Monday, November 17, 2008
Scarf: FAIL
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I Did. Did You?
Hey do you see the background peeking out from behind my sticker? That is my most recent creation the "You Don't Know Our Women Hat". which I have so boringly renamed my "Chunky Cables" hat. I love it!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Horses are People, Too.
Actually, Fun was a pretty good model, she wore it gracefully I thought. I think I have my answer to who is going to wear all of my knitting creations now. No bitching, she stood still, she didn't ask if the picture made her look fat or if purlpe was her color. How do you think she'll look in the February Lady Sweater?
I still have to sew on a button or two, but I am thrilled with the finished product. I have a big round melon head and have a hard time finding hats like this in stores that don't give me a headache. This one actually fits!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Crisis Averted
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
No Gas, No Knitting
The above photo was swiped from the New York Times. I was really tempted to take a similar photo yesterday, but was afraid my neighbors would think I had gone completely off my rocker. Hey, I am already the 28 year old that knits and owns lots of cats, I can't be taking weird pictures. The situation is bad, really bad. A friend of mine that lives nearby waited at the local gas station for 5 hours to get gas. The truck finally arrived and the station was out again just a few short hours later. On a somewhat entertaining note, people were actually having pizzas delivered to them while waiting in line. Now those are my kind of people! I once stopped to pan for gold while waiting on a tow truck. (true story, just ask Knit Pinkie)
So for now I am stuck at home with empty needles. A side effect of a newbie knitter with a tiny budding stash (crappy yarn), and a small number of needles. I swear when I get gas and can drive the 30 minutes to the nearest LYS or Wally World I am going to buy every size needle they carry. Red Heart is cheap enough, I am thinking of buying a whole bunch, storing it in a glass case and labeling it "break in case of emergency". I am bored people. No show on hulu.com, DVD, or book is going to cure it. I need my needles and yarn! I have A.D.D. and I can't sit still!
Things are getting desperate around here. At one point I was so desperate I tried finger knitting. My initial intention was to learn so I could teach my young niece who is having a bit of a hard time learning to knit. I though it might be fun for her. Now I have reached a state of delirium in which I finger knitted this ugly little scarf-like thing and tied it on the dog. The dog wasn't amused. For my dog's sake and the sake of my sanity, I hope this shortage ends soon, real soon.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Farewell My Fugly Friend
Friday, September 26, 2008
Desperate Times Call for Ugly Yarn
I'm not sure of the fate of my Two Weeknights with Warrick scarf, but it will be completed, that's for sure. I need something to occupy my hands while watching TV. I can either finish the scarf or take up smoking. Perhaps I could learn to whittle like Uncle Jed. Nah, I have already severed the end of my finger once, something I'd prefer not to repeat. I could definitely see myself repeating this pattern with a better yarn in the future. I feel a trip to the LYS coming on!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wild Stripes Revisited
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Lots to Talk About
Where to begin? Let's start with presents, after all my birthday was last week. Ol' Pinkie and I had planned a little knitting swap earlier this month. (it had nothing to do with my birthday, I swear) This was my plan to get myself a hanging kitchen towel without actually having to make it myself. In exchange I made a couple of easy to knit dog sweaters for the Pinkie Pooch. The package arrived on Thursday, and boy was I surprised when I opened the mailbox. Damn, I thought to myself, that is one big towel! You can imagine my excitement when I ripped open the package to find this:
I have been DYING for a needle case. I have searched high and low for one I really like, and just could not find one that caught my eye. The funny thing is that Pinkie blogged about it and I had a fit over the darn thing. I had no idea it was on it's way to me when I left her a comment a few days later! I must be getting old because damn I was excited. I love handmade gifts, they are the best kind! Oh and I can't forget my hanging towel. How cool is this?!
Photo stolen from Pinkie's Ravelry Project page.
And since I mentioned dishcloths, I am hooked on making the darn things. And I admit, just a short time ago I was griping about them and how you'd never catch me making any. I think the picture cloths are mostly to blame for that, I have found several pattern cloths I really like. Here are a few I made using the The Squidge Cloth pattern:
I even got conned into doing my first dishcloth swap! I am still too much of a newbs to try anything too creative. Actually, I'm all for trying it, it's the thought of sending it to a fellow knitter that scared the bejeebers out of me. So I wussed out and made a squidge cloth for my recipient. I really enjoyed doing the swap actually, after the initial panic went away. I was convinced that after agreeing to do the swap my right hand would shrivel and fall off for no apparent reason and I would be left unable to knit. I am not one to knit under pressure, or with a deadline, but this wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I am such an overanalyzer sometimes.
Here is the package I received in the swap. I big shout out to Hamle06 on Ravelry. The dishcloth is gorgeous, I love the color of the yarn you sent, and the soap smells wonderful. I will definitely be swapping again real soon.
Well I guess that's about it. I have a trip to the local fall festival today. I am hoping and praying that there will be yarn there, although I know the thought is a longshot. A girl can hope, can't she?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Shut Up, It's My Birthday*
I had errands to run, lots of errands (including the DDS for a new license), but who wants to do that, that's no fun? So I called my pal John and we met for lunch at Oodles. I try to limit my carbs (and eating out) but damn it, it's my birthday! Oodles was soooooo good. Did I mention I forgot to take a picture. Oops. Sorry John! Then it was off to the DDS, knitting intow, for what I thought would be a long afternoon of waiting, waiting, and more waiting.
Not sure who the "new guy" is that my sister-in-law was telling me about that was supposed to make great changes with the GA Dept. of Driver Services, but let me tell you, if I ever meet him, he's getting a big ole hug from me! I was in and out of there in less than 15 minutes!! With a much better photo than last time I might add. Sadly, my knitting didn't make a single appearance. Well sad for the knitting, not so sad for me.
Then it was off to Wally World to get my meds (did I mention I always get a cold on my birthday? It's allergy season, dontcha know), I managed to pick up lots of cotton yarn and some new needles while I was there. I failed also to take pics in Wally World because I was too busy yacking on my cell phone, something I never do in stores, but today, OH NO...I marched my happy ass around that entire store just yacking away on my bluetooth. People were staring, some thought I was talking to them, but who the hell cares, it's my birthday! (are you seeing a trend here?) I did resist the urge when the cashier said "have a nice day." to say "I will! It's my birthday!!" I am liking the new birthday me!
After a few more errands I had decided to spend the rest of my afternoon (that was originally penciled for the DDS) with my dear sweet Grandmother. I am exhausted from yelling, and my throat is scratchy, but it was a good visit. (dear Grandma can't hear unless you yell and refuses to wear hearing aids) Scored myself a nice balloon and some Jolly Ranchers, too. Mmmmm, Jolly Ranchers. The sister-in-law had the afternoon off, so we had a nice long visit.
So after becoming dehydrated from sweating (old people sure like it warm) and yelling, homeward bound was I. I had a splitting headache and was just ready to take a big old nap...but the nephew was there with the bro, ready for some go cart riding and a birthday dinner.
After one more lap, followed by one more lap, and "just one more lap Dad, just ONE more..." It was off to a quick dinner in the big crazy wild party town of Cleveland. I believe my pictures depict how wild and crazy it got.
Here's Gentry wearing her glasses:
Now here is Chad making goofy faces and wearing Gentry's Glasses:
Now here's me wearing Gentry's glasses (I warned you things got wild):
Now here is some of my posse right before we left. I actually think Gentry gets photo credit here. She took over the photographer job right after she arrived. Thank goodness, I felt like such a dork taking pictures for my own birthday.
Here the kids had a big plan to hide in the back of Chad's truck to hitch a ride to the Dairy Queen across the street for some ice cream:
All-in-all it was a good day. Whew, I'm exhausted. Having a birthday is a job in itself, go here, pay this, answer the phone constantly.....I think next year I will plant my ass on a tropical beach somewhere with no cell service and a pool boy that never let's my glass of whateverandtequila in a blender run out, and relax.
Now maybe tomorrow I can actually finish that dishcloth, if I'm not too exhausted from the festivities. I mean, c'mon, it was nearly 9:00 when we left Dairy Queen and I'm no longer a spring chicken you know. I'll leave you with my final pictures of the day. For some reason I thought it would be fun to take random bad photos. (or maybe I was just too tired to attempt decent ones) You know my day wouldn't be complete without a bed full of critters. Would you think any less of an aspiring veterinarian? C'mon. Looks like "the boys" are ready for bed, and the freaked look out has yet to leave Gidget's face.
I did manage to get a little work done on my Squidge Cloth dishcloth while I was at my Grandmother's house. It is Strawberries and Cream. Who knew I would like pink.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Me, Excessive?! Nooooooooo.
My plan was to make one for Gidget (see previous posts) and then move on to bigger and better things, but they are just so darn easy I couldn't help myself! I first decided to add the skull and crossbones since I have never attempted that before. Then I decided to make one for a friend, then another friend wanted one....and now I find myself in the land of dog sweaters. Sadly, the black skully is too big for Gidget (which means I'll want to make another one), and the others are gifts or swaps or whatever. The green ribbing on the needles is for my poochie, which will bring the count of sweaters for my own dog up to...(drum roll please)....ONE. Sad, isn't it? I should have it completed today (they go really fast) and then I plan on attempting cable knitting on one of these bad boys. (do people still say "bad boys" or am I just stuck in the 90's?) These things are sort of fun to make, as cheesy as that may sound. And I am proud of myself that I can sit down with my needles and yarn with no pattern and still whip one out perfectly. Which is a big accomplishment for this newbie!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Right Back At Ya
My pal Pinkie and I decided to do a little knitting and swapping. We're trading hints until the mail lady pays a visit.
UGGH! To Look or Not to Look.
I love getting presents, especially for no particular reason. Who doesn't!? I have been told she wrote about it on her blog, and to stay away if I don't want to spoil the surprise. I have no idea what colors she used or what pattern or anything, so the thought of seeing it is driving me nuts, but for now I will refrain. You see, my birthday is on Wednesday, and this is the first b-day in 10 (?) years I have celebrated without a significant other, so the dish rag, or towel, whichever it may be, is going to be my only surprise gift ....so I refrain. Of course now I'm sitting here dying to take a peek!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
It Was Only A Matter of Time
I have had this picture for over a week, but I figured it best to just go ahead and get it out of the way. This being a knitting blog, and me owning an undisclosed number of cats and all, you know it was bound to happen sooner or later. I thought it best to go ahead and post the mandatory "kitty pic on the knitting blog" photo so I could get back to my random rambling.
This is Butters, he is overweight, overstimulated, spoiled, and quite entertaining actually. He is also known as "Butter Bean", "Beanie Weenie", "Beans", "Beaner", and occasionally "Big Fat Beaner". If you ask me I raised one smart cat to keep up with all of his nicknames, especially with new ones being added weekly. I read somewhere once that owning a cat or dog can lower your bloodpressure. I am not only baffled as to how I can have HIGH blood pressure, but actually how my BP isn't too low to even register. I am a rescuer, believe it or not I have rehomed at least twice as many as I currently play slave to. No really, I have.
And in conclusion, I'd like to add one little comment: The cats have nothing to do with the knitting, and the knitting has nothing to do with the cats. I swear. Not once did the thought cross my mind of "I have cats, I must knit". Still not sure of the correlation between the two. If either (as in all two) of you that read my blog know the reason the two are grouped together, could you please enlighten me? If you want to know my opinion, they don't compliment each other at all. The cats bite the yarn, attack the yarn, feed the yarn through their teeth so it is all wet and spitty. (is spitty even a word?!) Then they proceed to get hair all over my finished knitted goodies. None of this entertains me in the least.
Well now that we have that out of the way...I return you to my regularly scheduled random, boring, knitting blog.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Well Butter My Butt and Call Me Biscuit
Sunday in the park at Concord Baptist. I totally forgot. It was a pleasant surprise, and I didn't even have to leave my porch, change out of my jammies, or put on shoes. Not too shabby.
I started (and finished) a camera sock for my dear old Kodak Easy Share. Who knew it was possible to become emotionally attached to a camera. Photos as soon as I borrow a camera to take a picture of my camera.
Dragon Ass. It Must Be Contagious.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The PTBNL....Revealed
Back when I first started knitting, I thumbed through every pattern book I could find, trying to decide what kind of patterns I'd like to take on. I'm a pretty practical gal, and at the time we were having to buy new dog sweaters every month or so. We had two growing puppies and it was wicked cold outside. A dog sweater! I kept finding myself checking out dog sweaters. Unfortunately, in my pre-Ravelry days, the only patterns I could find were crochet, or detailed knitted ones. Something I could not take on being a newbie knitter.
I learned to knit about a year ago, and knitted a bad scarf and the checkered baby blanket. Then came the great tomato tragedy of 2007. I sliced off the end of one of my fingers with a tomato slicer. Ok so there was nothing great or tragic about it, and after 8 months it has healed up nicely, but "tomato slicer incident" just didn't have the same ring to it. I still have limited feeling in the tip of my finger, but it no longer hurts or hinders my knitting. I guess technically you could say I have only been knitting for a few months, if you add my actual time with the needles together. But I digress, let's get back to the pink poochie sweater:
I sucked terribly in the beginning, and could never imagine myself actually being able to make a dog sweater. (or anything practical for that matter!) I guess you could say it has been my goal from the start to complete a dog sweater. It has been the one thing that has stuck in my head thinking that if I complete it, I can call myself a knitter.
I know it is silly, but I feel like today I tackled a big hurdle, and made it!
Now on to the pattern:
I found this insanely easy Talking Tails Easy Dog Sweater. Had I found this pattern last year I probably would have made it from the start. Thank you Ravelry! I used Caron Simply Soft in Watermelon, about half a skein. It was an extra I had purchased by accident for the Wild Stripes Blanket. I want to tackle it again at some point with a heavier weight yarn in a different color. One downfall of loving baby blankets, you end up with a lot of bright colors. I am really glad I found this pattern. It fits Gidget perfectly with no modifications, and it will be a good way to attempt cable knitting, knitting with colors, and following a pattern chart. Gidget is going to have a larger wardrobe than her owner by the time I'm done.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Back to the task at hand...
The bud, the brother, and the sister-in-law are off to TN, the puppies are all tucked in. The wind is blowing insanely hard outside, fall is in the air, and I am inside with my knitting bag, my laptop, some sorbet, and the Girls Next Door. Yes that is right, Holly, Bridget, Kendra, and Hef. What can I say? It is my one guilty pleasure. But poor TV aside I am hoping to have the PTBNL completed tomorrow. I am so excited to complete the PTBNL. It will be a big milestone for this newbie knitter. It's actually something useful and wearable! I can't wait! I also think Holly, Bridget, and Kendra would approve of my current project.
Well I am off to enjoy the solitude: Me, my faithful superhero sidekick Gidget, my sorbet, and my knitting. I hope to have good news to report soon!