Two Crazy Knit Chicks

Tipping Point Meet Swallowtail

2010-01-17T15:55:00.007-05:00

I came home from work feeling a little less than wonderful Friday night (sick co-workers please stay home and don't share your germs with the rest of us) but I settled myself in on the sofa with some tissues and cough drops to knit anyway. I was at that point with my Swallowtail that I could see the end in sight.

After having had to tink and rip a bit here and there I had made it through the lily of the valley section sprinkled with nupps and now the (nupp-less) border chart was next. I was at that tipping point where I needed to knit until it was done.

I had cast on as scheduled January 1st for the 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge on ravelry. Well, it was almost on schedule. The group was founded by a Norwegian knitter and so the decision was to wait until midnight in Oslo, Norway or Central European Time (CET), regardless of where you lived, to cast on. Oslo is 6 hours ahead of me so when I found out we'd all be following CET I was excited. My plan for New Year's Eve was to be home and ready to knit by 6pm and spend the evening knitting! Heaven. Not everyone's idea of the perfect NYE but it works for me. Well, life intervened and I didn't get to sit and knit until a little after 10:30pm, my time, but the race was on!

Literally, the race was on. The first finished shawl was posted to the FO thread on January 1st!!

And over the next week several more were added to the thread. I had to remind myself that this challenge was not a sprint and I had all year to complete my 10 shawls. But as more and more shawls were finished and posted it motivated me to knit. And today I added mine to the thread!

Pattern: Swallowtail by Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Classic Elite Silky Alpaca 2 ply lace weight in the color Beach Glass
Yardage: approximately 45g / 414yds/379m
Started: January 1, 2010
Finished January 16, 2010

I also have Citron from the new Winter Knitty and another Ishbel on the needles. We'll see which one get's finished next.

Happy Holidays!!

2009-12-19T15:45:00.007-05:00

I'm obviously overdue for an update. My last post was Halloween so it's definitely time for Domo and the pumpkins to exit. But I don't want to talk about Christmas. I'm woefully unprepared for the holiday this year so the less said the better. We're getting some serious snow today in the Philadelphia area and I can't even get my shopping finished. I might be one of those crazy people you see on the news in the mall on Christmas Eve.
So, with 2010 right around the corner I thought I'd take advantage of this snow day at home to say hello and share my knitting plans for the new year. After knitting Fountain Pen, my first lace weight shawl over the summer, I caught the lace bug. Through the fall, I knit several of those smaller shawls like Traveling Woman , Ishbel and 198 Yards of Heaven (all rav links).
I recently finished the Dane Shawl by Jane Tanner, knit in J. Knits Superwash Me Sock yarn. The colorway is called Michigan. I'm very happy with it and my new shawl pin. But please let me know, am I wearing it wrong?? Stick pin up or down? Is there a right way?

So guess what I'll be knitting in the new year? More shawls. Hopefully 10 shawls because I joined the ravelry group 10 Shawls in 2010. The group was started by Pillen, an awesome knitter from Vestfold, Norway. She came up with the idea to challenge yourself to knit 10 shawls over the course of the year. Here's what she wrote on the group home page.

"The minimum requirement of meterage is 250 meter (ca 273 yards) for 8 of these shawls, whereas 2 must use at least 500 meters (ca 546 yards) of yarn.

There are no upper limits to meterage if you want to knit 10 big shawls :) Any shapes will do - and you can even be your own designer!

The plunge starts at January 1st and ends 31st of December 2010. NO WIPS count!
In the very beginning of January 2011, there will be a prize draw (picked at random of course) amongst those who have completed the 10 shawls following the criteria.

There will also be monthly prizes! :) "

Sounded like fun to me!! I already had several shawl patterns in my queue and now that I've joined the group my queue has exploded. I think I’m going to start with Swallowtail, but of course, I reserve the right to change my mind any time between now and midnight January 1st. And I’m sure that over the course of the year a new shawl pattern might catch my eye (ummm... Bitterroot and Citron) but here's my list of potential shawls to knit for the challenge.

Swallowtail
Ishbel
Cedar Leaf Shawlette
Aeolian Shawl
Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl
Mountain Peaks Shawl
Gail (aka Nightsongs)
Percy Shawl
Springtime Bandit
Aestlight
Luna Moth
Heartland Lace Shawl
Centrique
Butterfly Forest Shawl
Saroyan
Laminaria
Agatha
Night Blooms Shawl
La Cumparsita
Go Fly a Kite Shawl
Ethereal Fichu
Echo Flower Shawl
Woodland Shawl
Rueschenstola

So you should see some finished lace shawls on my project page on ravelry and here on the blog in 2010. And if you think you'd like to knit some shawls too, why don't you join us?

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T09:46:00.004-04:00

Stay safe and have fun!

Finishing Feels Fabulous!

2009-09-15T20:25:00.006-04:00

This has been a week of finishing! I've had several projects on the needles that I've been cycling between and I got to the point with each of them that it was time to just settle in and finish. I reached my "tipping point". Some had been on the needles longer than others but they all got their share of dedicated knitting time.

First off the needles was my newest project. In this case I think I have the KAL to thank for the quick turn around time. I caught the beginning of the September KAL on the ravelry Beginning Lace Knitters group for the Traveling Woman shawl by Liz Abinante. I'd had my eye on this shawlette and had been considering knitting it this fall so it seemed like a sign. August 31st found me casting on.

I thoroughly enjoyed knitting it. The yarn was yummy. The color was a treat to my eyes. The details are here on my ravelry page. And it was great to be part of the KAL and see everyone's yarn choices, progress and the finished shawls. In fact, the KAL is still going strong so if you've been considering knitting TW, stop by and visit the group. I joined earlier in the summer when I cast on my "first" lace weight shawl. I've found the Beginner Lace Knitters group to be a really sweet, supportive group of lace knitters who seem to welcome and enjoy helping newbie lace knitters (like me).

That lace project also came off the needles last night! I've been working away on it all summer. I'm a little apprehensive about blocking it. Can I mess it up at this point?? I hope not. So more about that when I have some nice pictures post blocking. And now, I must get off the computer and back to Liesl. I've just picked up the stitches for the second sleeve so that should be done very shortly too!

And all this finishing.... means I can cast on some new projects.

Happy Knitting!

It's What's for Dinner...

2009-08-26T19:15:00.005-04:00

Squash!! I love summer squash so I was very happy to come home tonight and find this perfect yellow squash as I was on my way in the back door. It's been many years since I've had a garden. But my daughter had a couple extra squash plants that wouldn't fit in her smallish, first vegetable garden so she sent them home with me. I popped them in at the end of a sidewalk border right by my deck and now... I have dinner! Just steamed with butter (tonight I settled for Smart Balance), salt and pepper = yum!!

I also have another recent FO to share. The yarn, Knitting Fever Jumbo Merino, was an impulse purchase that I was sure was destined to remain in my stash because I foolishly only bought 2 balls. A grand total of 66 yards! I was going to try Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Unoriginal Hat but after looking at various projects on ravelry I was certain I'd run short. It was really bugging me that I'd bought this yarn that I was really drawn to - loved the earthy colors and softness - yet I bought it without a plan and couldn't find a pattern to use with it. So last weekend I just decided to knit a rectangle with a cable down the center and see if I could get enough length to make a neckwarmer. I made a buttonhole and one end and then knit down to the very end. And after blocking and giving it a little tugging it looks like it might work!

And a project currently on my needles is Liesl!

You might recognize this yarn. It was last seen as Vienne, (my ravelry project) which ended up in the frog pond. Who knew that frogging a whole sweater that had been washed and blocked with the ends woven in (really well I might add) would be such a chore. Took me a whole evening. And then more time washing and rewinding the yarn. But now I have the pleasure of knitting with this lovely yarn again and I'm optimistic that this project will be a success!!

Happy Knitting and thanks for all the nice warm wishes on the new little grandbaby!

Why it's a Finished Object or Two!!

2009-08-23T19:48:00.006-04:00

Apparently I'm never going to be a regular blogger. I have trouble with commitment. Ask those who know me. Daily or even weekly is more than I can commit to. But this weekend I got a couple of projects finished, which always feels so good. So I thought I'd post a quick update. And now that something's come off the needles, something else can go on. Like Liesl and Ishbel and Selbu Modern and .....!

This is a little out of season... a winter scarf that stalled on the needles when spring arrived and then spent the summer patiently waiting it's turn again. I don't know what prompted me to pick it up this week. It's been quite warm and sticky here in the Philadelphia area but I dug it out of the "zzz" basket and would not rest until it was done. I knit until I ran out of yarn.

Pattern: Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky 2 skeins / 262 yards
Needle: US 10 / 6.0 mm
I've used this pattern before. It's a (usually) quick, easy knit. Unisex. And I think it works well with variegated yarn and would work equally well with a nice solid color. It may become my 'go to' scarf pattern.

I also finished my granddaughter Devin's school sweater. I don't think I ever blogged about it. It started out as a navy blue cardigan, per uniform regulations, but I did fancy it up a bit with some feather and fan. Hope that's acceptable for school standards. I'll take some photos and update my ravelry page next week.

And there's one more FO in my life I should share.....

Born on August 13th. I'm smitten. He's beautiful. Now I have 5 grandchildren to fill my heart. And knit for.

Hello!

2009-06-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hi! How are you all doing? I'm doing well myself. Sorry gals but I lost my knitting and knitting blogging mojo for a while. I don't knit as fast as some of you, and I always felt I had to blog a novella every time. But Suzy Girl was kind enough to point out, that a few words here and there are all that is needed. A weekly hello would suffice. And she is so right.

So without further ado, here are two little book marks I knitted up recently:

First one was for a book blogger friend of mine Marcia from The Printed Page.

And the second is for me:

Not sure how well these will work, but I had this beautiful left over sock yarn I wanted to use. What else could I have done with it? That sock yarn log cabin blanket is never going to get made. Lets face it.

So that's it for now. I'll see you all next week. Happy Knitting!

P.S.

Barbara, I know I said Sunday for my post, but since Susan posted I decided to wait until Monday. Thanks for giving me another friendly kick.

Buttons!!

2009-06-28T11:48:00.010-04:00

Well, I tackled a long overdue chore yesterday and got my button sewing done so I finally have some projects that are now officially OTN and FO. I don't know why I procrastinated so long on getting these buttons sewn on. Once I got started it didn't take that long. But in my defense, I had a hard time finding really cute buttons. Who knew cute buttons were so hard to find.

So anyway, here's how I spent Saturday afternoon.....

Sewing on plain, tiny blue buttons for the Little Boy Blue Sweater for my grandbaby.

Pattern: DROPS b17-23 (used this for the sweater and hat)
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun - Superwash Sock Yarn
Needles:Size 1, 3, 4, us
I couldn't find a top down pattern for the sock weight yarn so I ended up using this pattern from Drops Design. This was knit from the bottom up, a first for me. Drops has a ton of free patterns on their website.. a great resource but I didn't like the decrease technique in the yoke area. It's a newborn size so I don't expect he'll get to wear it too often. His next sweater will be a top down and I will find cute buttons.

Still sewing... this time little pink buttons for a coworker who is expecting a baby girl.

Pattern: Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy (the Knitting Pure and Simple lady)
Yarn: Berrocco Comfort
Needles:Size 7us
This is a really nice quick and easy pattern. The buttons are little flower shapes but you can't really tell that from the picture.

And finally... buttons for a collection of bibs knit for my daughter. I started these early in her pregnancy. I was itching to knit for the baby but at that point we hadn't found out the baby was a boy. The colors are awfully bright and I probably wouldn't have chosen them if I had waited and known "he" was a "he". But if they catch food dribbles then I guess they've served their purpose.

Pattern: Baby Bib O' Love by Kay Gardiner and Anne Shayne from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Lion Cotton-Ease
Needles: Size us 6

And to complete my baby knitting... the sheep hat is done. In fact, I made two. I had enough yarn to make little thumb-less mittens and a second hat for a friend of my daughter's who is also having a baby boy.

Pattern: Baby Sheep Hat by Melissa Burt
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino DK Weight dyed with Wilton's food colorings.
Needles: Size 6 us
The original pattern was made with 64 stitches, which seemed a bit small, so I reworked the hat a couple of times and finally settled on adding 20 stitches to the original chart, keeping the same number of sheep, for a final cast on of 84 stitches and used a 2x2 rib rather than the rolled brim.

Now we just have to wait for baby to make his arrival.

Happy Knitting!

Rock Star in the House

2009-06-20T21:02:00.012-04:00

Today I drove out to Lancaster County with my son and grandson to take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas could probably take over the world if he wanted to. He's the best thing since sliced bread. He is a rock star. Kids love him, parents love him.. even Grandmom loves Thomas.

My grandson is a huge train enthusiast. He loves them all... steam engines, diesels, passenger, freight... you name it. He's fascinated by all things trains. And he's a big Thomas fan.

So when we found out that the Strasburg Railroad was hosting a "Day Out with Thomas" event we couldn't pass up the opportunity even though the weather forecast for today was a bit hit or miss. We got rained on once and had to take cover in one of the food tents, but all in all it was a terrific day.

Lancaster is an interesting area, known best I guess, for it's large Amish population. It had been several years since I had been out that way and I'd forgotten how pretty it is in the summer. Thomas pulled beautiful restored railway cars through some picturesque farmland (that's tobacco growing) and some interesting crossroads (buggy rides by an enterprising Amish gentleman).

So I don't expect to get too much knitting done this weekend but the little guy had fun so there's always tomorrow.
Now, if I can just find the time to sew on some buttons I may have a few FO's to share next time.

Happy Knitting!

Hey Baby!!

2009-05-31T15:02:00.005-04:00

Hello and "Happy End of May" from Winston Cooper and me. June 1st tomorrow! I can't believe the time has just slipped away. Hopefully Jenny Girl and I will be blogging more often soon. But in the meantime I thought I'd do a quick update.

It's been a busy spring, we've both been busy with work and life in general, but there has been knitting. And I know Jen is enjoying her book blog, so if you like to read as well, go visit her over there.

My main knitting focus this spring has been baby knits. I have a new grandbaby on the way so it's been all baby all the time for me.

Every baby needs a blanket.

Pattern: Baby Blocks by Ann Norling (it's from one of the Debbie Macomber books)
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino Worsted Weight
Amount: 6 skeins
Needles: Size 8 us

And a warm sweater, hat and socks... even one born in August??

Pattern: DROPS b17-23 (used this for the sweater and hat)
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun - Superwash Sock Yarn
Needles:Size 1, 3, 4, us
I picked this sock yarn up last year at MDSW and assumed it would become socks but I decided to use it for the baby. The soon to be parents had some fun times kicking around Brooklyn with friends while dating and engaged so it seemed like it was meant to be their baby boy's sweater.

And of course, a baby sheep hat! I love this pattern and was so glad DD did too.

Pattern: Baby Sheep Hat by Melissa Burt
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino DK Weight dyed with Wilton's and the black will be Knit Picks Swish DK in coal.
Needles: Size 6 us

Now, SIL, he hasn't seen it yet. He might not want his son running around in a baby sheep hat but he does like the Converse booties, so I'm planning on making those as well.

And on a personal knitting note, sadly, Vienne has been finished but will never be worn. I'll be frogging it and re-purposing the yarn. After blocking, the V is much too deep and wide for me. It slips off my shoulders!! Ughhh!!

Happy Knitting!!

Jenny's pink Mr Greenjeans

2009-03-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

I fell in love with Susan's version (Rav link) of Mr. Greenjeans , so being the copycat that I am, I just had to make one for myself. This baby has been percolating on the needles since the beginning of December. Here is a close up of the cable section:

The yarn is Moda Dea Silk-n-Wool blend (Rav link) and size 8 needles. The yarn is very nice to work with, and the pattern is super easy to follow. Top down construction and no seams. Yea! I did not change needle sizes on the bottom cable section as per the pattern. The cables pull in enough, without using a smaller needle. All I have left is both sleeves and the ribbing, which I'm doing now. Obviously this picture was taken a while ago.

Now if only I didn't have to work for a living and could knit all day.....

TTFN!

Bonsoir Mes Amis

2009-03-07T20:31:00.010-05:00

I know, it's corny but I couldn't think of another way to start this post about my current WIP. It's Vienne, a free sweater pattern by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes which is available on the Knitting Daily site. Kristeen has a new book out, called French Girl Knits. So it seemed appropriate to dust off my high school french.

This started out as a KAL, but I'm not going to point fingers (or knitting needles) at any fellow knitters who left me knitting all by myself. I don't mind being abandoned. But now our plan for the three of us to wear our matching, spring sweaters on the same day and parade around the Drexel campus will never be.

I'm using Plymouth Royal Silk Merino in a kind of pale robin's egg blue. It's a really nice yarn. I got it on sale at Webs. Very nice to knit with.

This sweater uses an interesting technique, new to me. It's knit from the top down but starts out with a provisional cast. The left shoulder is knit from the top of the shoulder down, (front and back) and then the right shoulder is done the same way, with stitches for the sleeve cap picked up. There's a nice little lace pattern to keep it interesting. The two sides are then joined and it's knit in the round for the lower body.

I've made a little bit more progress since this photo was taken (by moi). The body is just about done and I'm ready to start the sleeves.

And as much as I want to sit and knit sleeves, I just got back from Borders. I bought Kristeen's book. It's a very pretty book, lot's of very pretty, french girl patterns. I also bought Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits. I'll be curled up on the sofa in 'new knitting book' heaven. The sleeves might have to wait for tomorrow. That is, if I can get Winston to move over and share the sofa.

Knitting my way toward Spring

2009-03-05T20:35:00.012-05:00

Even though we got dumped on earlier in the week, it's March, and that means thoughts are turning toward Spring. After all, the Philadelphia Flower Show is in town this week and that's a sure sign of Spring. And this weekend, the weather forecast... 60's Saturday and Sunday!!! See ya' later snow!

So before winter slinks away (I hope I'm not putting a jinx on us Philly for one last blast) I thought I'd share a couple of recent cold weather FO's. I really enjoy knitting winter paraphernalia. I made several hats, some mittens, cowls and gloves and still have some projects in my queue that I'd like to knit but they'll have to wait for next year.

I knit two and half pair of gloves this winter. The last pair I finished are the Knotty Gloves (ravelry link). It's a well written pattern with some nice cable work at the wrist. My photo of the finished gloves doesn't really capture the detail as well as the second photo of them in progress.

Needle: US 2
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks 4 Ply
Amount: A little less than 2 skeins
Colorway: Flax

I'm determined to knit more gloves for next winter. A small portable project - great for train knitting. And I like the various possibilities of patterns and colors. Like socks for your hands. This pair isn't exactly perfect but I enjoy wearing them.

My recently finished Cozy Cropped Cardi...
Pattern: Cropped Raglan Sweater by Lion (ravelry link)
Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in the Blue Nile colorway
Amount: 5 skeins - 870 yds. down to the last couple of yards
Needles: US 8

I love the Peruvia... it blocked really nice and soft. It's a very cozy little cardi and I'm going to wear it often until the weather forces me to put it away.

So what kind of projects will Spring bring? I've got a "springy" sweater on the needles. I'll try to get a real honest to goodness WIP post up about that next time. I'm planning on a lace KAL for some summer knitting. And socks are always good for warm weather knitting. You don't think I'm getting ahead of myself do you?? It is March after all.

Wee bit of catch up

2009-03-02T18:12:00.006-05:00

This is what my sweetie gave me for Valentine's Day this year:

He does listen to me when I talk about knitting. "Hey, don't you need one of those swift thingies? Happy Valentine's Day baby."

Not that we celebrate Heart Day. We both worked in the restaurant business, many moons ago, and lost our taste for the holiday. It is one of the worst day's to go out for dinner. I rather have a surprise waiting for me some random Tuesday or something. To me, that's being romantic. Or after being married for quite some time, "I dusted, vacuumed, and washed dishes today, baby." That's always good to hear :)

In other knitting related news, not too much going on. I am working on my version of Mr. Greenjeans (Rav Link). I'll try and post some pics by the weekend. Very easy pattern, knit in the round, so no seams...yea!

I am almost finished one sock of a pair using some yarn I won from The High Fiber Diet podcast and the pattern tessellating lace (Rav link). This is my lunch time project at work. Easy, mindless, allows me to chat and knit.

On a somewhat disappointed, bordering on angry knitting note, I had started Vienne (Rav link) along with Cattywampus and Suzy girl. However after frogging and CO three times, I am not looking forward to a 4th. Now I know I can be bit dense from time to time, but when I knit at night after work, I don't need to think that much. A little thinking is fine, but not bang my head against the wall and still not get it thinking. Cattywampus is not feeling it either. Suzy girl on the other hand is moving right along. Hers is very pretty and soft. I think the finished product will be gorgeous.

Well that's all for now. I think that's enough anyway.

Take care and TTFN!

In honor of Homer

2009-02-21T14:14:00.003-05:00

Homer was my father-in-law and passed away yesterday morning in the hospital, after a very long stay. Homer, although not his real name, it describes him perfectly. He really did love his family, in his own messed up way. Although his actions may not have always been perfect, he had the best of intentions. No body is perfect. So this is in his honor:

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson, 1936

Thank you in advance for your kind thoughts and wishes. And please, if there is anyone in your life who smokes, please encourage them to quit. I used to smoke and for a great many years, so I know how hard it is to quit. It is no joke. But watching someone die from lung cancer isn't fun either. I'm not a "reformer" or anything, and I do believe in a person's right to smoke, but this experience I guess brought it home for me. Just ask people to at least consider it.

Thank you and take care!

Daddy has a hat

2009-02-01T16:43:00.006-05:00

You may remember that before vacation I talked about making my Dad a scarf. I did. Nothing special, 2x2 rib and used red heart acrylic held double so it would knit up quickly and be extra warm. Dad needs easy care yarn. Well he loved it, and I asked if he would like a hat to match. He said sure, but could I put a Phillies P on it. Why not? I'm fearless. Low and behold....

I was a little concerned about the fit. I measured his head, but me and measuring don't always get along, so I was still nervous. Plus the acrylic yarn I was using was not that forgiving. But it turned out pretty well don't you think? Here are the specifics:

Pattern: Pastaza Skull cap (Ravelry) with some mods. I co 96 stitches and then had to fudge the crown but it worked out and swirled.
Yarn: Red Heart red and white
Needle size: 8 circs and dpns
Size: Men's large
I used graft paper for the P which was pretty easy. I may consider doing a Flyers hat next. Hmmm...

(BTW, Dad was tired, hence the half closed eyes)
TTFN!

We received an award....

2009-01-29T19:12:00.006-05:00

We received this award from the Recovering Actor who has two blogs you should definitely check out: My Inner Monoblog and The Actor's Knitmare She is funny and honest, and also from the area.

This is a “meme” award, so it gets passed on. The rules for passing it on are:

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Award up to ten other blogs.

4. Add links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

Okay so now I have to pick some blogs. Hmmm...sorry people but this is tough, because I read a lot of blogs, both knitting and book related. Hence, not a lot of knitting posts. Too busy reading.

So here goes:

Gnat from BarknKnit

Nell from Chicken Knits

Bea from Baa Baa Blacksheep

Heather from Sunset Knitter

Marg from Reading Adventures

Dustina from The Mountaineer Knitter

Sarah from Reading the Past

Toni from a Circle of Books

Dar from Peeking Between the Pages

There are a ton of great blogs out there. These are just a few. Check them out when you have a chance.

P.S.

I think the store you are thinking of is Rosie's Yarn Cellar on Locust street, between 20th and 21st.

Wind, Knit... Repeat

2009-01-23T19:39:00.004-05:00

I've learned a lesson. Last Sunday I wound up two skeins of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky with my new ball winder. Which I love by the way!! This yarn had been sitting in my stash waiting for DD#2 to claim it.

I bought this pretty blue-purple hand dyed yarn with the intention of tempting her to get serious about learning to knit. She works a pretty high pressure job and I've often suggested that knitting would be a great down-time hobby for her... not to mention she'd knit her own socks and hats. But so far she hasn't progressed much beyond a half completed wash cloth.

So while digging through my stash looking for some yarn suitable for a scarf to "match" a recently completed hat, I decided 1) the Araucania would fit the bill and 2) DD#2 is not knitting this yarn any time soon so I should.

Now a slight digression, the Yarn Harlot had a great post this week about "matching" winter knitware on her blog (see excuse 7 if you haven't read it). Stephanie always hits the nail right on the head and is able to so clearly articulate the knitter's dilemma I struggle with. To match or not to match.

It's cold here in Philadelphia, really cold. January cold. And I, like many other cold climate knitters (and my fellow blog partner) have been busy knitting hats, mittens and neckwarmers for the family and me. In a perfect world my hat, scarf and mittens/gloves would coordinate nicely but not necessarily match. That's not a hard and fast rule. I did make a Foliage hat last winter and had yarn left over so I made a Foliage scarf to match. But whenever I wear it, I feel a little like a flash back from the 80's in my matching set. And I recently made my granddaughter, Ashley a hat (Utopia if you want to ravel it) that I think is a good match for the Bella mittens I made her. Same yarn, cables so it looks like a set. On the other hand, some of the hats and scarves I wear as sets, well they definitely don't match. In fact, I must admit they really don't even coordinate that well together. For example, my go-to scarf when I wear my Koolhaas hat is my Sheep Shop One Row Scarf . That combination is what I consider a fashion statement.... that say's "I don't care". The problem, as Stephanie so clearly explains, is that my collection of winter wear are all "different knitting adventures". For me that means knit at different times and for different reasons and not always planned in advance. How do you approach your winter knitware ensembles?? Do you work at matching them or are you just thankful to be warm?

In addition, this winter I've been intent on knitting yarn from my stash rather than go out and buy something new (blame the economic mess on me). So my latest completed hat, the one that prompted my winding the Araucania is another such project. A spur of the moment.. it's going to be really cold this week.. I need another hat project.

Pattern: Winter Femme Hat
Yarn: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool (left over from my Greenjeans sweater)
Color: Pansy
Needles: us 7

I love the pattern, it was a quick, enjoyable knit. And the Shepherd's Wool is so soft and such a pleasure to touch and knit with. Now that I have the hat, I needed a scarf to wear with it. Not a cable scarf, that would be too matchy, right? A basic scarf out of the Araucania. I could make it work, right? The purpley color in the yarn is very close to the color of the hat. Pansy purple. Compliments or matches close enough in my world. I started the Yarn Harlot One Row scarf.

But for the second time I ignored the advice I've read about working with hand-dyed yarn and didn't alternate my skeins. I knit away this week and thought I'd soon have a completed scarf to wear with my orphan hat.

But after attaching and knitting 4-5 inches of my second skein I could clearly see where the second skein started. And it wasn't because I had a tail hanging, I felted the ends together. The second skein was clearly darker. Distinctly darker. I had to admit defeat, frog and rewind. After all, I do have some fashion principles.

Lesson learned. Alternate your skeins of hand dyed yarn. Or just go buy a hat and scarf that match.

First FO for 2009 Yea!

2009-01-18T15:25:00.008-05:00

Like the majority of the country, the weather has been brutally cold here in Philly. Like single digit cold, and we haven't had that in several years. Therefore a nice toasty hat was in order.

Pattern: Robin's Egg Blue Hat from i dream of knitting

Yarn:Malabrigo chunky in Stonechat which I won over a year ago from Cinnamon Girl at Happyhand Work

Needle size: 10.5

Size: women's medium

Love, love, love the yarn and the pattern too. It is super easy and took less than a week. Maybe three days? I have never knit with malabrigo before, and I must say it was awesome. And the colors of this yarn are just beautiful. I know after a while malabrigo pills and stuff, but to have a worsted weight sweater out of this colorway, would be a good thing.

Hmmm....I see a future project.

I like the swirly thing the crown does. Cool!

Stay warm and happy knitting! TTFN!

Spa set

2009-01-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

One of my co-workers recently bought a house, and I thought after all her hard work, she would appreciate some good thoughts her way while relaxing. So I made her this little spa set:

Two wash cloths and a back scrubber type thing.

Yarn: Sugar and Cream in Cool Breeze ombre

Needle Size: 8

Patterns: Butterfly lace dishcloth, (left) Eyelet and bead dishcloth,(right) and the back scrubbber was from Knit Noel (quick Christmas knits)

I was happy to make it for her, because she did truly appreciate it. She used to knit, but can't anymore because her hands are bad. She knows what it takes to make something. However, working with the cotton did bother my hands after a while. Plus the k2tog or p2tog-b are not the easiest things to do with cotton. So I was happy to finish.

No washcloths for a while though.

TTFN!

Citrus yoke pullover

2008-12-29T17:32:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished this sweater. It really didn't take that long, it's just that I got side tracked by other projects, and then took vacation, and slightly side tracked again.

So here are the particulars:

Yarn: Wool of the Andes Bulky in Sky from Knitpicks

Needle Size: 11

Pattern: Citrus Yoke Sweater by Katie Himmelburg (Ravelry link)

Size: large?

Mods: Only 2 repeats on the neck, added a ribbed/yarn over border on bottom and sleeves,

I did a gauge swatch and fell in between needle sizes 10.5 and 11. Yes, I measured and so did Suzy, so I decided to go with 11. I didn't want the neck too tight. I followed the pattern for the most part. I started out following one size, but as I was doing the yoke, I realized I couldn't do all the repeats for that size. The yoke would have been down to my waist. So I think I eliminated one yoke repeat. Sorry it was a while ago.

From then on, it's straight knitting, so I just did what worked for me. I didn't want the hems to roll, so I added the ribbing/yarn over border. Which I think looks cute and goes with the flow.

I loved working with the yarn and the color. I am just not crazy with the pattern. Cattywampus told me that I will eventually figure out what sweaters work for me, and I can tell you already that yokes like this don't. I want the arm holes to be more fitted. These kind of hang down a wee bit. But since the pattern kind of continues onto the arms....well I didn't realize this was going to happen. Maybe I should have made a smaller size?? I don't want to look like a sausage either. Come on, you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, my dear friend told me to add a single crochet chain around the neckline in the inside. This should help with the arm hole thing. I have yet to tackle this. I'm thinking raglan increase sweaters work best for me so far. And I think I will definitely attempt a set in sleeve sweater too.

{I apologize for the blurry pictures, but you don't even want to know how many pictures Suzy and I took. They just didn't look good.}

TTFN!

Jenny Girl's Bella's mittens

2008-12-27T16:44:00.005-05:00

Are you thinking, "Who is Bella and why does she have mittens?"

Well, if you are familiar with the Twilight series, you know the answer to the above question. If not, then: Bella is the main female character in the wildly popular book series and now movie Twilight. She lives outside of Portland, Oregon, so she needs some mittens for that cold damp weather up there. Even though I absolutely loved both the book and movie, these mittens rock. See:I love the horseshoe cable and the gaunt like length, which comes in handy in windy weather. Stops the draft going up the sleeves of your coat. So here are the particulars:

Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool in Dark Grey Mix (held double)

Needle size: 8 dns

Pattern: Bella's Mittens by Marielle Henault at http://www.subliminalrabbit.com/

(Marielle has a cute sweater pattern too, so check her out)

TTFN and happy knitting!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-24T09:12:00.003-05:00

Susan and I wish you all a very merry Christmas. We hope you all have a wonderful day, whether with family and friends, or just hanging by yourself.
Enjoy and happy knitting too :)

TTFN!

Jenny Girl is....

2008-12-21T13:43:00.001-05:00

You Are Blitzen

Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa.

Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying!

Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Bitten by the bug

2008-12-17T21:38:00.007-05:00

I'm woefully behind on posting some of my FO's this fall so I'm going to try to catch up before the end of the year. Yikes, that's less than 2 weeks away isn't it!!
First up... my "End of October" sweater.

Shortly after Jen cast on the February Lady Sweater I realized that I wanted to make one too. Yup, Jennygirl, me and 3000+ other ravelers have been bitten by the FLS bug.
So I cast on sometime in September and finished it the end of October. I really wanted to come up with some nice, natural light pictures with some pretty fall scenery as a backdrop but I never found the right time. Finally one evening when I got home from work I coerced my son into taking a couple of quick shots. Not exactly our best work but you get the idea... and Winston looked good anyway. He's very photogenic though he didn't make the cut here on the blog. Sorry Winston. I'll have to be sure to give kitty some blog time next post.

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne based on the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby sweater
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino in a dark heather gray. I used about 4 1/2 skeins.
Needles: US 8

I really enjoyed knitting this sweater. And I love wearing it!! I’ve gotten several compliments on it. The Paton's merino is very soft and cozy to wear. And it took several froggings and held up well.

I got off to a slow start. I had to rip back a few times; for some reason I had trouble with my stitch count on the yoke and then once I got that under control I decided to make some sizing modifications as well.
Now I had read some of the comments on ravelry about sizing, most of the knitters seem to feel the sweater ran a little large. So when choosing the size to knit I debated between the medium and the large. But this was not long after the green cardigan denial disaster so I went with the large.
The first time I tried it on I thought it was a little big but I kept knitting. Then about 4-5 inches into the lace pattern I tried it on again and this time I was really worried that after blocking the lace was going to widen up the body of the sweater more than I wanted. So I decided to rip back, again. This was probably rip #3 or 4. I took it back to a point in the yoke where I had the correct number of stitches for a medium and just continued knitting. And I’m glad I did. It fits just about how I wanted it to after blocking.

I even found buttons I love!! You can't really tell from the picture but they are really nice buttons, they pick up whatever color they're paired with. But who would have guessed... the buttons cost almost as much as the wool.

Happy knitting!!

Finally some pictures

2008-12-08T21:06:00.002-05:00

It has taken me a while, but I have finally whittled down my pictures and added some captions. There are over 250 pictures. Whew that's a lot! Each one has meaning to me, but I'm sure they won't for you. There are a lot of rocks and sunsets in there. I think I took pics every night of the sunset. Those are all from standing on my lanai. I just didn't want to forget it.

Hawaii November 2008

As far as Volcano National Park, it was a very awe-inspiring experience for us. You're driving along enjoying the rain forest, and then wham! you come across a cooled lava flow with total devastation. Then a little later, the rain forest picks up again. Being the city folks we are, we were blown away by mother nature. The day we went it was pouring rain most of the time, and some places had poor visibility due to fog. We never made it to the active lava flow either, but with the rain, we probably wouldn't have really seen it.

The landscape changed in every quadrant of the island, and I really tried to capture that. There were some places we didn't get to visit due to some unforeseen issues, so pictures of flowers are virtually nil. Sorry about that.

I hope you enjoy these pictures. I will leave this link active until the holidays, and then after that I'm going to close it. Also, if you have any questions about the Big Island, please feel free to ask. It is a wonderful place, with awesome people, whose motto is "no worries".

TTFN and knitting photos next time. I mean it :)

How could I?

2008-12-07T10:40:00.005-05:00

I had a dilemma this week with regards to holiday decorating. As most of you may know, I ususally have my tree up and decorated by now. Well this year, we have a complication:

You see this couch is huge. There is no other place to put the couch or the tree. So I would have to evict this poor puppy's couch just for my Crhistmas tree, for only about three weeks. I can't do that! What a shame! We are planning on re-decorating the living room some time next year, and getting her a "new" couch/loveseat at that time.

I think one year without my tree is acceptable. I sort of decorated the blog and put some knick knacks around the house. In the meantime, keep posting those lovely pictures and posts of your holiday decorations and things. I am living vicariously through you all.

Knitting Update:

I am thisclose to finishing my blue yoke sweater. The bottom was too short (yes I measured), so I had to un-bind off and frogg my modified rib hem. I plan on finishing and washing today. Model pictures sometime this week. If I don't wear it to work this week, Suzy is going to kick my butt!

Vacation Picture Update:

Uploaded them to Picassa web Albums. Now I'm workin on the captions. There are 295 pictures and that number was whittled down. They need captions because otherwise, you and I will have no idea what some of these things are. Even then they may be hard to figure out. :)

TTFN!

Jenny Girl is

2008-12-06T12:52:00.000-05:00

You Are a Snowman

Friendly and fun, you enjoy bringing holiday cheer to everyone you know!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

Why am I not surprised?

First things first

2008-12-02T20:51:00.007-05:00

Well, it's been quite some time since I shared some knitting related news. I don't really have a good reason for my lack of attention to the blog. Let's just say I was a bit distracted throughout the summer and fall.

But I have been knitting so I thought I try to catch up a little. Last time I blogged about knitting I think I was working on my "sock blank gone bad" neckwarmer. Well, I've finished that and have gone on to knit a couple of more. And have queued a dozen more on ravelry. In fact, I'm quite taken with the whole neckwarmer/cowl/smokering genre. I've found them to be the solution to a few problems... 1) quick knit, unlike a scarf which can go on forever 2) stash buster for those single skeins and most important 3) they do the job, keeping my neck warm. And when my neck is warm... I'm warm all over. So you'd think I'd share some photos of these FO's, right? Wrong.

First I'm going to share a project I began way back in February. My first sweater!!!

Which doesn't fit me!! So, #2 DD, biggest fan of my knitting, has graciously offered to give the sweater a home until I get my ass back to the gym and take off the extra pounds that are preventing me from modeling it. She wore it Thanksgiving and I took the opportunity to snap a picture of her and Grandmom (who declined to be blogged, especially since she was not wearing a hand knit sweater). Actually #2DD didn't agree to appear on the blog but I thought since I cropped the photo she'd be ok with it. And she does owe me for the sweater.

So the details of denial:

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Neck Down Scoop Neck Cardigan #278 by Diane Soucy
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Wool in Light Green Heather
Needles: US 4 and 6
Size: a smaller version of me

I had heard the KPS patterns were great basic patterns and I'd have to agree. It was an easy knit and I'll definitely knit another.

On a happier note, I also finished a February Lady Sweater this fall, (it fits me) that I wear quite often and I'm working on a Mr. Greenjeans (finally) that I also plan to wear.
And just for the record I did try this on while I was knitting it but kept hoping that blocking would miraculously take care of the gap between the buttons.

Since I enjoy historical fiction

2008-11-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Your result for The Which Historical Queen Are You Test ...

Queen Victoria
You scored 53% on ruling power!

You are: Victoria, Queen of England, 1819-1901. Queen Victoria's reign was the longest in English history. Called the Victorian age, it was a time when Britain was at the height of its colonial power. Victoria became a symbol of British expansionist foreign policy. She insisted on taking an active part in the decisions of the government, and forcefully backed those ministers she liked. She herself was most proud of her role as wife and mother - she had nine children. After the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert, she went into a period of deep depression, dropping out of public view for three years. Her popularity increased in her late years, particularly during time of national celebrations, like the Jubilees of 1887 and 1897.

Try it for yourself.
http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-which-historical-queen-are-you-test

I'm always down for a good read! And a contest :)

2008-11-29T21:05:00.000-05:00

Yea for packages

2008-11-29T12:48:00.007-05:00

I had two packages waiting for me in the midst of my two weeks of unsorted mail. The first is some beautiful sock yarn I won for second place in a contest from the High Fiber Diet podcast. I don't think this picture does it justice. I'm still not good with the picture taking.

This podcast is by two funny gals, Coggie and Bams, from Michigan. I think it's upper Michigan to be precise. They chat about knitting, spinning, their fiber, projects, and life in general. Just two normal, down to earth gals who try not to take life too seriously. And they almost always make me laugh. So drop on by and give them a listen. There is also a Ravelry forum of course!

And as though I don't have enough blogs and books to read, I won the following book from Booking Mama.

For a full summary of Sarah's Key check the link. In a nutshell, it describes events in Paris during the occupation of WW II, and a brother and sister who become separated . That's all I'll say for now, until I read it.

If you are looking for some good books to read, definitely check out Booking Mama's blog. How she finds the time I'll never know. She also knits, crochets, scrapbooks, and reviews children's books as too.

Happy knitting and TTFN!

Back on the mainland and reality

2008-11-25T19:47:00.008-05:00

Yes, I decided to come back from Hawaii. Oh it was so beautiful there! And peaceful, friendly, and no worries, which is one of the mottos there. I was on the Big Island and it was absolutely amazing. The Pacific was a beautiful crystal clear blue. We visited Volcano National Park and circled the island. Each quadrant of the island is a different type of scenery and climate. From the warm sunny Kona side, to the rain forests of Hilo, and the deserts and plains around Honokaa and Waimea. I have never seen or experienced anything like it.

I know we were tourists and therefore everyone tries to be friendly to us, but they just seemed to be genuinely nice people who have a good attitude towards life in general. It was even more apparent to me after I got home and spent a day running errands around South Philly. But lets not go there.

Unfortunately, I did catch a terrible sinus infection before I left, and was sick as a dog when I came home. So, I'm not ready to share my pictures. As soon as I do, I'll put a link up to them.

Of note, I am trying my hardest to catch up on all my blog reading and stuff, but you guys have certainly been busy. My goodness! So please don't think I stopped reading :)

Next time, I'll post my purchases (there is one yarn store on the BI as far as I know), and what I knitted, which was hardly anything. Until then, take care and happy knitting. (This guy moves about as fast as I knit sometimes.)

TTFN!

When in Doubt....

2008-11-12T19:29:00.006-05:00

Post a picture or two of your crazy cat.

This is Winston doing what he does best. Isn't he cute!!

But seriously, I hope Jenny Girl won't be too disappointed in my blog upkeeping skills when she gets back. I told her not to worry while she was away enjoying herself in beautiful Hawaii. I'd take care of things back here in the real world.
Well, apparently, I think I'm on vacation too.
So check back! The plan is to set aside some time this weekend and get the camera out and update both the blog and ravelry. I've got 2 or 3 FO's to share and a couple of new WIPs. How's that for pressure.

Yes We Did!!

2008-11-04T23:40:00.009-05:00

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk...

Martin walked, so Obama could run...

Obama is running so our children can fly!"

This quote has been making the rounds on some blogs, it apparently was part of a discussion on NPR regarding the election, and it just seemed so fitting.

What an amazing day!!

Packed and ready to go

2008-11-04T18:00:00.002-05:00

My bags are packed, the knitting, reading, and mp3 player are set. Thunderbirds are go!

Even Lucky's bag is packed. She will be at Grandmom's house for vacation. My Dad is so excited too. He is lonely during the day, and really misses having a dog. Mom is not too keen on having a new dog, but grandpuppies are okay. So Grandpop and Lucky will be hanging out together.

I'll be back in two weeks or so. I don't think I'll be posting while I'm gone, but you never know. I will try and keep up with all your blogs and i will definitely be checking my email.

Happy Knitting and TTFN!

The monkeys have been set free

2008-11-02T22:32:00.003-05:00

Set free from my needles that is. These socks are knit in the infamous Monkey Sock pattern by Cookie A. Here are the particulars:

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A

Needle size: US 2

Yarn: Seacoast handpainted yarn in the Autumn colorway (won this from Tiennie maybe last year? It's been a while)

Size: Women's 9 for me :)

I really enjoyed working with this yarn. It was soft, the pattern looks awesome in it, and the color is very pretty. So why did it take so long for me to finish? Well, I got tired of socks for a while. Then there is that whole second sock thing. I love the socks, but I did have to set a deadline to finish them. Otherwise they would probably just be hanging out in one of my knitting bags.

Happy knitting and TTFN!

Phinally ! ! ! !

2008-10-29T22:17:00.004-04:00

Sorry, but words just can't describe the pride and happiness I feel right now. Gotta go!

This election has gone to the dogs...no, really

2008-10-26T16:45:00.002-04:00

Bea from Baa Baa Blacksheep is having a presidential voting contest with her two dogs. Go to this post, read and follow the rules to enter. And please mention me so I can have an extra entry. I would greatly appreciate it, since I'm always thankful, and not good with the guessing regardless of who is picking and what it is being picked.

Thanks Pumpkins!

TTFN!

12 days to go

2008-10-24T09:32:00.008-04:00

In 12 days I will be on this beautiful lanai looking at the Pacific Ocean from the Isle of Hawaii. I have been planning this trip for about a year and half, and it's almost here. I really need some rest and relaxation. And knitting time.

That being said I have spent a lot of time trying to decide what to bring to knit. I have lots of airplane time to and fro, plus while I'm on Hawaii. I won't be knitting by the pool or at the beach, but at night while relaxing I need a little something.

So here is what I'm bringing:

A pair of house socks for my father-in-law.

Scarf for my Dad. The poor guy needs a new scarf. Nothing fancy, but something along the lines of my comfy scarf (Ravelry link), but made from acrylic, so he can throw it in the washer. He uses it at dialysis to keep his neck warm.

Leaf T-shirt (Ravelry) in red for myself. Knit in the round and seems pretty easy.

Some wash clothes and a back scrubber for a co-worker.

I think that's about it. This should tide me over for two weeks. Lets face it, I'm not knitting while driving in a convertible in Hawaii. That just seems silly to me. Besides, JB thinks if we get into an accident, God forbid, he will be impaled on my knitting needles. He's crazy obviously.

Maybe I'll throw an extra pair of socks in for myself. Just in case. I'll also have some books with me, one of which I just won from Jill at Romance Rookie. She was giving away a copy of The Darcys and the Bingleys. Jill reviews romance books of all kinds, and there are quite a few that look interesting. Who doesn't love a good romance book once in a while? I stumbled onto her site from someone else, and I'm glad I did.

I also downloaded two audio books I'm interested in as well. Two classics, Lady Audley's Secret and ....the other one is escaping at the moment. Either way, I think I have the important bases covered. Don't you agree?

TTFN!

My Tarot Card

2008-10-17T12:12:00.000-04:00

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

OMG! YEA!

2008-10-15T23:58:00.002-04:00

World Series Baby!!!!!

Citrus Yoke sweater update

2008-10-13T13:00:00.001-04:00

So I haven't been knitting this sweater for too long. I showed Suzy Girl my progress and she thought I was nearly ready to separate for the sleeves. Mind you I was following the directions for size B, but where I was in the pattern was for size A.

Yes, I did a gauge swatch for this project. I was falling in between needle sizes 10.5 and 11 with this bulky yarn. It is Wool of the Andes Bulky from Knit Picks, and I really like knitting with it. Back to the swatch, I washed and blocked and still in between sizes. So I went with an 11, because I didn't want the neck to big super tight against my neck, and from the picture the necks looks close fitting. Well as you can see, I am ready separate.

This will lead me to follow the directions for Size A. When I explained all this to fellow knitter Cattywampus, she gave me a look of concern. She is quite knowledgeable;e when it comes to knitting and sizing. She just didn't want me to be disappointed with my mistakes later, which I completely understand. However, I am stubborn and if this doesn't work out, I will learn from my mistake. It's a sweater I know, but it's only stockinette stitch from this point on. I will just frog, live and learn.

Besides, I think this sweater is going to be okay. And I actually did measure myself as a result of this. So something good to come out of this. Not something I wanted to do, but I did it. And i survived.

TTFN!

It is time for the bathing

2008-10-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

This event actually occurred a few weeks ago, before I knew Indian summer was going to happen. The bathing of the dog. It is a big to-do and dramatic event for the doggy. Lucky does not like baths. As soon as she hears me cleaning out the big metal tub, Lucky runs upstairs and hides on my bed. Then you have to fake her out after you get all the gear together. I usually wait 5 minutes and call that its okay to come down. then you can hear jump off the bed and down she comes. But Lucky knows all is not well.

Over the years it has gotten a little easier, but in the beginning she would stick out all fours so you couldn't carry her out the back door. Nowadays by the time you get her to back door, you have to put her down because she is heavy. Then she gives you a dirty look and saunters out the door to her doom.

I always fill the tub with warm water, and talk to her the whole time she gets the rub down with soap. I spoil the crap out of her actually. Usually I have to keep her between my legs because she tries to escape. But this time, it was different.

We were in the yard, and she just looked at me. And sat down. Albeit with a dirty look, but she sat down. Lucky has finally resigned herself to bath time. It made me a little sad, because it means she is getting older, and is too tired to fight with me. You think they are going to live forever, and then before you know it years have gone by, and they get a little slower and sleep a little more.

Oh well. All I'm saying is enjoy your pets and the time you have with them.

And give them extra cookies after bath time like I do. I am such a soft touch, and Lucky knows it.

TTFN! And happy knitting.

Go check out this contest!

2008-10-11T22:21:00.002-04:00

Adrienne from Knitting in the bellybutton of California is having a contest on her blog to belatedly celebrate her 100th post. All you have to do is stop by and leave comment, and if you mention on your blog, you get an extra entry. Please stop by and tell her I sent you. Who doesn't love a contest :)

Tasty recipe for those in a hurry

2008-10-08T19:56:00.000-04:00

Grilled chicken only tastes good for so long. You can bake chicken. Or grill it with different spices or rubs, but after a while, you need a little something different. So the other night, I had some grilled chicken left over from the previous night and made this:

The recipe is Tomato Basil Chicken from All Recipes. And it's pretty damn good. If you don't have grilled chicken on hand you can use those Perdue shortcuts or bags of grilled chicken from Trader Joe's. They would work just as well. This recipe is fast, easy, and delicious. And it makes for good left overs too.

Less time cooking = more time knitting

TTFN! Happy cooking :)

NLCS Baby!!!!

2008-10-06T08:46:00.002-04:00

Game 1 Thursday against the Dodgers. Go Phillies!

Late report on Knitting in Public Day here in Philly

2008-10-04T19:15:00.006-04:00

Better late than never, here are my thoughts on knitting in public in Philadelphia. The weather was beautiful, I met a few new gals, and got one of my languishing projects done. Specifically, the multi directional scarf done in Classic elite's Inca print.

I like the yarn and the color. I was just so over and done with this scarf. I like boring every now and then, but this was too boring for me. And it took me forever.

Back to knitting in public.... sorry but I didn't take any pictures of the crowd or goings on. I didn't know anyone and I didn't think they would like their picture being taken for my little ole blog. There were about maybe thirty people who showed, so it was a decent turn out, I think. I heard later in Rosie's that the one in June had a lot more knitters show up. Either way, it was a beautiful day to be out, and any day spent knitting is good with me :)

(Next time I will make sure at least one my peeps comes with)

TTFN! Go Phillies!

Jenny Girl is ....

2008-10-03T16:41:00.002-04:00

You Are Australia

You have an a great life, and you consider yourself very lucky.

Although you're thankful for what you have, you know you're also a bit of an underdog.

You are modest, authentic, and sincere. You don't boast... if anything, you're self deprecating.

You aren't formal, and people consider you to be very approachable. You remain relaxed and casual in any situation.

What Country Are You?

Tag! I'm it!

2008-10-01T10:44:00.005-04:00

Dustinac from A Mountaineer Knitter tagged me today. So here it goes:

7 Random or Weird Facts About Me

I would love to be on the Amazing Race. I mean like, if I had a partner, i would do it tomorrow. I have printed out the app, and thought about my application video. It's that whole sense of adventure/discovery thing. JB is so not down on being on TV.
Peanut butter and chocolate are my favorite candy/ice cream combo. Hot fudge sundae with peanut butter ice cream, if you are wondering.
I love roller coasters. Drove to Cedar Point, just for the roller coasters. If I had my way, every vacation would be centered around an amusement park.
I'm pretty sure I would or could live in Europe. Never been there, not exactly sure what I would do for a living, but I'm pretty sure I can figure it out.
Have considered becoming a librarian or museum worker or curator. (This is in case i never open a yarn store someday.)
I can get totally lost in a good book. I mean totally, totally lost. Like lay in bed all day and read.
I am an optimist. I try to always look a t the bright side of life. Most of time anyway :)

Not sure who I should tag, and since I'm behind on my blog reading, consider all of yourselves tagged :)

P.S.

Phillies won today! First playoff win since 1993. Game 2 tomorrow. Have a great night everyone!

TTFN!

Fightin' Phils Win!

2008-09-27T22:15:00.003-04:00

Those fabulous fighting Phillies won their division today, and made it into the playoffs. Congrats boys, and make this city proud! Our hearts are with ya! Go Phillies!

TTFN!

February Lady Sweater Complete!

2008-09-21T19:22:00.007-04:00

Ta-daa! There she is in all her finery....my red hot February lady sweater. I did enjoy knitting this sweater, my first by the way. There were a few scary moments, such as when I forgot to count, or when I forgot what the multiples of seven were. But all in all, I enjoyed this project. Think I will make one for my mom after the holidays. I can't do this pattern back to back, too boring. So here are the dirty details.

Project: February Lady sweater

Yarn: Caron Simply soft, about 3.25 skeins (which I liked knitting with, plus easy maintenance)

Needle size: 8 bamboo for the most part

Size: large

Now on to my next sweater! Have a great week chickees!

TTFN!

Ahoy ye wenches!

2008-09-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

Today, September 19, is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. What do ya mean, ye not 'eard it a fore? See there really is a day for everything. So give yourself a laugh, and maybe someone else too, and try and talk like a pirate today. At least once. Life is too short, so have a little fun.

Besides, pirate gals were no nonsense, tough, and fiercely independent chicks, who laughed in the face of conformity. Aren't you like that, just a little bit? Just a teensy weeny bit?
Arrr and happy knitting!

TTFN!

Philadelphia Knit in Public Day

2008-09-18T12:31:00.004-04:00

This Saturday, September 20, is another Knit in Public Day here in Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. It is being organized by the Third Street Ravelers. Now, none of my close knitting peeps are going, as they have other commitments. So, I am going all by meself, and hoping to run into some other knitters I may know.

Or I could, quite possibly, make some new friends. Gasp...could it be? Me make new friends? I consider myself a very friendly person, but not everybody is. You know how people can be sometimes. They already have their circle or clique,, and that's it. But you know what I say? WHATEVER! I have a good time wherever I go, and plan to do so on Saturday as well.

Besides, Rittenhouse Square is right down the street from Rosie's and I need some buttons. Three to be exact, for my 99% completed February Lady Sweater. Relax....pictures will be posted Monday.

Happy knitting TTFN!

Friday fiction on Saturday

2008-09-13T18:12:00.008-04:00

Phoe from Phoeknits just started this Friday Fiction writing thing yesterday. You can either write some fiction (which for meself is no) or take the prompt and write a blog entry. Option two it is, blog entry.

Friday Fiction Prompt:
What do you see from your window?

Well I don't usually see too much. I live in the city, in a row home, on a block that runs on an angle, so I have nothing across the street from me. No houses, no neighbors. It's like I'm on an extra appendage. Across the street on an angle is a school and school yard, which is full of cars today. More so than usual.

Why? Well, my street is closed off for a serenade tonight. I live in South Philly, which is pretty much synonymous with Italian. You want good Italian food and delicacies, you come to South Philly, capeshe. South Philly was settled by Italian immigrants who brought their traditions with them from their homeland. One of them being serenades. Basically, the night before the wedding, the groom-to-be stands underneath the bride-to-be 's window and serenades her with love songs. It was small, intimate, and with a few family members present. That was then, this is now.

Now, the serenade is held usually about two weeks before the wedding. The street is closed off. Big tents are erected. Tables and chairs are put out. Food and drink are a plenty. There is usually a DJ and a small Mummers string band almost always stops by too. Everybody does the mummers strut. (Sorry can't find a video worthy of viewing) Basically the serenade is a pre-wedding party, and everybody gets pretty smashed. All the neighbors are invited too, to get something to eat and drink. I won't go because I don't know them too well. It's not that I'm anti-social, I just don't hang with my neighbors. I actually don't even know that many down that end of the street.

Anyway, that's what I see from my window today.

TTFN!

The Gods have spoken

2008-09-09T18:14:00.006-04:00

I wanted to blog last night, but was too tired. Tonight I was going to work from home for a couple of hours, but lo and behold, my password to get in wouldn't work. The IS person only works 8 am-4 pm so I'm SOL until tomorrow. The Gods have spoken! I was meant to blog tonight! YEA!

Not that I have that much to say. Oh well maybe. I have one sleeve finished on the FBL, and I started the other one. Pictures when I'm done. I am making progress on my mittens, see:

I really haven't been working on these too much. A little bit the past week or so, since my FBL is too cumbersome to lug around. Okay, just realized I have been calling that FBL, when it should be FLS = February Lady Sweater. DUH! Oh well! It's stuck as FBL now.

Otherwise not much going on. Oh yeah the hubby, JB, is on a Hawaii diet now. So we have been trying to eat better at night. Last night I made asparagus sauteed in a wee bit of butter and olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and a scosh of Parmesan cheese, once drained.

They were okay, but probably would have been better hot. By the time I sat down to eat they were a little cold. JB loves asparagus, and would eat them just plain steamed, but I need a little somethin' somethin' on them. We had grilled chicken to go with the asparagus. Tonight it's grilled chicken and broccoli and maybe some corn. Not sure about the corn yet.

After it's some T.V., some knitting, and some more book perusing.

I have read so much about Hawaii that I could write a travel book about it. Now I just have to write some stuff down that I want to see and do, in my hardcore Hawaii book, formerly known as my hardcore knitting book. (Skull and cross bones = hardcore) It only had 2 pages of notes for knitting, so I figured it would be better used for travel notes.

TTFN! Enjoy your evening and happy knitting :)

Blog contest at Keeping Knit Simple

2008-09-01T16:36:00.002-04:00

Hi my peeps!
Rita over at Keeping Knit Simple is having a blogaversary contest. All you have to do is visit her blog, and leave a comment. Please tell I sent you as well.
Rita's blog is interesting, and she has many furry friends too. Both pets and visitors.
Happy Blogaversary Rita!

TTFN!

FBL Update

2008-08-31T13:37:00.004-04:00

So this is my 80% finished February Lady Sweater. I have both sleeves to do and I'm hoping to get them finished by next weekend. I would like to say by the end of the holiday weekend, but I'm not sure. Why should I pressure myself anyway.

I really like this pattern. It makes me pay attention a little bit, but it can be sort of mindless too. Unless I'm counting stitches. Jenny can't count and talk at the same time. Sorry :( Just not going to happen. I think I might make my mom an FBL after the holidays. I don't want to do the same pattern back to back. And let me just tell you how much I love knitting in the round. No seams to sew. Bind off and you're almost done. Much easier and better sense of accomplishment. I know some garments must be pieced together, but I think those should be few and far between. Now I am always looking for knit in the round patterns.

Speaking of which, what's up with the new IK? Gotta say I'm not very impressed. I have looked through it twice, and I can't say there are is anything in there I just have to make. Seamed or not. I saw some of the gallery pictures on the web before I got the issue, and was not blown away. But I just figured, there would be other things I would like. Not everything can be a gem.

Look, don't get me wrong I usually like and drool over IK. It just seems the last couple of issues have been eh. Especially when compared to some other mags I have paged through. Maybe they are just having a bad couple of months or something. It could be me too. I would never rule out that possibility. I'm just saying its something to think about. What do you think?

Well, until I get my sleeves finished, take care and have a great day.

TTFN!

Happy Belated Blogaversary to us!

2008-08-24T18:57:00.005-04:00

It was the 23rd apparently. Guess I'm a little late on our blogaversary, huh? Suzy Girl and I have been going crazy at work lately, and didn't even get to knit at lunch last week. Darn work thing!

Even so, where did the month of August go? My goodness people, before you know it, there will be pictures of Christmas trees back up here again!

Still working on my Feb Lady Sweater and mittens. I am determined to finish FBL by September 30th. It's a contest thing. I don't need my mittens until at least December, so until I get sick of red, FBL it is! I'll have some WIP pics next time. I promise.

Until next time, please join us in having a piece of cake on our One Year Blogaversary, (Belatedly) Mmmm...chocolate.

TTFN!

Philly...love it or leave it

2008-08-17T14:31:00.007-04:00

I think Philadelphia can be one of those places that you can either love or hate. Or in my case, sometimes want to leave. I was born and raised here, but I never wanted to stay here. I can't explain why, I just have never saw myself staying here forever. There are some things I am fiercely proud of, like my section of the city or where I went to high school. But there are also some things I could do without, like my immediate surrounding neighborhood, or the extra caution or wariness I must take when walking around. Signs of getting older? Maybe, but then I see some things in the city which are really pretty and tell me that I can be such an ass!

I took these on one of my lunch time walks at work.

Philadelphia really is changing, and I should be proud. Philly is trying to put in more green spaces, and there has been a building boom. Some of the space opposite these river paths, on the other side of the high way, is in the process of being developed. 5-10 years maybe, and then West Philly will be connected to the rest of center city. More pleasing to the eye, and easier for foot traffic.

I probably need to stop watching House Hunters International on HGTV, because this week I wanted to move to Cabo San Lucas, Belize, and or Europe. I think I just need a vacation :)

78 days as of today.

Have a good week everyone!

TTFN!

Promoting a yarn chick!

2008-08-14T18:23:00.003-04:00

Hey friends!

Chrissy over at Chrissy's Random Life is having a contest for some beautiful natural dyed yarn that she did herself. She is having a contest to promote her yarn at http://www.yarnsprout.com/

Please go visit. Let her tempt you with her yarns :)

Reborn

2008-08-10T10:52:00.013-04:00

In mid-July, the Bucks County Guild of Knitters and Crocheters (BCGKC) got together at Tamanend Park in Southampton to experiment with koolaid dyeing using the new Knit Picks sock blanks. We had a terrific time and some really interesting sock blanks were drying in the sun at the end of the afternoon. My friend and fellow BCGKC'er, Sunset Knitter has some great shots of the action on her blog so go take a quick look.

I was intending to go for a little more of a controlled pattern and color palette but I think the koolaid fumes took over. The results .... a bit colorful.

You never know how the blank will knit up (I kept thinking "clown barf") so I decided I'd get them cast on and see. I've not yet expanded my knitting horizons to include the two at a time toe-up method, so instead of being able to knit right from the blank, I had to wind my blank into two separate balls by hand.

I started the Lacy Mock Cable socks by Scarlettknits
I love the pattern!! It's a very simple repeat to memorize and the resulting mock cable is very pretty, but in this yarn ..... yuck!!!

I tried to like them, I really did. But I finally gave up and frogged them when I realized I was embarrassed every time I pulled them out to knit on the train. So last weekend in a fit of impulsiveness I threw both skeins in a solution of koolaid dye left over from my last dyeing adventure.

The resulting color is much prettier than they appear in these pictures. I really love it, much more me. I'm not a rainbow kind of girl. But.... there's always a but if I'm involved.... long story short, the dye didn't take up evenly in both skeins so I had to redunk one of the skeins and now they are ever so slightly different colors. So instead of knitting a pair of socks, I decided to look around for another project using fingering weight yarn. I was thinking maybe a neckwarmer and it just so happens the Fashionably Late KAL group I belong to has finished their clapotis and are moving on to smoke rings so I started knitting the Wavy Feathers Wimple by Caryll McConnell this weekend.

It's a fun pattern, very pretty and enjoyable to work on. I'm not sure how wearable it'll be when it's done, but then you know, I have no hesitation when it comes to frogging. Just ask Jenny Girl. In fact, there are a couple of other projects that are on my hit list.

Meet Winston!!

2008-08-03T18:49:00.012-04:00

It's been a very busy and eventful summer here... both at work and on the home front. I'll get to the knitting later, but first, the most exciting news I have to share is to introduce you to the newest member of the family... Winston cat.

We adopted him from a local cat rescue group. We brought him home last Saturday and he's settling into the household routine rather well.
Sharing the sofa with DD#2 when she was home for a visit.

Bonding with DS. They have become best buddies... the two boys in the house.

And scoping out his favorite spots for relaxing, like the cool hard wood floor under the coffee table.

He's a delightful cat... very sweet and affectionate. Exactly my kind of cat. He's a Maine Coon mix (not purebred) but he has all the wonderful characteristics the breed is known for. A real big furball of love!

And just so you don't think I didn't do any knitting at all this summer....
next time I'll share the story of a good sock blank gone BAD!!!

Happy knitting!!

Mittens in August

2008-08-03T12:00:00.002-04:00

Nothing says August like 90 degree weather that feels like 100, due to humidity, and knitting some mittens. Mittens you say? Yes, the mitten bug has bitten me. A few weeks ago, the Knitting Minds convened at lunch (that's me, Suzy Girl, and Cattywampus) and Cattywampus shared with us her book of mittens. I think they were Norwegian, but it's escaping me at the moment. They were beautiful, and I was sitting there like, "Wow. Gotta make me some of these."

Then the next week Sunset Knitter (formerly known as KnittingNovice) asked if we want anything from Knit picks. I said oh no not really, but I'll look anyway. The next thing I know I have the Tiffany mitten pattern in my hand and I'm asking Suzy, "What do you think about these colors?"

So I ordered and here is a closer look at what I chose:

The iris is the main color, with the asparagus as the tiffany window pattern. The flower band will be cream flowers on a turquoise background. The yarn is Knit picks merino style and I love it! The yarn is soft and squishy, and I really enjoy working with it. Like I just started my first sweater, and I am already planning another one with this yarn.

This is my lunch time project, and this is how far I have gotten:

Not bad, huh? I did have to frog the first try because I used the bigger needle size, since my hands are not exactly slender. However they made for man mittens. Frogged and am now using 2s. The mittens take a little concentration, and I knit English style, so the color stranding makes for slow going, but I enjoy it. See I did that hat and thought I was an expert. Ha! Wouldn't do a color stranded sweater yet, but mittens I think I can handle.

TTFN!

Slowly but surely

2008-08-01T15:42:00.007-04:00

I have been slowly but surely working on my February Lady Sweater (FBL). Why slowly? Well this week I had some stuff going on at night. Watched the Green Mile over two nights. Too long to do it one sitting. What a great movie! No I never saw it before, and was quite surprised I waited so long. Mr. Jingles really kicked butt too!

Tuesday went to the Police concert with my hubby, JB. They looked good sounded great, but the only played about an 1 1/2 hours. What's up with that? They played, left the stage for 30 seconds, came back, played a few more songs, and the house lights came up. I didn't realize it was the end of the show. Usually you get a feel for these things. Not this concert. Glad I saw them, but certainly would not go again.

Watched another movie, Stargate Continuum. I really enjoyed it. I was a huge fan of the show, Stargate SG-1, and watch the spin off Atlantis. Being the sci-fi half geek I am, I was very sad to see SG-1 cancelled. But hey, we got two movies out of it. Anyway, I thought the movie was good, and there is an extra on there about filming in the Arctic, which was very interesting and informative. Maybe there will be a third movie.

So last night I finally got to put my FBL on waste yarn for a try on. First I must preface these pictures with the fact they were taken last night about 10:00 pm. Jenny Girl was beat and in her pj's.

Let me just tell you ,that it is not easy to take pictures of yourself, especially when your are trying not to get yourself in the photo. The bottom line is I am ready to move on the lace pattern and separation of sleeves. Yea! So some progress is being made. I can usually knit while I watch TV, but with movies or certain TV shows I just can't. Such as life.

Hope you all have a very lovely weekend! Oh and happy August. Yes, it's August already. Goodness.

TTFN!

Ahoy thar Mateys! I'm back on the reservation.

2008-07-20T19:42:00.012-04:00

I'm back. Yeah, I know it's been almost a month since my last post. But you know how life can be. I thought I would have all this extra time now that I was done school, but I haven't been able to take advantage of it yet. Suzy Girl and I have been slaving away on this big project at work, and when we get home, we are wiped out. This hellmouth project must and will be over by July 31. Then maybe life will finally be back to some semblance of normal.

In the meantime, I have an FO. Yea!

Name: Small boy's pirate hat

Needle size: 6

Yarn: Red Hart soft acrylic in black and white

Pattern source: combo of two. The skull graph cam from Adrian Bizilia's We call them pirates and the pattern mod comes from Knitspaz.

Sorry people, Jenny just does not know how to modify patterns yet. Anyway, I made this hat for my girlfriend's son in about a week. The worsted weight yarn helped with the quickness of the project. I dropped it off over the weekend, and she'll let me know how it works out, whether it fits him or not. I'm sure wool, like Cascade 220, would have been a softer and maybe cooler choice, but I wanted her to able to just throw the hat in the washer. She doesn't have time for hand wash at the moment. This hat went so fast, that I told her I would make an adult size for herself if she so desired.

This was my first color work/ stranded project, and it went okay. I am an English knitter, so I'm sure if I was a continental knitter it may have been easier. As it was, it was alright. Next time, however, I will work some white stitches in between the skulls so the yarn doesn't have to be carried so far.

Continuing with the Pirate theme, my mom and I went to the Franklin Institute last week. There is special exhibition about pirates that is running through November. It's called Real Pirates and it gives you the history of piracy and one ship in particular, the Whydah. This was a slave ship that was converted into a pirate ship, and had a pretty prolific history. That's all I will say, in case you want to go see it for yourself, or read up on it. Although there was a great deal of reading involved, it was very interesting.

I have also finished one Monkey sock, and have just started the second. That's my lunch time knitting project, however, as vacation approaches, I may have to start walking again. Or step away from the ice cream. Such tough choices!

I have also CO and been knitting the February Lady Sweater from Flint Knits that is absolutely viral on Ravelry. Gnat from BarknKnit started an FLS KAL on her forum in Ravelry so I decided to join along. Not that I have been the best contributor, but I am there in spirit :)

Suzy Girl told me there was another KAL on the net somewhere, so I'll probably join that too. I have been reading through the pattern and have some questions. Anyway, not much else going on. The Phillies have been stinking it up lately. Way to blow that division lead boys! Good books have been a little hard to find, like every other one pretty much. But T.V. has been decent. A few of my favorite shows have come back.

Well, that's all I have for now folks. Take care until next time, and I hope your days are well.

P.S.

I will be catching up on all your blogs this week, so watch out!

TTFN!

Say "Aloha" to my aloha shrug

2008-06-27T15:50:00.009-04:00

Yes, it is finally finished. I know it doesn't look like much, but it took me a while because I got side tracked by other projects and life in general. So here are the specifics:

Pattern source: Comfy shoulder shrug (aka Aloha Shrug) from Creative Knitting Sept. 2007

Size: Large (big boned)

Yarn: Shine worsted from Knitpicks in coral and cream, 8 and 2 balls respectively (around about that amount)
Needle size: 9

Started: Mid-March 2008

Finished: June 26, 2008

Enjoyed working with this yarn and I do love the color. Makes me think of my tropical vacation, hence the name. It would have been finished Wednesday night, however I bound off and realized I made a mistake. Like seemed up the sides too far, and did not pick up enough stitches around the opening. DUH! Blond moment! (highlights count) So I frogged the edging, and some of the side seams, and re-finished it last night. Ahh...much better. In my defense, the instructions were not exactly that clear.

I must say though , that I impressed myself with the seaming. The last time I seamed something, it looked like crap. I think I did a much better job this time, considering there was open work right next to the edge. Not a lot of room/stitches for seaming. There are a few boo-boos in this shrug, but I made it with my own two hands. And for that I am proud.

I'd like to give a big shout out to Suzy Girl for being my photographer, hence the laughter. We always laugh when we are together. Here is too our lunches filled with knitting :)

TTFN!

Thoughts about blogs

2008-06-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

Well, I have not met my deadline for the shrug.....let's just say I had some issues. I don't even want to say it, in case I jinx myself, but hopefully tonight I can finish it.

So anyway, I found a contest on Darcy's blog, Darcy's Knotty Knitter, and it was about reading blogs. Why you do it, what keeps you coming back. Basically my comment made me think about how much I enjoy reading all your blogs and Ravelry, and knowing I am part of a big sisterhood, People who will always listen to me and offer advice, whether its knitting or life related. A place to be myself. Sounds corny, I know, but true. That's just how I feel my peeps!

Darcy's blog is pretty cool and she has a lot of interesting things going on there. So, if you feel like visiting, and sharing in the sisterhood, please tell her I sent you. Make a comment and you too may win some interesting stuff.

TTFN!

I can see for miles and miles

2008-06-17T08:47:00.005-04:00

The past two weeks have been unbelievably hot here in Philly. May was kind of cool and spring like, and then WHAM...we got hit with temperatures in the high 90's with high humidity making it feel like 105 degrees. I know the summer brings heat and humidity, but it's usually a gradual process. Not out of the blue.

This weather does not make for nice walking weather. Walking is one of my favorite things, behind knitting of course. I walk every day at lunch for the whole hour; pretty much like the post office, except for rain, sleet, and extreme hot and cold. If it's in the 20's but not windy, I'll walk. No biggie. A few snowflakes never hurt me. But when the weather makes you want to pass out, I have to draw the line.

Walking at lunch helps me to get through the day; stretches my legs and clears my head. Now if I could just combine knitting and walking I would be set! Maybe I would finally get some FOs for 2008. I even have the perfect setting for indoor walking....

This hallway connects our office with the other building. It's very long and there is another hallway around the bend at the end. It's air conditioned, safe, and pretty boring as you can see. I have walked this with my headphones, but even then it's boring. No city sights to look at. So I decided, why not try and knit while walking? It's flat, it's carpeted, it's safe. I would never try knitting and walking out on the street.

But what to knit? My projects are bulky and I didn't think I should try with my Monkey socks (the first one is coming along nicely, btw). But I got an idea from reading Jeanne's blog. She mentioned making a dishcloth while on a teleconference for work. I figured I could try the same one while walking. This what I have for my first day:

Not bad I don't think. However walking with your head down and your arms bent, knitting is not something I would do on a daily basis. But once in a while is nice.

Suzy girl is on vacation at the beach, so I am sure she is having fun. She was going to try and get her DD into knitting again while she was at it. Can't wait to hear what happens. On my own knitting front, I am trying to be a monogamous knitter. I have a sleeve to go on my Aloha shrug, and I am working on the gusset of my first Monkey sock. I want to have my shrug finished by the time Suzy is back from vacation. I think I can do it. We'll have to wait and see.

Happy knitting and TTFN!

Tag...Jenny's Girl is it!

2008-06-12T15:25:00.006-04:00

Dustinac also tagged me for the A to Z thingy. So here are my answers.

ACCENT: I guess Philly accent would qualify, however there are sayings or words I use that are neighborhood related. I live in South Philly, the Italian section of the city, and every Sunday we make a big pot of gravy and meatballs. Gravy is what non-South Philly people call tomato sauce.
Don't ask me why, it's just a South Philly thing.

BREAKFAST OR NO BREAKFAST: Breakfast bu not a big one, something small like cereal or toast and yogurt.

CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: All of them. Just pick one.

DOG OR CAT: One precious dog, who is spoiled. It's really her house and she just lets us live there.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Radio/mp3 player/CD player and a computer. Oh yeah and a camera

FAVORITE COLOGNE: Happy by Clinique

GOLD OR SILVER: Either one.

HANDBAG I CARRY MOST OFTEN: More like a big a-- tote bag, unless I'm going somewhere and need to downsize

INSOMNIA: God forbid

JOB TITLE: The bestest Wife, daughter, and friend

KIDS: none

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Row home. (but not the place I intend to live out my days)

MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: Friendly, loyal (to a fault), easy going, free thinker

NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: Convinced my little brother that he was adopted. Convinced him he was bought on the blue light special at Kmart (if you can remember those). But best of all, finally convinced him that my mom was Lady Jaye and my dad was Flint from GI Joe
My mom and dad really couldn't talk about it, because, you know, it was a government secret. However, when my brother asked, my mom looked at me, and actually went along with it. Just until my dad got home from work!

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Never!

PHOBIAS: Bugs, the crawly and flying kind.

QUOTE: I guess...tomorrow is another day. Scarlett O'Hara

REASON TO SMILE: Because it takes to much effort to frown and it's not worth it.

SIBLINGS: Aforementioned little brother who was "bought at Kmart"

TIME I WAKE UP: Depends on the day, work or not.

UNUSUAL SKILL OR TALENT:none I can think of

VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: Peas and Brussels sprouts. Yuck!

WORST HABIT: Piling stuff up at the side of bed...books, knitting patterns, recipes....nothing but a big ole pile of stuff!

X-RAYS: my knees (told you I fall a lot)

YUMMY STUFF: Pizza, pasta, garlic bread, Reese's Cups, chocolate ice cream, oh I could go on!

ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: The polar bears. At the Philly zoo they have the tank you can see through when they swim. My heart just goes out to them when I watch those global warming shows.

Okay, well that about does it. I am not going to tag anyone else in particular, because they have probably already been tagged. However, if you would like to share about yourself, please feel free to do so. I would love to learn a little something about you too!

TTFN

Coming out of the woodwork for a ....

2008-06-09T21:25:00.005-04:00

tag! I've been a bit out of the loop lately. Trying to get back some balance in my life, but that's another blog post for another day. In the meantime, dustina, over at A Mountaineer Knitter tagged me and Jenny for an A to Z meme so I thought I get off my butt and play along. Go check out her blog. She's got a couple of little cuties that keep her busy, busy but she's always got something going on the needles. She's a knitter I really admire. And I learned we have a few things in common!!

ACCENT: I used to have a wicked awesome Boston accent. I’ve been here in the Philly area for 22 years so it’s all but disappeared... except when my brother comes for a visit it slips out now and then. Think Jimmy Fallon, SNL.

BREAKFAST OR NO BREAKFAST: I’m a breakfast believer. Not necessarily when I first wake up but within an hour or two. And it's my favorite meal to go out for.

CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: I hate to go down to the basement to do laundry. If I could arrange it I’d have a laundry room on the second floor of the house.

DOG OR CAT: Cats! I’ve always had cats.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Computer and ipod

FAVORITE COLOGNE: I don’t have a favorite cologne. My most recent ‘signature’ scent has been grapefruit. I have all the pink grapefruit products from bath n bodyworks, though my stockpile is running out. That fragrance was so last summer apparently. And Trader Joe’s sells an awesome grapefruit sea salt scrub and shampoo I use. I also have some philosophy grapefruit body butter. I love the scent. I find it very invigorating and at the same time calming.

GOLD OR SILVER: I’ve worn both over the years but right now I’m in a silver period.

HANDBAG I CARRY MOST OFTEN: Nothing special. I’m not a ‘bag’ person.

INSOMNIA: No, I stay up too late but once I head to bed I have no trouble sleeping.

JOB TITLE: mom, grandmom, problem-solver, putterer, and hospital coder extraordinaire!!

KIDS: 3 all grown up. Jen, Kris and Brett

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: I currently have my son still at home with me. He's good company. And I like where we live, it’s a convenient location. Just outside of town, I can walk to the train, the library, the store. But can jump in the car and get to other places I want to be easy enough. I’m a mover by nature and habit so it might be that time again pretty soon. I’ve been thinking about it.

MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: mmm, this is hard, like one of those job interview questions. People tell me I’m “nice”. I’m not sure that’s really admirable or just a “nice” way of telling me I’m too tolerant. It takes a lot to rile me up. I’ve pretty much got a live and let live attitude. And I think, I generally look on the bright side. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: I was never naughty as a child… ask my mom, lol!

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Just when I had my kids.

PHOBIAS: Snakes. Totally irrational. I can’t even contemplate getting over it.

QUOTE: Don’t know where it comes from but I heard it once when my kids were young and it stuck with me.

“There are but two lasting gifts we can give our children.
One is roots and the other is wings”

REASON TO SMILE: My family. I feel very lucky. And life in general.

SIBLINGS: I have 3 brothers.

TIME I WAKE UP: Work mornings by 6am. On weekends I might laze about until 7:30 or 8:00. I’d feel like I wasted the day if I slept until noon. I never really did it often, even as a teenager.

UNUSUAL SKILL OR TALENT: I can pick the checkout line that's guaranteed to suddenly have a customer with a problem or require a price check. If you want to be in the line that doesn't move, just get in line behind me. This holds true for turnpike toll booth cash lines as well (someday I'll wise up and get EZ Pass).

VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: I really like most all vegetables but if I had to pick my least favorite it would be straight up peas. I can eat them when they’re mixed with other vegetables like in soups and casseroles. But a mouthful of peas, yuck!

WORST HABIT: Where do I begin?? I'm a procrastinator and from there it's all downhill.

X-RAYS: Yes, fractured my ankle as a teenager. Not too mention those torturous dental x-rays!!

YUMMY STUFF: Pizza, ice cream and chocolate. Interesting, I immediately thought of food, the bad yummies first. Give me some time, I'll think of some healthy yummies.

ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: Tigers and giraffes

And consider yourself tagged Knitting Novice!

YEA! FINALLY!!!!

2008-06-02T14:34:00.004-04:00

Jenny finally graduated on Thursday May 29th. It was truly a day to remember. It took about 5 years part time to get my bachelors degree. Not an easy task, and not one I am looking to repeat any time soon.

The best part was standing in the processional line as we went in to Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. I looked up and straight across the stage was my hubby, mom, and dad. They saw me and started waving. Then I saw the tissues come out and it was all over. Took me a while to control those tears of joy, because I knew it was too early for that!

The ceremony took about two hours which wasn't bad, considering it was a pretty big class. Several hundred students. When it was my turn to walk across the stage, all I heard was my name and the rest was kind of a blur. The university president shook my hand, said congrats and great job. My eyes were welling up, again, and right there was my family. Then I received my hood and just tried not to trip and fall. I have a bad habit of that.

All in all it was a good day. Jenny graduated in high heels, didn't fall, and received her degree. No, there is no grad school in my immediate future. I need a break and next time classes will be something I really like and enjoy. No more management and finance crap.

I am not posting pictures of the cap and gown because I felt and looked like I belonged in a Harry Potter movie. Plus they don't look like me. I think it's the glasses.

Now it's on to a summer filled with some cleaning, organinzing, and knitting. Yea for knitting!

See you all later!

TTFN!

I've been Memed!!!!!

2008-06-01T12:25:00.006-04:00

Hi Everyone! How the heck are ya? Hope all is well. Cindy tagged me for a meme last week. My first one! Very excited and touched. So here goes....

The rules: Posted here at the beginning. The player answers all questions. The player then chooses six people you want to know more about and tags those people by listing their names at the end of the post and going to their blog and leaving a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Also, you let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer. [Gals...I'm sure some of you have already received this, and obviously you don't have to do it again. But I like you and wanted to tag you anyway : ) ]

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

My husband and I had just bought our first house. We spent the weekend cleaning, and wondering how we were going to get by for a while. You can say we were a little house poor for a while. The first night I made the hubby sleep on an air mattress in the living room because I had to sleep in my new house. We had an antenna on the T.V. until the satellite got hooked up, and this is when I discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Great show with awesome, witty, and intelligent writing. Summer TV back then was nothing but re-runs. Buffy is still one of most favorite shows of all time.

2. What were 5 things on my to-do-list today (not in any particular order)?

First: update my blog. Second: read all my peeps blogs. Third: Make low fat chocolate cookies (it is possible). Fourth: Clean out closet in basement for shifting my storage around. Fifth: KNIT!

3. What snacks do I enjoy?

Hard to say as I love all snacks I guess. My favorite is old school popcorn. You know, using a heavy pot on the stove with some oil and kernels. Not very diet friendly, but my dog makes me make it for her. She uses her special Jedi puppy mind trick on me all time :)

4. Where are some places I've lived?

Sorry but nothing thrilling here. I live in South Philadelphia. Does two summers down da shore in Wildwood count too?

5. What things would I do if I were a billionaire?

Ahh the high life. First, pay off bills for me, my parents and in-laws, and a few choice friends and one co-worker. They know who they are.

Then, I would travel the world visiting museums, experiencing cultures and history. There are so many places I would love to visit.

Also some philanthropy, just not sure exactly what. As much as I would love to help people around the world, there are a lot of people in the U.S. who need help, whether it be education, housing, or just a helping hand. I know what it's like to struggle and not be able to get help. It sucks when you are not poor enough. So I would like to do something in that vein.

Okay, now the infamous tagging. As I said previously, please do not feel the need to do this if you already have or don't have the time. Believe me I completely understand.
I'm tagging, in no particular order: Gnat, Bea, Knitting Novice, Dustinac, Cattywampus, Luni, and Cinnamongirl93. I cheated and added one. Whatever! Rules are made to broken or bent right? Have a great day!!

TTFN!

My Mother's Day with Chatty Kathy

2008-05-16T11:47:00.015-04:00

Who is Chatty Kathy, you might ask? That's my nick name for my mom for obvious reasons. BTW, Mom told me if I take a picture of her, let alone put on my blog, she will kill me. "You know the rule Jennifer! No pictures!" She doesn't think she takes good pictures so I obviously respect her rule.

Every year, I take my mom to Rice's Flea Market on Saturday of Mother's Day weekend. It's only open on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Rice's is about an hour outside of Philly, just down the road from Peddler's Village. And every year, without fail my mom and I seem to go a different route, and sometimes get a little lost. "Oh this looks famailiar...oh...wait...no it doesn't." Then we figure out that we are going the right way, and we laugh. My mom and I are always laughing about something. And whenever we go somewhere, it's always an adventure.

There are several barns on the property, with lots of stuff (aka junk) in them. My mom loves looking at stuff.

These flowers are made of clay. I kid you not. This woman had talent!

Delicious and cheap fruit!

The weather was not very promising Saturday morning, so there weren't as many vendors as usual. That didn't stop us from finding bargains though. Where else can you get a Dolce and Gabbana bag for $27??? Not authentic mind you, but why spend lots of money on a designer bag when you can spend that money on yarn instead? We also bought some cookies, some plants (for mom; I kill plants), my mom got a handbag, hair styling products, hair clippies. Basically a bunch of stuff. I am always on the look out for knitting paraphernalia, but I really don't think that is the type of place to find any. Next time we decide to go to Rice's we are going to take a Tuesday off from work and go. Everyone there was saying it was so much better on Tuesdays. Even my girlfriend Tara, who is not a flea market type person, said Tuesdays were awesome.

Beautiful flowers ready to bought and replanted!

While driving to Rice's the roads are rural. The houses are nice and big, and it's kind of woodsy. Well, on the way we saw this house, and thank god no one was behind me because I basically came to a complete stop. This house was built and situated in way to make one come to a complete stop. On the way back, we pulled into the drive way to get a better look:

We could not believe our eyes. This is not a typical house for this area. It put us in mind of a castle, yet French chateau possibly? My mom said, "Oh my God! It has chimney pots!" We busted out laughing. We can't imagine who lives there, or how one could keep it clean without several maids/servants. I'm sure the people across the road must be real happy with this traffic stopper.

Afterwards we went to lunch and just chatted. We did have a lovely time.

The rest of my week kind of stunk. I have had a sinus thing since last Thursday, and actually called out of work two days. So sick I couldn't even knit! Now I just have cough that won't go away. I call it my kennel cough, because if you ever had a dog who had that, that's pretty much what I sound like. My Flyers, although they won yesterday on my birthday, are down 3 games to 1. It's not looking good. But then again, I didn't think they were going to make it into playoffs to begin with. I really have no business to complain. But as a die hard, this is what I do.

Oh and I had to frog my Citrus Yoke Pullover. Now I read the pattern directions and notes several times, but I just assumed it would work correctly. How was I supposed to know I had to keep track of what stitches were increases so I could purl them the next round? Can't the pattern creator tell me to use markers? I searched the pattern on Ravelry and realized that if I kept going with what I was doing....well one of these things won't look like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong! So I frogged. Oh well! I wasn't that far along anyway.

Until next time, take care and have a great weekend!

TTFN!

Drum Roll Please....

2008-05-14T21:22:00.005-04:00

And now, my very modest Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival purchases.

The t-shirts. See one you like KnittingNovice?

And of course, Tess' sock yarn. I also bought Tess' at Stitches. One can never have too much Tess' yarn. Her booth is like a magnet. Or maybe, more like a flower garden to the honeybees. So many colors, so pretty!!

And a sentimental purchase. Brooklyn Handspun sock yarn for DD#2. She will be leaving New York in June and relocating to Philly. So this is in memory of all the great times we had the three years she was there. We did it all. Well, almost all. Broadway, Canal Street, the Seaport, Ellis Island, the Cloisters, Central Park, Rockefeller Center...well, you get the idea. And yet, one of the most memorable of all, was the beautiful, breezy, summer day we decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan into Brooklyn and ate the best pizza ever!!

So there you have it. Sock yarn. I told you they were modest purchases.

Maryland Sheep and Wool - the abbreviated version

2008-05-07T20:07:00.015-04:00

Is it possible to fondle too much yarn?? If you can even imagine such a possiblity, I came dangerously close Sunday at Maryland Sheep and Wool. It was my first trip to the fiber festival. And it was overwhelming. Stitches East on steroids.

I took a bus trip with the Bucks County Guild of Crocheters and Knitters and was lucky to have a MDSW veteran, Maggie, as my guide. After a lovely road trip that included sock knitting and chatting, we rolled into the parking area about 11 o'clock. And from the moment we left the bus, we were on a mission.

First the t-shirts. Getting some MDSW festival merchandise is a must. Fiber enthusiasts have shirts from each year they attended. Worn proudly like a badge of honor or your fiber credentials, if you will. And to get a t-shirt involves standing in line. We stood in line for about 10 minutes, in the midst of all the food concession stands. In those 10 minutes I went from "eat lamb, no way!" to "boy, that smells good!" to "I'm so eating whatever it is they are grilling!!"

Once the t-shirts were bought, we were off and running and even at the brisk pace that my festival mentor set, we didn't see it all. Impossible. And that was with no bathroom breaks and a lamb sausage sandwich in hand, as we went vendor to vendor. Yarn, roving, fleece, needles, more yarn, spindles, wheels, more yarn, looms, shawl pins, swifts, baskets, more roving, buttons, more yarn, more, more, more!!

And of course, a big draw to MDSW is the animals. We saw sheep, goats, alpacas, bunnies, and my favorite of the day .... a Llama named Quentin.

I thought he looked very regal and handsome. When he saw the pictures, my son, empathetic soul that he is, thought he looked embarrassed to have been shorn.

By 4:30 we were running for the bus. It's a good thing I didn't go with any grand stash aquisition plans. I bought 2 skeins of sock yarn, pictures to follow later. And a couple of bars of lovely smelling goat's milk soap and the requisite t-shirts.

Overwhelming! I'll do better next year. Put it on your calendars KnittingNovice and JennyGirl!!

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning

2008-05-05T22:13:00.005-04:00

I survived the Monday from HELL at work, only to endure an hour long train ride home that had me contemplating jumping off the moving train... or... using my dpn's to force all the rude, ignorant cell phone yakkers from the train instead. When I finally got home I was forced to stretch out on my sofa in the quiet of my living room for an hour, with a skein of Manos Silk Blend on my forehead. AHHH... sweet relief!! Thank you Rosie's!

Yes, jennygirl, my skein of Manos arrived today in the mail. A bright spot in the day. Now I can finish my Little Arrowhead Shawl.

And I'm sure by tomorrow or Wednesday I'll be sufficiently recovered to tell you all about my trip down to Maryland Sheep and Wool.

Goodnight!

Socks make a come back

2008-05-04T15:10:00.013-04:00

While Suzy is busy playing the day away at Maryland Sheep and Wool, I am busy at home, trying to take pictures correctly, and doing laundry. Why did I not go you ask? Well, I have a lot coming up on the next few weekends, so I figured I should sit this one out. Besides, the bus trip Suzy took, didn't work out for me. I would have to drive, 45 minutes to join the bus trip, and I just thought that was kind of silly. However, I have since made friends with some local gals so next year, I'll take the bus out of Rosie's. I wasn't up for taking the bus with a bunch of strangers this year.

So socks have made a come back on my knitting project list. There are a few factors for this. Suzy always has a sock WIP, so I have been feeling a little left out. At work, I have been catching up on Gnat's podcasts called BarknKnit. This is the name of her blog too. Anyway on one of them, she interviewed a fellow knitter and they were talking about socks, socks, and more socks. So, I was sitting there thinking, "Jenny Girl you gotta jump on the sock wagon." Not to mention that every time I check Bea's blog, she has like another pair done. The girl can knit! And to top it off the Yarn Harlot will be in Philly on May 18th. Obviously I'm going, but I have to bring a sock. I can't go empty handed. So this is what I have so far:

The yarn is the Seacoast handpainted yarn in the autumn colorway that I won in a contest on Tiennie's blog last year. I am doing the infamous monkey sock design from Cookie A. This is one repeat of the lace pattern, with the purls. Suzy did hers without the purls. I tried, but I just couldn't do it. Must follow pattern. Unfortunately, my pictures truly do not demonstrate the beauty of this yarn. The yarn is lovely to work with, and it is very colorful, bright and pretty. I just suck at taking pictures. I realized this from my last post.

First of all, thank God I'm not a surgeon, because apparently my hands shake. The pictures are not very focused. Secondly, I need a different place to take pictures, other than my kitchen table. Nice table, but it's getting old. My backyard is nothing but cement, so that won't work. And if I do it out front...well that just won't work anyway. First things first though, I guess I have to read the camera book, again. Figure out the lighting and how to focus better.

On another note, I bought more sock yarn. Suzy and I took a road trip to Sophie's Yarns and this little number just jumped into my hands. Beautifully soft and it's in different shades of purple. Remember...bad picture taker.

And finally, my boys have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. YEA! I am so pumped and excited! I can't believe they have made it this far. Go Flyers!

TTFN!

Never leave home without it

2008-04-30T08:40:00.012-04:00

I have a part time job on the weekends, Saturdays usually. I know, full time job, school and knitting! I am crazy, but I have worked weekends forever, since the age of 14. To not work a Saturday once in a while is nice, but to not work for a while seems boring to me. I was going to cut back to every other weekend, but the Hawaiian vacation is not cheap. After that then I 'll cut back.

Anyway, I go to my other job Saturday, and find I don't have access to the new program that is now in use. No problem, I'll call IS and be operational shortly. Apparently they couldn't track down anybody, and after two hours, I left. The sad fact is I HAD NO KNITTING WITH ME. I know! What an idiot! Especially after Suzy Girl, myself and Cattywampus discussed the guy in the elevator for 41 hours. Luckily I had the latest issue of IK with me, or else I really would have gone crazy. Never again knitting goddess! I swear!

So on to knitting, I am still working on the same projects. But here are some new WIP pictures:

The shrug is actually coming along nicely, considering I don't knit a lot or very fast for that matter. Using Shine Worsted from Knit Picks and it is soft and comfy. Suzy girl and I always pet this when I bring it to work for show and tell. This yarn would make for nice spring/summer tops or sweaters. It feels nice against your skin too. So, as you can see it's chugging along.

Next we have my first sweater, the citrus yoke pullover:

Far away and close up. As you can see I am working my way down the neck. The pattern starts on dpns, and I am using 10.5. You increase every 2nd row in the 4 rom pattern, so it moves along quickly. I was uneasy with all those stitches on dpns. I was afraid of losing some, so I bought 16' circulars. Well, the stitches are squished on there, so now I need to get 24' circs. That's what the pattern calls for anyway, but at first I didn't feel as though what I had would fit appropriately. Now I think it will. Using Wool of the Andes Bulky and I like it so far. Not really itchy, and pretty soft considering. Did I mention I have to wind up the yarn by hand? I'll get a winder eventually :)

I should also mentioned that last Friday night, the 25th, I finished my last paper and presentation for school. YEA! Very happy and excited about this momentous occasion, because I have spent a lot of time at the kitchen table writing papers and stuff. I'll give that presentation on May 5th. It's a piece of cake!

Also my hockey team, the Flyers, miraculously made out of the first round of the playoffs! Very excited. They won game seven in overtime! Nothing like giving me a little heart attack boys. They are currently playing the Montreal Canadiens, and don't even get me started. I am only asking that all the games get called fairly. Game 4 is tonight, and my boys are up 2 games to 1. Keeping my fingers crossed.Lets go Flyers!

TTFN!

It was all about the shoes

2008-04-22T12:12:00.012-04:00

No, I haven't quite fallen off the face of the earth, but things at work and home have kept me so busy, that I...just....ugh! What can I say? Suzy girl and I have this major project at work, that is just kicking our butts. Stay late, come in early, and I have been too tired to knit let alone blog. I haven't even been able to keep up with my blog reading either. So I do apologize and hope to get back to it this weekend. I truly do miss all my web friends : )

I did manage to finish my last paper for school. YEA! Now I have to create the presentation, which shouldn't take too long, but will certainly distract from my precious knitting time. So on to the shoes!

My girlfriend's son got married over the weekend, so I instead of buying something I'll never wear again, I borrowed an outfit from my dear friend E Babe. E Babe is more family than friend. Anyway, this wedding was a fancy gathering, and E Babe had the perfect outfit and shoes for me. She bought theses shoes two years ago and has never worn them. The heel is quite high, and she wanted me to break them in. So I did! Now mind you, I am klutzy and not good at wearing heels. In fact there are only certain shoes and heels I wear outdoors. I know my limitations! So here they are ta-da:

And you gotta have the red toes! My dress was dress black with a halter top and rhinestone accent. I do dress up nicely, however I didn't take a very good picture of myself, so you'll just have to be contented with the shoes and my description. I brought back up shoes since these were rather high, but I never used them. But, my toes were numb until Monday afternoon. I guess that's what I get for being a glamour girl, dancing around in my silver shoes.

On the knitting front, as I stated previously, I haven't really knitted at all. Although I have mindless projects going, I was too drained from work to even look at them. I have started the neck of my sweater, and that's going okay. I have to pay attention at the moment since I am still on DPNs. My shrug is coming along nicely as well. No complaints so far, just plugging along.

Lately, I have been watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. I am a long suffering Philadelphia Flyers fan. No, I wasn't around more than 30 years ago when they won back to back championships, so I can't remember the parade down Broad Street. Actually I was around but I was a baby, so that doesn't count. Well, my boys had a 3-1 lead in a 7 game series. Now it is all tied up with game 7 tonight in Washington. Our prospects are not good. But I really shouldn't complain since they were the worst team in hockey last year, and now they are on the right track. It's just disappointing, you know your hopes and dreams for a championship dashed. I only support two home teams, the Phillies and the Flyers, with the Fly boys being my overall favorite. I bleed orange and black.

With that said, I wish my boys luck tonight, while I try to get some knitting done as well. Next time, and hopefully not like a month later (sorry), I will post whatever picture I have of my sweater neck. Until then, happy knitting!

TTFN! Lets go Flyers!

Late Saturday Sky

2008-04-12T19:50:00.010-04:00

So this was my Saturday.
I had a casual breakfast with my Mom, my brother and his girlfriend. Brother and GF were in town visiting for the day. They brought coffee and donuts from Yum-Yum. Best coffee and donuts ever! Better coffee than Wawa. My Mom provided the kitchen. And I whipped up my famous scrambled eggs. According to my family, I make the best eggs in the world. No secret, I wisk them up really good, add just the right amount of water (maybe that's the secret) and the hot pan.

When I got home I did just enough cleaning inside to get by, and then headed out. Even though the sun played hide and seek all day, Spring was in the air, so I hosed down the deck and outdoor furniture, swept the front porch, and weeded a little bit. I have some mint that I've been trying to eradicate for several years. It sounds cruel but if you've ever had mint take over a flower bed or border you know what I'm talking about. I didn't plant it. It was here when I moved in and every year I do battle with it. I have to admit, most years I lose that battle around July when I realize there aren't enough hours in the day for me to do all I'd like to and spending 2 hours a day pulling up mint runners is really not going to happen. It's early yet, but the mint is already making a stand, so I pulled a bit at the one end of the border where I typically let it get away from me.

Then after all my hard work I settled down on the deck, with a cup of tea, wearing my fresh off the needles Sweet Feet socks, and knit a little bit.

I cast on for the Little Arrowhead Shawl, a free pattern from Interweave Knits, with my Manos silk blend.

All things considered, a pretty satisfying Saturday.

Coming up for air...

2008-04-08T19:32:00.010-04:00

I'm feeling like a very bad blogger. Things have been a bit more busy than usual at work and consequently the blog, among other things, has been neglected. I haven't even made it to knit night the last few weeks.
So here's a quick update of what's on and off my needles!

I'm knitting myself a pair of socks with the Hill Country Yarn that my friend, Knittng Novice gifted to me on my birthday. Spring just doesn't want to come to us, here in Philadelphia. It's been a very gloomy March, so I cast this on in hopes of coaxing spring out of hiding. It reminds me of those early spring days when all shades of green shoots are poking up through the dirt and buds are starting to pop out on the bare trees. The yarn is really lovely to work with. This is my daily train knitting project so I'm further along then this picture demonstrates. I'm actually working the gusset of the second sock. I don't seem to be afflicted with SSS.

Yarn: Sweet Feet, 100% merino by Hill Country Yarns
Colorway: Pecan Orchard
Pattern: Plain Ole Sock top down on size 1 US dpns

I'm also making slow but steady progress on my cardigan. It's my knit night project because it's back and forth stockinette and great for knitting and talking. But since I haven't been getting to knit night you get the picture...
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic 100% wool in color 109
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Scoop Neck Cardigan #278

My Celtic Tote has come out of zzzzzzzz..... and I finally finished the first side and am ready to start the handles. It's my 'evenings at home' knitting project.

Yarn: Lion 100% Wool (main color is Cocoa with cables outlined in Lemongrass)
Pattern: Celtic Tote by Jennifer Tallapaneni in Winter '07 Interweave Knits

I had some yarn leftover from my Foliage Hat so I made a Foliage scarf to match. I did get to wear it once or twice, but now I'm ready to put it away for next winter!

Yarn: 1 and 1/2 skeins of Araucania 100% Nature Wool Chunky
Pattern: The leaf lace pattern from the Foliage Hat by Emilee Mooney
Needles: 10.5 US

I don't think I shared any of the goodies I picked up on the yarn crawl last month. Our stop at Rosie's Yarn Cellar resulted in this score... 2 skeins of Manos Silk Blend. It's been calling my name ever since. So I wound it up and I think I'm going to give in soon and show it some love.

And just in case you were wondering.... I blocked my clapotis and it's officially a FO. I still am not sure I can pull off wearing it, but I enjoyed knitting it, I enjoy looking at it and I'll probably make another one.

Whew!!!

Runner-up goodies

2008-04-01T16:00:00.006-04:00

Saturday afternoon I got home from work, and was just having a crappy day. Tired and cranky I debating about whether to take a nap, when Lucky started barking at the window. And did my wondering eyes see, but the mailman dropping off a package for me. Yeah goodies!!

Cinnamongirl93 had a contest on her blog Happy Handwork to celebrate spring. You had to post a comment, and let her know about your favorite spring flower. Grand prize was 2 skeins of purple malabrigo yarn. There were also two runner-up prizes of yarn. Cinnamongirl93 received over 300 comments. And I was lucky enough to be runner-up in the random number thingy.

So this is what I got.

Revealed from the prettily wrapped packages are two pieces of chocolate, one a solid lamb and one crispy rice, like a big chunk of Nestle's. Yummy! Two coffee singles you brew in the microwave in your coffee cup. Two scented candles that you can smell from far away. I believe the scent is white tea and it is heavenly! I don't want to burn them so I am going to keep them in my stash so the yarn will smells pretty. I did that before with some scented wax, and while I knitted I had a nice aroma going. A cute little card with a hand written note accompanied the package. That I brought to work and hung at my desk because it was pretty. But the best goodie of all was....

A skein of malabrigo chunky! YEA! Now you may find this hard to believe, but I have never knit with malabrigo, so I am definitely looking forward to using this yarn. I am going to make myself a nice warm hat for those days that are just brutally cold.

Thanks again Cinnamongirl93! Please check out her blog when you get a chance. She has very busy hands!

In other news, I cast on for my sweater. So far, so good. Didn't get very far, but I am working it, you know? Had trouble finding a good book to read. The past few have been duds in my opinion, so I went to the library yesterday and checked a couple of books out. I just started Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler and I have trouble putting it down. Basically a modern day girl goes through a break up, spends a night drinking Absolute and reading Pride & Prejudice. Then wakes up the next morning in 19th century England, a la Jane Austen's time. That's all I 'll say because I don't want to spoil it, but if I don't get a lot of knitting done this book is the reason why : )

TTFN!

I gots me a swatch

2008-03-28T15:19:00.006-04:00

I did the right thing and swatched for my sweater. I even washed the swatch, because I am a smidgen or scosh off from stitches per inch gauge. Both Susie and myself measured, and we think that I should be okay. Poor Susie, you see I am a wee bit dense when it comes to the math part. The patient girl, bless her heart had to explain the math to me a couple of times. Math and I just don't get along. Just ask my former pre-calculus teacher. Anyway, the citrus yoke pullover is a top down knit, so I can try it on as I go. And try (keep fingers crossed) to adjust as I go. We'll see how that goes.

Not much else to report. CBS cancelled one of my most favorite shows, Jericho, and so I sent them a nasty email. Not that they will do anything, but it made me feel better. Hopefully another network will pick up the show. The show delivers a good story every week. So sorry there weren't singers or dancers in it. I like reality TV too, but come on, we still need some dramas.

One last thing. My friend Bea over at Baa Baa Blacksheep is having a contest. The contest is a celebration of both her and her sister's birthdays and it is about her two cute dogs Gus and Abby. You have to guess at each of their favorite activities. The dogs not the sisters. So, please visit, take a guess, and tell her I sent you. Please.

And if you haven't had your fill of dogs, here is one more picture. Lucky likes to lay beside my chair and the end table. Easy access for Mommy to pet her...all night long. That's why there isn't always a lot of knitting going on!

What's with the petting mommy?

Have a great weekend!

TTFN!

Playing Catch Up

2008-03-26T19:40:00.007-04:00

I've been a bit out of touch between my computer crash at home and an unanticipated increase in activity at work but in the meantime due to some solid train knittng I finished my clapotis!!

It's a little smaller overall than I would like, which is really a shame since I had 2 - 560 yard skeins of yarn at my disposal!! I just knit it to pattern, no increases in either the width or straight rows and thought my gauge was good but off the needles it's about 15 x 58. I toyed with the idea of ripping it and doing more increase and straight rows since I have plenty of yarn. I used 1 full skein and 'a little bit' of the second. But as I type this, it's in the bath and I'm going to see what blocking does for it. Otherwise it's into the frog pond!!

Anyway in case you're wondering....
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Miss Babs 100% merino superwash worsted
Colorway: Bronze Plum
Needles: size 7 us

A very enjoyable knit and I'll probably knit another one at some point. I absolutely love the yarn! It feels and looks more like a fall clapotis to me so my next one will be summery and very neutral, sandy, beachy colors! Can you picture it??

Very busy week

2008-03-22T14:30:00.012-04:00

Hey, hey everybody! Hope you are doing well. I am as is Suzy. WE have both had a very busy week. Work has been crazy, too many projects and meetings to count. I know meetings are a necessary evil, but they can suck up the most productive time ever! Preparing for it, traveling to it, holding it, and following up, how does anything truly get done???

Monday night I attended my last class I need for my bachelors. YEA!!! Very exciting. I have a final paper and presentation to write as well, but that is just a matter of doing. Which is hard, because I should be working on it, yet here I am blogging and thinking Ravelry, since I don't get on too much. And did I mention I am thinking of swatching for my sweater? Oh yeah, so anyway.

Other exciting news. Got a new camera! Yea! My old camera was like one of the first digital cameras ever, so this is a nice step up for me. It is a Canon Power Shot SD750, Digital elph. Read the book a couple of times, and not much as sunk in. Wee bit confusing, but I have figured out with some uses, how do the things. I think the editing the pictures after will be really cool. You see, I would like to take a cool picture of some yarn for the banner to the blog. You know jazz it up a little. So anyway, these are the first pictures I took:

My baby of course! This is Lucky saying, "Why mommy? Why must you take my picture....again?"

This is what she looks like when you ask her if she wants some cookies. "Cookies? Did you say cookies? Hell yeah mommy!" She is the princess of the house obviously. She just turned 11. I usually rub her belly with my foot while I knit, so she doesn't feel left out. You know how princesses are?

I have gotten a little bit of knitting done this week. I had a tape measure moment last week with respect to my shrug. See, I am not too good at the measuring part. I know, this is a pretty easy skill, but you just don't know. I measure something, and it's 5 inches. Suzy does it and it's 10. If I measure something with her, it comes out to the necessary length. Can't explain it. I miss measured so badly, I almost frogged the Aloha shrug. I even started to cast on for a new one on different needles. Yeah, that took a couple of nights of precious knitting. Well, after consulting with Suzy, I again realized I can't measure, but my shrug is just fine. Phew! Here are some progress pictures and a different background:

It's coming along nicely. The stitch pattern is easy. No thinking required. Perfect TV watching knitting. I am starting to get a little bored though, hence the sweater swatch possibly later today. I don't know we'll see. Other than that, I don't have many WIPs. My multi-directional scarf which is languishing somewhere. I think I'll pull that back out today too. I just got a dark hot pink rain coat and the scarf will look cute with it.

Well, that's it for now. Take care and TTFN!

ETA:

Mmm..malabrigo! Cinnamongirl is having a contest for 2 skeins of malabrigo. I found out because Bea mentioned it on her blog. Go see Cinnamongirl and please tell her I sent you!

Yarn Crawling in Philly

2008-03-14T16:14:00.009-04:00

Last weekend Suzy Girl, myself, Knitting Novice, and a bunch of great gals from the PhillyKnitters blog went on a yarn crawl. Although the torrential downpours may have kept the sane people in doors, us crazy gals braved the weather for some yarn purchases and to meet other knitters. Despite the rain and the need for Noah's ark, I kid you not, we have a fabulous time. We laughed, got wet, bought yarn, knitted, and made friends along the way.

Sparkcrafted was the organizer, and she did a marvelous job. There are 4 yarns shops in center city Philly: Rosie's Yarn Cellar, Sophie's Yarns, Nangellini, and Loop. We started out at a coffee shop, and went in groups to Rosie's. From there we went in the order that I mentioned. I would have to say a good time was had by all.

Now obviously I got some yarn, because how could I pass up this opportunity, especially when my first stop had a sale basket. I told Suzy, I wasn't going to buy a lot, because I had a lot of things going on, and my stash was pretty big. just some yarn for a hat. You know nothing major. Now to some of you, my purchases may not be major, but when then don't quite fit in the stash container, well....lets just say I won't be making any purchases any time soon.

This first one I got at Rosies for $7 a skein on sale. The red was screaming out to me. The color is actually a little variegated, in that it is light and dark. And it is so soft. It really just jumped into my arms. I'm thinking clapotis.

Next purchase was at Sophie's. Just 1 skein of this Cascade Pastaza in blue. What? Blue? Yeah, I know I never really buy anything blue, but I do like the color. And my favorite football team's colors are blue and white (Colts), so you know. I'm thinking a hat.

The last purchase was at Loop. I saw this Lamb's Pride and immediately Celtic Tote came to mind. Gotta have it!!! There are 3 grey skeins and 1 black for contrast. I already have that pink and brown I want to use for a felted bag, so that's why I chose a different colorway.

Yeah, don't know when I am getting to these projects, but at least I have the yarn for them.

TTFN!

Crawling the (Wet) Streets of Philadelphia

2008-03-14T16:05:00.003-04:00

I'm a bit tardy posting about the very successful, but wet, Philly Knitters yarn crawl last Saturday the 8th. I'm having computer issues at home but finally decided better late than never. Jenny Girl, KnittingNovice and I joined yarn forces with a crazy bunch of knitters from ravelry and Live Journal to terrorize the good citizens of Philadelphia. It was organized by Heather, aka sparkcrafted at ravelry and as she noted... "we emptied out a couple of coffee shops". This was one of our Starbucks stops where we did a little knitting and ball winding and tried to wait out the rain.

We also met some terrific knitters that I had previously only known by avatar and blog, like Heather and Rachel. And we bought yarn. I'll save my yarn purchases to share with you another day but let's just say it was a productive day!!

A package is delivered

2008-03-10T16:22:00.007-04:00

Ahh yes! My package from Knit Picks! It actually came some time ago, but you know I am a tardy poster. It arrived 3 days after the order was made. Great turnaround time.

The bare yarn is a merino wool for Suzy's dyeing purposes. I can't wait to see what she makes. No pressure though. Seriously! And the blue yarn is my first sweater yarn. I just realized I should have taken a better picture of the yarn. But I was trying to get all my loot in there. I had to get some needles for hat knitting as well.

Now mind you, I don't know when I am starting this sweater, but at least I have the fixin's ready to go.

TTFN!

Aloha shrug and what is so super about this Tuesday?

2008-03-04T16:14:00.008-05:00

Happy Super Tuesday Everyone!

I think every day and or week now has a special name. I am just afraid by the time Pennsylvania has their primary in a couple of weeks my choice will be made. Regardless of who it is, I still want to feel as though I had a choice. I don't like things being dictated to me. Although do we really have a choice in our leader anyway?

Alright enough of that bitchin, on to knitting! I have dubbed my vacation shrug the Aloha shrug. Well duh! As mentioned previously, I 'm using the comfy shoulder shrug pattern from the September 07 Creative Knitting Mag. That pattern called for bamboo yarn which was pretty difficult to find on the web, believe it or not. So I am using Knit Picks Shine Worsted. These pictures are from last week, so it is actually bigger now.

I am really enjoying working with yarn. It is soft and smooth, yet not too slippery. I just know this will feel great against my skin. I read Shine may shed, but mine hasn't and I am into the second ball. I needed 10 total. Before I forget, 7 of these balls have come my way from Knitting Novice via Suzy Girl. Neither one of my gals could come up with a project for this yarn, so luckily it was given to me. Yea!

I have to boogie on out the door, so TTFN!

Big Ball 'O Yarn

2008-03-01T18:46:00.011-05:00

I spent some quality time this afternoon with an empty paper towel cardboard tube. Standing on a chair, listening to a podcast and winding my latest yarn acquisition into a big ball 'o yarn. Ahh, the excitement of my life even overwhelms me at times.

This yarn is intended for a clapotis. I've been wanting to knit one for some time now and the hunt for just the right yarn has, at times challenged and obsessed me. I've spent hours, (I hate to think of how many hours), looking at finished clapoti on ravelry, searching out hand dyed merino/silk blends on the web, reading all the blog posts on the multiple Clapotis KAL's.

I came very close to buying Sheep Shop 3, a 70/30 merino silk handpainted blend. I've considered Brooks Farm. Several etsy sellers. Maybe even dye my own. I even, for a short time, considered saying to hell with it and just spend $90-120 for the Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb (but I always came to my senses before getting too attached to a LL colorway).

Well, a couple of weeks ago I came across some hand dyed yarn by Miss Babs, on the Woolgirl site and fell in love with a colorway called Bronze Plum. It's a %100 merino superwash in a 560 yard skein, very reasonably priced. No silk in it, but merino alone is nice too. And since there were only 2 skeins left, I decided to just buy them before anyone else did. Regret, over a yarn purchase not made, is a terrible thing.

It was the first time I ordered from Woolgirl and it was a very positive experience. The yarn came quickly, wrapped in pretty color coordinated tissue paper, tied with matching ribbon, a couple of sample products, and a sweet thank you card with a kitty cat. I'm a sucker for presentation, and cats. Nice!

So I decided today was as good a day as any to swatch. And I recently joined the latest clap KAL, Fashionably Late in '08 so that was a little added incentive to get going. I don't have a winder or swift. I usually just wind a hank of yarn on my thumb and carefully drape the skein over my knees or around a chair. But I thought 560 yards of worsted weight yarn called for an alternate plan, the paper towel method. And in my case, it also involved 4 cans of Progresso soup. Don't ask.

I only wound up one skein. I know I probably should alternate skeins since it's a hand dyed yarn but I'm going to live dangerously and hope there's not too much variation between the 2 skeins. What do you think? I swatched on size 7 and 8 needles, I'm going to go with the 7's.

I also "made" some sock blockers for my finished Monkeys. I'll probably treat myself to some nice wooden blockers at some point (or hint to my family when they're looking for Mother's Day or birthday gifts) but in the meantime I did the DIY thing on a very simple level. I found a blog, Little Sesame Knits and following her general directions went ahead and cut up a gift box. I'll try to find a heavier cardboard or other more attractive material next time I'm at the craft store but these do the trick for now. So here's the finished purl-less Monkeys by Cookie A. in Louet Gems Wild Cherry colorway. They are %100 superwash merino and very soft.

So it was a fairly productive start to March. Come on Spring!
Happy Knitting!

Suzy Girl

2008-02-27T20:56:00.002-05:00

You Belong in 1963

You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too.

What Year Do You Belong In?

And I thought I was doing so well with the quiz… 1963!!

Jenny Girl is....

2008-02-26T14:24:00.002-05:00

You Belong in 1980

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatyeardoyoubelonginquiz/">What Year Do You Belong In?

How accurate is this? I do love my 80s music :)

Adding to the stash

2008-02-25T15:08:00.008-05:00

Last week, Suzy and I took a field trip to one of our favorite LYS Nangellini on South Street here in Philly. It was Monday, February 18, and it was about 60 degrees. 60 degrees? Yes, you read correctly. So, me with my leather boots on, and Suzy carrying her hat took a walk to go shopping for some wool. BTW, 4 days later there was 3-4 inches of snow on the ground, and parents wanted to know why school wasn't cancelled. When I went to school, if the snow wasn't up tp your knees you went, none of this close school BS.

I digress. So, I just wanted to look around at Nangellini because we have a yarn crawl coming up in about two weeks, and I was in the process of ordering my sweater yarn from Knit Picks. I said I really wasn't going to get anything, maybe some sock yarn. We no sooner got there and this bright pink yarn was screaming my name.

It is a cashmere/merino blend from Newton Country Yarns. It is so pink, squeeshy, and soft. There is about 440 yards there, so I'm thinking a pretty lace scarf is in order. It is a bright pink and unfortunately this picture really does not do it justice. Suzy and I are not professional photogs, so we do the best we can. instead of my kitchen table for background, we used a bench in Suzy's office. This bench is awesome! Everytime I go in there I sit on it. You could lay on it and take a nap. You know, if you had to.

This is the other yarn I bought, because you can't buy just one. 3 skeins of Ejido for another felted bag. One that I could use comfortably, and not think my stuff is going to fall out. Pink and brown. Suzy had originally picked this up, and when she showed me I got a little dazed. Needless to say, Suzy pretty much said, "Take this you need it more than I do." I certainly did turn it down. I just love the colors together. Can't explain it. A lot of the things I pick are pink, red, warm colors. You would think I am a girly girl, but I'm not. I am most comfortable in sweats with my hair like pebbles, falling out all over the place. Kind of the way I look right now.

On to my WIPs. I only have one, this multidirectional scarf made with Inca Print left over from my urchin beret.

I made a mistake the first time around, so this has been frogged once. It was going in an L shape, which is not scarf friendly. The pattern is easy in garter stitch, so it makes for good tv knitting. I love Lost, Big Brother, Survivor, Jericho, and Torchwood, just to name a few. My husband thinks I'm crazy for the BB but these people just crack me up. And regarding Jericho which deals with an apocolyptic event in the U.S., I awalys think, well at least I can knit garments if need be. But where will I get the yarn? Hurry! Run to the yarn store before someone takes it all!

I did also have a sock OTN, but realized, just after the heel, that I was not knitting my yo correctly. The sock should have looked more open, and it didn't. I just couldn't go on doing it wrong, and then it's mate wrong. So to the pond it went. So sad. I do like the Zokni pattern from Pepperknits blog I'll co again after I wait a while. I need a timeout.

TTFN!

Sweater a go....

2008-02-19T19:23:00.010-05:00

Suzy Girl's got a sweater OTN! I decided on a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern, the Scoop Neck Cardigan #278 and cast on over the weekend after swatching several times. Swatch #1 doesn't really count. It was just for fun, the night I picked out the yarn, Ella Rae Classic wool in a sage green. At that point, I hadn't even settled on a pattern so it really was a pointless exercise.

Then, determined to "do it right", I knit swatch #2 on dpns as recommended on the KPS website's top down knit along page, especially written for first time sweater knitters. Yup, size 6 us dpns, in the round. And then went up to size 7's in an attempt to get gauge. In the round.

It was only after I washed and blocked this swatch that I realized that I would be knitting a cardigan back and forth on circulars!! So much for that swatch. On to swatch #3. I grabbed my size 6 us bamboo circulars. And after knitting and washing and waiting for this swatch to dry I did learn a valuable lesson. Apparently, like most knitters, my gauge, knitting in the round on dpn's is a bit tighter than when I'm knitting and purling back and forth. Size 6 it is.

So, Sunday night, while watching Colin Firth, I mean Jane Austen, on my local PBS station, I got started.

Not another bunny?!

2008-02-15T11:58:00.007-05:00

Oh yes, I made another one of those bunnies. This yellow one was for the wife of a very dear friend and coworker of mine who was expecting (she had a baby girl, yea!). You may recall I made one of these before Christmas for a female coworker. That was blue for her little boy.

Well, let me just say two times were enough for this little project. Although it didn't take long, the yarn is on the thick side and my fingers were hurting a wee bit as I worked with it. Besides, been there and done that you know? Both of my coworkers loved their bunnies, but the bunnies stop there. No more of these ever! There is someone else in the office who is due in June with their second child. I haven't decided yet if I will make her somehting. If I do it has to something quick and easy and different. Susie has told me that was enough with making things for our coworkers. And I kind of agree with her. But if I can find a small simple project......hmm....

So, Susie has mentioned our sweater project attempts. Yes it's time to make that first sweater. I am a weanie and don't want to do any seaming, so I am choosing the Citrus Yoke pullover by Katie Himmelberg from Interweave Knits Winter 2007. I have spent all week searching out yarn on the internet. Sometimes I am just not good with decisions. However, after much searching and mind changing I am going to use Wool of the Andes Bulky from Knit Picks. Not too expensive, and I figure I good choice for a first sweater.

I also want to order some Shine Worsted from Knit Picks for the comfy shoulder shrug from the septmebr issue of Creative Knitting 2007. I did a swatch from a skein from Knitting Novice via Susie Girl. I really like the way it knitted up. And it feels nice and soft and silky. I'll probably order over the weekend

The purpose of the shrug is for my vacation. Which I finally booked today, yea! Hubby and I are going to HAWAII!!! For two glorious weeks in november. Poor Susie has had to listen to me about this trip. You see I have been researching for almost a year, because it's not cheap. Decisions to be made, and you know how I am about decisions. Susie and I have even had conversations about what kind of projects I should bring on the trip, since flight time is 12 hours each way. Oh yeah, I know there are beaches and volcanoes, but what can I knit on the road? Socks baby! If only my hubby knew what I really think about sometimes :)

As far as current WIPs I have a sick with the heel turned, and a multidirectional scarf which I had to frog, because I apparently wentt in the wrong direction. Maybe some pictures next week. Until then take care!

TTFN!

Let the Games Begin....

2008-02-13T21:29:00.005-05:00

Some new projects are in the planning stages for me and my 2 knit compadres, Jenny Girl and Knitting Novice. Our first “made for me” sweaters!! I know, better late than never. Just because spring is on its way, doesn’t mean we can’t knit wool sweaters!

I don’t want to steal Jenny Girl’s thunder, so I’ll let her blog about her plans but I will say that Knitting Novice is planning “Wicked” as her first sweater and I think that it’s a great choice!! Be sure to stop by her blog over the next few weeks and check on her progress!!

I’ve made a few sweaters over the years for the kids, but never one for myself. I think because I don’t feel confident about my finishing skills I’ve avoided making a sweater for me. I felt less pressure putting a little sweater together, knowing if it didn’t turn out all that great, oh well, they were only going to roll around in it and it’d be outgrown soon enough anyway. On the other hand, for myself, I wanted to be sure that I was happy with the final product and the fit. But finally, this year, in the spirit of fearless knitting, I’m ready to tackle my first grown up sweater for me!!

Since tonight is “knit night” with some of the knitters from the Bucks County Guild, at Just a Knitting Basket in Huntingdon Valley, I decided to pick out my yarn. After much debate (and touching), I chose Ella Rae Classic, a very basic, reasonably priced worsted wool, in a pretty silvery, sage green. It feels nice!

Now to decide on the pattern. I have 3 potential directions I could go in. I originally thought that the EPS sweater, a la Elizabeth Zimmerman, would be my first sweater project. But I do like the idea of being able to take a top down off the needles and try it on as you go along. So I'm also considering “Something Red” by Wendy Bernard over at Knit and Tonic or one of the Knitting Pure and Simple patterns.

As you can see, I started swatching tonight. So, in the next few weeks my plan is for my sweater to be my mindless (can you say stockinette in the round), long term project for knit night Wednesdays.

Happy Knitting!

I left my heart in San Francisco

2008-02-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

This is a picture heavy post, so I apologize for slow load times. I just found my pictures from one of my favorite trips of all time, San Fransico in October 2002. Yes during their World Series run, just fell that way.

I have always wanted to visit San Francisco. Can't explain why, just always wanted to go. Back in 2002, my DH volunteered to go to the SF office for his company and I got to tag along for a week. He worked all day and I wandered the city by myself.

I loved it! Walked to lots of places, and yes...even walked a steep street that I had no business walking up. When there are steps cut into the sidewalk, that is usually a sign that you shouldn't be walking up there. But the view was soooo worth it. View from Coit Tower

I took a bus across town to a museum to see an Egyptian exhibit. Walked around China Town, and the along the piers or bay, you where Fisherman's wharf was. Had lunch or ice cream and just enjoyed myself. Sat a cafe and people watched. I spent a week there like I was a native. San Francisco is definitly I place I would move to; if I could afford it. And if DH were up for it. He is not crazy about the west coast. Idaho, but not Cali. Long story. Please enjoy these pictures.

Gate or entrance to China town

Masses of sea lions off of Fishermans Wharf

Tourist trap, but I liked it.

Alcatraz, the big house. The tour was definite must see, especially at night. Spooky!

And a ride on a cable car of course. And yes, I hung off the side and loved every minute of it!

TTFN!

What's Up with Suzy Girl Wednesday - The finale

2008-02-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

What was I thinking? Wednesday night is knit night! The Wednesday night "what's new with me" post sounded like a good idea last week when I was home all evening by myself. And there wasn't a new Project Runway on. But, tonight I went to a knit night with my friend Knitting Novice. It's only our second time going and we had a great time!! I think we'd like to become regulars. It's a great group of women, interesting and very talented knitters. The shop is very nice, good yarn selection and the owner is sweet and funny. Bonus.

So getting home later on Wednesdays, makes a regular Wednesday update with pictures a bit of a stretch.

But there was progress this week on some WIP's. The short version.

I finished my Sheep Shop One Row Harlot scarf. Just in time too. It was 65 degrees here in Philly today.
I got back to work on the Monkeys. I'm through the gusset and decrease rows and it's all knitting around to the toes now. Yea!!
Ripped the Orca Tails scarf. I'm going to try it on bigger needles to see if I get a fabric I like a little better.
Cast on tonight for a 2nd Koolhaas hat. In Cascade. A pretty shade of blue.
Looked at the Celtic Tote and wished there was more hours in the day, or better yet that I didn't have to work for a living. I will get back to this soon.

Project Runway anyone?

Can I Keep It Mom?

2008-02-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

Look what followed me home. I didn't buy it. Honest. It followed me home from Frankford.

Hill Country Yarns
Sweet Feet Sock Yarn
100% merino
Pecan Orchard colorway

Mmmmmmmmm.... soft and pretty. This lovely yarn was a surprise from my knit sib, KnittingNovice .
Does she have good taste or what?