More Bling

Wow! These jewelry gems are not stopping. Hubby must be bored at work.

I think these would really set off a cat embellished sweatshirt and some nice polyester pants.

What time does ugly start?

So hubby emailed me today with 3 lovely jewelry options. First, a No Parking sign belly button ring and then a pink foil Playboy bunny belly button ring. Keep in mind, that have no piercing in my belly button but ok. Then he sent his gem... Wow!! I have always wanted a knitting related watch- not to mention one with some novelty yarn on it and a lavendar plastic Swatch-type of band!

ETA: Now he has added this necklace to the list.

Sleeve Progress

My knitting seems to be taking twice as long to do lately. Socks on the needles for over a month? That is rarely seen here but it is happening now. I did make some progress on the sleeves for Thorn and Thistle last night at PurlyGirls.

I have been thinking alot about selling our house and what we would need to do and pack to get it ready. More importantly, I have been thinking about how much yarn I woudl pack up and what project I would start to get me through the month or two of selling and moving. I guess my priorities are clear.

Hot!

When I am her age, I hope I looks as hot and age-appropriate as Helen Mirren. Enough said.

I am still here

Yes, I am here but not too much knitting news. We are, however, thinking of buying a new house. Our renters next door have driven me past the edge. 9 cars parked there everyday. At least 2 parties a week and a homeowner who doesn't care as along as he sees the rent. This all hit a climax last night when at 3:45am someone rang our door bell. We didn't answer it but watched a person stumble away to the neighbors and this morning it looked like he had tried to open our door. Thank God for a deadbolt and a alarm system.

We actually started looking at house yesterday but don't have our exact price range set. The realtors are coming out on Wed to take a look at our house and give us a ballpark. We bought the house for $244,000 five years ago adn houses around use have sold anywhere from $300,000 - $500,000. Big Ballpark. I am not looking forward to the stress of buying, selling and moving but the houses we looked out, while further away from the city, will be a great and much needed change.

I do plan to knit today. A couple years ago I made a pullover sweater based on Glampyre's Boobholder. The sleeves are a bit tight so am going to re-knit those and work on Thorn and Thistle while I tend to a sick husband, watch the Oscars and worrying about the whole house buying process.

I like the repetition

Some days if feel like the last thing I want to do is knit from a chart and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat the pattern. I have to say though, the last few days I have growm to really like the repetition. The Thorn and Thistle Lace Cardigan has turned out to be an enjoyable project. I started the right front this morning and has to drag myself away from it so I could get to work on time.

Trying not to buy yarn for a while (Does this sound like a broken record?) but I am headed to Joann's today to buy something for work. Orangina has been calling my name lately and I may be tempted to buy some yarn for that. Honestly- this needs to stop. I have my next sweater and yarn waiting in the wings. I don't need another project right now. Wish me luck against the yarn buying temptations.

New Workout Routine

Whenever I use the elliptical at the gym, I have to have some sort of distraction- a magazine, a baseball game on TV, good people watching, etc. To day I am going to try something different. I downloaded some knitting related podcasts to listen to. Hopefully listening to something knitting related with help the time go by. Which brings me to this question-

What knitting podcasts to you listen to?

Progress is my middle name

I finally got my butt in gear this weekend and focused on one project- Thorn and Thistle. I have finished the back and am working on the left front. It still looks short even thought I knit 11" inches on the body instead of 7" but once it is blocked, I think it will be ok.

Have you seen my mojo?

I haven't been into knitting so much this week. I'll knit a few rows here and there but have yet to sit down with the intention of knitting for a long time. Distractions have been the key. I have been at the gym more. (5-6 times a week like the trainer said) We watched a pretty intriguing movie that I started knitting during but ended up watching it. See "This Film is Not Yet Rated" if you are intersted in how big business influences the ratings system.

Maybe this weekend will be more knitting friendly. Little League practice starts tomorrow so that will give me a good 2 hours of alone time to knit and aside from a trip to the bookstore and Bubble tea (my latest obsession) Sunday looks free. Mojo hunt is on!

It's all about the length

I haven't had too much knitting to post about lately. All my projects are kind of at the same point- Repeat pattern to desired length.

I have about 18" done on the Mix and Mingle Throw. Having to change yearns every 3-5 rows has been keeping me away from this for a bit. There are so many ends to weave in but I have been doing them as I go.

The Thorn and Thistle Sweater is moving along. I have about 6" done on the body but want to get to about 10".

Socks are coming too. I have started the heel flap and that should move along quickly.

After 2 nights of no knitting time, tonight I will get a chance to work on a couple of these and get to my "desired length".

My Movie

I saw this on Katydid's blog today and tried it out. Here are the rules:
If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.

Here's mine:
1. Opening credits: "Could You Use Me?" – Crazy for You Broadway Cast
2. Waking up: "Some People" – Gyspy Broadway Cast
3. First day of school: "The Lady’s Got Potential" – Evita Soundtrack
4. Fight song: "Oh, Father" - Madonna
5. Breaking up: "Willkommen" – Cabaret Broadway Cast
6. Happiness: "Everywhere" – Fleetwood Mac
7. Life's okay: "You’re My Best Friend" - Queen
8. Mental breakdown: "Day Dreaming" – Aretha Franklin
9. Driving: "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood" – Cyndi Lauper
10. Flashback: "The Right Man" – Christina Aguilera
11. Getting back together: "My Main Man" – The Staple Singers
12. Wedding song: "Back up Sessions" – Jersey Boys Broadway Cast
13. Birth of first child: "One More Angel in Heaven" – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Broadway Cast
14. Final battle scene: "Cool Rider” – Grease 2 soundtrack
15. Death scene: "D.W. Washburn" – Smokey Joe’s Café Broadway Cast
16. Funeral song: "Entr’Acte" – Cabaret Broadway Cast
17. End credits: "Baba O’ Riley" – The Who

Found it!

Thanks to Katydid I have found enough Cotton-ease to make the Cabled sweater! I still have the Thorn and Thistle Lace to work on but that sweater is on tap next.

I also rented the Meg Swanson Fair Isle Sweater video(?!) from the library and watched part of that last night. I got to the arm hole portion and then Heroes was one so I will have to watch the rest later. I am excited to see how the steeks work. Overall, it has been very informative and has some great tips esp. about how to increase evenly in the round. I always have problems figuring that one out. Math is Hard- to quote Barbie.

Just a memory

Remember this?

I guess I didn't either becasue it has been sitting in the back of my closet for over a year. The only time I wore is when this picture was taken. Looking back, I am really wondering if I was that hunched over or if it was the way the sweater hung. Anyway-

Now that has become this...

I think I have a little less than 4 full skeins there. I haven't weighed them yet. I had more but 1 became a pair of pants for a friend's baby and another is Twitterpated, which could be frogged if needs be. I am not sure if that is enough for the IK Cable Sweater. Anyone have some bright blue Cotton-Ease (Popsicle?) they would like to trade? I have a couple skeins of the light green to swap.

Decision made

After much deliberation and a search through my stash, I decided to continue on with the lace cardigan. I really don't want to buy any more yarn for a while and the colors I had were not what I wanted for the Fair Isle Yoke. Once I started back on the cardigan last night, I was excited about it again.

Also got the new IK yesterday and love Stefanie's sweater. I have a Sitcom Chic in Cotton-ease that may be frogged and resurrected for this. It was one of the first sweaters I knit and I never wear it. It isway too big and has sat in my closet for 2 years. This cable sweater would be great for the Spring.

A potential frog

I am thinking about frogging the Thorn and Thistle Lace Cardigan and instead starting a Fair Isle yoke sweater. I have admired Jessica's and even thought I really like the T&T cardi pattern, I think Cascade is turning out a bit too stiff. Maybe Cotton Fleece woudl work better and it would be easier to wear in the Spring/Summer. For right now it is in limbo until I decide for sure. I have already been thinking about the Fair Isle color scheme. Brown sweater with blues or teals for the yoke. Maybe I will do some swatches first.

I also went to the gym last night and had my old trainer do some measurements. Bascially he told me I am borderline unhealthy and I need to do 6 days of cardio and 4 days a weights a week. Huh? You mean I need to push myself? I knew I was doing the minimun so today I am making a calendar of what I am doing when with my scheduled days off. He did say this which has really stuck in my head - For everyday I don't workout or eat right I am pushing back achieving my goal by that many days. Common sense, In know but I guess I just needed someone to tell me.

Feeling Blue

I woke up this morning with a cold. Wonderful! The first of the season for me and now I feel like making a big pot of soup but that isn't likely right before work. I should have know it was coming on when I was craving Split Pea Soup last night. Just might happen today.

I did start a new pair of socks yesterday using Trekking in a blue self-striping. I lost the label so I not sure on the exact number.
I knit of forgot about the Socktopia themes for the month and started right away with this since it was something I had frogged before and it was starting to become a tangled mess in my stash. Mindless stockinette knitting is so nice after using a pattern stitch on almost every other project you have going.

Off to find myself some soup for lunch...

Super Knitting Saturday

I really kicked it out yesterday. It was such a relaxing day with window shopping, a Starbucks trip and knitting.

Fair Isle Hat from Janine's Fair Isle class at Madrona
Yarn: Jameison's
Needles: Size 3 Addis
Finish Time: 1 Week

I finished the Fair Isle hat and love it. Do you notice something alittle off though? I didn't until I was well into the decreasing.

Yes, somewhere along the line I knit 2 of the "X" pattern repeats together. If this was a sweater, I would have frogged back but since this was my first project, I gave myself some creative licensing and let it go. Design Element, right?

Waterfall Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
Socks That Rock - Bleeding Hearts
Size 1 Addis
Finish Time: About 3 weeks

The Waterfall Rib socks are also done. These fit perfectly thanks to Sensational Knitted Socks. They are blocking now. This was my first lace style sock. I like them alot but I am tired of yarnovers. Next up- plain old stockinette socks.

Weekend plans (or nothing going)

There really isn't much happening here this weekend which means more time for knitting! We are having family over for the Super Bowl so there will be some cleaning and cooking to do.

Monday is the Purly Girls Yarn Swap/Sale. I am pretty excited for this and really need to go through my stash. I don't know how much desireable yarn but I am going to bring it all because you never know.

My new assistant is also a hair stylist on the side. We started talking about my hair yesterday. Is it wierd to have you co-worker/person you manage do something like cut and color you hair? She said she would so it but also understands if I think it is kind of weird. I am torn.

I have started planning this year's VIP trip to Tahoe at work. It isn't until June and I am so ready to go!

I just can't get enough!

I cannot tell you how much I am loving this Fair Isle hat! I think now I know why. As I was knitting last night, hubby leaned over and said, "It's like cross-stitching but it's knitting." He was right. I used to love cross-stitching and yes, I have some cross-stitch UFO's somewhere in the house. Fair Isle is close to it. Reading the chart, changing colors- but it is even more enjoyable. All other projects have been put aside for the next couple of days...