Short update

I am training a new assitant at work this week so I have been busier than usual. Just some quick updates.

I have turned the heel on the Waterfall Rib socks and started working on the foot last night. Cannot wait to wear them!

The Fair Isle hat has been the favorite project I have going now and I just started my second background color.

The Thorn and Thistle Lace Cardigan is moving along slowly but the interest is still there.

Finally, the Mix and Mingle Throw has not been completely forgotten but is just taking a little breather right now.

Yes, I have broken my rule of only 2 projects on the needles. This is the most I have ever had going at once but when inspiration strikes, you have to go with it.

Stash Enhancement

Honestly, what am I going to do with all these potential socks?

Nodding Violet and Farmhouse
Velvet Moon

The start of my Fair Isle hat. This is so addicting...

Madrona and a Movie

I had such a good time at Madrona! I really should have signed up for more than 1 class. I got there ealry Saturday morning with enough time to sit in the lobby and knit/people watch. What a great group of people. Everywhere I looked there were inspiring knitters wearing inspiring knits.

I was alittle overwhelmed at the beginning of my Fair Ilse class, taught by Janine. I was the only one who had no experience knitting with 2 colors on 2 hands. We talked alot about color selection, swatching and technique. By the end of the class, I walked out with enough yarn to try making a hat. I started last night and have finished a couple of rows in the pattern. I am really excited about learning a new technique.

I ran into Meg, Mara, Sarah and Rebecca from Purly Girls and we a great lunch! Thanks girls.

Yes, I did some damage in The Marketplace but not too much. 1 Skein each of Socks That Rock in Farmhouse and Nodding Violet and 2 skeins of Sock Candy in Velvet Moon. I also picked up a skein of Jameson's for the Fair Isle hat.

Pics to come. I was just too tired this morning to take them.

Hubby and I saw The Departed yesterday. I love Martin Scorsese! Riddle me this though- Why would you bring a 3 yo to that movie? Most common sensical people would not but there was a women who walked in about 45 minuted before the movie ended with a toddler. She sat next to a guy, her husband (?), and watched the end of the movie with the daughter on her lap. This is Scorsese not Disney! Blood, bullets, and the F-Word flying everywhere and not once did she get up and leave. That irritated me beyond belief. Lovely parenting style!

Almost February

The Socktopia theme come out today:
Life is like a box of chocolates...
Forever in my Heart
Bed of Roses
Short and Sweet
Laissez les bon temps rouler!

With the projects I am currently working on, I think Short and Sweet might me the theme for me. Great way to use up my sock stash. I think I could get a couple ankle sock out of what I have.

Is it Saturday yet?

I am taking a class at Madrona this weekend and am so ready to go- and shop too! STR

We thought about seeing The Queen last night but that got side-tracked by free mac & cheese! So we were going to go Friday night. Now that has been bumped by a birthday dinner. Sunday? Looks good for now. Hopefully no unplanned dinner will interupt the plans.

Sometimes I impress even myself

Sometimes I have to admire my guesstimating skills. The other days while casting on 66 sts for a sock, I stopped at a point that looked like about 66 sts. I counted. Dead on! Today I had to tag 65 fleece vests for work. I grab a stack of tags. 65 exactly! God I love that feeling.

It's all about the YO's

I don't think I have ever worked on so many projects with yarn overs. First up the Waterfall Rib socks in STR Bleeding Hearts, which I just realized is named after the plant not gory bloodshed. No green thumb here. Anyway, I love this one and a ready to do the heel flap tonight.

The Thorn and Thistle Sweater is coming along too. 203 stitches so a round is taking a bit but it isn't boring. THe more I knit it, the more excited I am to wear it.

The throw I am working on incorporates Yo's too. No pic right now. That is my mindless knit at the moment.

Let the race begin...

Oscar noms came out this morning and my goal is to see the nominated pics. I thought I had one down with Dreamgirls but it didn't get nominated. I have Little Miss Sunshine on the top of my Netflix list. I have wanted to see Babel, The Queen and The Departed but haven't found the time. I am not too found of war realted movies so Letters from Iwo Jima may be the toughie. Sunday is the next day I have time to go. Babel here I come...

Frogged!

Something Red has been frogged and a lovely Thistle Lace Cardigan is cropping up in its place.
(Did I say once I would never do lace?)

Something Thistle?

Knitting sweaters makes me so neurotic and Something Red has given me more headaches than it really needs too. I was worried about sizing the other night and decided to add some bust shaping. That didn't turn out so well and last night I frogged back about 4". I knit a couple inches and tried it on. I think it may be too small around the boobage area. That and now I am thinking that the ribbing right under said boobage will make me look even bigger than I am. Hubby told me to just put it aside for a day or 2 and come back to it later.

Good thinking but last night in bed I thought of other sweater I could make with the same yarn. I remembered this sweater from IK Summer 06. I love the cardigan but maybe done a little bit longer. Sos this morning I swatched with some extra 220. Love it! Now for the big question...Do I frog Something Red and start on the Thistle Lace Cardigan?

For the love/hate of gauge

I am having a major inner conflict this morning. I am off in the row gauge for Something Red. Guage should be 22 rows=4" and I have 24rows to 4". There is even a note about making sure the row gauge is on to insure the best fit. I have already gone up 3 needle sizes to get the right st. gauge. What to do? I could go up another needle size - size 10!? I could just continue on and knit a couple extra rows. Do I need to cut my losses and frog now?

Something Brown

Progress on Something Red has been going pretty well. I think I was really looking for a simple knit and this is simple but not too monotonous. I have about 20 more rows of increasing to do and then divide the sleeves and back. I love knitting sweaters in one piece. Finishing is not my strong point and the less seaming, the better.

Money Spending Mood

I am in such a money spending mood. Back in my single days, that happened just about everyday. I would make a trip to Target at lunch and buy clothes, movies or what ever struck me. Ever since I got laid off- which was 4 years and 3 jobs ago- I have been more conscious about buying things. Well, for the most part. Today is one of the money-could-burn-a-hole-through-my-pocket days.

Things I want to spend money on:
Yarn, yarn, yarn
Philosophy shower gels
clothes
latte

So far I haven't bought anything. Based on the list, I came up with my rewards for losing weight.
-10lbs - Philosophy Shower gel or face wash
-15lbs - new workout outfit
-20lbs - Philosophy gift set
-25lbs (Wedding Day Weight) - Guilt-free trip to the LYS!!

WTF???

Another day of snow? Seriously, just as the sheet of ice on our street was starting to melt, we get another 3 inches! I am so tired of this. Rain? I love it. Snow? pretty at first but what a pain in the ass after hanging around for a week.

Bright side- more time to knit. Here is are the socks in the Waterfall Rib. Once I get more done, I think a pic with do it more justice.

Finished Scarf

I have to say that this bamboo scarf is growing on me. It isn't the warmest thing around but in the spring it just might work.

One Row Lace Scarf by Rene. E. Wells
Yarn: Southwest Trading Co. Bamboo
Needles: Denise size 10.5
Start date: Mid-November Finish Date: Jan 13

What's my rewards?

I have rejoined Weight Watchers with some people from work. Today they were talking about their rewards they have set for themselves; a Coach wallet after losing 20 lbs ( out of my price range) and going out to Thai food after losing 10lbs (that would set in back in the old way of eating mode). It got me to think- what should my goal/rewards be?
Here are some ideas: Manicure after 10 lbs, $5 into yarn fund for every 5 lbs I lose, massage after losing 20lbs, wine tasting day when I get to my wedding day weight... any other ideas out there?

Socks update and more...

Too impatient to wait for a trip to the LYS, I started another sock pattern with the STR- Waterfall Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. I haven't done too many rows but I like it so far.

On Sunday, after the Seahawks loss, I did head to the LYS to use my 20% off coupon. I had 4 different sweater options in my head. They had a IK trunk show so I got to see a couple in person and decided on the cover sweater from the most recent issue (the name is escaping me). I went the inexpensive route since I was already feeling quilty about the purcahse and got Cascade 220 in Brown. Came home to swatch and messed up 3 times in the first repeat. Ok, maybe that pattern and I are not destined to be together.

Option #2- Something Red from Knit and Tonic. Starting swatching on the recommended #7 needles. Too small. #8? Still too small. Finally settled on #9 needle and started this morning.

Whew! In the midst of all this swatching, frogging, changing of patterns and restarts, I finished the Bamboo lace scarf. Pics to come soon...

No More Monkey

After knitting my first repeat in the Monkey pattern, I tried on what I had done. Way too big. I even went down a needle size. Off to frog I go and either 1) make a trip to the LYS to buy some size 0 needles or 2) find a new pattern for this great shade of STR.

Monkey Business

Yesterday's snow day gave me plenty of knitting/movie time. I finished my Yarnfetti socks (see last post) and started Monkey socks in the best STR color, Bleeding Hearts- stay tuned for pics.

On the movie side, I caught up on a few I have wanted to see. First up- Black Dahlia. I was so disappointed. I thought it would be more true crime based and not used as a background for a cop story/love triangle. Next- The Oh! in Ohio. I really like Parker Posey but at the end I thought "that was all?" Something about Danny Devito making out kind of grosses me out too.
Finally- Snakes on a Plane. Hubby and I watched this one together and we could see why it didn't live up to the hype. It was ok in a b-rated horror movie kind-of-way.

That's all I have for now. I am ready to get home amd work more on those socks! Talk about addicting...

Socktopia for January

My first FO of 2007! The socks I designed myself for this month's Socktopia theme: Celebrate good times!

Yarnfetti socks (my own pattern)

Yarn: Knitpicks Landscape Tropical Sunrise- now discontinued

Needles: the usual Addis #1 circs

Again?

Third snow day this year. Enough said...

Socks, Socks and more socks...

It is amazing how some days you lack any insporation or motivation and other day sit is oozing out of your pores. Today is one of those days. I still have another 10 rounds left on my current socks before I start decreasing for the toe and I am already planning the next pair- Monkey from Knitty. Muy socks so far have been pretty basic; straight stockinette, Jaywalkers or ribbed. This would be my forst try at something a little more complex. I am so ready to get home and go through the stash to find the perfect yarn (STR)!

Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little

This morning I had my long postponed cleaning at the dentist. This is the same dentist Hubby, Step-son, MIL, FIL and SIL all go to. Then even have the same hygentist. I have tried to aviod getting the same one but today it happened. Before I even sat in the chair, she starting talking about a family friend getting engaged. Then she told me that FIL was disappointed I hadn't had my teeth cleaned with her before and asked if SIL was pregnant. She even asked if we were going to have kids since I was off the pill. I wanted to turn to her and say, "No, hubby got snipped. Tell the world."

Why was I avoiding her? I really don't want everyone to know about my brushing habit, lack of flossing and other personal news. Alittle too unprofessional for my taste. Do I cause a family ruckus and find a entirely new dentist office?

Dusting it off

Yes, last night a Purly Girls I dusted off the bamboo scarf and devoted my time to only that. It really is a quick knit- just not my thing. MIL gave the pattern and yarn to me as a gift and has asked about it so, I figure I should get it done. I may wear it a couple of times.

It is supposed to snow here tonight/tomorrow. I am ok with 1 day of snow but this would the third round for us and I am done with it. This is Seattle, right?

Yarnfetti

I have turned the heel on the latest pair of socks. Part of the Socktopia theme this month is Celebrate Good Times. In honor of that, I have named these socks Yarnfetti. Spiral rib with slipped stitches. I should be done with these in the next week or so.

We missed most of the Seahawks game this weekend, thanks to SIL's poorly planned last minute belated birthday dinner. We did go to a bar to see the first couple of drives and then made it home for a unbelievable 4th quarter. Amazing! I have only ever felt that nervous during a close baseball game. I think over the past few years, football has become my second favorite sport and it gives a good chunk of knitting time on Sundays.

Next?

I have been wanting to start another sweater for a few weeks and would like to use something in my stash which would be either: Black Cascade 220, Olive green Cotton Fleece or Brown double-stranded Palette from KnitPicks. I found this today and am in love with it. I read on the Sexy Knitters blog that you only need 600-800yds of worsted yarn. Perfect! The Cascade 220 is only 4 skeins and I have been wondering why I didn't buy more. No pattern up yet but by the time I get around to buying it I should be done with the socks and most of the throw.

Pray for me, St. Sebastian

Today, the SnB calendar talks about St. Sebastian being the patron saint of sock knitters. My Art History minor is taking effect here- envision a man with his hands tied behind his back struck by mutliple arrows. Not exactly primed for knitting but kind of how I feel using DPNs. Anyway, I may light a candle for Sebastian today because last night instead of knitting, I played the Star Wars Lego game on the xbox for 2 hours! Grant me the inspiration to knit and be semi-productive instead of trying to fly the Millennium Falcon through astroid fields. Amen

Finished projects for 2006

Tea Cozy

Christmas Stocking #2

Christmas Stocking #3

Ribbed Cardigan

Loopy Sock (sans loop)

Zig-Zag Scarf

Baby Bobbi Bear

French Market Bag

Sockettes

Counterpane Bag

Clapotis #3

Dublin Bay Socks

Lara

Jaywalker Socks

My So Called Scarf

Trekking Socks

Twitterpated

Slip Stitch Socks

Dream Swatch Scarf

Lava Flow Socks

Backyard Leaves

Dublin Bay Socks #2

12:01

Sunrise Circle Jacket

Beer Inspired Jaywalker Socks

Pink Striped Hat

Purl Scarf

KISS Socks

Om Yoga Mat Bag

Hayden #2

Funky Striped Socks

More Sock Yarn?

Hubby informed me last night that he would like another pair of socks. No problem until I thought about my stash. Pink, purple, self-patterning Trekking... Everything is either way to girly or not enough for his size 13 feet. HMMMM....a trip to the LYS? Knitpicks order? I guess getting the stash down is out of the question for this.

I'm a Joiner

I have joined Socktopia in hopes of decreasing my sock yarn stash in 2007. I really have too much of it but I love the colors and it is semi-inexpensive. So I start 2007 with sock for 17 pairs. My goal is one pair a month.

Happy New Year

So my New Year's Eve wasn't very eventful- I was in bed by 11pm- but I did get a chance to knit a bit New Year's Day.

All I can think about when I knit these socks is how much I hated to color when I bought it (it was meant for socks for my MIL) but now it is really growing on me. It is Tropical Sunrise from Knitpicks and is now discontinued. The stranded pattern seems to be preventing any pooling, at least for now. They are on the smaller side but a good blocking should make them perfect.

The throw is coming along too. I am realizing, thought, that I am getting old and can only knit the fuzzy yarn sections under really bright light. 33 is great, isn't it?

I saw Dreamgirls this weekend and it was good. Jennifer Hudson is great. It was the first time I have been to a movie where people start clapping half-way through. Yes, it was after her big song but I was still in awe. If you like musicals and everyone knows I do, then you should check it out.