Aug 12, 2007

Hot Hot Heat

First BirthdayDamn it's hot out there. Makes me want to sit in my living room with the air conditioning and a glass of ice water. And knit. So, that's basically what I've been trying to do. Except life keeps interrupting me. This past week was not great. Really, I don't want to think about it. Mostly just a lot of little things. Like the fact that only one couple showed up to Nolan's birthday party yesterday. He still had fun and all, it just hurts to know that I've got lots of fake friends. Mr. Shad is deploying soon and I'm not sure I have many people to count on. Anyways, here are some shots from Nolan's party. Plenty of messy faces.

He ate like three cupcakes, and those things were sugar overload. At about 10:30 or something he woke up on a sugar high, puked, and then played for a bit. It was like watching a little drunk person. lol

Aside from the craziness of life, I've been knitting. While in Maryland last weekend I did finish the Twisted Flowers socks, but forgot to take pictures. I ended up giving them to my brother's girlfriend, she is a little tiny thing and has size 6 Readinig Materialfeet. Seemed to fit her perfectly. Also, I think I gave her a whole new view of knitting when I showed her my Ravelry queue and projects. Once that was finished I wanted to dive into Eiffel, but uh...forgot the needles. lol Instead I just worked on Mom's top for a bit. And read some comic books that Mr. Shad picked up for me. Did I mention I am a huge Stephen King fan? Especially The Dark Tower series. Specifically, Wizard and Glass. Awhile back, Marvel mentioned they were co-oping with Stephen King to create a comic series based on that book! Woot! Mr. Shad saw them at the comic book store he likes to visit while in Maryland, and bought all of them for me. Oh, and my brand new IK arrived the day before we left, so I perused that as well. Eunny's long awaited (for me anyways) Tangled Yoke Cardigan is in it!! My LYS owner got me all hyped to spin my own yarn for this...we'll see how that goes. Maybe use some of that Alpaca I got for Mother's Day?

On my doorstep when we got home were these LOVELY balls of SWTC Bamboo in Electric SWTC Electric Blue 3Blue. Let me tell you, when I saw this on Kpixie, I had to have it. I was afraid at first, because the swatch pictured on SWTC's website was darker than the yarn pictured at Kpixie. Still, I figured it would be worth the risk, besides, if it really was as bright as it was on the Kpixie site then it would be a perfect match for Goddess. Oh, they really are that gorgeous. Castonitis hit me hard when I opened the box to see the bamboo (my fav fiber!) calling to me, and the pattern...just begging to be swatced for. Grrr! No. I had already swatched Eiffel, plus made a deal with myself to knit an inch a day on Mom's top. Still, it calls to me, sitting in my little bag of yarn in my bedroom. Oh yeah, it's next in my queue for sure!

Eiffel IP4


Eiffel is coming along nicely. The lace pattern is very simple and kinda flies by. The yarn...well, I am not so in love with it. The color is awesome, and I love that it can be machine washed. However, it's kinda tough and unforgiving. I don't hate it, but it is certainly not my favorite. Of course, that's why I like to try new and different yarns, it gives me a chance to experience everything. My LYS just got in some nettle, that ought to be interesting! I really only want some because of some movie I used to love as a kid. Baccarat Player is about 4 inchesBaccarat Player away from completion. Then I can weave in ends (which I have been trying to do as I go along for the front), and *gulp* seam. Linda has already been warned that I am bringing it in for her assistance when I finish it. Generally...I suck at seaming, and I want this to be well done, besides, the yarn is so slippery and fiddly! My number of FOs is really growing, and I am very happy about that. The pair of socks a month thing, and the sweater every two months... well that was shot a long time ago. It's okay, because I am still making things, getting things done and all. Ew...Christmas is coming up soon. Alright, I'm going back to my water and needles.

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Jul 28, 2007

Absence Makes the Needles Go Faster

My computer is still...problematic. It doesn't work right. So I keep using the old one, which is soooooo slow. I am impatient, so you can imagine that I just don't have the time to deal with it most days. This means, no I have not really been reading mail, blogs, or posting. Instead I fill my time with knitting. Except...I have nobody to share it with!! ACK! This will be a long post. Prepare yourselves.

I'll begin with the post I wanted to do immediately after my last one. That same day, in the mail I recieved this lovely stitch marker. Sunne sent it to me in angel wing 2rememberance of my FIL. Her family has a tradition to give a seemingly normal object that can (in some way) create new things, so that the love you have for the person who has passed, becomes a part of this new thing. In this case, a stich marker, used in creating garments. Right now it's being used on something for one of the children. We'll get to that. First, I want to tell you how incredible this simple gift is. Whether or not Sunne knew any of this, I can't be sure. My heritage is a mystery to me. My parents and grandparents don't really seem to know anything about it either, or can't tell me. Or maybe won't. Because of that, I've always been obsessed with traditions and cultures with a proud/strong heritage. Tradition is important to me, and it fascinates me. To become a part of someone else's family tradition is truly touching. It makes me feel special, especially since Sunne has never met me, and we live across the country from one another. Thank you so much! I really appreciate this! Not only that but, well, it's supposed to be an angel's wing, but I've decided gracefully gathered 3in this case it's an eagle's wing. My FIL was a Harley man, and every time I look at the stitch marker, that is what it makes me think of. It's just the most perfect thing ever. Okay, I'm actually tearing up (out of gratitude, mind you), so it's time to move on. lol

The best thing about summer knits? They require very little yarn and time. Especially since the ones I've chosen this summer are done on larger needles. Most of the patterns I see for summer are done on size 5 or 6 needles. But so far, since I've been back, the needle range for my projects has been between 8 and 10.5. First there was Coachella. Then the Gracefully Gathered Halter and Boy Shorts from Knitting Lingerie Style. Both were finished in a matter of five days, total. Sleeping would probably help. :D Still need to put the elastic in the shorts, totally procrastinating on that, it's not the highlight of my life. I might not take pictures of me actually wearing the shorts. Then again, I might. Who knows.

boy short 1


So, that was done. What next? I mean, I have no internet so I might as well start a new project. lol Actually, next I started the Ruched Camisole, also from KLS*. But well, Elizabeth, did you warn me about the Rowan Kidsilk Haze? It's SO freakin fiddly and difficult to work with. To get gauge I had to go from a size 9US to a blue sky cottonsize 10.5US!! And I just wanted to rip it out every three second. Maybe if I double it, it would be easier? What do you all think?

After my disaster with the Kidsilk, I ditched that idea for a time when I'm less stressed (which will be...when exactly?). At the LYS this past Tuesday, actually, it might have been Wednesday, I can't be sure. It's not important. Anyway, (it had to be Wednesday), I did some yarn substitution checking and pricing for several KLS projects. I badly wanted to buy some too, but resisted the urge. We don't have that much money right now. Instead I bought a baby sweater pattern ($4) and went home to my stash. Nolan's birthday is two weeks away, and there is some beautiful Blue Sky tunic 1Organic Cotton sitting in there. Actually, I'd been waiting for the LYS to get another shipment of patterns from Knitting Pure & Simple. The pattern had already been chosen for the yarn, she just ran out of them. lol When I found it there in the shop, I snatched it up.

Can I just tell you how in love I am? With both the yarn and the pattern. If it weren't so expensive (rightly so) I would make myself something with the Organic Cotton. It's sooo soft. The color is beautiful. In this pattern too, it just looks so natural and perfect. Just wow. Then I found, amongst my sewing stash, these baby tunicadorable buttons. When this is done I want to do some nice wool sweaters (using this pattern) for Kyran and Heather too. They can all have the same button. It'll be cute. For Heather I might have to line it though, she has really sensitive skin. Mr. Shad stole my camera (again) so you'll have to deal with crappy webcam pictures of my progress.

With all of that happy sounding stuff, I don't think I want to go into why I am mad today. But Mr. Shad owes me some yarn, some cute shoes, some lovin and maybe a pattern book. It depends on what bills we need to pay. lol

*Knitting Lingerie Style will be KLS from this point on. I'm sick of typing it out all of the time, and I plan on doing a LOT of knitting from this book.

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May 25, 2007

I Have a Belly Button

I was tagged again for the 7 things meme. So, I'll just give you a fact or two, at random (Muhahahaha) over the next couple of posts. Nobody is getting tagged this time. Fact 1 - I have a belly button. It's been pierced twice, and I got pregnant 3 times, you do the math. So now there is a nasty scar over my belly button, I'm hoping to get a tattoo some day to cover it.

ouch


I'm not explaining this picture to you. It's kind of self explanitory. Sunne will probably hear all about it (I tend to vent to her lol), and Mr. Shad heard about it last night when it happened. Right now I'm done dwelling on it. Deep breaths.

Bockstark swap 2To distract myself, I wound up and cast-on the Wollmeise worsted I just got. Bockstark Knits and I did a yarn swap (and I am such a bad yarn swapper! Eeee!) she gave me all sorts of really awesome things, plus of course the yarn. Wollmeise is so beautiful, go and buy now! Tell her I sent you! Anyways, the goodies included one of those mini sock blockers which I have (secretly) been dying to have. And gummy bears that the kids gobbled up. The yarn was two skeins of Wollmeise worsted in Iris Sibirica and Veilchen. Purty! Not to mention I just ordered two more skeins of sock yarn and another worsted which she mailed off today! Woot! I'll be rolling in yarn soon. It was a good idea to order it before he left so that it will all arrive when I really need it. :)

Do you believe I'm knitting a scarf?! Yeah, me either. My first So-Called Scarf 2What else did I have to tell you all about? I don't know either. Wait! I remember! I won the contest on PRK! Woohoooo! Wow,there are a lot of exclamation points right there. I think I need to sleep. It's now 1:06am.

Another random fact (2) I have known my best friend for almost 20 years, we met in preschool. We're like an old married couple.

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Apr 1, 2007

Knit Big or Go Home

****PICTURE HEAVY POST****

Payment 3There is a saying about Texas, about how they do everything big. And we all know New Yorkers (well, city New Yorkers) do everything fast. But in Maryland and DC, we do all or nothing. We do it fast, we do it big, and we do it loud. Or we don't do it at all. It's always been hard for me to be one of those people. I have (what I like to call) a "toe-dipper" approach to life. Which means I start out small and build, when I'm comfortable and sure.

Payment 2 Mohair Licoln Detail 2 Silk Candy 2


When it comes to knitting, I have learned to be a "cannonballer". I jump right in. This weekend has definitely made me feel like a real Maryland girl! After feeling like I've been doing nothing the last few weeks, I suddenly do everything all at Payment 1once. It's so exciting. The weekend will have to be broken into two posts for all of the pictures I've got! Not to mention the wheel isn't quite finished. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. I went to Melissa's to help her out with some HTML on her blog, she had promised me wool in exchange. Seeing as how I'm just learning to spin and her Corriedales have great wool, it sounded good to me. Fixing her problems in the template took about 5 minutes, then we spent the next hour and 55 minutes talking. lol She not only gave me more than a pound (I have no sense of weight, I could be totally off) of Corriedale, she also gave me samples of Lincoln wool, Mohair, and silk!! What an awesome deal! She really is an amazing woman, she also teaches needle-felting. Her needle-felted puppets are really beautiful. Check out this interview. So, on my return I stopped by the LYS to show off my goodies, and to chat of course. And I found out...

New Baby


My baby has arrived!! Oh glorious day! Now all I had to do was wait for my mom's half of the money. Until my dear husband informs me that we can pay the other half Baby Geekand pick it up today! My excitement is bubbling over at this point. We pick her up, and then I remember we're on our way into town (haha) to stop by the mall to get me sandals. Which we never do find. Apparently sandals are no longer in style, unless they have large heels. Thanks, but no. I've got lots of heels. I don't do flip-flops either, that thing between my toes? No again. We bought a lot of other random things. At some point I sat down to feed Nolan, while Justin went into a sports memorabilia store. Apparently, Nolan wasn't feeling well, about 98% of the way into his jar of peas...Nolan just ejected all of it. So there I am, sitting at a table in the mall, baby vomiting endlessly on me, and nobody even tries to help. ShortlivedThere are plenty of people staring, not one of them offers to get my husband or some napkins! I had to send my four year old daughter into a (luckily nearby) store, by herself, to get my husband. Um, thanks.

I showered and then polished my nails. Not something I often do, as I am a former nail biter. Also, my crafts seem to inhibit my ability to keep nicely polished nails, or the opposite happens and I can't craft because my nails are wet. Neither of which is exciting to me. Then I checked my email! Cookie had asked my permission to post the picture of my Thelonious sock on her blog! How fantastic is that?! Oh, it definitely made me feel better.

First Loopy OrderSaturday, I was jonesing to get some time in at the LYS. Mr. Shad needed to take his old motorcycle to a bike swap though. We really needed to sell it. So I waited. While sitting around trying to knit baby booties, a package arrived. Well, what could this be? It's my Loopy Ewe order! I ordered some Louet Gems Pearl in Pewter from The Loopy Ewe, it's my very first order too. Definitely not my last. Sheri included some lovely little extras, and a handwritten note was on the back of my invoice. So wonderful. I love good customer service. Well, Mr. Shad sold his motorcycle, but then had no transportation home. So he called me, and I have to wake and dress children. *sigh* When I finally get there it is three o'clock and the shop closes in two hours. He suggests we go to Home Depot and pick up stain for my beloved wheel. Begrudgingly, I agree. After arriving home again, I start the laborious process of staining her. Not that it's hard, but there are a LOT of little pieces. You'll see what I'm talking about in my next post.

At about midnight I crawled onto the couch next to hubby, my knees aching spinning stashfrom sitting on the floor and my hands all pink from scrubbing stain off of them. So much for that nail polish, huh? We watched some movies and went to sleep. Today I need to give my wheel (whose name I am unsure of for now) a second staining and then finish her off with some Polyurethane stuff. Real technical here at chez Kitty. I reorganized my stash, we bought some plastic tubs to protect the yarn while it's out there in the garage. The sock yarn was granted a license to stay inside in a smallish basket, the first basket I bought to store yarn in. So here's a small stash flash for you.

Sock stash

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Mar 28, 2007

Wednesday I Feel Better Just for Spite

Anyone else enjoying my Except for Monday lyric theme? It actually started way back here, even though I purposely misquoted it at the time.

Anyways, it's not spite that's making me feel good today! I am definitely back in the springtime groove! With that, I present to you Thelonious! (hm, gotta stop using exclamation points)

thelonious 3


Specs, since I am taking a break before beginning the second sock to work on those baby booties. Bad Kitty!

Pattern: Thelonious
Yarn: Wollmeise in Poison Nr. 5
Needles: Addi DPN in size 2.5mm
Notes: Despite the traveling lace panel these socks are still rather stretchy. I think it's all that ribbing. My foot measures 9" at the arch (because I have a crazy high arch), and 8" at the ball. Also, I ended the patterning 2.5" from the tips of my toes...because that's just the way I am. Oh, for the love of your eyes, get yourself something to magnify the chart for the leg!!! You will go BLIND squinting at the teeny-tiny symbols. lol

Yarn SlutTook pics of some fun things too. More stuff from CafePress, I love it. Just search knitting, you'll turn up PAGES of the stuff! My favorite is the thong. COME ON! It says Yarn Slut...on a thong! How funny is that? Oh, maybe it's just me. Lesley and I apparently ordered the same shirt. hehe Now we can be crazy knitting shirt twins.

UGH! Blogger ate my post AGAIN! >.<

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Kitty's Story


Vintage 008

First, I must confess my name isn't Kitty, or anything even close. It just comes from an affinity for cats. Second, I love to craft, create, and imagine. I can draw a bit, knit a lot, and sew just enough to get by. My world revolves around the loves of my life; my three children. Anything more you want to know about me is on Ravelry or check me out on FB!

Crystal Shadrick

Create Your Badge

*Disclaimer!* I'm totally crazy. The patterns I offer are often variations of other patterns, things I have reverse engineered. I don't claim to be wonderful and smart and an all-knowing designer. So enjoy them!.

LINK ME!
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The Drawing of the Three - Stephen King


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Hello Fascination - Breathe Carolina


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Skating Sweater
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