Sep 14, 2007 The Long GoodbyeThis, my friends, is going to be a long post. So long in fact, that I am going to post all of the non-knitting related stuff elsewhere. Mr. Shad leaves tomorrow. :( And I am going to miss him, but that is all I will say here. If you really want to you can go read the other post.
In knitting news, I did start Mad Color Weave with Amazonas. Actually, I started them later that evening. There were several "false starts", I couldn't decide which size to do, then I couldn't wrap my head around the pattern. It's funny because it's such a simple pattern. Could have something to do with using 3 needles instead of 4, ya think? All that is left now is the toe, then I can start the second sock. They are a little snug, but that can actually be a good thing. Thelonious has a tendency to sag a bit, and I hate that.
Even though we are still in full on summer swing (weather-wise) down here, my mind has already started to turn to sweaters, Christmas gifts, and other fall knits. Mr. Shad helped me choose between knitting the Luna Dress or the Somewhat Cowl. He said that the Luna Dress was too frumpy. :/ Whatever. Anyways, I'm okay with the Somewhat Cowl, actually the more I look at it the more I like it. I even ordered yarn for it, which Mr. Shad also picked out. He would pick olive drab. lol The color is called Fern, but it's actually much nicer in person than it looked online. I was having second thoughts at first. The original appears to be green as well, for some reason I kept thinking it was brown. Then again, certain shades of green and brown look almost the same. If you don't believe me, come over some time and I will show you my living room walls.
 Okay, I must admit to something, I hate knitting those stupid Converse Booties. I  started another pair for a friend's baby, and nearly threw the yarn across the room. Why on earth did I make the toe so complicated and ridiculous?! Oh yeah, because it looks good. >.< Anyways, I ended up modifying the pattern so it could be done in the round. When I am through with all of my posting I will go add those alterations to the little pattern so that it can be done either way. Still a lot of ends to weave in, but at least there is no seaming. Finishing the second booty is part of my goal for today. Which includes: finishing the booties, finishing the first Amazonas sock, swatching for the Somewhat Cowl, and knitting at least 1 rep of the pattern on Goddess. Oh yeah, that. That's right, I haven't posted about Goddess in forever have I? Eh. Everything is pretty much done except the 5.5" of pattern at the end. Let me tell  you how much I loathe it. It is only 4 rows, and I'm lucky if I get half a rep done. I'm trying to do at least one a day, I should need about 13 total. Right now there are about 4 of them...so only 9 to go! If you don't see a FO post about Goddess in two weeks, start complaining. Apparently when I put things into hibernating they go in there for several months. Currently in hibernation (thanks for reminding me constantly Ravlery), I have the Uber-crop Raglan, Butterfly Headwrap, Harley Quinn, and the Martha/Nermal socks. I guess 4 out of 57 isn't bad, right? That leaves 47 things I have finished (4 in progress, and 2 frogged), including mom's top. If I can finish that I can finish anything. Once the cold starts to hit, I'll probably pull Harley Quinn back out, they are actually almost finished. Just gotta do the entrelac cuff on the second sock. Okay, now I am just rambling! Last up on the dockett today (I think), Flint Knits swapped me her copy of  Twinkle's Big City Knits for a skein of CTH Supersock in Yellow. I think I got the better end of that deal. :) This is why I love knitters though, we were just pondering sweaters together and I mention thinking about buying the book. She says, "Ah, I have that and can't use it! Would you like to swap?" Would I ever?! Oh, but what do I have to offer? A quick look over the stash tempted her gave her an idea of what she wanted. I would have given her my leftover Wollmeise Poison Nr. 5, but feel kind of badly about it only being half the skein (literally, it's 76g). Probably should have sent both. :D The Skating Sweater (see above links) is really calling to me. So much so that I have been looking into yarn for it, and actually agreed to buy some Cascade Magnum off of a fellow Raveler. In other news, this kind of upsets me. It's cool they mention knitting...but I don't want them encouraging others to fake it. :/ Okay, I am just ridiuclous.  Labels: alpaca, blah, blogging, booties, Goddess, gratitude, procrastinating, progress, purchases, rambling, Ravelry, socks, swaps, Wollmeise, yarn 09:10 | |
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May 14, 2007 Moms Rock!It is true. Everyone should know this, most of you are moms (and you all have moms). My husband must really appreciate me. I got a lot of goodies this year. Some of it I bought myself though. Well, my MIL complimented me on my clean house when she got in on Friday, that was more than enough to set the weekend off right. Mr. Shad gave me (I'm listing it all, because he gave me these things scattered throughout the weekend) a kitchen scale, a belt (my old one was dead), a sticker, flowers, a t-shirt, Bicenntenial Man, Jack, and What Dreams May Come. I gave (to myself), 2 and a half pounds of Alpaca, a ball winder, and finished my first Twisted Flowers sock. My MIL and father cooked breakfast Saturday morning. It was a fantastic weekend folks.
 The Twisted Flowers sock may end up twinless. I'm debating. The Koigu  wasn't making me happy, it's just too much money for the quality. Also, I messed up. I made the foot a bit short because I was getting impatient. So now part of the heel flap comes under my heel. It might not be a big deal really. Just not sure how I feel about it. The huge sweater also got a couple inches in. When I had the sock finished, and had spun everything I'd carded over the weekend...I realized there wasn't much else for me to knit. Today I started and attempt at this. Except...it'll look totally different because I'm trying it in some of my handspun. Hopefully I have enough. *sigh*  Hum, what else? My dad took lots of pics, forgot his wallet, and is still impressed with the fact that you can make "string" out of anything. lol Made cookies today. Plan on making peanut-butter pie for a potluck on Thursday. OH! And thank you to Carissa! She sent me a cute little sheepy card to thank me for some things and wish me a happy Mother's Day. Mr. Shad also bought himself a Wii. *rolls eyes* Labels: alpaca, ball winder, fiber, gifts, gratitude, Mother's Day, socks, Twisted Flower 15:51 | |
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Jan 17, 2007 We Have Yarn...Finally. Yep, the KP arrived today! Hurrah! I have Alpaca Cloud in Sunlight (which isn't as yellow as I had hoped, and that's actually fine), Essential Solid in Dusk, and finally, some Palette in...Red. Yes, it's actually just red. lol Odd how I ordered the Alpaca Cloud this past Friday and the other two yarns on the fourth, yet they arrived on the same day. It really must have been due to sorting out all of those holiday orders. Which is good, I was almost disappointed in them. The yarn is still beautiful. And, affordable. :) The Alpaca Cloud will become that lace tee from Vogue Knitting, the Essential will join my Lorna's Laces Smoke in making Eunny's Endpaper Mitts, and the Palette will be my LoveMeKnot socks. The Dusk is going to look awesome paired up with Smoke, don't you think?
Alright, I came to a stand still on my two current projects. Ran out of yarn for the Harley Quinn socks and can't buy more til next pay day (so...far...away), and cracked another of the needles for the swap sock. It didn't snap all the way through, but I took it as a sign to knock it off. I could have started another pair of socks, or my Hug shrug as intended, but I didn't feel like winding a ball myself. Had I had a car I could have run to the LYS and wound some, but I didn't. *sigh* Really, I tried to grab something not ProjSpec related. It didn't work. That Alpaca Seta I bought awhile back finally jumped into my fingers. "Just a swatch" I said to myself, "to keep my hands busy." Oh yes, my hands were busy alright. Busy casting-on! This yarn is delectable. Now, I'm hoping the basic guidelines I found aren't lying because I already have about two - two and a half inches done. My gauge was 26 sts over 4". It's odd how size 5 needles suddenly feel huge in my hands, even though the Harley Quinns are on size 6s. It's another perfect ProjSpec project too, without realizing it I used blue and white stitch markers. The only other ones I had were pink and I'm not that fond of pink.
According to the "standard" sizes on that site, I'm a child size 10-12! Except my sleeve length of course. That's just craziness. I swear, I'm not that small. Really. Am I? Oh well. Next pay day I will be purchasing more Alpaca Seta for this raglan, more CP Fjord for the Harley Quinns, and possibly a sub to IK! Not sure when I'll be paying the $25 for my spinning class, but the first one should be next Friday. Which is also Heather's fourth birthday. Alright, I'm going back to my raglan.Labels: alpaca, knitting, project spectrum, purchases, yarn 16:45 | |
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Jan 8, 2007 I Wish it Was RainingOh wait, it is! lol Sorry, been glued to my Start Static CD lately. I randomly woke up with one of the songs in my head a couple days ago and popped it in. I get in these moods and will listen to the same CD for weeks. Sick, isn't it?
Anyways, I have lots of pictures for you! Where should I begin? Um...let's see, how about what's in progress? The Harley Quinn socks are coming along nicely. This is what I've decided to call them, after the Joker's lil assistant/girlfriend in the animated series that I watched when I was growing up. Even though it is really starting to remind of an ice cream cone. The pattern I'm using on the top of the sock makes it look like a waffle cone. lol
The yarn for my swap sock came in today!! Hooray! As did another surprise. I'd tell you what but, that would ruin it. Actually, I took a picture to give you a clue, but it came out all fuzzy, and I don't feel like taking anymore. lol Nice, aren't I? Except, it feels kinda like a small gift. Part of me wants to send yarn along with it, but I can't afford that right now. *sigh* Which is depressing because I really wanted to grab a spot in Mama-E's Project Spectrum Sock Club, except the price is comparable to a week of tuition for Heather!! Bleh. Oh well. I'll make due.
My mommy also sent me pics of her modelling the socks, AND an overdue pic of my brother's Knucks. Yeah, the ones I gave him for his birthday. In October. hehe Anyways, I'm pimping him out on my blog. Click the pic to see a close up of the knucks themselves. I'm still mad at him though. We'll talk about it later.
For now, I'm adding this to my list of things I want to do. For March or April. Hm. Maybe in a pale yellow? Yeah, that'd be freaking gorgeous. That way I can make an excuse to work yellow into my wardrobe, and my Project Spectrum list. Plus, using KP will save me tons of money. Besides, there is way more yardage. I would only need like 2 or 3 skeins, and the leftover can be used to make a lacy scarf or something. That'd be...like $12. Not bad I think. AND if I use the Alpaca Cloud as desired, it will qualify for the Alpaca along too. Which is up by the way. Then I'll have three projects for the Alpaca along. :)
Speaking of lace, did I mention that I have decided to buy some from the LYS and dye that? I'm hoping to acheive something similar to that Lorna's Laces I wanted. That would be lovely. Also, planning some fun little ProjSpec things. June and July are gonna be FUN!
Oh, you might notice I organized my to do list. Obviously, I was bored MAJOR yesterday. Since it was Monday in night crew land. Didn't I tell you? Night crew lives in an alternate dimension where Sunday is Monday. On the plus side, that means Thursday is Friday! WOOT!
*gratuitous sock pic*Labels: alpaca, KAL, knitting, knucks, life, pictures, project spectrum, socks, yarn 18:46 | |
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