~ [Shadkitty Knitty] ~

Jul 12, 2010

Leave of Absence

My kids are all here for the summer now, so I took a Leave of Absence (LOA) from school. The added stress of having to cram three young kids into an already full house has really been getting to me. Hence I have been knitting up a storm. However, I am pretty excited! Knitters, we now have a new recruit! A friend of mine from school (for now we'll call her A, until I know how she feels about being on my blog) actually asked me to teach her to knit!! At first, I was a bit hesitant because my last few attempts at teaching didn't go so well. That was quickly overwhelmed by the idea of sharing my love of knitting with another. Fortunately, she also has some experience with crocheting and basic knitting. As in, she didn't know how to purl. :) This past Saturday I invited her over and we practiced the long-tail CO, knitting, and purling! A is a surprisingly fast learner and also very adventurous, my kind of knitter!! Now she is addicted and wants to find a knitting store, learn to knit in the round and has joined us on Ravelry. I am so proud!! Here is a picture of her practice scarf. She's afraid that the knitters will laugh her out, but I assured her we had all been there. That's her pink scarf.

Currently I am working on two projects myself. And plotting a third. The third is a secret type project. Although one or two of you may know about it. Boneyard is

finished, after that I began work on the Purl Ridge Scarf. Another westknits design. I am really excited by the pattern booklet he is putting out in the fall. Now if only I had an attractive man to adorn with my beautiful handknits.... Also, in the midst of this I started another murloc. This one is a baby and is being made for A. She did my hair for me at school. It's pretty much amazing and required 3-4 hours of work! So I totally owed it to her. Unfortunately I seem to have lost one of my size US 3 dpns!! Guess it's time to look in the couch cushions. Murkie is pretty awesome so far, it has purple/black/pink tailfin and spines. I found this little bit of variegated yarn in my "yard sale" bag. Which is mostly acrylics. I believe it is

some yarn gifted to me by a friend who dyed it herself. Anyways, it was perfect! Murkie is a total BAMF (for those of you who have no idea what that means, it's probably best you don't know). So, that's that. Currently I'm toying with the idea of taking a picture of the swatches for my secret project. The best part is I've been doing some serious stashbusting. The economy is hard on many of us. That's secretly why knitters stash. We're like squirrels! Maybe we don't need this yarn now. But it could come in handy later!!

And now I leave you with a shot of my new 'do.

Labels: Boneyard, knitting, life, murloc, Purl Ridge, scarf

13:34 | |

Feb 22, 2010

Back So Soon?

Yes, I know! Another post in less than six months? I'm on a roll. Right now I am busy as a bee. Today I need to go finish packing up my apartment. Tomorrow I turn in the key. Though I still have 27 days until I am out of North Carolina. This move has me on a constant roller coaster of emotion. My body has been happy to let everyone know it too. Nothing like being betrayed by your own body. haha Since I haven't been blogging regularly, Ms. Rose is now 7, Ky Boo is 5 and That Baby...well he's 3. They are all soooo big now. No, they are not coming with me when I leave. Part of the reason I am so stressed about moving is because of that. I will visit them (and vice-versa) all of the time though.

There are so many people here that I will miss. My LYS is going to be hard to leave. The owner essentially taught me to love knitting. My 4 year knitversary is coming up here soon, I'll still be here for that. Oh, and irony of inronies, I seem to have discovered some sort of knitting group at a cafe nearby my apartment last week. Didn't have time to ambush them as I was dragging the crazies to Domino's to pick up pizza. Seriously though? How annoying is that?

I feel like so much has happened! I just don't know where to begin! There has actually been a good amount of knitting. It always comes in handy when the stress is on. I finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket, a Murloc for my work buddy Stacey, the "Magical Scarf Charlie!" out of my own handspun, and a hat for a friend (which Boo promptly tried to steal). The only thing still on my needles is the test knit. Now, a word on the hat I made. The pattern is the South American Chullo. Apparently this hat is some sort of phenomenon. I had seen that several knitters had

made multiple versions. Sometimes for themselves or others, one knitter had made three! Looks like the bug has bitten chez Kitty too! The hat I have finished is for a friend. We'll call him Mr. Bond. So, Mr. Bond requested a hat with ear flaps. When this pattern turned up on a search, it seemed perfect. Went out and bought the yarn (originally intended to make it from leftovers but packed all of my yarn away!), and got to knittin! While knitting and admiring the softness of the yarn and simple beauty of the fair-isle, I came to the conclusion that I must have one too! Once finished my children grudgingly modelled it for me. Boo seemed to change his mind though, after protesting and throwing it off I later discovered him wearing it while watching tv. Then while snuggling me. He said "Mommy this hat is just so soft that I'd like to sleep with it". And he did. Looks like he might need a hat as well.

Labels: busy, fingerless gloves, finished object, hat, kids, knitting, Knitting Lingerie Style, life, scarf

07:26 | |

Dec 18, 2009

Epic Fail

I'm not sure how many of you are still out there. It's been months...again. I just got internet put in, so maybe I'll be around now. Knitting has been really good for me. Getting back into touch with my favorite bloggers/knitters would be better. I need some shoulders to cry on. Some friends to lean on.

My 25th birthday passed, it was good. Not great. Still, a lot of good things happened and I'm trying to focus on that. Mr. Shad bought me a cake and sent me pictures of the kids with cute little signs. The work day was rather rough, but that night was great. I just hung out with those three little crazies. They are my everything right now. That weekend Mr. Shad took me to see Daniel Tosh. Be forewarned that his sense of humor isn't for everyone. Only click that link if you are ready for some twisted laughs!

Don't be fooled though friends, just because he was doing all of these nice things doesn't change the status of our relationship. We are due to be divorced very soon. It kind of breaks my heart a little. Apparently we're failures at marriage. Who knew? So I'm trying to focus on the positive things in my life, the things I can control. After looking at my Ravelry...I realize that when things were at their worst, I took a break from knitting. From about March til August or September there wasn't much knitting happening. Probably due partially to not having my own place to live. Right now I am living in my own apartment, it feels really good to know that I am taking care of myself.

The next step is to get a career. Not a job, anyone can get a job. I need a career. Something that makes me happy and fills my time. At this point I am very tired of men. Though there have been several in my life. Some important, some not. Recently, I re-taught one of them to knit!! How do you feel about that? He wasn't even that bad. Though, I am not sure that he is on the "important" list. Actually, I know he isn't. That list is very, very short. I can count it's members on one hand. I've also made some close friends. There is going to be a little more heartbreak when I leave than I had originally intended. Yes, I plan on leaving North Carolina. Time to hit the road, stick out my thumb and close this chapter of my life.

Speaking of knitting, by the way, some time last month I had a "blonde moment" and cut the hell out of my thumb with...staples. Yes, I said staples. But it was those

big industrial type staples!! Stop laughing! Okay, it was a little funny. What wasn't funny is that I had to get three stitches and couldn't knit for a few weeks. That was sad! Especially because I was trying to finish the Hemlock Ring Blanket for Mr. Shad's grandmother, which I had intended to be her Christmas present. I sent some of the earrings I had made earlier in the year instead. Apparently they were a big hit and everyone was impressed I had made them. Which confused me because I had been sure that my MIL had seen them before. I mean, Heather did get some for her birthday. (Oh dear...that is coming up again soon, isn't it?) So...back to the knitting. I did finish the blanket. Yesterday. :) I also finished a shawl. Which is absolutely beautiful. Right now I have no camera, so all my pictures are from my cellphone. SORRY! The limelight scarf is finished also.

Right now on the needles I have a Morning Surf Scarf from my own handspun! This is the perfect pattern for handspun. Of course, that's what everyone says. Sometimes I work on this at work. Early on Sunday mornings, and it gets so many compliments. I love that I have been working at this store for a year and people are STILL amazed that I knit. REALLY? You haven't seen the huge tattoo?? Wow...sorry, got sidetracked. The only other thing OTN is a pair of fingerless mitts that I am test-knitting for Krystofer.

Labels: birthdays, knitting, life, scarf, shawl

20:08 | |

Aug 18, 2008

Here There Be Knitting

Yes, I actually have been knitting. A little. For some reason I am just not feeling

any of my current WIPs. I'm in this blah sort of phase. So, although I haven't officially "hibernated" any of them, my WIPs are more or less just sitting around. According to Ravelry, I have 3 WIPs (Digitessa, Somewhat Cowl, and the crocheted halter) and 4 hibernating (Skating Sweater, Charade socks, those Harley Quinn socks, and the grey raglan). You probably don't remember some of those. Seriously, it's a little depressing. I think that I'm getting SSS now. Digitessa is a beautiful pattern, but I don't have the time or energy. Somewhat Cowl...well, after the last incident I admit to being a bit afraid and daunted. Also, I'm just not good at crocheting.

There, I said it. Crocheting makes NO sense to me and even though I love some of the patterns. I can't figure them out. After a bit of an unintentional hiatus, I decided I needed the feel of yarn between my fingers. So, I started a scarf sized Clapotis. It's not really a pattern, just kind of guidelines that use the Clapotis pattern as a jumping point.

First, let me tell you I never really wanted to knit the Clapotis. Just wasn't all that fond of how it looks. That, and soooo many people seemed to have trouble with it. Mouse knit the scarf sized pattern out of some of her handspun and I decided I really kind of liked the way it looked as a scarf. However, I don't wear scarves that often. Still, she talked me into buying some gorgeous Araucania for it pretty easily. Who really needs to be convinced to buy

yarn though? With that encouragement the yarn sat in my "to be used soon" box in the closet...until recently. When I finally decided to cast on for it. I finished it rather quickly, though I took a few days to get around to blocking it. Saturday Mr. Shad had duty so I used that opportunity to stretch it out on the bed. With 20 repeats (instead of the recommended 8) of Section 3, it's a great long scarf. Easily 5ft long, possibly even 6. I haven't measured it. Though it reached from the head of the bed to the foot. All in all, it's beautiful and I can't wait for winter to wear it! I pranced all over the house with my fully blocked Half-otis wrapped around my neck, forcing Mr. Shad to ogle and pet it. He actually said it was really soft...but I think he's hallucinatory. It's about as soft as Cascade 220. Which is to say that it's no Malabrigo, you know?

Labels: Clapotis, finished object, knitting, scarf

09:35 | |

Jan 15, 2008

Much To Say

I've got a lot to talk about. Actual knitting content this time. No silly pictures of my personal life to distract so the UFOs can slip by unnoticed. Of course, I don't much feel like talking, I have to clean up the house. lol Quick personal update, Kyran started daycare Monday. It's crazy. Just me and the little Bird now. To help fill up my day, I joined a gym. That's really all that's going on. Oh yeah, check this cute lil' penguin gal out! Isn't she adorable?! She needs a name though. Got any suggestions? Now, onto the knitting. Oh, she came from Teenybeak.

Digitessa is coming along beautifully, when I work on her. You know me, the sizzle of a new project always dies a bit fast. I've already started and finished several quick projects since the new year. Despite my deal with myself. It's okay though, I've only got myself to answer to. No knitting police. :) Tree Jacket and Serpentine Mitts have both hit a kind of plateau.

There has been some finishing though. Don't you worry. I finished that scarf for my friend, I should be sending it off tomorrow. Today was the first good day for taking pictures. It's not exactly exciting. Just a simple black scarf, but he seems really happy with it. And I actually blocked it. *giggle* Yeah, I'm one of those people who says "Well...it looks fine, it doesn't need to be blocked, right?" Since it's a gift however, and needed to be washed for softness sake, I did the right thing. lol

For myself, there was The Fidget and a book strap. The book strap was my own design. Something quick and

simple, a bookmark that will actually STAY! For goodness sake. Fidget was done with some of the leftovers from the Unoriginal Hat. Oh, can I just tell you how much I love my Fidget though? It's soft, and it stays right where I want it. I hate scarves, don't wear them. Probably why I hardly knit them. They don't want to behave themselves. When I was done with the photoshoot for The Fidget though, I didn't want to take it off!! Definitely making more. Although, I did make this with worsted weight yarn instead of bulky, which is recommended by the pattern. I wanted it to be thinner, it's perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

Now for the little blurb about the book strap. And the "pattern", if you can call it that. I don't. It's more like...guidelines really. ;)

Ever shoved a book into your purse or backpack, only to discover later that the paper

bookmark slipped out? Dunno about you, but my children like to steal my bookmarks, it’s like a sport. This super awesome bookmark STAYS where you put it! And as an added bonus only takes about 10 minutes tops.

Here it is: Leave a 12” tail, crochet a chain twice the length of the spine, and then some. Make a small loop by sl st through the chain somewhere. No real instructions…no counting. Just guess people! Sew on a button ABOVE the loop.

To use: Pull long tail through loop, then bring up through book and around the outside (round the outside….). Wrap tail around button. When you want to read, simply slide off. Works best with paperbacks.

My Flickr and Ravelry both offer more pictures of the book strap that should help clear up the instructions for use. I hope. Just click the picture of it to go to Flickr, or you can sign into Ravelry. It's in my FOs, but you'll have to scroll down a bit to find it.

Labels: book strap, Fidget, finished object, penguin, scarf

12:48 | |

Jan 3, 2008

Quick, Fast, and In a Hurry

Real quick post. Lots of pictures again. I need to clean up, my best friend should be on her way down here as ~~we speak~~ I type. Not that she would care if my place was a disaster, but I do. Anyways, I took some pictures the other night, which should be obvious since I changed that display pic on my blog (and my avatar on Ravelry, but some of you might not be on there yet).

Let's see, there are some knitting piccies, baby piccies, and a LOT of my new dress! Yes, the really awesomely cute one Mr. Shad bought for me. You really are going to want to click on some of these pictures so that you can see the larger sizes. That first one for example, I am actually knitting in it, but it's not super obvious until you see the larger version.

So here is the dress:

Here is my streaker son (I don't know why he was wearing shoes but not pants....I asked Heather but she just said "He took his pants off"):

And the scarf I'm knitting in the pictures. It's the Harlot's One Row scarf, in black Wool Pak 14-ply for my friend Helios. Helios is on MSG duty (those guys who get to stand around at the embassies and whatnot) and he asked me for a scarf. :) Let's hope he likes it! It's a little scratchy, I'm hoping a nice wool wash (I still have that Soak) will soften it up. Opinions?

ETA: Some delicious Dexter based stash enhancement

Labels: dress, knitting, pictures, scarf

12:04 | |

Sep 7, 2007

Do the Math

I went to sleep at 4am. Ouch. And got up at 8. Blehhhhh. So this is just a quick post. First, I forgot to post my rockin girl blogger thingy. Chicks with Sticks named me so...uh here it is.

My five Rockin gals are:
1. Lesley
2. Elizabeth
3. Mouse
4. O'Kitten
5. Pam

That sucked. Why choose just five? And girls? You all rock. If I read your blog then it is because you rock. If you have been tagged already, don't feel like you have to play again, unless you want to. I'm okay with that. Here have some scarf.

Labels: scarf, Wollmeise

09:23 | |

Jun 3, 2007

Here I Am!

No. I didn't disappear. Every day my computer works less. And I am also trying to keep busy, lest I notice Mr. Shad is not here. Since my last post I have finished My So-Called Scarf, worked 22 rows of the leg of the poor Twisted Flower sock, and received LOTS of packages! We've been to the beach, and the movies twice; but I only sat through one. I learned to play Bunco and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3. A friend of mine is pregnant, so I get to knit more little baby hats. They're so freakin cute. :) Alright, now pictures. There won't be any links in this post though, it takes longer than I probably have to do that. The computer usually crashes about an hour after logging on, and I have already been on for about 20-30 minutes.

Wollmeise! From left to right: Rhabarber worsted, Mitternacht, and Gewitterhimmel. The camera doesn't show you how gorgeous these really are. And they smell soooo good.

Turns out I am Knitter one for one of the two pairs of Truly International socks. In this picture you see the pattern, needles, notepad (with instructions), and leftover yarn I have chosen to knit my bit. What you don't see is the yummy-licious chocolate Heidi sent with it! I had to put that up and away from little hands before I had time to take pictures.

Wow! Sunne is fantastic! This package made me SOOO happy! I've seen and fondled cashmere at my LYS, but never owned/knitted with any. Two skeins of Mongolian Cashmere in Jade, and four balls of a Cotton/Cashmere blend. And I have no idea what it is. But it's pretty and I've already found what I will make with it. :D The Craft magazine is PHENOMENAL! Seriously, I browsed through it before opening anything else, and I couldn't believe all of the awesome things in it. Thanks again Sunne! You really know me. :) What else? Some sparkly handmade tiger soap (random fact #3: My high school mascot was a tiger RAWR! Go Tigers!), a yummy smelling candle, blinging Hello Kitty stitch markers, other cute stitch markers that I had favorited on Sunne's Etsy shop, a purse made of paper bags (it appears), and some mystery thing that hasn't arrived yet?

Random Fact #4: I shave my arm hair.

Random Fact #5: Even though I own many pairs of shoes, only two pairs really get used. My sneakers and my sandals. Sneakers when it is cold, and sandals when it's hot. As a kid I only had two pairs of shoes (usually from Payless) at any given time. A pair of sneakers, and a pair of "dress" shoes. Most of the shoes I own now were bought because I had forgotten to bring a pair of dress shoes with me somewhere that I would need them.

Labels: lists/surveys, memes/blogthings, pictures, PRGE, scarf, swaps, Truly International Sock KAL, updating, Wollmeise, yarn

12:47 | |

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.

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.

To 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.

What 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.

Labels: contest, disappointment, frustration, scarf, Wollmeise, yarn

09:50 | |