My feet

I join the blocking stalking group at the Knittyboards. First assignment- Show your feet. Great, the least favorite part of my body but here we go. Not very exciting I know but they should have a new pair of socks on them fairly soon

Next week's assignment is celebrity pics, real or not. What to do?

One More NIght

Tonight is my last night of quiet. Hubby and Stepson return from camping tomorrow. How should a take advantage of the last few hours of totally selfish time alone? Knit of course! I actually didn't get too much done last night but knit a bit on the Lava Flow socks this morning. I think my attention span can only accomodate 2 projects at a time. Backyard Leaves is collecting dust.

No more developments on the pink hat. My mom teaches preschool and classes started this week. I didn't want to bug her too much about finding the pattern. I have more than enough project on the needles to keep my busy for the time being anyway.

The 3rd earring Hubby hid for me has still not been found. He told me it was the hardest one to find, depending on what I did this week. If it is hidden with any cleaning products, laundry or garden tools, there is no way I am going to come across it this week.

Guilty Pleasure Wednesday

THE PIRATE MOVIE

Before Johnny Depp, there was Christopher Atkins. Before The Black Pearl, there was a musical based on The Pirates of Penzance but with an 80's mindset. Ever since I watched this in 3rd grade at my friend Sara's house, I have loved this movie. What other movie can boast a squeak toy/cod piece, a gold lame and stretch pant wedding outfit and a song called "Pumpin' and Blowin'"? My husband bought my the movie poster as a gift when we were dating and it is still hanging in our tv room. I have the soundtrack on both vinyl and on my iPod. I sat by Kool and the Gang on a plane ride back from France and was excited not because they sang "Celebration" but because they are on the Pirate Movie soundtrack. God help me.

Found another one!

This was sitting on a plate in the cupboard. What a great guy!

This is totally off topic and random but I have deemed Wednesdays "Guilty Pleasure Wednesday" on my blog. I have so many guilty pleasures I am almost embarrassed but not too ashamed because from now on each Wednesday I will be sharing one of them with you. Look out this starts tomorrow. Come back the see the cheesiest of the cheese and things are so bad that they are good. Maybe I will find that I am not the only person who knows all the lines from "Clue".

A Little Action on the Side

Sorry Sunrise Circle Jacket. I needed a quick break. Last night and this morning I worked on the Lava Flow socks that have been ignored for the past week or so. The heel is done and I am all set for the foot of the sock. I always feel like the end is a bit closer when the heel is finished.



Another week without hubby and step-son. Sunday, hubby gave me a set of 3 pairs of earrings but only 1 of each set were in the box. The others he taped to notes and hid them around the house for me to find this week. I found the first one this morning in the bowl of peaches and pears I have in our kitchen. Finding the rest should keep me busy and intrigued for the next 4 days.

Hunt for the Pink Hat

I have written about this hat before, the pink fair isle hat my mom knit for me when I was a kid that was so long you could wrap is around your neck like a scarf. I remember being made fun of by other kids in kindergarten for wearing that hat. My comeback? "My mom knit this herself for me!" Even then I could appreciate hand-knit things. So now want to give the bird to all those who mocked me by recreating that hat in an adult size.

I went over to the 'rents yesterday to find either the hat, the pattern or a pic of me in the hat. Looked in my mom's old knitting books- Nothing but I did find a half a skein of the yarn she used nearly 30 years ago to make the hat. Talk about keeping a stash! Looked in the bottom coat closet- Nothing, but I did find a jazzy/outdated varigated christmas colored felted beret. Looked in a smal pile of pics-No Luck.

Now I am obsessed with the hat. Like many things, I am sure it isn't really as cool as I remember it but being a woman on a mission, I must find some piece of that lovable hat.

Reality Check

First of all, I am happy to say that the left front of the Sunrise Circle Jacket is done! I really like it and have cast on for the second half. I am a little worried about not having enough yarn (aren't I always) but I am going to not freak out and keep knitting.
The reality check comes in realizing that we have almost no money in the checking account until the next payday. I guess my pour money management on vacations caught up with us so I have put myself on an indefinite yarn diet. I have said it before, I know, but this time it is really happening. I have more than enough yarn to make it though another 2 years. I just have a sinking feeling when I think about how we have money managed this month. Once the boys are home from camping a new budget is going to go into effect. Until then, I will drown my sorrows in a good movie and the second half of the sweater.

up 8 lbs?!

Can someone explain this? I have been working out diligently for 2 months, 6-7 days a week. I have gained 8 lbs since I started. Yes, I have been on 2 vacations and slipped a bit in my eating habits but other than that I have been eating 1200-1400 calories a day. I am even to the point of buying up a size in pants! Even my former trainer was a little stunned. I have lost an inch in the waist and hips and gained an inch in my arms, calves and thighs (I could do without the extra inch there.) Anyone know why this would happen? BTW, being pregnant is not a possibilty. Help!

Purple Haze

All my movie watching and alone time has paid off as far as knitting goes. I am about 20 rows away from the end of the left front of the Sunrise Circle Jacket! I really like knitting this. Basic but not boring.

I also noticed I forgot to post the new Manos colorway I got while on vacation. Yummy!

Why remake a semi-classic?

I know I am a bit behind on my movies but on vacation we were talking about "Love Don't Cost a Thing", a remake of the 80's classic "Can't Buy Me Love". Last night, to catch up a bit, I popped it in the DVD player. OHG! Why? Maybe I am just not hip enough anymore but the original is so much better. As I was watching it, I was very tempted to just stop it all together and put grab Can't Buy Me Love but I gave it a shot and it just wasn't good. No more remakes for a while.

A not-so-great movie did give time to concentrate on knitting. I am rolling along on the Sunrise Circle Jacket (row 58 on the left front). I worked a few rows on both the lava flow socks and Backyard Leaves. Feels good.

LISA ROCKS!!

All I can say is thank you and wow. Lisa, my replacement replacement One Skein Angel has really spoiled me. All three months combined into one wonderful package: a cute flower tote, a notebook (going in my purse), wine themed coasters, a baseball mug (going on my desk at work), a headband thats perfect for when I work out, grape soap and some lotion, wine gums candy (cannot wait to try!), a skein on hand dyed Wool/Angora mix in teal and brown (my faves), a skein on Socks that Rock and a pattern along with a mini skein of STR (de-lish), and finally, a Heart Felt Wishes bowl knit by Lisa. Thank you so much.

Please Mr. Postman

I got home from the gym tonight to find a card from the post office saying I have a package waiting for me. I cannot handle to suspense. I am going first thing tomorrow to get it. Could it be from my replacement replacement One Skein Swap Angel? (yes, I had 2 people flake on me) She has been wonderful and proves that there are good people and swappers out there. I will post more tomorrow.

Alone time

I love having alone time and I get nearly 2 weeks of it starting today. Hubby and stepson left for camping this morning and will be gone until Saturday. Then they are off again next week for 5 more days. That means massive knitting and movie time for me. I get to catch up on my independant movies. I have Closer, Secretary and Capote waiting for me a home. Ahhh, relaxation and knitting. I can't wait!

It's good to be home

As much as I like a week away, it is good to be home. As you can see I didn't get too much knitting done. Most of it was done in the car.

Black Butte was great. There was a wildfire 6 miles away though, so there was a threat of being evacuated and one day at the pool a light dusting of ash fell. YUCK!

Bike riding, swimming, eating, drinking... I did hike to the top of Black Butte- a 2 mile hike each way. Not bad for my first hike. Little did I know it was rated difficult and the incline was steep the entire way up. I was with my brother though and I knew it I quit I would never hear the end of it. I am pretty proud of myself. We have been going there for over 20 years and this is the first time I have tried tackling the climb. I even celebrated with a Black Butte Porter afterward.

What would a trip be without a trip to a LYS?

I stopped by the Stitchn' Post in Sisters and got 2 skeins of Manos in a new fall colorway. No pics yet of that but it is a great Pink/purple/brown mix. LOVE IT!

Got to get some much needed rest before work tomorrow. bye for now.

Off for a week

Off to Oregon! Be back on the 20th.

Deja Vu all over again

After all my second guessing, frogging, and algebra, I have admitted that I am an idiot. My gauge may have been off but my thinking was right. My measurement lies somewhere between the 37" and 41" chest on the Sunrise Jacket. If I have 1.5 more stitches to the inch and make the 41" jacket, it will fit me perfectly. So back to the drawing board for me last night and I knit back to where I was, on the same size needles. Good times.

I have started the lava socks too but haven't worked too much on them. I really like the colorway.
Backyard Leaves is still there. I am focusing any knitting done today on that. Knitting both pieces at once has really been the project's life-saver. It is much easier with Cotton Fleece than the Lamb's Pride I start with before. The leaves are much more defined.

Back to the Beginning

Turns out my hunch regarding my gauge was right. This morning I did a quick gauge measure on the sleeve. 20 sts=4". I was off. The pattern calls for 18.5 sts = 4". So I frogged the 40 or so rows I has done and tonight I will cast on with the needles called for and start again. I feel good about finding this our now and not after the whoel thing is done. I just don't know why I have such a hard time getting it right with my swatch.

Trust issues

Whenever I start a sweater, I always wonder if it will actually fir when it is done. I can't trust myself to knit to a gauge or decide on the right size needles for the yarn. So before I started Sunrise, I looked at the KAL. Apparently there have been some sizing issues. Do I make the 37" or 41"? Normally, I would be a 38-40". There is overlap but is that included in the chest measurement? Why do I overthink so much? There is a chart for adding width to the back but adding more math to a project doesn't work well for me.

I knit a gauge swatch and have to go up a needle size to get gauge. I have started the sleeve but am second guessing myself about the needle size and the sweater size. (I chose the 41".) Worse case, I knit to the shoulder and realize it is too big and frog it. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't really that bad.

Dream Swatch Scarf - Finished

Dream Swatch Scarf based on pattern from Knit and Tonic
Worsted Weight Yarn dye myself
Size 6 needles

I really like the way this turned out and it was a quick knit. Something different but not a huge undertaking. It hasn't been blocked yet. Once I do that, I think the pattern will really shine. I see myself making another one with sock yarn leftovers.

My Dream Hat

Maybe it is the cloudy weather today but I am sitting here dreaming about my next hat project. When I was in Kindergarden, my mom knit me a pink fair isle stocking cap but unlike other sotcking caps, the top was so long that you could wear it as a scarf or have it hang down to mid-back. For years, I have thought about that hat. I have no idea what what happened to it but I really want an adult version. Maybe not pink fair isle but i love the idea! What a great Stashbuster project to work on. It is now the next project on my list.

Cast on for 2 new projects

All day yesterday I thought about casting on for new projects. So when I got home, that was the first thing I did. Lava Socks in Trekking 166 and Sunrise Circle Jacket in Amethyst Heather Wool o f the Andes. I also worked about 4 rows on each. Not much I know but packing for vaca and other stuff got in the way. No progress on Backyard Leaves. I needed a break.

Tonight is a Chamber of Commerce reception so I will be getting home later. Not sure if I will get any knitting done.

BTW, my One Skein Pal made this for me! Baseball and yarn- my favorites!

Another set of needles empty

I have finished my Dream Swatch scarf. I ended up knitting the entire skein since I really didn't want any more half skeins lying around. Just need to block it! I really like how it turned out I will post pics soon.

I also worked another section of Backyard Leaves. I was annoyed with this pattern at first but am getting into the flow and once I get started, I can easliy work a few rows.

Getting ready for the trip to Black Butte this weekend. Packed? no. Thought about what to pack? no. Thought about what knitting to bring. Of Course! I am ready to start another pair of socks and cast on for the Sunrise Circle Sweater. Right now, I am thinking Lava flow socks in the yarn Keli gave me.

great mail day

So I went to the gym after all and got back to find TWO things for me.

First of all, my KSKS package from Keli. The theme was treats for my feet and included 2 nail polishes, foot soak, foot gel, and a pumice stone. There were also gummy Lifesavers and Jolly Ranchers (so going in the car with me for the trip down to Oregon), notecards, 2 skeins of Trekking in yummy colors and a pattern for the very cute Porcupine's Pedicure socks. The best part of the whoel package was the bag. L-O-V-E I-T!!! Keli modeled it after Jaywalkers and dyed the yarn herself. Definetly using this to carry my next sock project. Thank you Keli!

I also received a mysterious card from the One Skein Pal/Angel. Can't help but smile when this is in the mailbox. Thank you!

Exercise or Knit?

Decisions are the worst. Go to the gym (about 10 min south of home) and work out since next week we will be nowhere near a gym and head home after or go to Purlygirls (about 30 min north of home) and knit. I am waffle-ing. Now hubby sends me a pix or a package waiting for me. KSKS package?! How to make a decision even more difficult. Ein-y Mean-y Mine-y Mo...

Some sense of order

A trip to Lowe's this weekend resulted in a new bin. I bought one to try out and it works great. i was able to fit all my sock yarn in it including 2 skiens of Sock Garden sen along with the cutest lip balm as a thank you surprise from Erin! What a great treat in the mailbox on Friday. Thank you so much Erin.

Some de-stashing also too place. I have a bag of novelty yarn to go to my MIL and a bag of odds and ends for the knitting class at the school where my mom teaches.

Yesterday was pretty much a sit on the couch kind of day for us. We watched The Godfather and Revenge of the Nerds. This gave me time to work on Backyard Leaves. As much as I want to start a new project, I hate having unfinished ones. I am a little less than half way done. Regardless, Sunrise Circle will most likely be my car trip project for next week's vacation.

My needles are free!

Slip Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Knitpicks Landscapes Mesa
Needles: Size 1

The Hoff and the Angry Inch

One inch to go and it is the biggest inch I have ever knit. I think I could possibly finish the socks this weekend depending on what plans we have.

Last night we watched Final Destination 3. Normally, I would have waited until it ends up on Encore at midnight but we got sucked into the Choose Your Own Adventure aspect of the DVD. So we watch until the first decision, coin flip-Choose Heads or Tails. We chose heads and watched another 5 minutes of the movie and then the credits started to roll. HUH? A 20 min movie? Then on the screen it says, "Did you wish you had chosen tails?". We chose yes and then the movie starts over from coin flip. At that rate the movie would have lasted 4 hours so we just watched the regular version which just ended up being another slasher, gore-fest during which I knit the entire time.

The movie did get over just in time to see David Hasselhoff sing on America's Got Talent. The show has worn out its welcome but OMG! First of all, it seems like "The Hoff", as he likes to be called, is hitting the juice. There is something slightly off about him and don't get me started on his "Get into My Car" song! Who buys this stuff? I have to admit that I went straight to iTunes to see if he had anything there that I could play to annoy hubby even more. David Hasselhoff Sings America! New York, New York, These Boots are Made for Walking, and so many other classics. It even includes a special bonus track of the Knight Rider theme because nothing screams American more than that. Don't fear though, I only listened to the samples (which was more then enough) and did buy a thing.

Light at the end of the tunnel

I don't know why these socks seem like a chore to finish. Actually, yes I do. I really want to start something else and the 3 projects I have going right now are more than enough. None of them is inspring me. The fact that hubby's foot is gargantuan is making this a slow project. The light at the end of the tunnel maybe that I have nothing really planned for this weekend and with Seafair and the Blue Angels in town, I don't plan on driving too far. More knitting time=more time to finish projects!

I may be becoming an aunt soon which means baby knitting projects and stash reducers!

I laughed, I cried

Hubby and I saw Clerks 2 last night. I love Kevin Smith! I always have my mind in the gutter and it is nice to know that I am not the only one. I think everyone in the theatre was cracking up about the most disgusting things. I am enough of a Star Wars geek to love the Greedo/Han references and the comparision between the Star Wars triology and the LOTW movies. I laughed so much last night, I was crying. I thought Hubby was going to choke, he was laughing so hard. If you like the rest of Kevin Smith's movies, this is a must see.

Countdown update: 3.75" left to go until decreasing!

The Countdown Begins

Only 4.5" to go on the socks until I hit the toe decreases! I determined to finish these by the 11th.