Stockinette Socks

I have to say that I am almost embarrassed to say how easy these socks were and how mich I like them. They got my knitting mojo back so there is nothing bad I can say.

Stockinette Socks from my own pattern

Yarn: Trekking XXL Color:129

Needles: Size 1 addis

No real knitting news

I have been working on the Venezia cardigan and started on the sleeves. These are going real fast so with hubby and stepson going camping next week, I will most likely get this done before they come back.

After 4 doctor appts in the past 2 weeks and a set of x-rays. The doctor called me yesterday with the news that I have de generative joint disease and spurring in my back. Next, move a trip to the Spine Clinic. Everything I have read on this talks about it happening in people over 50. I am interested to see what the docs have to say.

In better news, Stepson was asked to be in a PSA with the Seahawks! He gets to go to practice and film the spot with players. Of course, I took the day off to tag along. We will be there for 6 hours so I will be sure to bring some knitting.

Stitch n' Pitch

Last night was the 3rd annual Stitch n' Pitch at Safeco Field. I have gone the past two years and planned on going again. I ended up getting invited to the game from a vendor at work so I sat away from the knitters. I did get a chance to walk around and look at the vendors-So much bigger than the first year.I did a quick walk through, bought a skein of STR and went back to my seat to enjoy thte game even if it was without needles in my hand.

I could have guess this

You Are 40% Left Brained, 60% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Venezia Mix-up

I guess I may need to clarify a bit about my Venezia Sweater. The one I am knitting was featured in March in the SnB desk calendar, not the fair isle sweater from Interweave. In fact it is about as opposite as you can get. Interweave's- multicolored, difficult, and gorgeous. The SnB sweater- 1-color, garter stitch with yarnovers and a good stash-buster. Maybe this is why I am having some finding errata problems.

Venezia Update

Still no word from Cascade about an errate for Venezia. The good news is that I finished the left front last night and ended up with the same number of sts on the shoulder that I did on the back shoulders. The right front is started with a little more confidence than the left.

Ravelry addict?

Since getting my Ravelry invite, I visit the site everyday looking at patterns and other's FO's. Yesterday I was at Joann's and they had Lion's Brand Landscapes on clearance for $1.97. I quickly grabbed 4 balls but then stopped. What am I going to make with these? Where the hell is Ravelry when you need it? I so wanted to look up the yarn and see what other's and knit up with it. Does that mean it is time for me to get internet access on my phone? Imagine, finding a great yarn and immediately looking it up in Ravelry to get inspirtaion for patterns. I ended up putting the yarn back and not buying any. I have a whole stash full of yarn to use up and find projects for.

No one?

Apparently I am the only person in the world making the Venezia Sweater. After posts on a couple of message boards and an email to Cascade, I have heard nothing. So I am continuing on with the sweater hoping that it will work itself out in the end.

I made some good progress on my socks this week. I am not a huge fan of Self-striping but I like these. Simple, mindless and cute!

is anybody out there?

Anyone else making the Venezia cardigan from the SnB calendar?

I finished the back last night but ended up with less stitches than the pattern states. I CO 70 and knit to decreases. The decreases say BO 3 sts at the end of the next 4 rows. Then decreases 1 sts at each end of every 4th row 6 times. 24 sts down right?

70-24=46. Ok. Then on last row. BO 15. Knit 22sts in pattern and place on holder. BO 15.

huh? 15+22+15= 52 Where did I go wrong? I have email Cascade about an errata. but for now I fudge it a bit and keeping my fingers crossed that the fronts will match up. It may be time to learn more about steeking.

Chips, Dips, Chains, WIPs

Ok, well I have the WIPs covered. My 2 latest projects. First up the Venezia Sweater from the SnB Calendar. Most of the patterns, I skip over but this one caught my eye. It is so quick that I have nearly finished the back in about 4 days.

My other mindless knitting project is the self-patterning socks. Not my favoritie but they are growing on me. With these, I am actually knitting the leg to the length I think I should have been all along. I always have half of my yarn leftover.

Learning to say no

Last weekend, it donned on me that it is ok to say no.

Example- I was invited to a baby shower for a 2nd cousin of my husband who I am never met. She is 18 and the invitation gave specifics on what to buy. The shower is from 7:pm-8:30pm on a Wed. night about 45 minutes from our house. I am choosing to say to no that.
Example- My uncle asked me to design a poster for tennis tournament. He gave me a week to get it done but offered a small amount of details about the event. While I did it this time, I am choosing to say no to any other requests like this in the future.

Call it being a bitch or being assertive but there are certain things I just don't have time for anymore. I am choosing to spend my time in ways that are meaningful and productive to me and my immediate family, not in ways that seem obligitory. No apologies here.

More Pitchin than stitchin

Good news! I got tickets to Stitch n Pitch here in Seattle on the 26th. They are even in the Diamond Club where it is all you can eat and drink and I heard the food is actually pretty good. Roast beef, buffet line, etc.

The bad news in all of this- I got them through one of our vendors and the she is hosting my husband and me. so no knitting will be taking place. I do hope to get there early and take a stroll through all the vendors. Maybe at least I will get some yarn out of the deal.

I realized I had a serious case of startitis a couple of weeks ago and have put my Chevron Scarf and tote bag on hold. They have both been voted Most-Likely-to-be-Frogged. I worked on my stockinette socks and Venezia sweater yesterday and Sunday and they are coming along.

Ready to Wear

Looks like these socks are ready for the summer weather. My first cotton socks.

Ribbed Lace from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Sock Candy in Velvet Moon
Needles: size 2 addis

depressed

I have not been feeling up to par lately. Work is insane and I am down my assistant so everything is up to me from labeling 500 postcards to designing 4 menus to making sure everything is ready for the company picnic next week. On top of all that, my health issue from the beginning of the year has popped up again. Add that to my back pain and hip bursitis and I feel like I am falling apart at 33. My hips feel better when I work out but my back kills so that is out and I have gained 10 lbs in the past 6 months. I have 2 doctor appts Monday and the combination of all this has made me feel completely stressed, worried, confused and helpless. I hate writing possts like these but I had to get it out somewhere.

Maybe a little knitting will make me feel better...

Shop it to me

What do you do when it is way too hot to knit? Shop, of course! I visited my LYS yesterday and picked up these great sock yarns.

A Swell Yarn Shop's Duets yarn in Chic Girl! I love this colorway. Now to learn toe-up and afterthought heels...

I also got some self-patterning yarn. I normally don't buy these but the colorway jumped out at me.

It should cool down a bit today so the knitting can begin once again.

Odd question

So last night, hubby and I got on the topic of bacon (don't ask) and were trying to think of the restaurant that uses circular shaped bacon on their burgers. We are totally stumped. I can see it on the burger but cannot remember the place. It is driving us crazy! Anyone know?

It is too damn hot here, at least for Seattle. 95 degrees is just too hot for knitting. I have gotten a few more rows done on my socks but other than that, my knitting has been put on ice.

It isn't too hot to shop though and there are a couple great book sales going one. Knitpicks has all their books at 40% off. Interweave press is selling are their "hurt books." I am off to spend some money and maybe get an iced tea.

New obsession

Ravelry is so great! I spent last night taking pictures of my stash and uploading those and my current/past projects to the site. There is so much to do there and I am sure it will keep me much more organized.

Here is the latest progress on the Ribbed Lace socks. I think it is a good fit for the yarn and cool cotton for the summer.

My Ravelry invite came!

Sorry my weekend is booked up now! Must go explore and upload my info...

Back in the Game

After 2 not-so-great SP experiences and taking some time off from swaps, I have signed up for Rut-Busting Sock Swap at the Knitty Boards. Every swap I have done through the boards has gone off without a hitch and this one is right up my alley. I am not is a huge rut as far as socks goo but I would like to try some of the other sock yarn/pattern options out there.

Rubber Band Ball of Yarn

My dying project from this weekend is dry and it was time to re-ball the yarn. I have a warping board for dyeing self-striping yarn but for some reason, I just cannot wind it right. Case in Point:



Yes, That is me with the yarn strung between two chairs. See that twist happening in the middle of the red section? That is the result for my poor self-striping skeining technique. I feel like I have to take 3 extra step to get to final outcome. First, I wind it into a ball:

From there, I either reskein it (using the chairs yet again) or take it to the ball winder:

There must be an easier way to do this! I like the outcome though it reminds me of a rubber band ball.

Surprise, Surprise

Every one seems to be making the Baby Surprise Jacket. With a new nephew on the way, I am inspired to knit one. Is it manly enough? Do I really spend time knitting something for someone who might not appreciate the handmadeness of it? I could always make one and donate it. The Opinionated Knitter is on my hold list at the library as we speak!

Movie Catch-up

It seems that for the past 2 weeks we have been catching up with the rest of the world, as far as movies go. Finally saw, Ocean's Eleven and Twelve. No really too impressive, in fact I fell asleep during Ocean's Twelve. This weekend we watched The Good Shepherd and Blood Diamonds. They were both great. Both Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio has impressed me in their last couple of movies. Blood Diamonds really puts a different perspective on the diamond industry. No more for me. Who knows what we will watch next? We have The Dead Girl, Little Children and The Good German all on Netflix.

All that movie watching made for good knitting time. I am nearly done with both the leg of the Ribbed Lace Socks and Pillow #2. Some yarn dying also occurred this weekend. It is drying now but pics to come.

Contest Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my contest. The winner is Kathleen at Quail Hill Knits! I will get the yarn out to you shortly.