In April I...

Got quite a bit done on my sweater.

Saw the world's smallest Rhododendron.

Tested all of my camping gear (well, not the tent) in the living room.

Had my very best friend over for the weekend.

And conquered a mountain.

Well, and met a really cute, nice boy, but he hasn't been around quite long enough to be snapping pictures and putting them on the internet. I like him! I don't want to scare him away! Although when it's done I'll post a picture of the soapstone pendant he carved for me. It's beautiful and such a surprise!!

For Xstitcher

I guess my grandma was telling my cousin, x-stitcher, about my projects from when I was in CA. I don't know that I properly posted them before...
Anyway, Rachel, here are some things I've done, but haven't posted!
Hedgie

Socks that I finished... uh... in June :)

And their fancy stitch pattern

Socks I finished while I was at Grandma's house

Nice lace stitches & eye-of-partridge heel

I think there are others, but this is what I've got pictures of at the moment. More of the sweater will come soon, too!

It doesn't get any better

That's right, the best smell in the world is:
wet grass & pine trees
Mornings at work make me want to quit for the summer and work at camp again. It makes me so happy I could almost cry!

Being a left handed knitter is a challenge when making a cardigan. For me the left front is actually the right and vice versa. I'd really like for it to button properly, but the directions just say to space the buttonholes evenly. It recommends that you mark on the left front where you'll put the buttons then make buttonholes at those marks on the right front. Well, if I'm actually knitting the right front then I need to use my math brain to calculate where the buttonholes belong.
Do you know when I realized this?
After I'd already had 2 glasses of wine.
Fortunately 2 glasses of wine is not enough for me to make rash decisions. So I did the only thing that makes any sense when you can't knit because you've had too much wine, but you've still got enough sense left to realize that attempting to knit is a bad idea.
I had a third glass of wine.

Bunnies!

Is it spring yet?

I went to town on the sweater, but it still won't be done in time for the show.
So I've started this
It's a cable tube that will get closed up at the bottom, a lining and handles. It's based on the Chinese Charm Bag from S'n'B, but I'm using the cable pattern from the sweater. I am really liking it and I think I'll put it up for sale and see if anybody else likes it :)

I skied last weekend at Mt. Baker w/ Caitlin. I demoed Salomon Guns. They were fun times and completely changed my outlook on twin tips! I'm 90% sure I'll be buying some this summer. Just have to get something a little more girly than dark blue and gray w/ skulls and ravens... and hey! when I've got that option, I need to take advantage!

Then we went to the North Fork Beer Shrine on the way home

and found this!
I present the long lost Blues Sister, Caitlin.

Take 2

I realized after I got through 1 repeat of the cables on the back that I had a small math error in calculating gauge. I knew it looked too tight, but it took me about 24 hours to rationalize what happened.

Ah, now we are onto take 2 and it's not going faster, but it's looking much better! I love how it's working up, but I don't think it's going to be done in time for the show :( So for the show I'm thinking of whipping up the fat bottom bag from S'n'B Happy Hooker.

This is what has happened to my coffee table (... trunk). I suspect it will only get worse since Ross still had a couple of sweaters when I was there over the weekend and I will probably buy at least one more. You know, just in case.

Cabled Cardigan

I got it all figured out! The brown yarn from yesterday will become the Cabled Cardigan* from Spring 2007 Knit.1. Generally I didn't love the patterns in that issue and I bought it for the skirt pattern that after reading didn't like anyway. (You knit a tube and then sew ruffles onto it. I wanted to knit the ruffles, but didn't really feel like figuring all of that out) However, it's got a really cute cable, hooded cardi in it! And I've been looking for a good aran style sweater for a long time. And what better way to do it? 2 weeks anyone? Think I can do it? It will be a stretch for sure. The yarn isn't even dry yet. Yikes! I've got it in front of the heater, though, so hopefully I'll be able to get started tonight.
Oh, I looked at the MRSP on the original tag and it didn't say $58.00, it says $188.00!!!!!! I just tore up a nearly TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR sweater!! And it was brand new! The $58.00 tag was the "compare at" price on the Ross tag. I almost feel badly... but really what it means is I got a friggin' screamin' deal! Now I just need to re-knit it into a beautiful sweater.

*Sorry the link is from Ravelry... if you're not on there, I don't think you can see it. It was the only picture of the particular pattern I could find.

Recycled Art Show

In case you don't know, in April at Sleeping Lady we put on the Recycled Art Show. Last year I made capris and a ruffly blouse from bed sheets. That was fun, but I couldn't do it again (although I've still got enough left of those sheets!) and I couldn't find a round table cloth w/ boarder design to make a circle skirt with. I figured I could get an old sweater at the GW to unravel, but spring isn't the time to raid it for heavy sweaters. Darn. Then I found myself at Ross... ok, I'm at Ross all the time looking for bargains on things I probably don't need. And when I was at Ross this time I saw this horrific sweater, BUT it's made of 60% wool, 22% silk, 11% alpaca, and 7% cashmere. How could I not buy that??? Especially at the low low price of $6.99!

Score! It feels delicious and is a good color - brown tweed w/ specks of all different colors.
I'd really like to knit it into a sweater, but I'm not sure I've got time for a whole sweater - only about 2 weeks. Hm.
Anyway I didn't take a picture of it before tearing it apart. I looked around online for one, but it must have been a really unpopular style cause I can't find any. It's designer too (oops?!) - Buffalo by David Bitton and retailed for $58 anywhere other than Ross...

As soon as it's dry I'll start knitting and see what kind of gauge I get. I'm assuming it's around worsted or heavy worsted weight... I haven't quite mastered what that means in the gauge world, but I'm thinking I'll try #9 needles. Though I've probably got a little while to figure it out since I don't expect it to dry immediately.

Catch Up in a Big Way

I had a lot of fun in CA visiting family and going to Stitches. I managed to navigate San Jose's light rail system. As long as you're in the area where it operates it is fantastic, but I heard rumors that it's not all that great if you're away from the lines. Once I figured that out I rode BART, SF buses, and in a taxi. Got all the public transportation I could for one trip.
I visited my cousin in SF and we experienced as much of it as we could in the little time that I was there. This link should take you to Flickr and you can see CA pictures there.
I promised pictures of Stitches purchases, so here they are!
back left - Creative sock yarn "Luxury"
back right - Blue Moon sock yarn "Silkie" (Fairgrounds colorway)
front - Valley Yarns worsted "Colrain" from Webbs and got it for Snow White, but might make Yosemite instead since I'm pretty sure I can't live without it! Would Yosemite work in bright blue? It might have to...

And here is a completed Stitches kit. Purchased at Bella Knitting's booth. I almost died when I saw it - knew exactly where it was going and needed it IMMEDIATELY! Case in point why it's already done.

The argyle booties are done, too. And they are adorable! Thanks to mom for the pattern, even though I don't really like how it all goes together. I would make more booties, but I'd rather not have to crochet the bottom on.

Oh, and here is something that Grandma found while wandering the market... I must have been drooling over something because I didn't even noticed the free mini skeins of Malabrigo! I have no idea where she found them! Crazy, too, because I drool over Malabrigo possibly more than Blue Moon.

I also finally completed the quilt for Kikkan (pronounced Keekan), my fomer boss's new baby. It turned out great and she loved it! Well, actually she was screaming, but mom loved it!

I think this brings us up to date on my knitting life. Still nothing on the new place because it's too messy for pictures (STILL). I'm getting sick of it, but clearly not sick enough to do anything about it. Although I've started losing things due to constantly picking things up and setting them down someplace else (no not where they belong)... maybe that will motivate me to finish organizing soon. Incidentally, does anyone know where I could find an adjustable height coffee table - i.e. one that I could turn into a dining table? There is an antique style called Castro tables, but I've never actually seen one. My internet searching has turned up several articles on such a creature, but no insight as to where I could actually buy one.

Arrrrrrrgyle

TheGood::TheBad::TheUgly
Argyle is so pretty!

There will be crazy ends to weave in

Knitting it on the bus is NOT a good idea!

It's like pirates take over my knitting on the bus! And have I untangled it? Ha! That will take wine and I have no wine. Ice cream will have to suffice... call if I don't make it to work tomorrow.

I'm coming back, I swear!

Pictures of Stitches purchases and the sweet new apartment will be here someday... I hope sooner than later. Please hold for a time when Diana's back to normal. Thank you!

Mr Rogers

I found this on Suzanne's blog.

I loved Mr. Rogers! Wear your sweater.

Later I will discuss my purchases at Stitches. Don't get too excited. I didn't really buy much. I did love it though!

2 to Go?

What happened to my Milky Way? All I wanted was a king size candy bar and I ended up with 2 little ones! Apparently Mars thinks they're being clever with their new... creation, but Name Wire's got it right when they acknowledge it actually makes the thing harder to eat!
Yup. I'm ranting about candy. I wish it hadn't changed; it tasted good nonetheless! And I doubt new packaging will stop me from eating them.

More startitis

I had startitis again this weekend. I took Friday morning off and thought I'd use that time to at least work on some existing project... HA! Not a chance. I started baby booties for a good friend's soon-to-be new addition, Eva Lorraine. Yes, Eva is a girl and I made her green booties! I know Mom likes green and I'm sure Dad will appreciate not having an entirely pink and purple wardrobe. Nevermind that I didn't have any pink yarn anyway! Now I know I can do argyle and it's so fun!
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Colors: Aquamarine, Grass, Butter
Needles: Susan Bates Silverado US #3
Pattern: my mom cut it out of what appears to be Good Housekeeping from the 70's or 80s

Friday afternoon I taught a class in knitting my version of the Unoriginal Hat! I thought for sure it would be easy and these ladies would be off and running on the cables after an hour and they wouldn't need to come back... Was I ever wrong? I started with the circular cast on (see last Lighter Circular Beginning) and thought they'd pick it up like I did... they didn't, it was pretty challenging, took at least 30 minutes and required a break in the middle. Then we got going a little and since 2 of them hadn't worked on dpns before (only worked in the round using the whole length of 1 circ) they couldn't believe that the strange looking mess they had in front of them would ever turn out like the sample in the window. After 2 hours of tedious slow knitting, comforting, and reassuring that mine started out just as messy looking they all left smiling. Good thing I scheduled 2-two hour sessions! All in all I had fun teaching and I think they enjoyed learning new things, albeit more new things than they expected to. The biggest challenge for me as a teacher is being left handed. It's really difficult to show someone how to do something when the way you do it is completely backwards. Hopefully I will be able to teach this class again in the fall (I'd do it sooner, but who wants a wool hat in June anyway?). And I also might get to teach an argyle sock class. After smoking through that baby bootee in a matter of hours, I think I can handle a class on it! (We'll ignore for now that it has 40,000 ends to weave in... and that it needs to be a matched pair)

Moving on

I'm moving into a new apartment! It's adorable and old. Here's a picture of the bathroom, yup it's that tiny! I'm really excited!!!
Knitting? Yes, see.
Finished one of the Brambly Hedge socks. But now I've got yarn for 2 more pairs of socks.



I also made 2 more hats for my ski TAs. They've been really helpful this season and I want to tell them I think they're awesome!

Enough Already!

Ok, maybe not! Here's the hat made from Manos for the shop.

I may have even ordered some more from Blue Moon to make more. I decided my amazing ski TA's need a little gift for their awesomeness... what better gift than a warm ski hat. Really, I ask you, what? Ok, maybe stew. I digress.
I know it's getting disgusting, this, um, habit. There, I've said it. I'm a habitual unoriginal hat knitter. Oh, that makes it sound even worse!!
Nevermind. Look at other knitting. This will make me feel better.
I did tell you to stay tuned for my mom's mad skillz? BEHOLD.

It's no wonder I'm a crazy sock knitter (well, not lately) Later I'll have to show off the vintage patterns where there babies came from.
No progress on Winterberries, but this is better lighting, so you can see the color. And if you click on it, you should be able to see stitch definition and every groove in my thumb nail.

Finally here's what needs to get off my needles and out of my sight! I forgot that I loath knitting scarves, no matter how interesting or beautiful. I think this one is both, but I'm still sick of it!

Another Unoriginal Hat

Look! One for me. It's a bit tight, but still cute!

I am going to knit another out of Manos Del Uruguay. It will either be a sample for the shop or I'll teach a class. A cable class, really. The owners had the idea and thought a cable class taught by a "young person" would be fun. I agree :)

I made stew today in my new crock pot. LOVE IT. I love stew and now I can make it while I'm working. What could be better? You're right, nothing!
Oh, no.
There is 1 thing: eating stew while drinking Boones Farm, knitting, and watching girly movies with my hermit!

Post Christmas

You'll never believe it. I'm knitting socks! I knitted up the green/black tofutsies using Cat Bordhi's Riverbend architecture. They turned out well, but a tiny bit big for me so I gave them to my SIL. I hope she likes them :)

Right now I've got these on the needles and I will be seriously annoyed if I manage to knit them too big for myself too!

They are tofutsies December yarn (called Winterberry); I am in love with the color, but the pattern had bobbles all over that I didn't really want to knit and they wouldn't work well inside my snow boots anyway. I might use it later, though as it is a really cute pattern. Instead I picked traveling vines since it's an 8-stitch repeat and fits perfectly around my leg.

Tonight instead of going out with friends I made chicken tetrezzini (sp?) from my new "Philadelphia Cream Cheese Classic Recipes" Cookbook. It was delicious and I'd be happy to make it again! I think in the future I'd add extra veggies as I don't do onions and forgot the mushrooms, so all it had was celery... still awesome, though!
After the chicken I baked some cookies! I also received the "Capitol Cookies" recipe leaflet, so baked the Washington cookies. They have chocolate and marshmallows. Yum!

But not all of them turned out so well...

Oops! ah well. More for me :)

Happy New Year!!

P.S. My cousin LOVED the purse & hat! She said she changed purses as soon as she opened it! Yay. Also, my mom and I stumped everyone with our gifts to relatives! No one could figure the purse out (didn't know about felting, he he!). Mom made a scarf by sewing yarn to wash-away stabilizer and then washing the stabilizer out. Go us; now we might have to keep it up... must plan for next Christmas now...

Again the month changes without me!

Well, now November has ended without me sort of like October did...

Christmas knitting! I redid that squatty sidekick and now it's so much better! It's a useful size and I like it! It's going with the Yarn Harlot's unoriginal hat to my cousin Jenna.

I also found BOW RIBBON!!! AND it's not the velvet kind it's just plain red 2" wide ribbon! My grandma is "the Bow Lady" in Almaden (San Jose, CA) so I feel like I need to hang on to the tradition. She puts bows up on every telephone pole on her street before Christmas, I think it really gets the neighbors in the spirit :) Awww, Grandma! The only bad news about the ribbon is that I found it at the Goodwill since it doesn't seem to exist any more...

And since I know you all want to see it, here is the tree!


P.S. Robin, Shelley, and I made gingerbread houses... mine is minimally decorated, Robin gloated about how wonderful her kit was, then she accidentally smashed it, and Shelley's spontaneously caved in so she stacked up a bunch of graham crackers and decorated it anyway! Fun times - note the empty beer bottles...

Pay it Forward Exchange

I found this cool idea on knitnana's blog. The idea is that you make a comment to this entry and I will select someone at random to send a gift to! If you've got a blog, then leave the address so I can make an educated guess as to what you would like, if not, then you'll get some thing totally random!

How it will work:
1. Make a comment to this blog entry by next Wednesday (December 5th)
2. Give me some way to contact you (blog or e-mail)
3. I will select someone at random
4. I will contact the winner and send them a fun gift*
5. I will send said gift ideally that day, but I have been notorious lately for sending things in an untimely fashion... The winner should expect it to be shipped before the end of the year
*If you're not a knitter, you are as welcome to participate as knitters and I promise not to send you yarn or needles :)

The catch: you must agree to pay it forward on your blog to keep this going. I suppose if you don't have a blog, I recommend you do this with friends! We all know there is no free lunch, but this is pretty close! Fun times!

Startitis Weekend

I don't remember having startitis quite so bad in the past. This weekend took the cake for any other time I've been like this!
The 2nd Endpaper Mitt is driving me crazy because it won't knit itself. Current Progress: I just started the thumb shaping, so it's about 1/2 done - maybe 4-5 more hours of knitting?

Yesterday Fiber Trends had a warehouse retail sale. SWEET! Fiber Trends. Largest pattern distributor in the US. Based in EAST-freakin-WENATCHEE. Mere BLOCKS from my own house?! Who knew "local" would ever be that local?? For those of you that love fiber trends, but don't live in the valley... You missed out! As patrons of local yarn shops (all 3 of them) we were given an entry ticket and then free to buy up loads of items at discounted prices. Here are my winnings:
1. 2 skeins of Naturally Tussock 14ply in red to remake the Squatty Sidekick because after I got it good and felted, now it's too small...
2. 1 skein of Haven in lavender to make the cable hat from this pattern
3. I built my own Huggable Hedgehog Kit, but God forbid I make it look "natural," so I chose these colors:
It's not a tremendous lot of damage, but I still didn't need any of it!

Continuing on, since it was startitis weekend, I present these:
It's difficult to see the definition (could have something to do with then being still wet). They are the coriolis & sky arch practice socks from Cat Bordhi's crazy sock book. I think I might use my rock-toe-ber tofutsies in one of these patterns instead of the cable pattern that came with the yarn.

Friday I went and had my hair done, it's got red in it and I love that!


Then I found this:
I completely forgot about it! I knit it last winter because we were selling one just like it in the gift shop and I couldn't live without it. It's basket weave with a huge pom pom on top :)