (Which they won, oh by the way, beating the number one team.)(You can't see DD in this picture, so don't even try.)
Most of the time I spent tangling my yarn around my purse.
I'm quite talented to do so much tangling in such a small amount of time.
The shirts were made by DD#2 for us to wear as we cheer at her games. (DD#1 and DS#2 both have them too, but we missed the one photo opportunity when we were all in the same place at the same time.)
I'll try to get the back view once DS#2 gets back from space camp. Have I mentioned that he's at space camp?
DS#1, when asked if he'd read my blog, "Why would I read your blog?" (It's not as though it was even hard, I left it up on the screen that all he had to do was sit down at the computer and he was bound to notice it.)
Feeling that he was a lost cause, I hunted down DD#2 (my best bet anyway.)
Her answer was "maybe....." and she walked away.
I didn't give up so easily, though, and kept at her the next day until she finally gave in. Ah, persistance and a mother's guilt are wonderful things.
Really, though, if you're going to lick the bowl in plain sight, don't think you can hide behind the bouquet of daisies and think I can't see you.
The brownies were good. (I think they were cooled by now, but just barely.)
Knitting? I did a bit of knitting at DD#2's basketball game. (Which they won, oh by the way, beating the number one team.)(You can't see DD in this picture, so don't even try.)
Most of the time I spent tangling my yarn around my purse.
I'm quite talented to do so much tangling in such a small amount of time.
The shirts were made by DD#2 for us to wear as we cheer at her games. (DD#1 and DS#2 both have them too, but we missed the one photo opportunity when we were all in the same place at the same time.)
I'll try to get the back view once DS#2 gets back from space camp. Have I mentioned that he's at space camp?
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Somebody needs to make brownies!!!
If you're reading this and you live at my house,
THIS
MEANS
YOU!!!!!!
THIS
MEANS
YOU!!!!!!
I see a swatch on the horizon
I've made two more eBay yarn purchases and now I say "stop!" (At least until I get more money in Paypal.)
These two purchases were bought to be used together in making the Mirepoix Bodice from IK Fall '07. This is my first major colorwork project and I'm a little nervous. Plus, I'll be steeking and I've NEVER done steeking.
These five skeins were bought as a set and will be used for the colorwork. I'm not really sure about the two yellows, but I really like the teals.
Here are 10 skeins of steel grey for the ribbing. (I have enough to do the sleeves, but I'm only going to do a vest.)
I just got the grey a couple of days ago (or maybe yesterday), so I haven't got up the nerve to try them out yet. Next up is winding the first 5 into balls and knitting a swatch. (Yes, I can't skip swatching this time.)
These two purchases were bought to be used together in making the Mirepoix Bodice from IK Fall '07. This is my first major colorwork project and I'm a little nervous. Plus, I'll be steeking and I've NEVER done steeking.
These five skeins were bought as a set and will be used for the colorwork. I'm not really sure about the two yellows, but I really like the teals.
Here are 10 skeins of steel grey for the ribbing. (I have enough to do the sleeves, but I'm only going to do a vest.)
I just got the grey a couple of days ago (or maybe yesterday), so I haven't got up the nerve to try them out yet. Next up is winding the first 5 into balls and knitting a swatch. (Yes, I can't skip swatching this time.)
Friday, February 06, 2009
They make a nice table
Are your washer and dryer as multifunctional as mine are?
Twelve pieces of stained molding drying on top. (Notice the clear plastic that's protecting my washer/dryer. I'm not staining them also.) (My arms look okay too. Although, my right arm has been through a good scrubbing and two showers and still shows the stain line from the last coat. Think it's permanent? It'll be okay until summer, but once I start wearing short sleeves again I might mind.)
A load of laundry drying on the bottom. (Anything in the washer was just too risky; the stain needs 6 hours of drying time and we need clean clothes in the morning.)
Twelve pieces of stained molding drying on top. (Notice the clear plastic that's protecting my washer/dryer. I'm not staining them also.) (My arms look okay too. Although, my right arm has been through a good scrubbing and two showers and still shows the stain line from the last coat. Think it's permanent? It'll be okay until summer, but once I start wearing short sleeves again I might mind.)
A load of laundry drying on the bottom. (Anything in the washer was just too risky; the stain needs 6 hours of drying time and we need clean clothes in the morning.)
Is K any better?
Lynn thought the R post was funny. Actually, she thought it was ROTFL, which starts with the letter R. (haha, funny girl.) She wondered if the letter K would be any better. I wondered too, so I started to brainstorm with DD#2 yesterday. We came up with a whole bunch of words like Kandy, and Khocolate, Kanoeing and Kamera. However, other than those made-up words we didn't do so good. I'll try again today.
10 Things I like starting with the letter K:
1. Knitting (it would be sad if I missed this word.)
2. Krispy Kreme doughnuts
3. rice Krispies
4. Knick-Knacks (and my house has way too many of them)
5. Keeping the peace
6. Koala bears
7. Kangaroos
8. Kitchnering (notice the title said "like" and not "love". There's definitely a use for Kitchnering and I can do it without stressing out.)
(Pausing here to ask my family. They came up with Kouch, Kubicle, Kandles, and Kook. Maybe I should do the letter C.)
9. Klondike bar (contributed by DS#2).
(Dinner was ready. Using this as a conversation topic, they further came up with
Kites, Klutz, and
10. Kids. I like my kids!
So, was K any better?
Not really, but it provided some dinner conversation!
10 Things I like starting with the letter K:
1. Knitting (it would be sad if I missed this word.)
2. Krispy Kreme doughnuts
3. rice Krispies
4. Knick-Knacks (and my house has way too many of them)
5. Keeping the peace
6. Koala bears
7. Kangaroos
8. Kitchnering (notice the title said "like" and not "love". There's definitely a use for Kitchnering and I can do it without stressing out.)
(Pausing here to ask my family. They came up with Kouch, Kubicle, Kandles, and Kook. Maybe I should do the letter C.)
9. Klondike bar (contributed by DS#2).
(Dinner was ready. Using this as a conversation topic, they further came up with
Kites, Klutz, and
10. Kids. I like my kids!
So, was K any better?
Not really, but it provided some dinner conversation!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The painful letter R
A couple of days ago (okay, several), I read Lynn's blog where she did a meme on the letter B. Deciding I wanted to play, I left her my name and she gave me the letter R.
In the couple of days that's passed (okay, several), I should've been at least thinking about it, but I wasn't.
Anyway, here's 10 things I like all starting with the letter R, as typed by thinking off the top of my head.
1. Remodeling. (Not really, I hate remodeling--at least the process of. I just had to pause here to wipe off the excess stain from my quarter round molding that I totally forgot to do.)
Here we go:
1. The letter R. It's one of my favorite letters of the alphabet, mostly because my name starts with that letter. (Just like my favorite number is 12 which is my birthdate.)
(Another pause...I had washed my hands, but apparently missed a spot. Anyone want to see what color I'm staining?)
2. Rhubarb pie. Yum.
3. Raspberry pop tarts.
4. Ravelry. I especially love the pattern searches to see how real people's stuff turned out and what yarn they used.
5. Reading.
6. Random. I like to be random. A lot.
Wow. I have absolutely no knowledge of any words that I like that start with the letter R. I can list more that I don't like: running, Reno, rutabaga, retching, rebel.
Hold on while I consult my dictionary.
7. Right. I like to be right. And even when I'm wrong, I'm right. (It said so right in the dictionary.)
8. Raggedy Ann. (I got this from searching a recipes website where there's a recipe for Raggedy Ann cookies. Mmmm...) She was one of my favorite dolls growing up and I read all the books.
9. Red. Especially red yarn. I like to keep a skein or two of Cascade 220 on hand--you never know when you need a good red. (I didn't find this in the dictionary, I thought of it all by myself. I even thought about if it was really true until I finally decided that it is.)
Hmmm..... recess (any kid's favorite)....rainbows (I like rainbows, but not enough to make this list)... raindrops, oh, I know....
10. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....these are a few of my favorite things. (I love the Sound of Music!)
Okay, that was painful, but I finally made it to 10. If you want to try, leave me a comment and I'll give you a letter. (Although, I'd also be interested if you can come up with 10 better R things. But I understand if you don't.)
In the couple of days that's passed (okay, several), I should've been at least thinking about it, but I wasn't.
Anyway, here's 10 things I like all starting with the letter R, as typed by thinking off the top of my head.
1. Remodeling. (Not really, I hate remodeling--at least the process of. I just had to pause here to wipe off the excess stain from my quarter round molding that I totally forgot to do.)
Here we go:
1. The letter R. It's one of my favorite letters of the alphabet, mostly because my name starts with that letter. (Just like my favorite number is 12 which is my birthdate.)
(Another pause...I had washed my hands, but apparently missed a spot. Anyone want to see what color I'm staining?)
2. Rhubarb pie. Yum.
3. Raspberry pop tarts.
4. Ravelry. I especially love the pattern searches to see how real people's stuff turned out and what yarn they used.
5. Reading.
6. Random. I like to be random. A lot.
Wow. I have absolutely no knowledge of any words that I like that start with the letter R. I can list more that I don't like: running, Reno, rutabaga, retching, rebel.
Hold on while I consult my dictionary.
7. Right. I like to be right. And even when I'm wrong, I'm right. (It said so right in the dictionary.)
8. Raggedy Ann. (I got this from searching a recipes website where there's a recipe for Raggedy Ann cookies. Mmmm...) She was one of my favorite dolls growing up and I read all the books.
9. Red. Especially red yarn. I like to keep a skein or two of Cascade 220 on hand--you never know when you need a good red. (I didn't find this in the dictionary, I thought of it all by myself. I even thought about if it was really true until I finally decided that it is.)
Hmmm..... recess (any kid's favorite)....rainbows (I like rainbows, but not enough to make this list)... raindrops, oh, I know....
10. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....these are a few of my favorite things. (I love the Sound of Music!)
Okay, that was painful, but I finally made it to 10. If you want to try, leave me a comment and I'll give you a letter. (Although, I'd also be interested if you can come up with 10 better R things. But I understand if you don't.)
Monday, February 02, 2009
Ski hat
This morning, I thought I worked half an hour earlier than I actually did, so I thought I'd have enough time to blog.
Which I don't. So... the words will be coming later. In the meantime, feel free to fill in your own story. :)
------------------
I'm back. Continuing on...
I reknit DS#1's ski hat pattern is here after finishing most of it the last time. I wanted to see the sizing and I was so close to being done that I just did one of the earflaps. It was too small so I stuck with my plan, ripped it out, and reknit it on 9s, still going from the top down.
This time it turned out okay, so I made a matching pompom.
DS wanted a really big pompom, so I made a cardboard template, then wound the yarn around 330 times.
I very carefully left a double stranded tail to be used for tying.
The yarn was slid off the cardboard and tied tightly together.
The yarn was then cut apart, including two of the ties. Sigh. Nothing comes easy.
I had two pieces of yarn left, and they seemed sturdy so I used them to sew it on (and didn't even hide the ends 'cause I forgot.)
The verdict? It worked well on the skiing trip. The pompom stayed on and the wool made the hat warm but still breathable.
Changes? The two "pigtails" could be thicker. This time I used 6 strands of yarn that were doubled over and braided. Also, the earflaps could still be thicker. I used garter stitch, but next time I might do it with two strands.
The yarn? All worsted weight on size 9 needles. Hunter green Brown Sheep and white Chaco for the main color work, black Cascade 220 for the diamond colorwork band, the pigtails and the pompom. (I finished this Friday so it counts for a January project.)
(And if any of you is wondering....I made it to work on time.)
Which I don't. So... the words will be coming later. In the meantime, feel free to fill in your own story. :)
------------------
I'm back. Continuing on...
I reknit DS#1's ski hat pattern is here after finishing most of it the last time. I wanted to see the sizing and I was so close to being done that I just did one of the earflaps. It was too small so I stuck with my plan, ripped it out, and reknit it on 9s, still going from the top down.
This time it turned out okay, so I made a matching pompom.
DS wanted a really big pompom, so I made a cardboard template, then wound the yarn around 330 times.
I very carefully left a double stranded tail to be used for tying.
The yarn was slid off the cardboard and tied tightly together.
The yarn was then cut apart, including two of the ties. Sigh. Nothing comes easy.
I had two pieces of yarn left, and they seemed sturdy so I used them to sew it on (and didn't even hide the ends 'cause I forgot.)
The verdict? It worked well on the skiing trip. The pompom stayed on and the wool made the hat warm but still breathable.
Changes? The two "pigtails" could be thicker. This time I used 6 strands of yarn that were doubled over and braided. Also, the earflaps could still be thicker. I used garter stitch, but next time I might do it with two strands.
The yarn? All worsted weight on size 9 needles. Hunter green Brown Sheep and white Chaco for the main color work, black Cascade 220 for the diamond colorwork band, the pigtails and the pompom. (I finished this Friday so it counts for a January project.)
(And if any of you is wondering....I made it to work on time.)
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