Seattle Drivers

The first rain of the fall has hit. You would think, that living in Seattle, people would know how to drive in the rain but anyone who lives in Seattle knows that that is not the case. I left my work last night to meet people in Tacoma, which would normally take about 30 minutes. I gave myself an hour to get there. After 45 minutes, I wasn't even half way there. As this was an event that lasted from 5-6pm and here it was at 5:15, I turned around and went home. Memo to Seattle driver: You live in a city where it rains, please, don't panic and lose all driving skills when the raindrops hit your windshield.

On the upside, I did get more knitting time than I had expected. The second sleeve is done and I have started the yoke decreases on Hourglass.

Pics

As promised here are pic of my lastest stuff. I am halfway done with the second sleeve on the Hourglass sweater. I noticed that my lavender stipe is one row shorter (so much for my notes) but other than me, I don't think anyone will notice. With everyone else in the house camping this weekend, I should make some good progress then. I might also make another cell phone cozy. The Manos one is cute but I think a second one might look better.

I finally went on my shopping trip last night. I got some great deals. A suit for work for $99! Skirt, jacket and pants! A cardigan set for $30, a sweater for $15, and a pair of pants for $20. Great deals and even better that Jason came along for moral support and dinner. I feel so much better about actually dressing for the job I have and want.

Sleeve on

Ok, so my shopping trip didn't really go as planned. I got called into a meeting late at work yesterday and didn't feel like shopping after. I did manage to go to Old Navy during lunch and found out I am between 2 sizes now. (Oh Joy) Do I buy the bigger size or hope I lose a few lbs and go for the smaller.

Sleeve #1 is finished for the Hourglass Sweater. I shortened the length a bit and actually took notes on how I knit it so on the second sleeve will match. I am excited to get this done.

Off to Shop I Go

After a depressing morning of realizing that half the clothes in my closet don't fit, my husband asked me to stop by his work on my way in this morning. He had gotten some money out for me to go shopping. Thank you honey. I am off tonight to buy some much needed fall clothes.

Our annoying neighbors have indeed been kicked out for their house. They were told to be out Sept. 1st and were still there as of Friday night. The owners have been there every night since cleaning and getting house ready to sell. YEAH!!!

I have started a sleeve on the Hourglass Sweater and last night got Wrap Style from the library. There isn't too much in it that drove me wild but I think my next project will be this. I have a fuzzy pink yarn that I think will work perfectly. After my sweater redo, I might take a break before starting Samus.

Monday, Monday

So we didn't quite get to everything this weekend but it was still great. Friday we bought new cells phones since we had $100 credit. I finally upgrade to a picture phone. The rest of the night was spent programming our numbers into the phone while watching mindless TV- "Orgazmo" and baseball.

Saturday I went to the baby shower. Not wanting to have kids, the whole ooh and ahhs over diapers and baby socks never really interests me. I did get to chat it up with some friends so that was nice. That was followed by another mindless night of tv -"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"- and wondering if our annoying neighbors had finally been given the boot.

Sunday, we went to teh 5 spot for breakfast and then headed to the Italian festival at the Seattle Center. After listening to the Sweeney Sister wanna be singer, we had had enough and high-tailed it over to the Fremont Oktoberfest. I had a few beer samples, checked out the crafts and people watched. On the way back to the car, we passed Blue C Sushi and got sucked in. There are no good sushi restaurants by our house so this was great. We ate it up like they were going to stop making it. YUM!!

With all that, I did get some knitting done. I am almost done with the increase sections of the Hourglass Sweater and also knit up a cozy for my new cell phone that attaches to my purse so I don't have to dig around for it. Pics to come.

Weekend!!!

The weekend is here and I am ready. Friday is "West Side Story" at a local high school/college theatre group I used to volunteer with. Sat brings a baby shower. Not quite my favorite thing but I did knit the Devil Pant's for this. Sunday we are going to Fremont Oktoberfest and the Festa Italia but we are kicking all that off with breakfast at the 5 Spot. That is Weight Watcher friendly, right?

Knitting news: I have just started my second skein of 220 for the hourgalss sweater. I am worried I may be short with only 5 skeins. I think I might do a stripe on the sleeves and/or front.

Bad Penny no more

Bad Penny has been frogged. My husband was cringing was I unravelled 2 weeks of work. I figured if I wasn't going to wear it, no use in keeping it. I casted on for the Hourglass Sweater and have worked about 20 rows. With a new CSI on tonight, I am sure more will get done during that.

I was going to place an order with KintPicks this week but the whole frogging project has put that on hold. Anyone started Samus? That is most likely my next project.

I slept on it

After my Bad Penny agony last night, I woke up this morning with a couple of options in my head.

1. Frog the sweater to just below the chest and shape the waist.

2. Frog it all and start a Bad Penny in a smaller size.

3. Frog it and start the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Gifts instead. I swatched the 220 this morning and it was right on gauge.

I measured the sweater against some in my closet and it was a good 2" bigger on the sides. YIKES!

Not so shiny penny

Monday night while knitting Bad Penny I suddenly realized that this sweater was going to be huge! I kept on knitting and tonight started on the colored bands on the bottom and sleeves. I tried it on and yes, this is one mammoth sweater! If I want something to wear off my shoulder like Jennifer Beals then I am in heaven but seeing as that is not my preferred look, I have to ask- Should I frog this? I like the colors and idea of the sweater but the shape and size are really unflattering. I am not going to make any rash decisions at 11pm and have decided to sleep on it but right now I think Bad Penny's days are numbered.

In yarn diet news, I went to Hilltop yarn on Monday night and again walked out with nothing. Am I having a weird lack of shopping urge or have I become the frugal (cheap) shopper I have always dreaded?

Sorry it has been a while

We had a busy past few days. My sister-in-law got married this weekend and there were 4 days of activites. A family get-together, rehearsal and dinner, the wedding and then the gift opening. After all that and a very drunk husband who passed out in the middle of the bed last night, sending me to the extra bedroom, I am so ready to go to PurlyGirls tonight!

I am working on the body of Bad Penny and found a cute pattern for some knit fish oraments that will be perfect for using up some of the scraps I have.

Pastimes is going out of business and I went on Sunday morning to check out the sale. I don't know if I was in a non-shopping mood, feeling cheap, or just not impressed with the deals but I walked out of the store with nothing. NOTHING! That has rarely happened. 25% off is 25% off but I felt like a going out of business sale would be more like Skeins where some yarn was only $2. Oh well, my statsh is already big enough. I am sure more deals are to be had.

I am finished!

Branching Out is done! I finished Saturday afternoon while watching "Heathers". Haven't seen that forever. I just need to block it. I didn't start anything until Sunday night and it felt weird not having anything on the needles. But I did start Bad Penny and it seems like a much faster knit than BO.

The Sounders game was interesting. There were much less people there than at a Seahawks game ( about 3000 total). I haven't watched soccer since high school so I liked it. Jason was not quite as into it but still had fun. My parents called that night with M's tickets for Sat. so we went to the game. Qwest Field then Safeco. All we needed was something at the Key to get the complete Seattle sports feel.

Almost there

I knit another 2 repeats on Branching Out last night. I have about 6 more to go. There is an end in sight. I should have it done by the end of the weekend. Then I can move on with a clean slate. Ahhhhhh.

We are going to our first Sounders game tonight. We got free tickets in a company box. Last time we sat there beer was $38 for a 6-pack! I think we are hitting Pyramid beforehand. I like soccer but have never been to a game- looking forward to it.

Neighbor update

So we have had problems with some people in the house in front of ours (ie. using our private street as their back door driveway, calling my step-son a f***face, leaving garbage on our street and driveway-the latest being about 20 rubber gloves thrown throughout the neighborhood.....) Last night we get a phone call that there is a homeowner's meeting for the neighborhood where they live and we are invited to express our issues with them. Turns out we are getting the least of the problems. One of our neighbors has come home to find them in his hot tub. He has found a gun, drugs and condoms in his yard and his house, boat and RV have been broken into. Of the 6 homeowners at the meeting 5 had called the police regarding the house and the people in it. The problem neighbors are renting the house and while the owner has been called many times by many people, including us, nothing has been done. So a letter is being written to the city about it. It was nice to know that we are not the only people having problems with them. Hopefully something will get done. I am so tired of dealing with them.

In knitting news: I was so tempted to start Bad Penny but stuck to my goal of finishing Branching Out. I only got 1 repeat done but worked on it this morning too.
The new Knitty is up and there is so much I want to knit. Flora and Edgar look like quick projects that will use up my stash and I love Samus.

What the hell was I thinking?

ugly
Originally uploaded by lynnknits.

Here is sweater I found while cleaning my closet out this weekend. What was I thinking? First of all, it is 100% acrylic. Then there is the lovely change in color pattern right across the chest and the color is nice if I planning on hunting sometime in my life. Not to mention the shape does nothing for me. YIKES!!!! It isn't worth frogging and my husband thinks I should keep it for sentimental reasons. I think it is ready for the dumpster.

I picked up Branching Out last night after a month of not doing anything with it. I think I am about half way done. I am trying to not start anything else until it is done. Bad Penny is calling but will have to wait another week or so.

Very productive weekend

I can not belive that amount of crap we got done this weekend.
1st day of scho0l= 4 new pairs of pants that are too long= 4 hours of shortening said pants=DONE!!
Cleaning out stepson's closet=3 garbage bags for Goodwill=DONE!
Cleaning stepson's room=tons of crap=DONE!
Cleaning out own bedroom and closet=found 1st sweater knit (UGLY) & 2 bags of clothes for Goodwill=DONE!
Clapotis#3=DONE!!!!!
Pissing off ex-wife=done (with a smile!)

Where is the knitting fairy?

It is amazing how at a beginning of a project I am soo excited to start but them sometimes mid-way through, I get the dull-drums. That is how it is today. I have Clapotis #3 and Branching Out on the needles neither one is inspiring me. They are both seeming very repetitive. I have told myself I cannot start anything else until these are done. Will the knitting fairy come and finish them for me?

In other news, I am now part of the Knitting Blogs ring and am really happy about it. Welcome to my blog if you have not been here before. Hope you find some interesting knits and conversation here.