I went to KnitNight last night to discover that about 50 of my 400 stitches had come off the needle on Hush-Hush. Fantastic. Guess that was a sign that me ignoring the goofs wasn't going to fly. Ripped the whole thing and started again.
Mystery project update...I think I'm going to add a cable edging to the bottom of the top. It could be gorgeous, but I want to make sure it felts properly. I made my first gauge swatch the other day, which I believe I've already mentioned, but I'm still so happy about it.
Things at home are doing better too. We're laughing together again, which is something I thought was going to take a lot longer.
Time to start figuring out Christmas for the family. I've got to get some serious knitting done if we're having a handmade Christmas again, which I'd assume we are. I have no clue what to make this year....last year's slippers were a lot of fun to knit up but I doubt anyone wears them. That's the most frustrating thing about investing all that energy into making stuff that no one cares about. I would have loved to have some slippers like that, but I gave them all away.
Time to Ravel for ideas.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tinking life
ahh if only this were a possibility. I have so much I'd like to tink back sometimes. Thankfully, the Moose has the patience of a saint, and the faith in me that only one of those would have as well.
Back to other things though, the mystery project may be coming back to life. I knitted and felted my gauge swatch for the top, and was pleasantly surprised by the way the Knit Picks wool felted, though the jeans gave it a kind of dingy look that even the sparkly crochet thread I knit in didn't offset. I'll need to remember to felt it with something else of a like color, if at all possible.
In the quest to make the perfect mystery project, I am learning a lot about bust darts. There are some really cool sites out there that have some awesome equations and tutorials for getting perfect darts. I plan on getting started on a test for those shortly.
However, since the mystery project can only be worked on in hours of solitude, and yesterday was spent entirely with the Moose's family, I got started on Hush-Hush with my Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Flamingo Stripe...no way I'll finish this by the November 1 deadline for Knit for the Cure, but it would be fantastic if I could do so.
If not, I'll just keep it for next year.
What that translates too is that for the next 11 days, all I'm allowed to work on is Hush-Hush. At 400 stitches per round right now on size 3 needles, needless to say, this is going to be a challenge to my patience. Not only that but the yarn winding itself has been challenging...seems like every hank I open up of the LLSS is tangled. Very frustrating. I had to resort to winding by hand yesterday instead of on my yarn-ball-winder. I suppose once I get it wound by hand, I could go back and create a nice neat center-pull ball on the winder, but that's time taken away from knitting.
My plan of attack for today? At least 8 more rows on Hush-Hush. It's football night in San Diego though, so I might not get that much accomplished. We'll see.
Back to other things though, the mystery project may be coming back to life. I knitted and felted my gauge swatch for the top, and was pleasantly surprised by the way the Knit Picks wool felted, though the jeans gave it a kind of dingy look that even the sparkly crochet thread I knit in didn't offset. I'll need to remember to felt it with something else of a like color, if at all possible.
In the quest to make the perfect mystery project, I am learning a lot about bust darts. There are some really cool sites out there that have some awesome equations and tutorials for getting perfect darts. I plan on getting started on a test for those shortly.
However, since the mystery project can only be worked on in hours of solitude, and yesterday was spent entirely with the Moose's family, I got started on Hush-Hush with my Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Flamingo Stripe...no way I'll finish this by the November 1 deadline for Knit for the Cure, but it would be fantastic if I could do so.
If not, I'll just keep it for next year.
What that translates too is that for the next 11 days, all I'm allowed to work on is Hush-Hush. At 400 stitches per round right now on size 3 needles, needless to say, this is going to be a challenge to my patience. Not only that but the yarn winding itself has been challenging...seems like every hank I open up of the LLSS is tangled. Very frustrating. I had to resort to winding by hand yesterday instead of on my yarn-ball-winder. I suppose once I get it wound by hand, I could go back and create a nice neat center-pull ball on the winder, but that's time taken away from knitting.
My plan of attack for today? At least 8 more rows on Hush-Hush. It's football night in San Diego though, so I might not get that much accomplished. We'll see.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
a month of excuses
i always seem to be full of them. this time, they've affected those i hold most dear, including my knitting.
long story short we're on eggshells again and it's my fault again. i could really use some knittherapy with the gang, so thank god today is a Wednesday. Last night's group was all right...i definitely felt the outsider though.
MPC hasn't gotten much accomplished on it since last Wednesday. It blocked beautifully though, which was a pleasant surprise. I've got the front half results up on Ravelry.
Fish's dino sweater was a rousing success...he danced around in it and reminded me of Max from the Wild Things (which movie I am greatly anticipating).
I did about 5 rows on my design last night, which was good because I needed some mindlessness for awhile. I'm aching to be numb again in moments, which scares me.
I can only blame so much on my disorder, and so much on my upbringing before all I've got are excuses, and I refuse to be that girl.
I have an addictive personality, in the non-complimentary way. I'm addicted to so much in my life, both healthy and unhealthy. These days, it seems as though my counterproductive addictions are those that are taking the stage. I've got a fight ahead of me again, and this time, I'm very much on my own.
So much for my ultimate design that I was thrilled to be starting on...the mystery project will have to wait until there is at least a chance again, and right now, hope is all I have...a very weak hope at that.
Can anyone ever truly change? I used to believe so, but I question it in times like these.
long story short we're on eggshells again and it's my fault again. i could really use some knittherapy with the gang, so thank god today is a Wednesday. Last night's group was all right...i definitely felt the outsider though.
MPC hasn't gotten much accomplished on it since last Wednesday. It blocked beautifully though, which was a pleasant surprise. I've got the front half results up on Ravelry.
Fish's dino sweater was a rousing success...he danced around in it and reminded me of Max from the Wild Things (which movie I am greatly anticipating).
I did about 5 rows on my design last night, which was good because I needed some mindlessness for awhile. I'm aching to be numb again in moments, which scares me.
I can only blame so much on my disorder, and so much on my upbringing before all I've got are excuses, and I refuse to be that girl.
I have an addictive personality, in the non-complimentary way. I'm addicted to so much in my life, both healthy and unhealthy. These days, it seems as though my counterproductive addictions are those that are taking the stage. I've got a fight ahead of me again, and this time, I'm very much on my own.
So much for my ultimate design that I was thrilled to be starting on...the mystery project will have to wait until there is at least a chance again, and right now, hope is all I have...a very weak hope at that.
Can anyone ever truly change? I used to believe so, but I question it in times like these.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
why i must never allow a headache to progress
Because it turns into a damn migraine. Now here I am at work, needing to power through the next few hours, and I'm fighting a throbbing, light-sensitive, nauseating doozy.
I've had this stupid headache since yesterday, all because I didn't have enough caffeine. I hate that I can't just get a headache like regular people and then take two tylenol and have it go away. No, I've got to get stupid, crippling migraines that make me want to curl up and die.
I vent.
I finished the front of MPC last night and I'm now blocking it, though blocking acrylic doesn't really work. I'm hoping that Comfort might be the exception? I doubt it. Thankfully, Ravelry has guided me and I think I'll attempt steam blocking it tonight, though I really don't want to ruin something that pretty...alas, that is the price I pay for knitting with Comfort.
I'm almost done with the body of the Fish's dino sweater. I think before I do the sleeves I'm going to try out the back spikes, just to get some variety in my life. I really need to get working on the back of MPC, though.
Bummer; yesterday I just realized that because I've got tickets to this Sunday's Chargers game, I'll be missing Knit for the Cure. I'm super excited about the game, but wish it didn't come at the cost of knitting with my favorite group of women.
Alright, meds are starting to kick in now, so I should probably stop blogging and see if I can't sneak in some interesting client calls in this last hour of work. I crack myself up!
I've had this stupid headache since yesterday, all because I didn't have enough caffeine. I hate that I can't just get a headache like regular people and then take two tylenol and have it go away. No, I've got to get stupid, crippling migraines that make me want to curl up and die.
I vent.
I finished the front of MPC last night and I'm now blocking it, though blocking acrylic doesn't really work. I'm hoping that Comfort might be the exception? I doubt it. Thankfully, Ravelry has guided me and I think I'll attempt steam blocking it tonight, though I really don't want to ruin something that pretty...alas, that is the price I pay for knitting with Comfort.
I'm almost done with the body of the Fish's dino sweater. I think before I do the sleeves I'm going to try out the back spikes, just to get some variety in my life. I really need to get working on the back of MPC, though.
Bummer; yesterday I just realized that because I've got tickets to this Sunday's Chargers game, I'll be missing Knit for the Cure. I'm super excited about the game, but wish it didn't come at the cost of knitting with my favorite group of women.
Alright, meds are starting to kick in now, so I should probably stop blogging and see if I can't sneak in some interesting client calls in this last hour of work. I crack myself up!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
why the t-shirt blanket may never be finished
because knitting on size 35 needles, while it produces very quick and large results, is kind of obnoxious. I forgot how frustrating it is to move those damn clunkers around. Alas, I finished only one square before losing my patience and putting up the uber-project for who knows how long again.
Went back to MPC, but the other night's lesson of no lace knitting during football stands true, and I had to put it down after three rows.
By the way, the new issue of Knitty is up! How exciting...and it appears that it's gotten a facelift! There are some beautiful patterns on it, and I'm going to have to stay away if I'm going to finish anything in time for Christmas.
Speaking of, I think the washcloth idea is a good one, but my pattern-a-day calendar has different ideas, as a bath mitt pattern came up yesterday. Perhaps that would be more appropriate, and a little more intriguing to knit than just squares. I've not yet attempted anything resembling a mitt, other than my wrist warmers for the desert. Those were just glorified ribbed tubes with holes for thumbs.
I've got to come up with something clever for the Fish. Perhaps some knitted toys, but I worry that they might be too young for him.
You know, I could probably Ravel and blog all day long, if I allowed myself too. But Spingo has other ideas for me...no way I'm going to get 250 calls/emails in this week at my current pace. Alas, I'll give it a go.
I did just figure out what to make Fish and M...I think I'll make them dino hoodies. Fish loves his beanie that I made him, and a dino hoodie might just be too much fun. I can make a simple top-down raglan, pick up stitches for a hood, and then add spikes.
Okay, I've spent a lot of time on this post now, between Ravelry and blogging, so I'm back to work now.
Went back to MPC, but the other night's lesson of no lace knitting during football stands true, and I had to put it down after three rows.
By the way, the new issue of Knitty is up! How exciting...and it appears that it's gotten a facelift! There are some beautiful patterns on it, and I'm going to have to stay away if I'm going to finish anything in time for Christmas.
Speaking of, I think the washcloth idea is a good one, but my pattern-a-day calendar has different ideas, as a bath mitt pattern came up yesterday. Perhaps that would be more appropriate, and a little more intriguing to knit than just squares. I've not yet attempted anything resembling a mitt, other than my wrist warmers for the desert. Those were just glorified ribbed tubes with holes for thumbs.
I've got to come up with something clever for the Fish. Perhaps some knitted toys, but I worry that they might be too young for him.
You know, I could probably Ravel and blog all day long, if I allowed myself too. But Spingo has other ideas for me...no way I'm going to get 250 calls/emails in this week at my current pace. Alas, I'll give it a go.
I did just figure out what to make Fish and M...I think I'll make them dino hoodies. Fish loves his beanie that I made him, and a dino hoodie might just be too much fun. I can make a simple top-down raglan, pick up stitches for a hood, and then add spikes.
Okay, I've spent a lot of time on this post now, between Ravelry and blogging, so I'm back to work now.
Monday, September 14, 2009
why cayenne pepper will not stop a determined dog
Actually, I have no idea why it doesn't stop her. Stupid Samantha is intent upon digging up our cactus garden. To be truthful, she's intent upon digging up anything that we plant in that stretch of dirt, because she dug it up when it was just dirt. She's got this little burn on her nose now from the pepper, but did that stop her? NO.
So my solution was a dog run. I was vetoed though, by T's dad. He said that it would make her more like a guard dog and less like a pet. I kept my mouth shut. T decided that instead, we would install two galvanized steel fence posts, six and a half feet above the ground, one and half feet below, and rig a pulley system like we had in Humboldt for Edward and Gigi. This one is just for Sam though, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Edward is going to tease the crap out of her while she is on the line. We put her on it for about 10 minutes yesterday while we were home, just to make sure the line would hold, and she just laid as close to the patio as she could and whined. Great. I'm sure the neighbors are going to love this.
Yesterday was our first Football Day, and for the most part, it was glorious. We went on a ride in the AM with a bunch of the neighbors, so we missed the first half of the 10:00 games, which kind of bummed me out, but oh well, it wasn't like we missed the Chargers.
I didn't get to any housecleaning, so there is still Scentsy wax on the dining room floor from my attempt to "pour" hot wax out of the warmer. FYI- Does not work. I didn't even finish laundry all the way.
I got really frustrated with N yesterday, as did T. He was just being unbearable to J and TT, like he was trying to tick them off. And in all honesty, I'm getting a little fed up with S spending all of her time at our place. I think they're starting to get sick of each other a little bit, but we'll see.
In the world of knitting, I'm up another 10 rows on MPC. I didn't get much done on it this weekend, but need to get moving if I'm going to do the top and bottom. Right now, it's looking like just the hipster is going to get finished for Knit for the Cure. We'll see though. I'd love to offer a full set.
I didn't get the T shirt blanket back out yet, but I think I will tonight. WOO MNF double headers! Go Chargers!
So my solution was a dog run. I was vetoed though, by T's dad. He said that it would make her more like a guard dog and less like a pet. I kept my mouth shut. T decided that instead, we would install two galvanized steel fence posts, six and a half feet above the ground, one and half feet below, and rig a pulley system like we had in Humboldt for Edward and Gigi. This one is just for Sam though, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Edward is going to tease the crap out of her while she is on the line. We put her on it for about 10 minutes yesterday while we were home, just to make sure the line would hold, and she just laid as close to the patio as she could and whined. Great. I'm sure the neighbors are going to love this.
Yesterday was our first Football Day, and for the most part, it was glorious. We went on a ride in the AM with a bunch of the neighbors, so we missed the first half of the 10:00 games, which kind of bummed me out, but oh well, it wasn't like we missed the Chargers.
I didn't get to any housecleaning, so there is still Scentsy wax on the dining room floor from my attempt to "pour" hot wax out of the warmer. FYI- Does not work. I didn't even finish laundry all the way.
I got really frustrated with N yesterday, as did T. He was just being unbearable to J and TT, like he was trying to tick them off. And in all honesty, I'm getting a little fed up with S spending all of her time at our place. I think they're starting to get sick of each other a little bit, but we'll see.
In the world of knitting, I'm up another 10 rows on MPC. I didn't get much done on it this weekend, but need to get moving if I'm going to do the top and bottom. Right now, it's looking like just the hipster is going to get finished for Knit for the Cure. We'll see though. I'd love to offer a full set.
I didn't get the T shirt blanket back out yet, but I think I will tonight. WOO MNF double headers! Go Chargers!
Friday, September 11, 2009
why i must pay attention
because when I don't, I make mistakes!
Football and knitting are two things that should probably not be mixed, at least knitting that is not just garter or stockinette. I made it to row 19 last night before making a mistake, and now I've got to tink to figure out where I goofed. Again I find myself blogging awfully early in the morning, but it is a Friday, and those are notorious for slowness. At least this is more productive (and sounds more like work) than Carnival Catch Keno on Shockwave.
Plans for the weekend...Chili's tonight to visit our bartender (but I must slow down...he pours heavy and I always end up buzzed). Giving blood tomorrow at 9:45; so hopefully my iron is good. "9" tomorrow afternoon...WOO HOO! I've been waiting for this since I saw Coraline! I've gotta get a run in on Sunday, hopefully about 2.5, but I've not run since Monday, so we'll see how that goes. I just need to break the seal and get back out there...especially since December is not that far away.
And Sunday, aside from running, is for FOOTBALL!!!!! Hooray, the season has started again! I absolutely adore football season. And what a way to kick things off last night...wow! I'm so excited that T and I get to go to a Chargers game this year too, and in the Bud Light Zone...field level. SWEETNESS.
I think my KAL with myself for football season is going to be the T-shirt quilt. That's quick and easy, and I really want to get that going again. I have no idea how I'm going to piece it together, though. Oh well; things to figure out once I've got a hell of a lot more squares. :)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Ribbit....ribbit
I frogged the stupid hipster again. Third time may be the charm; we'll see. If it were just for me, than I would have no issues with the holey mess that it was turning into, but because it's for knit for the cure, I really want to get it right.
On a lighter note, Knitter's Anon last night was fantastic! Somehow, we got on linguistics and language, I think because of J's survey. Either way, it was so much fun to talk about language again, and J is just a wealth of knowledge that I wish I had. It was also a little bit frustrating to think about how much I've already forgotten from 3 years ago. And then to think that it was 3 years ago. Holy crap time flies.
Tomorrow is my two year anniversary at A___. Speaking of time flying. It's been amazing to see how much my black thumb continues...I'm like the curse of every workplace I've ever had. If I have to hear how great things used to be at every job I ever work at, I just don't know what I'll do. In this situation, though, I have watched things just deteriorate as our "strategy" morphs and fails every couple of months. I'm just hoping that the recent changes to management will really make a difference.
It's definitely September, and I'm struggling for people to call. Hence the 8am blogging. I love so much about my job, but this and April are two of the most painful months of the year.
Coffee coffee coffee coffee....MMMMMMM. I'm drinking my first cup of home-brewed, iced coffee and it's delish. This is my way to be economical and stop spending 20 bucks a week on coffee. Plus, I make it just the way I like it and get to pick my brew. It's the simple pleasures in life...
9 came out yesterday and I'm dying to go see it. It's amazing what a good song in a trailer can do for your desire to see a movie. I'm convinced it will be my new favorite movie, second only to Coraline (of late).
S said the "C" word this morning on our ride to work and inspired in me a mini panic attack...ACK, gifts I must knit! I haven't figured out what to do for everyone this year. The slippers last year were a quick fix, but I'm positive have gone unused by all recipients. Mom's Cubbies blanket was the gem of the season, and it was given unfinished, and remains un-backed. Oh well.
I've got to figure out some one-skein wonders that will just dazzle the fam; I know I can make M a plethora of headbands, and rather quickly. K can use winter gear, since she actually lives somewhere cold. I could come up with some clever skulls & crossbones scarf for T for on his bike, but no guarantees he'd ever wear it. Maybe this will be the Christmas of the scarf. Those are quick and painless, and I can do a lot of clever stuff with them. I've come a long way since S's long black and pink garter stitch mess. I suppose I could find enough unique patterns not to become bored, but that would be a true challenge for me to finish 7 or 8 scarves by Christmas.
I am the UFO queen. So let it be written...
On a lighter note, Knitter's Anon last night was fantastic! Somehow, we got on linguistics and language, I think because of J's survey. Either way, it was so much fun to talk about language again, and J is just a wealth of knowledge that I wish I had. It was also a little bit frustrating to think about how much I've already forgotten from 3 years ago. And then to think that it was 3 years ago. Holy crap time flies.
Tomorrow is my two year anniversary at A___. Speaking of time flying. It's been amazing to see how much my black thumb continues...I'm like the curse of every workplace I've ever had. If I have to hear how great things used to be at every job I ever work at, I just don't know what I'll do. In this situation, though, I have watched things just deteriorate as our "strategy" morphs and fails every couple of months. I'm just hoping that the recent changes to management will really make a difference.
It's definitely September, and I'm struggling for people to call. Hence the 8am blogging. I love so much about my job, but this and April are two of the most painful months of the year.
Coffee coffee coffee coffee....MMMMMMM. I'm drinking my first cup of home-brewed, iced coffee and it's delish. This is my way to be economical and stop spending 20 bucks a week on coffee. Plus, I make it just the way I like it and get to pick my brew. It's the simple pleasures in life...
9 came out yesterday and I'm dying to go see it. It's amazing what a good song in a trailer can do for your desire to see a movie. I'm convinced it will be my new favorite movie, second only to Coraline (of late).
S said the "C" word this morning on our ride to work and inspired in me a mini panic attack...ACK, gifts I must knit! I haven't figured out what to do for everyone this year. The slippers last year were a quick fix, but I'm positive have gone unused by all recipients. Mom's Cubbies blanket was the gem of the season, and it was given unfinished, and remains un-backed. Oh well.
I've got to figure out some one-skein wonders that will just dazzle the fam; I know I can make M a plethora of headbands, and rather quickly. K can use winter gear, since she actually lives somewhere cold. I could come up with some clever skulls & crossbones scarf for T for on his bike, but no guarantees he'd ever wear it. Maybe this will be the Christmas of the scarf. Those are quick and painless, and I can do a lot of clever stuff with them. I've come a long way since S's long black and pink garter stitch mess. I suppose I could find enough unique patterns not to become bored, but that would be a true challenge for me to finish 7 or 8 scarves by Christmas.
I am the UFO queen. So let it be written...
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Maybe I'll be able to do it for real this time...
...though I seriously doubt it.
talking about blogging, of course. I suck at this game. So for anyone who's out there, don't come to rely on me for daily doses of genius, because I flat out don't have them. I often don't know what to write about, and this can be as much of a chore as work if I allow it.
So
I will start with a what's on my needles right now.
1. Mon Petit Chou: this is my primary project for Knit for the Cure, and must be completed by Nov. 1st
2. Hush Hush: Also for Knit for the Cure, but doubtful that I will make the deadline.
3. Original creation: jumper in Baby Bunny. This will have to wait until I meet my deadlines.
4. Original creation: headband (though I actually have two of these going right now)
5. Trish's Mini Basque Corselette: To be honest though, I don't think I've touched this in over a month
I've got a lot of other UFOs, but seeing as how I've not touched them in months, I'm not going to count them here.
So where do I start? Well, MPC is fun, and I've done the hipster before. I know I can finish that by Nov 1. I think I might have HH be my Football KAL project, if there is a football KAL again. Maybe I'll have my own football KAL all by myself.
I'd hate to be an idea thief and post it to Ravelry as though it was my own.
BTW...I love Ravelry. Almost as much as I love my Wednesday night knitting group. Moving to North County was the best thing that ever happened to my knitting habit (other than Tyler living in Chile for a semester to get me started on knitting).
Okay, done for now. Maybe I'll come back to this in the afternoon. Gonna be a long one if I'm already blogging.
talking about blogging, of course. I suck at this game. So for anyone who's out there, don't come to rely on me for daily doses of genius, because I flat out don't have them. I often don't know what to write about, and this can be as much of a chore as work if I allow it.
So
I will start with a what's on my needles right now.
1. Mon Petit Chou: this is my primary project for Knit for the Cure, and must be completed by Nov. 1st
2. Hush Hush: Also for Knit for the Cure, but doubtful that I will make the deadline.
3. Original creation: jumper in Baby Bunny. This will have to wait until I meet my deadlines.
4. Original creation: headband (though I actually have two of these going right now)
5. Trish's Mini Basque Corselette: To be honest though, I don't think I've touched this in over a month
I've got a lot of other UFOs, but seeing as how I've not touched them in months, I'm not going to count them here.
So where do I start? Well, MPC is fun, and I've done the hipster before. I know I can finish that by Nov 1. I think I might have HH be my Football KAL project, if there is a football KAL again. Maybe I'll have my own football KAL all by myself.
I'd hate to be an idea thief and post it to Ravelry as though it was my own.
BTW...I love Ravelry. Almost as much as I love my Wednesday night knitting group. Moving to North County was the best thing that ever happened to my knitting habit (other than Tyler living in Chile for a semester to get me started on knitting).
Okay, done for now. Maybe I'll come back to this in the afternoon. Gonna be a long one if I'm already blogging.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
