Happy Knitting New Year!!!

I am not a drinker, I do not stay up/out late, and other than dancing around a yarn shop with glee I have hung up my boogie shoes. All that being said, this is shaping up to be a joyous New Year's Eve. My hubby and I are home together with a warm fire, my house is clean, and the laundry is done. I am probably one hour's worth of work away from finishing the second modular sock.

Thanks to some kind encouragement from FKD and my mom, I have finished a difficult project. I found a friend who loved this colorway, and I knit them to her size. This will be my final project for 2006.

They were knit with Koigu yarn, and the pattern is called Diamond Patch Socks from Heartland Knits.

Surprisingly enough, my next project will also be a modular project, and hopefully a quick one too. No one is more surprised than I am, believe me... As a hint, it appeared in the holiday edition of Interweave Knits 2006. For fear that some of the recipients may read this, I will post the picture once they are ready to be presented to their intended recipients.

Santa Claus gave me a gift certicate to the LYS this year for Christmas, and I got a swift, two hanks of Koigu, and a ball of Inspiration. I don't know that I set out to get a swift, but my mother snatched one up, and gave me an acute case of swift envy. Since there was only one left, I snatched it up, whipped out my gift card, and danced around the counter with joy!













My mother is on the right, and my grandmother is on the left.

Now I ask you, is this the face of someone who could inspire swift envy? You betcha, baby! She is also the one who taught me to knit and finish my projects - I don't which lesson was tougher...




This is what Santa Claus brought me from the LYS this year, and I must have been good...














I turned 40 this December, and my life is far from perfect, but I have made peace with my inner demons. In doing so, I have decided to count my blessings and just be...

Happy Knitting and New Year's to all!

The Frog Poncho Lives!

I have decided to continue on with the aforementioned wretched sock, and its mate as well - much to my own chagrin, because one of the most accomplished knitters in Blogland mentioned it would be a great gift to an adventurous sock wearer. I have just that sort of person in mind, and she has exclaimed undying love for the colorway. It will be my pleasure to give them to her as a gift for Christmas. I would rather she had mentioned that to me two weeks ago when I stopped working on the wretched thing, and then I would have had purpose. Like all knitters, things for myself can wait - things that are a gift require knitting at breakneck speed!

Besides, encouragement like that from FKD is akin to a papal blessing on your knitting.

Off to the frog poncho!

I Hate That Damn Sock!!!

PROBLEM #1: The sock has little to no stretch as it was knit on size 0 needles. My feet and ankles are wide, and this will never fit comfortably, and I do not like tight socks!

PROBLEM #2: According to the teacher in the class for the modular sock, "Gauge doesn't really work on this project. Just cast and on follow the instructions." I must tell you, GAUGE MATTERS!!! Also, said knitting teacher has very narrow feet and small ankles. Note to self - remember to hate her.

PROBLEM #3: For all the hooplah about how great and glorious Koigu is, I would like to officially say it's not such big whoop. I much prefer Cherry Tree Hill for the sheen and twist in the yarn. Some people think the two yarns are nearly twins. To them I say - NOT SO MUCH...

CONCLUSION:

I hate that damn sock. I am not going to finish the pair. I am going to attempt to return to the two unused skeins of Koigu, and count the one skein I knitted with as a total loss. I am at the point where I am to pick up stitches and add the heel, as well as evening out the points at the toe, and then of course pick up stitches there and add the toe. I see no point to wasting knitting time on a project that I won't/can't wear. Even if this hateful thing did fit, I like socks that stretch, not a modular prison for me feet.

To add insult to injury, I can't even frog the sock as each modular piece was knit individually by picking up stitches, and then cut. I have included a photo so that all may embrace the horror. Even my DMS told me the sock "is the ugliest thing she has ever seen, and it looks like a frog poncho". I have never seen a frog with a poncho, but to that I say, let the frogs have it then...

I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham, Alas I Might Be Sam I am...

As you might have guessed, I am not always the one in the crowd beating the drum for new things. I like things in my world, including my knitting, to be the way I know them. Change is for the wicked... The "comfort zone" is a big deal to me, and tonight I jumped out of the comfort zone with both feet because I do want to learn new things about knitting. This was the first knitting class for the modular socks. I think in reality they are called diamond patch socks. They are from a company called Heartland Knits. This was a hard class, and I have knit several pair of socks before. I am sore from my shoulders to my knees after knitting those little mitred squares of hate.






Being the person I am, I like to get to class early so I may select my seat, and not just sit anywhere that is left. I have all of my requisite items neatly on the table in front of me, and something to take notes with. However, I am never blessed with the people that slide sideways into the seat beside me being quite as prepared. They want to come in late, loud, and appear to have little or no knowledge of knitting. This was supposed to be an advanced knitting class, and I was afraid I would slow the class down as I am not an advanced knitter, but I could complete all the "you should know how to do this prior to taking this class" tasks, so I signed up. Most of the other gals were nice, but I always get the joy of sitting by the loud gals that don't get much done - except being loud. I am all for having a good time, and my agenda does not have to be theirs, but if their constant chatter is keeping me from hearing or concentrating, I should be able to poke them with a knitting needle. One of theirs preferrably, I am knitting with mine!

I am really not a grouch, I like to visit and laugh, but can some people have to take over the whole class with totally non-knitting projects, or at least not the one we have all paid to learn.

Now that I have gotten a good whine in, back to knitting. I am knitting the modular socks out of Koigu. Once I have significant progress, I will post the Koigu in all of its modular glory.

I Have Been Hit by the Meme Fairy...

48 THINGS YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ME...

1. FIRST NAME? Terri

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. I was named for myself.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Saturday, 10/07/2006.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It is pretty, but sometimes hard to read.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Pastrami or a tangy salami.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes. I am a kind person.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? God no! I can barely keep up with my blog.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I did it in my 20s. I hated it, and have no interest in repeating the event.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Thick, hot oatmeal with real butter and chunky peanut butter.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not so much.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, I am strong in many ways.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Anything that is mostly chocolate, and more chocolate. Did I mention chocolate?

14. SHOE SIZE? Nine.

15. RED OR PINK? Red!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My self-doubt.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My dad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? It’s up to them.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans, black sweatshirt with a Halloween pumpkin, and brown Merrell clogs.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Sugar-free ice pop.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The sound of the keyboard.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Cerise.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Lilac.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My husband.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their eyes, and if they have a nice smile.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? I have never met her, but I am sure I would like her. She is kind, smart, and funny.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? After surgery, I can’t have it any more, but Diet Coke has been my undisputed favorite for years. Other than that, I don’t embibe.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Knitting. It is so a sport!

29. EYE COLOR? When I was younger, it was dark brown, and now it falls somewhere between chestnut brown and hazel.

30. HAT SIZE? I don’t have a clue. I am so not a hat person.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I tried, but they are too fussy for me.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza with lots of meat, mushrooms, black olives, and artichokes.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary as long as it isn’t too gory.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? I don’t care for either one. I love fall, and it is the payoff for summer, and the price for winter. Spring is a distant second.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate mouse with marascino cherries and whipped cream.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Maybe nobody.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not a clue.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Nothing.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Charmed on DVD.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The ocean, crashing thunder, and driving rain.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? The Stones all the way!

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Geographically, Canada. In my heart, Las Vegas.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I have an excellent memory.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Kansas City, Missouri.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Stolen from La Cabeza Grande, aka Karen.

Thank God I am a Better Knitter than Photographer...

I finished knitting the baby hat and sweater for my friend before surgery, but I didn't sew the buttons on until the weekend after. When selecting the buttons, I had to keep telling myself - THIS SWEATER AND HAT IS FOR A BOY, as my inclination is to get buttons that are too cutesy for boys... Long story short, I settled on simple, pearlized white, heart-shaped buttons that are gender neutral. The buttons on the hat are cute, but they really are to keep the slick yarn from unrolling and falling in the baby's eyes.


I am making progress on the BIG cardigan, and I am still cursing the pattern writer every time I get a chance...

The piece on the left is the sweater back, and the piece on the right is the left front. See, I told you I was a better knitter than photographer... This yarn is not as bright as the flash makes it seem. It is more of a brick red color, but you can see the slipped stitch design.


Today, I have my one week postop visit and get my 15 staples and one stitch out. Not to worry, there will be no posted pics of the incisions with staples. Thank you to all who expressed your kind concern before my surgery. I am on the mend.

Baby Sweater and Hat for a Friend

I have become such a slacker in respect to my blog.

This is not an excuse, but I have had a lot on my mind lately. I am getting ready to have weight loss surgery, and there are many hurdles to jump through before THE BIG DAY. I have have had a roller coaster emotion ride that ranges from neuroticism to elation. Some of my family and friends have been so helpful and kind about my decision, but unfortunately, not all of my friends and/or acquaintances are even nice about my having the surgery. I have wondered many times if the nay sayers are genuinely concerned about me, or if they are experiencing insecurity about their own weight issues? Either way, I cannot worry about that, and God knows I have tried.

I am still working on the cardigan mentioned in the last entry (the brick red cardigan for DH). I have interspersed a project or two as it is such a big project. The pattern is by Mari, and I do not care for her pattern writing style one little bit. I have spoken to the designer once on the phone, and I don't plan to use any more of her work - I will be lucky to finish this monstrosity! She doesn't know me, and I don't know her, but I found her to be curt and arrogant.



On a happier front, I have almost completed a little short project. To the right you see the baby in the yellow sweater and hat - I am knitting this in baby blue as it is for a boy. A friend at work is expecting, and she is due in January. I wanted to finish the project I am making for her baby before my surgery (10/02/2006), and I can see the finish line from here. The sweater is made, but needs some blocking, as well as the buttons. I have a good start on the hat, and it will be finished within a day or two. The pattern I am using is from Plymouth, and it was super easy to follow. I saw this sweater made up in my LYS, and it was made out of the Plymouth yarn called Oh My! Of course, I thought mine had to be made out of Oh My! too... The knitted fabric looks like a well-worn bathrobe, but has the coolest, silkiest, and most snuggly texture you could imagine. Oh My! feels great, but unravels easily, and snags if you breathe on it. I love the way it feels, but I probably will not use it again.

I am already dreading going back to work on that big sweater for DH. The back is finished, and I am not looking forward to the rest. I may have to knit a pair of socks before I jump back into that sweater.

Once the baby sweater and hat are blocked and ready for presentation, I will post an actual picture of my work.

My Old Friend, Knitting...

It's been longer than ever since my last post. I have been working through some personal struggles, and figuring some things out... Lately, my best buddy has been my knitting. It is never too busy, always has time, and I always feel better after I have spent some time with yarn running through my fingers.

Even when friends, family, and husband are too busy or too indifferent to care or listen, the knitting always makes time... In fact, I have made my best decisions and cleared the highest mental hurtles with knitting needles in hand... My old friend, knitting, is to thank.


Here is my latest project. It is a pattern by Mari, and the LYS ordered it for me. This picture of course is the pattern advertisement. This will be a gift for DH, and he picked the pattern and color. I am knitting it with Cascade 220. It isn't as luxurious as I would have liked, but Cascade seemed to fit the bill.







Drum roll please... Here is my progress so far on the back.

And the close up version for detail. The flash made it look much brighter than it is. The picture above is much more true to exact color.

Since my last post, I have visited Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri. It is one of the lovliest placed in the entire Midwest. The landscaping is gorgeous, and the buildings look like something from a Thomas Kinkaid painting.

This really does not do the gardens and building justice, but it was just beautiful.

I have never really been a big fan of going to the lake, but this resort could easily change all of that...

The lake you see in the distance is Tablerock Lake, not exactly the Lake of the Ozarks, but still a great place to visit.

I could so easily be a pool rat, but that eating and living in doors thing gets me every time!

Last, but definitely not least, a picture of my two nieces. The little girl with the sundress on is the youngest niece, Lucy. She was already dressed for bed, so DMS just slipped the dress on over the jammies. Behold the success... Also, this was the night I delivered the birthday present to her older sister, Braydee. I got her a knitting machine for children, which I have not had time to help her with yet (sorry Braydee), and DMS refers to that device as a "HORRID LITTLE MACHINE". DMS doesn't knit (yet), and Braydee is very interested in learning - that's Aunt Terri's girl!!! To be fair, DMS jumped in and untangled hours worth of knots in the yarn, and really tried to make it work for the kid, and now it lives in the box until I go up and help with the process.




To everyone I owe comments to, sorry to be so slow in getting back. I am out of the funk, and back in Blogland. Happy knitting!

The Big HAIRY Truth about My Knitting Projects...

I used to wonder how my knitting projects would end up decorated with cat hair after I would carefully remove every bit of hair whenever I found it, and then placed the work in progress in a plastic bag inside the knitting bag itself. I have come to know that mischief is afoot, to be more precise mischief has four feet, a tail, and a little bandit's mask. I caught her in mid oogie on my current project.



The second that she realized she was busted, she started playing possum as if to say, "Don't wake the sleeping kitty...". Either that, or she just just decided we weren't going to continue this charade of "how did cat hair get on this" any longer...














The project that Natty is currently coveting is just a very simple pair of cotton/chenille washclothes for a friend. Everytime I have a friend that goes into the hospital, I knit a pair of washcloths in his or her favorite color, so that they don't have to wash their hands and faces with scratchy hospital wash cloths that smell like bleach. This particular set is made of Crystal Palace cotton/chenile, and all of the cloths I knit have a heart on them somewhere, or are actually in a heart shape for the friendship we share.. I don't think the camera let the detail of the heart show through, but it was nothing more than purl stitches worked into the design.














If anyone is as nosy/curious as I am, I wonder where everyone else in Blogland gets their blog on, and if that is a multipurspose space. That being said, why not post a picture of your blog space and what its uses are...

I work at home three days a week, so I transcribe at my desk, as well as knit, watch TV, eat my lunches, and of course blog - and here is a picture of that hard working space.

Take a peek at the little dress...

I finished the little dress for my niece, and it really came out cute. This is a class I took to learn intarsia, and it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't want to put intarsia on everything, but at least I know I can do it - hurrah! The edges are all embellished with that dastardly crochet. It looks okay, but I only know enough about crochet to fake it, and I had to fake double crochet and scallops this time. I really liked the yarn, Inspiration by Cascade, and I may even make another little dress like this in red with scotty dogs in the band portion, but I will have to wait and see. I have other projects to tend to first.

Here is an attempt at a close up of the tulips in the intarsia band.

Sassy pants likes to admire herself online, and here is Natty doing just that...

Intarsia and finished socks...

Before I go into the new project, here is the pair of socks I knitted for a friend at work. The yarn is Sockotta by Plymouth, and I think she was really happy with them. The self-patterning yarn came out just great, and I may even make a pair for myself, but not right now as I am "backlogged". A term I learned from DM.







The new project I am working on is for the new niece, and it is made with Cascade Fixation. If feels great, but it takes some getting used to as far as the knitting goes. It is a little bit like a bungee cord, and it has got a whole bunch of bounce.

This is the hem of a little dress that can be worn as a sundress, or have a blouse underneath. The intarsia parts are going to be some very simple tulips, and there will be 19 of them. Please forgive the photography as I am still a little new at that. Speaking of new, this is my first attempt at intarsia, and it is a little slow going, but not too bad.

Speaking of bad, I think I have a volunteer to try on the dress, or at least help with the knitting.

Peachy Keen Jelly Bean...

This is the start of a pair of socks for a friend at work. I have never knit with Sockotta before as I am fairly new to the love of sock knitting, but I am gaining ground every day. This yarn is part cotton, part wool, and just a teeny bit nylon - my guess is for durability and bounce.



When I look at this self-patterning yarn, it looks just like jelly beans to me, and it almost has kind of a happy look because the colors are really bright and fun. This is going to be a pair of cuffed anklets. The ribbing looks great, and I have Debi at FKD to thank for that. She suggested a 2x2 rib as opposed to the 1x1 rib that I used on the Cherry Tree Hill socks. The 2x2 really lends itself to the look of a folded cuff .


Supervisor Natty has just made an appearance in the room, and has reminded me in her unmistakable Siamese voice that she was promised credit for her work, and she intends to have it! Natty is my constant buddy. I work at home 3/5 days a week, and she is also a seasoned expert in medical transcription. Natty turned ten this winter, and she is still as frisky as when she was a kitten. I am undoubtedly a good playmate, but playmate is all - her heart belongs to another. She really likes me, does all the knitting, transcribing, and housework stuff with me, but she lives for my husband. I am not really jealous (not much anyway), just amazed. Hubby doesn't even have anything good for Natty to knit or play with, he isn't home with her all day, and I do most of the caretaking of her - and yet she loves only Mike. Okay, I admit it. This is an affront to my very being, petty as it is...



As you can see, Miss Natty takes her supervisory duties very seriously. I turned around for just a second and found her inspecting the progress of the new sock. Natty LOVES all bamboo needles, especially the double points. Given a chance, she would snatch those needles and give them a good chewing. In fact, she has destroyed more than one set of bamboo needles. Of course you say, "Why would you leave them out for her to find?"

The answer to that is simple. I never leave the knitting just lying around, she is a VERY determined little gal, and if there is something she truly wants, she can open sliding closet doors, undo snaps on knitting bags, and jump to the highest shelf in a closet to find what she is looking for - whatever it takes! She has been known to conduct many a black ops mission to get into something - usually my stuff, knitting in specific. Now that she is older, she doesn't do that quite so much, but I have awakened MANY times to balls of yarn unwound into a mess on the floor and around furniture that were put in a knitting bag, in a closet the night before. She has also taken the knitting off of the needles to give it a good kick/chew Siamese style. Thank God she does not have opposable thumbs, nothing would be safe!

Exploring in the land of sock...

As you can see, I have finished one sock, about half of the other, and am well on my way to another FO for 2006. This is the first time I have knit with Cherry Tree Hill, and it is great. It has been in my stash for over a year, and I finally got brave enough to undwind the hank. This is one of the few items I have knit for myself, and before you ask - yes, my feet are shaped like that sock...

CTH is wonderful to knit with, and it feels great on. I LOVE the feel of merino wool, and the weight is just perfect. It took me a long time to love to knit socks, but I have arrived. The first pair was for DH, and the rat lost that pair - guess how cold it has to be in Hell before he gets another pair??? He actually will get another pair (just not right now) as I am in a period or righteous indignation about the LOSS OF A PAIR OF HAND KNIT SOCKS! I understand a five-year-old losing socks; however, how does a forty-year-old man LOSE SOCKS??? Because it was truly an accident, and he really is sorry, I may choose to forgive him and knit an additional pair or so in the future, but nothing is concrete as of yet.

I have discovered from my extensive internet research that most knitters have supervisors of some sort, and many of them are of the feline variety. My favorite bloggster FKD has a beautiful exotic shorthair named Pumpkin - he even has photo ops and blogging privileges. From the grapevine, my supervisor (a sassy Siamese named Natty) has heard of the injustice that has been done to her, and is demanding credit for her work in the knitting world. As you can see, the supervisor and reigning queen is not amused. Credit has been given too late and too little. The above socks will probably have to be removed from the knitting bag in the middle of the night, given a series of good bunny kicks, and possibly even a little treatment with the teeth could be in order. I now have to go hide the knitting bag from Natty...

No Mo' Mean Sister Blues...

I can officially retire the song I composed to comfort myself now that DMS has graciously sent me a few photos of herself in the sweater. Please forgive my lack of skill in photo editing as this is my first attempt to add a real photo. I think the yarn is more of a blue red than bright red, but either way the sweater has found its home, it appears to be much loved, and for my part that makes it all worth the struggles and tears. However, I am not sure what DM would say for her part (the sleeves and collar). DMS has the collar folded down, but it can easily stand up as well.

As you can see, she looks great in her sweater - just as I predicted. Mom did a great job on the sleeves and collar, and she assembled it too. The lace pattern on the sleeves and the collar is where all the trouble came from. At one point, I contemplated cutting the sweater into pieces and throwing it from my balcony, but DM graciously offered to see what she could do. DM has knit for 46 years, is a very accomplished knitter, and she thought the pattern wasn't written well. She had to get out her magnifyging glass to look at the detail in the pattern picture, and she even showed the pattern to her mother for confirmation that the pattern was off. I am thrilled that DMS loves the sweater! I will definitely knit DMS another sweater if she would like one, but I get to pick the pattern next time, and I won't be foolish enough to promise a deadline.

The Mean Sister Blues

As per previously posted, the evil sweater that DM rescued me from has been completed, assembled, delivered, tried on, and I understand that it fits. Not that I have a photo of course, even though I was promised that I would be e-mailed a photo on Friday evening - no such luck. DMS claims that because she had to wait for the sweater, that I should have to wait for the photo. Like that is fair! All knitters know it doesn't takes as much skill to photograph the project as it does to knit it...

I think the Devil himself designed the pattern that DMS picked out for that me to knit for her. He must also have designed her digital camera as she can't seem to get a picture of herself in that sweater e-mailed to me!

I know, I know DMS is busy with two children and her hubby, and can't be bothered with taking pictures for her poor sick sister with diabetes... Okay, enough with the guilt and whining - I am even weary of it. To brighten things up a bit, I have composed a little blues song that is sung to the same tune as the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese song. If you know it sing along...

MEAN SISTER BLUES

I got a mean sister, she’s sassy and bad - dah, nah, nah, nah, nah.
She’s got her darn sweater, so she shouldn’t be so mad...

(chorus)
I’ve got the mean, mean, mean sister blues...
She’s got me so wired and crazy that I’m gunna blow a fuse.

She won’t take a picture, and I think it’s not fair -dah, nah, nah, nah, nah.
It’s making me so cranky that I wanna pull her hair.

(chorus)
I’ve got the mean, mean, mean sister blues...
She’s got me so wired and crazy that I’m gunna blow a fuse.

My next post should have a photo of some sort on it, possibly of the socks I am working on.

p.s. Rasperries to the sister who probably looks just great in her new sweater, but not that I'll ever know...

The Joy of Socks...

It took me a long time to discover the joy of knitting socks, but I have arrived. They are easily portable, not terribly expensive, and it satisfies the immediate gratification need that I have.

In visiting FKD's blog, I understand that I am to consider myself tagged for the meme. Here goes nothing...

A-Age: 39.
B-Bed size: Queen.
C-Chore you hate: Dusting, unloading the dishwasher, and scrubbing the bathroom.
D-Dessert you love: Chocolate mousse.
E-Essential start your day item: Diet Coke!!!
F-Favorite actor(s): John Cusack, Johnny Depp.
G-Gold or Silver: Both.
H-Height: 5'1.5"
I-Instruments you play: None.
J-Job title: Medical transcriptionist.
K-Keeping track of your day: Notes on my calendar.
L-Living arrangements: Just me, the hubby, and Natty cat.
M-Mom's name: Shiny Hiney. No, really it's Joyce, or Linda on a good day...
N-Not liking right now: Diabets and the diet that comes with.
O- Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None.
P-Place you were born: Kansas City, MO.
Q-Quote you like: "Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, LOATHE..." - the Grinch!
R-Right or left handed: Right.
S-Siblings: 1 sassy younger sister.
T-Time you got up today: 3:39 a.m.
U-Unique habit: Not really any...
V-Vegetable you hate: Most of them...
W-Worst habit: Quick-tempered.
X-X-rays you've had: Teeth, chest, knee, and ankle.
Y-Yummy food you can make: Enchilada casserole
Z-Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Consider yourself tagged if you feel a meme coming on too!

As you have noticed, not much on the joy of socks, that is because there isn't much of a sock yet...

Patience is a virtue...

Many years ago, I had my first knitting machine. The only thing I saved from that adventure was the Brother ball winder that I had purchased to use with it. Many years later, I have another knitting machine, but I mostly use the ball winder for handknitting projects as I don't use the machine too much even now. However, I do NOT have a swift, and therein lies the rub, or rather the knot.

When I re-learned to knit a couple of years ago, I purchased some yarn, forgot about it, and rediscovered it this week. It is a lovely sock yarn, and I think I got it at the Studio, but not entirely sure as there is no sticker on the label. I have knit socks before, but with yarn that comes in skeins, not hanks. Hanks are twisted into a nice little twisty-ropey-looking things, and they are created by the Devil. I though, hmmm, I will use this for myself. I would like my own pair of socks, and if I make short cuffs I will have just enough yarn. Great! yarn untwisted, safety ties untied, and POW this monstrosity of yarn that is a big wiggly hula-hoop-type thing falls out of my hands, and onto the floor. I am just barely over five feet tall, the damn yarn didn't fall that far, how could it have gotten so screwed up on the way to the floor - and it no longer looks like a hula-hoop. It more closely resembles a plate of colored spaghetti now. Then part two of the disaster - Natty the cat is having her nightly cat fit, and flies through the pile of spaghetti yarn and gets all four feet tangled up, but pulls the yarn about three feet apart. The mess has just went from a moderate-sized catastrophe to a homicidal event!

Long story short, after two and a half hours, I have 420 yards of sock weight yarn, which does not unknot easily, wound onto the ball winder. The memory of where I purchased this is starting to come back to me. I did purchase this at the Studio, and the day I purchased it there were about six pain in the ass women in the knitting store with me, and they were driving me crazy. I was still very new at knitting, a little intimidated, and definitely irritated as they pushed and shoved their way through the store and people to ferret out anything and everything. When it was finally my turn at the register, the sales lady asked me, "would you like us to wind this for you?" I distinctly remember that all I wanted was out of that store, and I didn't realize I had just set myself up for disaster. I should have stayed and let them wind my yarn. It would have maybe taken ten minutes, fifteen tops to let them wind it as they have a swift, and the same ball winder that I do, but most importantly a swift. I cursed myself by saying, "No, I have a ball winder. I will be fine." I naively walked out the door, came home, put the yarn away and forgot about until I found the little cursed hank this week. The curse was still alive and well when I opened the yarn this evening. The moral of the story is ALWAYS let the store wind your yarn, it is worth the time to wait!!! It is not impossible to unwind a hank of yarn without a swift, it is just damned unpleasant!!! I have no one to blame but myself for this most recent lesson in knitting. When you make the mistake yourself, it will stay right there until you fix it, or until it has the chance to bite you in the ass . Either way, it was one big giant suckapallooza fixing that mess.

The Perfect Knitting Day...

Not that I have had one myself, but I have the same recurring fantasy of a perfect knitting day. It takes many elements to equal that kind of day (yes, a whole day), and here they are:

The house is clean from top to bottom - no guilt about knitting for hours and losing track of time.

The laundy is completely done and put away - further, no guilt about knitting the day away.

All errands must have been completed, hopefully the day before so that you can have the whole day for selfish pursuits. This includes the grocery store, what would a good selfish day would be complete without snacks (salty, chocolate, and Diet Coke no less)?

Hubby needs to be at work, stay a little late, and offering to bring home or order a pizza to ensure his continued good health on the day of knitting.

The weather needs to be stormy, rainy, blustery - just in case you thought about leaving the sancity of your knitting, it wouldn't really be good - so now you HAVE to stay in for safety's sake...

The phone is not allowed to ring much at this time, but you must have the cordless beside you on the knitting throne (the throne is a comfy seat that includes the project, Diet Coke, snacks, telephone, remote control, soft blanket). Also, the cat is not allowed to be demanding during the Perfect Knitting Day.

Knit, knit, knit. No chores, errands, or distractions to deal with, and definetly no guilt about not working on more "important" projects. The success of this day is not measured by the amount of knitting completed, but by the amount of total indulgance and lack of distraction. No interruptions by thoughtless non-knitters (like they count anyway) will be tolerated!!! Hubby should not arrive back home before 6 pm, really 7 pm is better, and no questions like, "What did you do today?"

Now that is a fantasy! Not that I live in that world, but God I would like to...

Back to reality as the house isn't spotless, the errands aren't complete, the cat is demanding, I am planning what to serve for dinner, and hubby is coming home EARLY to run an errand that involves going to the airport with me. It ain't perfect, but it's the life I got. I can always dream about the perfect knitting day...

Purple and Sparkly is my Charge

BC would like to have a purple sparkly scarf, and this aunt will not disappoint. The scarf is nearly done, and I may be able to have enough left over to make LC one as well. I will have to see. The needles that I am knitting this on are size #17. I refer to them as my Buffys (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and they do look a little stake-like. After the possible scarf for LC, I just have one more to make for DM as she would like a scarf to match her snappy chapeau.

Four FOs for 2006, and One Teeny Flub...

Okay, the teeny flub as we all know is the sweater for DMS that nearly finished me, not the other way around, and I had to have a rescue from Mom. Not my proudest moment as a knitter, but sometimes you have to realize when the party is over, and believe me it was.

The sweater to the left is the beast in question that that Mom is "helping" me with so that it doesn't get turned into yarn confetti and pitched off my balcony.


The four FOs are the two, yes two, keyhole scarves. One charity scarf for the Red Scarf Project, and with the left over yarn, and set of hogbones (scarf) for DH. The keyholes were one for DMS, and one for myself. I have now successfully used up the Sinsation yarn from Plymouth that I bought. I am planning to have a minimum of one scarf finished in a week (not that I am on a scarf binge) as my dear niece, Braydee, asked her Aunt Terri to please knit one for her, and she further thought having it ready when she got off the plane would be nice as well. Never mind that it was almost 80 degrees here yesterday. If the kid wants a scarf, then a scarf she shall have. I would love to knit something for her new little sister too. That little girl has stolen my heart from thousands of miles away. DMS went to China to adopt her, and they are still on the journey to bring back the new niece, Lucy. I better get started knitting!!!

The Way to a Knitter's heart...

DMS loved the keyhole scarflet, and that is the way to any knitter's heart. Just acknowledge that you loved the gift. Truly, a gift from the hands are truly a gift from the heart. I love you, Sis! Travel safely, and come back home soon.

I Owe Mom, Big Time...

Boy do I owe Mom now, big time... That sweater for DMS that had become the project from Hell, my mother offered very graciously to finish the sleeves, and possibly even the collar. However, the collar has not been officially stated. I shouldn't have let it wig me out so bad, but all those yo, and k3tog, yo commands finally drove me over the edge. I am reasonably sure I will be assembling it as Mom asked me, "I don't suppose you have sewn the seams, have you?" Fair question for someone who is rescuing you from the sleeves. I will happily assemble the project. I am just so grateful to have it out of my hair.

On the bright side, I have finished a project for DMS to wear on the plane to China. It is a keyhole scarflet (see picture of the plum-colored scarflet in the upper right corner). I made it out of the most wonderful yarn called Sinsation by Plymouth. It is the color of milk chocolate and dark chocolate, and it feels like oyster-sheared mink. It is really a lovely little project. I have taken four hours of PDO to spend some time my DMS and present the scarflet. I hope she likes it. By the way, thanks Mom.

F-WORD, F-WORD, F-WORD!!! SLEEVES!!!!!!!!!!

That is me in the above picture, up to my neck in issues!!! Knit + idiot = knitiot. That is the word that describes me - go the dictionary and there will be a picture of me waving there. I have been working so rapidly so as to have the sweater finished for DMS that I have totally bolixed up the gauge for those F-ing, F-ing sleeves!!! If you are reading this, sorry again girl. My bad. FFFFFFFFFF!!!! To make it worse, DMS was so very nice about it that it made be feel like the knitiot I clearly am. I have already started over on those sleeves at least once before, maybe twice, and now again.

The Red Sleeve Boogy

Faster, faster! If there aren't sparks flying from my knitting needles I must not be working fast enough! I am knitting day and night to finish that beastly red sweater, and I am determined to conquer the monster that this pattern has become, and then I will move on to other projects that don't make me want to snatch out a handful of hair out (mine or other people's) every time I pick up the knitting needles. Did I mention that I am swearing off of Vermont Fiber Design patterns? Mention, hah!!! They (the patterns) look relatively user-friendly and pretty cute, but step away from the pattern - IT'S A TRICK!!! I believe the Devil himself wrote this pattern. I have heard an ugly rumor that the yarn I am working with, Plymouth Sunsette, has been discontinued. It does want to split a little bit, but it feels to soft and weightless. DMS, the person for whom the sweater is for, and the same person with sweater itchitis should enjoy wearing it. That is assuming it fits. The little heffer wouldn't sit still or agree to a fitting during the holidays, or really any other time. I am pretty sure it will fit either Barbie (i.e. Barbie the doll) or Rosie O'Donnell.

Rattlin' them bones...

The hogbones were fun, but gone, and I enjoyed making them very much. I have found out that a quick easy project in the midst of a difficult one can be a nice break. The farrow row (K3, P1) worked particularly well with the suede yarn. It needed a strong pattern to have a gender neutral look. Now, back to the sleeves at hand (pun intended, weak as it was...), hopefully I will have it finished for DMS to wear on the plane to pick up my new niece in China.

I notice I have had 45 people look at my profile. You lurkers could leave a comment now and again. I may even start posting pictures...

Hog Bone Scarf

I am knitting an interim project to help me get over the hump of the complex project that this sweater has become, and it is a charity project. The project is to give kids in college that come from foster homes a boost of confidence, and to know that others care about them. The project is named "The Red Scarf Project", and guess what I am making, a red scarf.

I am knitting the red scarf with a very nice yarn, who knew Lion Brand could have such a lovely suede-like yarn. At any rate, I selected a pattern that would create interest, and not be too girly (as there are more guys than gals in the foster kid program). The pattern is called farrow row. At first, I thought it meant like "deep ditch". No siree bob, I looked it up, and Mr. Webster and I now both know that farrow means litter of pigs, or to have a litter of pigs. The scarf is blood red, and with all those bulky rows it looks like butchered baby pig ribs. It feels wonderful if you close your eyes, but it is about all I can do to look at it now. It just reminds me of bloody, butchered pig ribs now. Hence the name, hog bone scarf. This will be my first finished project of 2006. I hope the recipient loves it, and feels that there are people that care for him/her whether they have met or not. I must have it postmarked by the 31st of the this month. I am about half done, and hopefully I can have DMS's sweater done when it is time to go got Miss Lucy.

Closing in on the finish line for the sleeves

DM suggested that I knit both sleeves at once so that I didn't get bored, and not want to finish. I am way the Hell beyond that. This pattern is so tedious, filled with errors on the pattern writer's part, not to mention that I have blown my own deadline out of the water. Work is crazy, life sucks, and I still haven't finished this damn sweater. I am going to give a real push so that DMS can possibly wear the sweater on the airplane when she goes to pick up my new niece, Lucy.

To quote a line from one of my favorite movies, "Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, LOATHE, hate, hate, hate." That is pretty much my sentiment for everything I can see, feel, hear, touch, or consider today.