Loving it

A little less than half way done with my second sock and I am already thinking about what the next one will be. I have the Koigu I got last week for either socks or wrist warmers. What to do?
There is a little color pooling but I was more concerned about knitting it correctly so it doesn't bother me too much.

The Ribbed Cardigan is blocking and I have started the zipper hunt. Ann suggested Zipperstop.com. I think I will order from them. My opening is 21" long and zipper comes in 20". I think half an inch on either end will be fine. I cannot wait to actually wear it. I love the fit.

More than half way there...

I have offically finished my first sock! Off my foot it looks a little mis-shapen ( I think blocking would help but I am not going to do it.) but it fits well. I have finished the cuff of the second sock and from there it should go pretty fast. I thought I would have gotten more done last night but instead of hitting Purly Girls, I joined the Hubby in shopping for a new stove. Not exactly fun but we needed to do it and last night was the only night that worked. We followed that with dinner out.

Waiting for me at home was this from Netflix:


Yes, That is Carmen Electra's striptease workout. Yes, I tried it out last night at 8pm after dinner at an all you can eat buffet. Yes, my husband shot this up to the top of the Netflix list.

Besides being total eye-candy, it did remind me of dance class a bit with the whole 8-count thing. It was hilarious. I felt like an idiot and I liked it.

Just need to block and zip

Saturday morning- I have a cold and choose to not put make-up on or dry my hair but I do choose to finish the Ribbed Cardigan. I still have to block it and find a zipper but I am really pleased with it. It is the first sweater I have made that fits perfectly! My cheerleader/hubby even told me that it looks store bought. I don't know about that but I do know that I will wear it often. Details:

Ribbed Cardigan from 1000 Sweaters

Yarn: KnitPicks Merino Style in Cornflower

Needles: Size 5

With that finished, I have time now to start on my first pari of socks. I cast on yesterday morning and have already done more than half of the first sock. I am also using the magic loop method for the first time and love it. Much better than DPN's. Thanks to my Knitty SP for the needles and yarn to make these!

PS- I just noticed the overall color thing I have going here. I think my next item will not be purple or lavender.

Side Trip

Well, I promised pictures and as you can see, there are none. We made a little sidetrip last night to the ER. Hubby was cutting potatoes on a Mandolin cutter and sliced the tip of his thumb. We spent 2 hours in the ER. No stitches-Just bandages and some ointment. I brought my scarf to knit but forgot scissors and only got 10 rows done. I did however start the neck of my sweater last night after we got back and finished it this morning. Now I just need to sew in the sleeves, up the sides and block. That might get done this weekend. Then the quest for the perfect zipper starts. Any suggestions on where to find a good cheap one?

Finished!

The Sleeves are DONE!! I finished them this morning before work and even wove in a few ends. Now I can't wait to get home and start finishing it up. I do have the neck to knit but I not sure if I want to do a collar or just a crew-type neck. I will take some pics tonight- that is if I have not tired of taking picutres. For some reason I am the photographer for a photoshoot a work today. Taking pictures of people eating and having fun in one of our restaurants. The good news we are having a food tasting after with 15 different pastas. My thighs feel it already.

Stash add

Why do I buy yarn for no reason? Last night I saw Amy's purse she was making with an acrylic yarn I have walked past a million times. I love the color but never bought it for lack of a project. I was so inspired by her bag, I headed out to Joann's with my 40% off coupon in hand to buy some for myself. Of course, I get there and the yarn is sold out. Did that many people have the same idea? I could not leave with nothing in hand so I bought some Fisherman's wool to dye. Do I have a project for this? no. do I have a color scheme to dye it? No. do I have the kool-aid at home just waiting for some yarn? No.

Welcome to my ever-growing stash world....

Personal Cheerleader

Nothing like sitting on the couch knitting and having someone cheer you on! I am nearly done with the neverending sleeves and hubby is cheering me on. "You can do it! Knit, knit, knit"

I will keep that in mind tonight. Hubby and step-son are going to see the Globetrotters and since I declined the invite to go see Curly and the rest play, I have an open knit of knitting time. We have Crash at home from netflix and since I haven't seen any Oscar nominated movies I might throw that in while I finish the last rows.

There was a time when I would see all the movies nominated for best picture but those days are long gone. Now I am down to zero, zlich, none. I thought the next weekend when stepson is at his mom's and hubby is at work I would go see Brokeback Mountain but that will be after the Oscars. I may just go anyway. I need the culture.

Breakthrough!

This weekend I finally had a breakthrough on my ribbed sleeves! Friday night I put in a movie I had seen a million times and got into the knitting zone. By last night, I had finished the 94 rows of ribbing I dreaded so much. Now, just to do the decreasing. No Problem.

I think my lack of interest stems from two things:
1. I have only finished 2 projects so far this year. Yes, it isn't even March yet but with no immediate gratification projects, I felt behind.
2. I have a plethera of projects waiting in the wings. Socks, Clapotis, a wrap sweater (may hold off on that one for a bit), Bobbi Bear, Misty Garden..... The list goes on.

I think another week of knitting/finishing and the sweater will be done.

PS- As if I needed more yarn, Hilltop had a sale this weekend and I got 5 skiens of Koigu for $5 each!

Neverending Sleeves

For the first time, I thought on my Ribbed Cardigan I would knit 2 sleeves at once. It seems like it is taking me 10x as long to get these done. Maybe it is the endless ribbing or the desire to start on my first pair of socks. I don't know but I cannot wait to get these done. I would like to actually wear the sweater before spring hits.

I also have an urge to knit another Clapotis. I already have 2 but these are the things I wear the most. I have knit mine in sock yarn and double stranded lace yarn so they are lightweight and can be worn all year. I love it!

Avid Knitter Seeks Immediate Gratification

MF 32 ISO new project. No LTR.

Me: Avid Knitter, tired of long committment,

not into frogging. You: Easy, mindless, possilbly bulky.

No sweaters, throws or non-stash projects please.

knit 2, frog 2

My Holiday SP gave me 2 skeins of Biggie Print in December. I have searching for a pattern (other than a garter st scarf) to use this yarn. I love the texture/color and thought I had found the perfect pattern. I got a copy of Hip Knit Hats from the library and found a top -down hat pattern that called for the exact yarn- even the same color. Sunday night, I started knitting and actually finished it a couple of hours later. I started binding off and realized how big this hat was so a frogged back to the 2nd to the last increase and started from there. Last night, I finished re-knitting the hat and bound off. I ended up with a circle. no shape and almost beanie-like in its length. I re-read the pattern over and over. I did everything right (unless there is an errata). So I frogged it all this time. Now I have a balls of yarn sitting there taunting me as if to say, " We kicked your ass- TWICE!!". I think I may have a new garter st scarf in the next few days.

I love my husband!!

What a wonderful weekend! We left Friday and headed to Port Townsend a litle over an hour away. I love the town. It is arty, small and a very relaxing place to go. We stayed at the James House B&B (my first time staying at one). It is the grey house with the red roof on top of the bluff. It was built in 1889. Many people told us it was the best B&B they had been to.
Here was our room that night:

The next morning we got up to a great breakfast and headed out to the town. We walked around the waterfront, went wine tasting, shopped and head to the local brewery. Yes, I hit the 2 yarn stores in town and picked up a couple skeins of yarn and 2 new cards for my Denise needles in 40" and 56". We had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and drank more wine than I had had in a while.

Before heading back home on Sunday, we walked around town more and found very nice, hidden park. Perfect for a picnic next time we are intown. On the way home we stopped by a couple for wineries near Bainbridge Island. We took the ferry back to Seattle and went to the Dragonfish for one last meal out for the weekend. Now, it is back to reality, work and clocks but thank you Jason for a great weekend. I love you!!!

Mystery Weekend Ahead

I got a phone call at work from my husband back in November. "Keep the weekend before Valentine's Day open. I am taking you somewhere." I responded with, "It's not even Christmas yet. Why are you thinking so far ahead." Yes, as that comment suggests, I am more practical than romantic. The weekend has finally come and I still have no idea where we are going but I have been given clues. It is by the water, I have been to the town before and my husband has had beer there (that does not narrow it down much. Love you, hon!). We are leaving tonight after work and I am really looking forward to it. Being the knitter I am, I had to ask if there was a yarn shop close. I got no response. I think that was a hint to leave the knitting talk behind for a few days. Updates on Monday...

My SP is Wonderful!!!

I got a Pix message on my phone today from my husband showing a flower decorated envelope!. SP package has arrived!! My SP is so great. Look at this fantasic surprise:

In the envelope were: 2 Skeins of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk in a lovely purple color, 2 skeins of Sock garden in Hydrangea, a set of #3 Addi Turbo circular needles (perfect for Magic Loop!), a copy of Knitscene, a set of post-it notes and some very yummy dark chocolates! I cannot wait to start my first pair of socks. I feel very lucky and grateful for have such a wonderful SP. Thank you!!!!

My ears are burning

I have been getting alot of hits from the Sybermom's message board but am unable to find out why they have linked to me. It is torturing my nosy self. If you have been linked from there, please let me know what sent you here- good or bad.

Knitting news: The fronts and backs of the Ribbed Carigan have been finished and attached. I cast on for the sleeves last night and worked a couple of rows.

I also worked more on the 70's Afgan Scarf. Now I am thinking about some sort of Barbie influence in the color choice. I don't think I will ever know what was going through my head.

Afgan or scarf?

Remember those awful acrylic crochet afgans from the 70's? Does this ring a bell?

No, it is not a flashback. It is my Zig-Zag scarf. I cannot decide if it is so bad it is cool or just plain bad. I think I am going to ride this one out and see what it looks like at the end but I really don't know what I was thinking when I chose the colors.

Robbed!

It is Monday and I have a case of the Seahawks got screwed hangover. This is the first year I have really gotten into football. From the beginning of the season, we have spent Sundays watching at least 2 games. With the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, I watched the entire game, nervous and excited. That was until the refs started making shotty calls and ABC only showing Steelers clips between plays. Robbed!!!

Needless to say, I had nervous energy to burn after the game so I did what any angry sports fan would do.....I frogged Backyard Leaves. Yes, it is no longer. I did start the Zig Zag scarf and it reminds me of a 1970's afgan my parent had. I didn't pick oranges and brown, but my yellow/pink combo is almost fitting the bill.

Purly Girls tonight so I should get some more work done on the sweater back or the scarf. Pic tomorrow...

Almost there!

back
Originally uploaded by lynnknits.

Just about done with the back of the Ribbed Cardigan. Just the sleeves and collar or hood left. I got major anxiety last night over sewing on the raglan sleeves. My finishing is not great and the sleeves are intimidating to me. I guess I can put the woory off for now. I have to knit them before I need to worry about the sewing.

I am tempted to start a new scarf- Zig-Zag from Scarf Style- and but Backyard Leaves to rest. I should have ordered a green Merino style in the last KnitPicks order to use instead of the Lamb's Pride. Live and Learn.

Revived!

I think all that sleep has made a difference. This morning I felt revived and not nearly as stressed.

I got a chance to knit last night. I am about half way up the back for the ribbed sweater and still have not decided what to do about Backyard Leaves.

We introduced my step-son the another cheesy '80s movie - Teen Wolf. As we were watching it, I realize that Doug Savant of Desperate Housewive and Melrose Place is a player on the basketball team. It distracted me the whole movie. Damn, this knack for knowing actors at first sight. It happened later on CSI, when I told my husband that the killer was in Die Hard 2. Sure enough, he was.

My ass has been kicked!

I am having one of those weeks where I feel like I get nothing done and more stuff just keeps piling up. I have 4 major projects to work on along with every little thing that keeps popping up. All that plus interviewing for a new assistant (she starts Monday!!!), looking for new carpet/stove/flooring for house and planning a supper bowl party at home has offcially kicked my ass. Last night I fell asleep on the couch at 8pm and didn't wake up until my usual 6am. 10 hours of sleep and I was still yawning today. Needless to say, no knitting occurred. Is it the weekend yet? GO HAWKS!!!