tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339029342024-03-14T05:03:57.582-05:00YArN KNiTaHer geeky, nerdy world of knitting, cooking and lifeJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-22546579801294475002010-09-07T01:57:00.003-05:002010-09-07T02:33:46.531-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">I could be pumping shit out of a port-a-potty....</span><br /><br />Let's start with happy news!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TIXjVgr_b2I/AAAAAAAAAF8/hGAPeKDRWZM/s1600/DSCF0128.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TIXjVgr_b2I/AAAAAAAAAF8/hGAPeKDRWZM/s400/DSCF0128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514063277476245346" border="0" /></a>The Boy has a new Jayne Hat. He's quite happy about it. This was taken at his first trip to a yarn store. He was a good sport. It was done exactly the same as the first one, in the exact same yarn, exact same skein actually. But I think I may steal it for myself. How could I be so mean?!?<br /><br />The Boy found the lost bag of handknits.<br /><br />There was much rejoicing.<br /><br />So now he has two. I think I should get to wear one.<br /><br />Despite my absence from the blog, not much has gone on around here. Work, sleep, knit, eat, knit, read, clean, knit.....<br /><br />It's that work thing that has gotten me down though. I have a crappy, boring job. Even druing the interview, the guy told me it was boring. Don't get me wrong. I am thankful I HAVE a job and even one that has benefits. But I am determined to have a job that gives me something other than a paycheck. The title of this post has become my mantra lately. Yes, it could be worse......but it needs to get better.<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Along the lines of getting things in order, I am in official destash mode. I finally sat down and told myself that I really need to cull things down. I have even gotten very cold-hearted about it. I came home one night and sorted though the yarn, allowing myself to only keep a third of it. One third will be donated and the other third I will be putting up for sale.<br /><br />I am working on getting pictures and loading up the flickr so keep an eye out. Remember, I'm being cold-hearted. There's cashmere. There's 220. Folks, there's Lorna's. Some of ya'll know how I am about my Lorna's.<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />There really has been knitting done. I'm currently working on a Haruni shawl out of some yummy Dream in Color Smooshy. I would love to post a picture, but I can't find one that does lace or the color justice. I'm still working on the Tomato and it's almost cool enough that I can knit on it without getting heat stroke. I've done some small spurts cause it just needs a sleeve....that's like 50 rows.<br /><br />Really ready for cooler weather.....and a new job.......Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-20373980069307426642010-07-28T14:21:00.003-05:002010-07-28T14:41:59.780-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">In Memoriam: An Ode To Never Cleaning Again<br /><br /></span><span>About a month ago, The Boy and I went on a little vacation. His family was having a family reunion and, unlike mine who tend to get together every other day, his rarely congregate so we decided to head out a see everyone for a week.<br /><br />In preparation, we got into a heavy "cleaning the apartment" mode so when we came back, it would be lovely. It had gotten to the point where pretty much everything was out of its place. Even hats, mittens, and scarves were still by the door, waiting for me to go buy a nice Rubbermaid and cedar balls to store them in. This was June people. Way past time.<br /><br />So we cleaned.....and then off we went.....and did come home to a very lovely, clean apartment.<br /><br />Fast-forward two weeks. I come home proud of myself because I finally got said Rubbermaid and cedar balls and was going to store all those lovely woolens that we put in a sack while we were cleaning. However, the sack was not to be found. We searched EVERYWHERE about ten times. We finally came to the conclusion that in all the cleaning, the sack must have gotten mixed up with the trash sacks and.....taken out to the dumpster.<br /><br />Yea....I know. I would like to take a moment of silence for some of the woolens lost that day.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDnYC72-I/AAAAAAAAAFU/SmGpJ809aXc/s1600/DSCF0028.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDnYC72-I/AAAAAAAAAFU/SmGpJ809aXc/s400/DSCF0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499039857512274914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Manly Mitts - <a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2010/01/joys-of-wool-okay-so-its-145am-saturday.html">You instilled my faith in wool</a>.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDnwJnQ0I/AAAAAAAAAFc/PrlfNzB2F6Q/s1600/DSCF0037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDnwJnQ0I/AAAAAAAAAFc/PrlfNzB2F6Q/s400/DSCF0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499039863982736194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Hannah Hat - Best hat for those with the long hairs.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDoHaZ_qI/AAAAAAAAAFk/iOed69OaO0g/s1600/photo+4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/TFCDoHaZ_qI/AAAAAAAAAFk/iOed69OaO0g/s400/photo+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499039870227185314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Jayne Hat - The Boy was very, very sad to lose you</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There were others lost as well, but sadly, no pictures to remember them by. Replacements are in the works, starting with the Jayne Hat. I'm contemplating a different pattern for my mittens. Nothing wrong with the pattern....just something different. Hopefully, I can get stuff done before it gets cold.....in like 4 months.....<br /></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-13221117211659231782010-06-22T16:53:00.002-05:002010-06-22T17:49:42.230-05:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting is much cheaper than reading....</span></span><br /><br />Yea, not much knitting today. And here's why. <br /><br />The Tomato has come along swimmingly and only lacks a sleeve and neck ribbing. I love how the top-down sweater all comes together with the ability to try it on a adjust as needed and there's little to no seeming. However, when you are knitting a wool/acrylic sweater in this manner in the middle of summer, the pile of knitting that ends up in your lap is rather warm. When you get to the part of summer we have come to where you are only comfortable sitting in front of the A/C in your underwear, having a wool sweater in your lap just isn't going to happen.<br /><br />I did have my week vacation where The Boy and I went to St. George, UT and Bakersfield, CA for his family reunion. Yay for travel knitting! I decided to tempt the knitting gods and start a new project, the <a href="http://exercisebeforeknitting.com/plum-frost-pullover-cardigan/">Plum Frost Sweater</a>, and just work on the sleeves, especially since I haven't decided whether it's going to be a pullover or cardigan. Nice, small, compact. And with the driving and flying I could possibly get both sleeves done on the trip.<br /><br />Yea, that didn't happen. Well, I did get about 2/3 of a sleeve done. Sidenote: This was the first time I went through airport security where they didn't take my knitting out and inspect it. huzzah! So how did I pass the time? I read....a lot.<br /><br />See, I work(ed) at Barnes&Noble for a few years. Been a big reader and this just fed my addiction and increased my usage of said drug. I have gotten to the point of reading 1-2 books a week. I don't always buy the books (library, friends, secret stash) but even with my "free" books, I figured out I spend more money on books than yarn, when you look at the "cost of entertainment" value. Allow me to explain...(knitters already know this because it's how we justify spending $12 on a pair of socks).<br /><br />Cost of entertainment<br />2.5 hour movie / $8 ticket = $3.20/hr<br />10 hours to read a book / $8 book = $0.80/hr<br />48-60 hours to knit a sweater / $15 = $0.25-$0.30<br /><br />QED<br /><br />For those who are fans of reading, I thought I would give you a few of my favorites. I am a big fan of series, so I will list or give links to the reading order for books.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"<a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Outlander/Diana-Gabaldon/e/9780440212560/?itm=2&USRI=outlander">Outlander</a>" by Diana Gabaldon </span><br />By far my favorite books ever...ask anyone. I'm known at my store for getting people addicted to them. There are currently 7 published books in the series (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and An Echo in the Bone) with at least one more in the works. The above reading order is important! These books are a mixture of historical fiction, fantasy, time-traveling (a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff) and an all-around great story.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dark-Lover/J-R-Ward/e/9781101128435/?itm=3&USRI=black+dagger+brotherhood+series">The Black Dagger Brotherhood</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by J.R. Ward</span><br />I was skeptical about this series (I tend to be with ones in the romance section) but the characters and world that she has developed is phenomenal. It is a contemporary paranormal series with pseudo-vampires (NOT THOSE KIND!!!). Highly fun and enjoyable.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dead-Witch-Walking/Kim-Harrison/e/9780060756994/?itm=7&USRI=rachel+morgan+series">Rachel Morgan Series</a> by Kim Harrison and <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Storm-Front/Jim-Butcher/e/9780451457813/?pwb=2">Harry Dresden Series</a> by Jim Butcher</span><br />Paranormal crime-solving series. They are extremely similar but one has a female protagonist and the other has a male protagonist. I personally feel that they are not "girl" books and "boy" books. I am currently in an experiment with a guy from work who lent me the Jim Butcher books. He agreed to read the Kim Harrison books so I can prove this. :D<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mistborn-Trilogy-Boxed-Set/Brandon-Sanderson/e/9780765365439/?itm=9&USRI=mistborn+series">Mistborn Trilogy</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Brandon Sanderson</span><br />Very cool fantasy series that has some elemental science in it that I really enjoyed since I'm a nerdy chemist. I'll admit that I have only read the first one at this point, but I could hardly wait to run out and buy the other two.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Enders-Game/Orson-Scott-Card/e/9780812550702/?itm=3&USRI=ender%27s+game">Ender's Game</a> by Orson Scott Card</span><br />I almost feel embarrassed that it has taken me this long to read these books. They have been around a long while. Classic science fiction that everyone should read.<br /><br />More to come later....I need to get back to my book....Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-48433930629109499732010-05-21T14:05:00.004-05:002010-05-21T14:34:22.065-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">It's about time</span>.<br /><br />Gosh....it's almost been a month since my last post, but real life tends to get in the way. First I was sick, then The Boy, then I had a case of TMJ (muscle relaxers are fun!) and then we had a wave of tornadoes and flash floods that didn't make for good picture taking weather.<br /><br />What? There are pictures?!? Oh yes....wonderful FO pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba6C41OiI/AAAAAAAAAE0/aOeoTXkSw08/s1600/DSCF0086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba6C41OiI/AAAAAAAAAE0/aOeoTXkSw08/s400/DSCF0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473803087857924642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba6m-VKzI/AAAAAAAAAE8/nVFd6zJCA50/s1600/DSCF0089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba6m-VKzI/AAAAAAAAAE8/nVFd6zJCA50/s400/DSCF0089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473803097544665906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba7B2m8cI/AAAAAAAAAFE/nqktbfG3gtk/s1600/DSCF0091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_ba7B2m8cI/AAAAAAAAAFE/nqktbfG3gtk/s400/DSCF0091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473803104760033730" border="0" /></a>Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ivy-league-vest">Ivy League Vest</a> by Eunny Jang<br />Yarn: <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Palette_Yarn__D5420132.html"> Knit Picks Palette</a> in Salsa Heather, Autumn Heather, Brindle Heather, Twig, Fog, and White<br />Needles: US 4<br />Size: 34.75"<br />Notes: Spit splice, spit splice, spit splice (say that three times fast) Cannot emphasize this enough. Wish I would have done it the entire time instead of just half the time.<br /><br />This has got to be my favorite project I've ever done. I have caught the Fair Isle bug and you WILL see more in the future. Pre-blocking it fit like a glove....like a latex glove. But with some help from <a href="http://turtlegirl76.com/">Turtlegirl</a>, I got it beautifully blocked on a wooly board and it's now perfect! The floats are stretched wonderfully and the crochet around the steeks has felted slightly and makes me much comfortable about it not unraveling. See Mom!! It's not gonna unravel!! The <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lacis-Wooly-Board-Adjustable-Blocking-Frame/10660896?sourceid=1500000000000003260370&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10660896#ProductDetail">wooly board</a>* was a godsend and will be saving my pennies to get one. It made all the difference.<br /><br />And just so you don't think I've been sitting around waiting for the power to go out....well, I did do that, but there was knitting as well.....and hoping I wouldn't have to knit by candlelight....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_beYZ03mNI/AAAAAAAAAFM/20HSNKfuRjM/s1600/DSCF0092.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S_beYZ03mNI/AAAAAAAAAFM/20HSNKfuRjM/s400/DSCF0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473806907946277074" border="0" /></a><br />I started the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tomato">Tomato</a> in the Encore and I am loving it! Top-down is definitely the way to go. Just two sleeves left and it'll be ready to go! Well, ready for when it gets cold again....in 4-5 months. But you have to stock up, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*Totally just found out that Wal-Mart sells these site-to-store. Much cheaper than other places and seems to be the same. Intriguing....</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-16905724829467744832010-04-28T17:09:00.005-05:002010-04-28T17:12:58.865-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">St-EEK!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyQgbBVDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/luvB43gcobw/s1600/DSCF0082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyQgbBVDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/luvB43gcobw/s400/DSCF0082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465314144465015858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyjeA8PJI/AAAAAAAAAEc/kZcYv9OONZg/s1600/DSCF0083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyjeA8PJI/AAAAAAAAAEc/kZcYv9OONZg/s400/DSCF0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465314470236273810" border="0" /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iykM3UfiI/AAAAAAAAAEk/zBni6WcpHwU/s1600/DSCF0084.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iykM3UfiI/AAAAAAAAAEk/zBni6WcpHwU/s400/DSCF0084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465314482812386850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyk7TvU9I/AAAAAAAAAEs/7gxOkSJrAqM/s1600/DSCF0085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S9iyk7TvU9I/AAAAAAAAAEs/7gxOkSJrAqM/s400/DSCF0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465314495279616978" border="0" /></a>That's all I've got right now. I'm still recovering....Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-84360413136400623532010-04-18T13:51:00.005-05:002010-04-18T14:28:32.094-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm trying to be a good monkey....</span><br /><br />....I really am. See! I've even been knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tU-_BpB2I/AAAAAAAAAD0/2sNYQfBGuVg/s1600/DSCF0081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tU-_BpB2I/AAAAAAAAAD0/2sNYQfBGuVg/s400/DSCF0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461552414163797858" border="0" /></a><br />See? Good monkey. I've got about 50 rows left and they have been just flying by. However, since casting on the steeks, I've been worried it's not going to fit. It fit before, but I have passed the point where I can try it on to check. Hopefully just paranoia...<br /><br />Now that I'm getting closer to finishing (and with the possibility of a trip coming) I have been researching my next project and I can't decide. I have three sweater's worth of yarn in my stash. However, the sweater at the top of my list is sadly, not in my stash.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Choices:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/images/backissues/toc_fall07/Jangfrnt-300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.interweaveknits.com/images/backissues/toc_fall07/Jangfrnt-300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/images/backissues/toc_fall07/JangBk.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.interweaveknits.com/images/backissues/toc_fall07/JangBk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tXRsE8ZLI/AAAAAAAAAD8/X0D8QfonmPI/s1600/DSCF0078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tXRsE8ZLI/AAAAAAAAAD8/X0D8QfonmPI/s400/DSCF0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461554934518146226" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tangled-yoke-cardigan">The Tangled Yoke Cardigan</a>, but making it a pullover instead.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.stitchdiva.com/images/products/KnittedBodice.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 926px;" src="http://www.stitchdiva.com/images/products/KnittedBodice.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tYUndFe5I/AAAAAAAAAEE/cBAhw--J7yQ/s1600/DSCF0079.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tYUndFe5I/AAAAAAAAAEE/cBAhw--J7yQ/s400/DSCF0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461556084328463250" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-knitted-bodice">The Simple Knitted Bodice</a>, in a 3/4 sleeve. Yea, I know the yarns look the same color, but I couldn't get this one to come out right. It's more of a graphite color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x375/__key/Interweave.CommunityServer.PostThumbnails/00.00.01.39.94/tomato_2D00_tn2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 260px;" src="http://www.knittingdaily.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x375/__key/Interweave.CommunityServer.PostThumbnails/00.00.01.39.94/tomato_2D00_tn2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tZjKBJGyI/AAAAAAAAAEM/gJZ0dzv_Erc/s1600/DSCF0080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S8tZjKBJGyI/AAAAAAAAAEM/gJZ0dzv_Erc/s400/DSCF0080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461557433636297506" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tomato">The Tomato</a>, done long sleeve and possibly without the color band<img src="file:///C:/Users/Jennifer/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />. If I did, I would move it down, under the boobs, more on the waist and probably in a gray or maybe blue (cause I have the blue in stash!). Plus, I love that this is top-down, which I have never done and always wanted to.<br /><br />And now....the thing that is making me want to be a very bad monkey....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3978110946_5bb9c0c98e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3978110946_5bb9c0c98e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plum-frost-pullover--cardigan"> Plum Frost Cardigan/Pullover</a>....*evil grin*.....<drool>...../insert favorite emote/<br /><br />What to do....that to do....help me! Leave me a comment and tell me you opinion. And I apologize in advance for any enabling I have done.<br /></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-35554554770593947942010-03-31T14:01:00.005-05:002010-03-31T14:46:03.096-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">In which I get a little philosophical....</span><br /><br />FO's are always a good way to start off a post....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7Ocp3hGZNI/AAAAAAAAADc/QZvp7zytoTE/s1600/DSCF0066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7Ocp3hGZNI/AAAAAAAAADc/QZvp7zytoTE/s400/DSCF0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454875816767153362" border="0" /></a>Pattern: February Baby Sweater (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sweater-on-two-needles-february">ravelry</a>)<br />Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Fired Brick - 3 skeins<br />Needles: US 8<br /><br />Notes: The above picture is misleading. The color is not that red, but I wish it was! It's has more of a maroon color to it, almost like a "christmas red". I put the sleeve stitches on holders so the whole thing is seamless, which was nice. I screwed up the buttonholes the first go around and, frankly, I'm not happy with how they turned out the second time around, but what can you do. As I found out later, if you want the "3 buttonhole look", do the buttonholes every 8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">rows, not ridges</span>, as stated by EZ. 8 ridges is 16 rows and that's too many.<br /><br />First time use of the Knit Picks Swish yarn and it really is a good multi-purpose yarn. I wanted something that would be soft for the kiddo, while being easy to care for for the new mom.<br /><br />All in all though, I'm happy with the sweater and am glad that I finally did one. This was done for a baby shower for a friend of ours. It was very well received and there are already plans in the works for her to wear this at Christmas.<br />The vest....it continues....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7OfsP-Z1SI/AAAAAAAAADk/VaT0ImxYxec/s1600/DSCF0076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7OfsP-Z1SI/AAAAAAAAADk/VaT0ImxYxec/s400/DSCF0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454879156227134754" border="0" /></a><br />I'm just fixing to cast on the neck steek, which is very exciting. This project has kept me more interested than most of my projects have. I hate feeling that I have to push myself through a project. With this, not so much. I think everyone has their little knitting niche and I may have started to find mine.<br /><br />I would like to be a well-rounded knitter. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">want</span> to be someone who enjoys knitting things for small children. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">want<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>to be someone who likes to knit up beautiful lace shawls. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">want </span>to be someone who has a drawer full of hand knitted socks. (Hence the insane amount of sock yarn I have.) However, that is just not me I think. I like the <span style="font-weight: bold;">idea</span> of being that person. I want to be this person, but I'm just not. Are we destined to be a certain kind of knitter? If we don't knit bits of everything are we somehow a lesser knitter? I don't think so...<br /><br />I love that, with this vest, it has kept me intrigued an motivated the entire time. I think it has somehow tapped into my unique mindset of how I look at things and all the little weird things I enjoy....like how something is still awesome looking inside out....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7OmKR5SInI/AAAAAAAAADs/WcQwZSa6V48/s1600/DSCF0077.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S7OmKR5SInI/AAAAAAAAADs/WcQwZSa6V48/s400/DSCF0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454886269208371826" border="0" /></a><br />One of the first things I did when I started was that I mapped out, row by row, all of the decreases, increases, and special instructions that went along with this project. I got a special, nerdy little joy out of that. I like how every row has that magical combination of being both being difficult and easy at the same time.<br /><br />Have you found your niche? Is there one thing that you really like making more than all of the others? A you a lace knitter? Sock knitter? All-around knitter? Whatever you are, I'm okay with that.<br /><br />As with most knitting, it also applies to life...but that's a diatribe for another day.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-70550093651403915722010-03-17T13:06:00.003-05:002010-03-17T13:15:45.601-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Finishing-itis</span><br /><br />Yep, I have it. Remember that<a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2010/02/all-better-i-need-to-learn-to-not-post.html"> February Baby Sweater</a> I was working on before the Ivy League Vest? Yea, so I got a baby shower invitation for the recipient. When you get a shower invitation for a person whose project is half-finished, kinda motivates you to finish it.<br /><br />Well, I'm having a problem with that and it's the same problem I have with most of my projects. I get close to the end and don't want to finish. How much is left of this sweater? One sleeve. And then it's done. And I don't wanna. I have told myself that I can't knit anything else until that sweater is done. No reason not to finish it. Even tried putting on a movie. If I knit through the movie, I would probably be done. But it just kinda sat in my lap.<br /><br />Hope this isn't the start of a funk....cause I wanna knit on the vest some more.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-33385470734957466982010-02-23T12:58:00.004-06:002010-02-23T13:22:58.095-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Sticky Situation</span><br /><br />With the Olympics going on, everyone is off doing their Olympic knitting. I am super impressed with what people have been able to accomplish since the beginning of the games and what they have learned in the process. I am not officially participating, but I am in the spirit of competition. I officially admit, I didn't cast on with the torch-lighting, nor will I finish by the time it is extinguished. But I am doing a project that challenges me and has given me new skills to add to my arsenal.<br /><br />Behold the WiP.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S4Qm9rHASrI/AAAAAAAAADM/kSQ4-cgomps/s1600-h/DSCF0062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S4Qm9rHASrI/AAAAAAAAADM/kSQ4-cgomps/s400/DSCF0062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441517090756381362" border="0" /></a>....aided by the decorative pine cone.<br /><br />I can't believe how far I have gotten in a week. This thing is breezing by and it is so much freakin' fun to knit. (Yes, I know I am calling attention to myself and the knitting gods are going to smack me for it, but whatever.) I am about 12 rows into the pattern and have begun the waist shaping. I have taken the suggestion of spit-splicing the ends together for this portion and have found it very nice, even though I got even more weird looks in the employee dining room on my break. A word to the wise though: DO NOT spit-splice if you have been eating Jolly Ranchers. It does not make for happy knitting. Trust me.<br /><br />I am glad that I didn't just jump into this project without having had some fair isle experience. When I was making my mittens, I came across several people telling me to hold my yarns several different ways. I have determined, figure it out for yourself. Because whatever works best for you is going to give you the best chance at keeping even tension, and that is even more important on this project. Start with something small, get used to your fair isle technique, then jump on in!<br /><br />Other things that have helped:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S4Qopsu3VYI/AAAAAAAAADU/gUsfhXHCbDg/s1600-h/DSCF0064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S4Qopsu3VYI/AAAAAAAAADU/gUsfhXHCbDg/s400/DSCF0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441518946617873794" border="0" /></a>What I have found very helpful with this project is my KnitPicks pattern holder (keeps everything together), my rigged, clipable row counter (doesn't get lost), a blown-up copy of the color chart ('cause I'm blind), a copy of the pattern ('cause I scribble on stuff), and a row-by-row listing of the decreases ('cause I get distracted....SQUIRREL!!).Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-89935100150940152142010-02-16T15:20:00.004-06:002010-02-16T15:27:40.901-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lack of Water Leads to Knitting</span><br /><br />Before I went to work yesterday I found a flyer hanging on the door to our apartment that said they were rerouting pipes from the hot water boiler and, long story short, we would not have any water from 9am-5pm on Tuesday. Now, Tuesday is my first day off from work and that is usually when I do all of my chores, like laundry. No water means no laundry.<br /><br />Oh darn....that means I'm going to have to knit. Can't tell you how sad I am that I have to knit instead of doing laundry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3sNJvNy2XI/AAAAAAAAADE/DyfxuRFLgIY/s1600-h/DSCF0060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3sNJvNy2XI/AAAAAAAAADE/DyfxuRFLgIY/s400/DSCF0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438955435924314482" border="0" /></a>I finally finished all the planning and have gotten all of my materials together so I decided today would be a good day to cast on my Ivy League Vest. I fully concede that I ripped the color choices from the <a href="http://turtlegirl76.com/2008/04/20/ivy-league-vest/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TurtlegirlsBloggyThing+%28Turtlegirl%27s+Bloggy+Thing%29">Turtlegirl</a> and her lovely vest. She even helped me get some of the colors that have been discontinued. Hers is just too pretty....<br /><br />....I must have it.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-2265282271437388292010-02-10T13:20:00.005-06:002010-02-10T13:33:45.916-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">All Better</span><br /><br />I need to learn to not post right when I get home from work....scary things happen.....I had a little rant there.<br /><br />But the problem was still there never the less. This is what it originally looked like:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MIE9Tx_NI/AAAAAAAAACk/FH6JSdOx2QY/s1600-h/DSCF0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MIE9Tx_NI/AAAAAAAAACk/FH6JSdOx2QY/s400/DSCF0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436698056436350162" border="0" /></a><br />Yeah...that looks stupid. So I dropped the stitches all the way back to the second buttonhole and redid them. And then I had a glass of wine...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MIdhNXD-I/AAAAAAAAACs/jSDqvpxtBI4/s1600-h/DSCF0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MIdhNXD-I/AAAAAAAAACs/jSDqvpxtBI4/s400/DSCF0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436698478389956578" border="0" /></a><br />...or seven. But it looks much better now, so it was worth it. The stitches are still a little wonky, but I'm hoping it will work out when I block it. Just the sleeve left to go and it will be good.<br /><br />On a separate note, I thought I'd show you Smokey helping me with laundry. He really likes laundry day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MJbjjIscI/AAAAAAAAAC0/zD27nGJ9ENY/s1600-h/DSCF0049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MJbjjIscI/AAAAAAAAAC0/zD27nGJ9ENY/s400/DSCF0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436699544170049986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">What do you mean you have to fold the sheets now?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MJlR33eTI/AAAAAAAAAC8/7FX-CVHUZGI/s1600-h/DSCF0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S3MJlR33eTI/AAAAAAAAAC8/7FX-CVHUZGI/s400/DSCF0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436699711223855410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Seriously, don't even try it.</span><br /></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-12436611053414994972010-02-09T01:38:00.002-06:002010-02-09T01:54:52.332-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm annoyed....</span><br /><br />...but I can't tell who's fault it resides. Probably mine...but...yeah...<br /><br />I "finished" the body portion of the FBS and started on the sleeves. I ran some crafty errands, including going to the LYS for some needles for my Ivy League Vest (and, surprisingly, that is all I bought, I promise). I also shopped around for some buttons for said FBS. I made three button holes 'cause that's what everyone else did and it looked cute and I'm just that kinda gal. <br /><br />So I being popping buttons on, seeing what they look like, which ones fit, etc. etc. Side note: I hate button shopping....just not my thing. That's when I really start looking at the sweater and the button holes look spaced really stupid. Lemme explain without a picture (cause it's dark).<br /><br />Imagine a sweater that would have five evenly-spaced buttons. Now removed the bottom two. That's what it looks like. Right now, I'm feeling like throwing it in the corner yelling "This is stupid!" and going off and pouting like a three year old.<br /><br />This is what I know:<br />1. I did use worsted-weight yarn and US8 as opposed to DK yarn and needle recommended. I concede that.<br /><br />2. All other instructions were followed to the best of my knowledge. At first I thought I screwed up at "knit 8 ridges" and doing crazy math in my head to where that was 16 rows and therefore 16 ridges, but this is not the case. I DID do it correctly.<br /><br />3. I did knit the body 5", as instructed. Granted, with the yarn/needle change, this may be an issue, but from looking at other projects, I seem to have done about the same amount of repeats.<br /><br />4. I am 100% insane. I think this also important because I think the yarn keeps changing color on me.<br /><br />I'm hoping I can sleep on it and the knitting gnomes will have fixed my problem. I'm trying not to think about dropping the buttonhole stitches all the way back to the beginning-ish and redoing them, or, god forbid, rip the entire thing out. Idk....opinions?<br /><br />I'm gonna go find some wine....Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-604340951609025352010-02-02T12:51:00.005-06:002010-02-02T13:21:20.537-06:00The Sky is Falling....<br /><br />....or that's what it sounds like. Remember the winter storm I told you about<a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2010/01/joys-of-wool-okay-so-its-145am-saturday.html"> last time</a>? Well, everything has calmed down and has begun to melt. What happens when it just barely warms up and things barely start to melt?<br /><br />Wicked icicles.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h10rbTRaI/AAAAAAAAACM/r2peoCD6XsE/s1600-h/DSCF0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h10rbTRaI/AAAAAAAAACM/r2peoCD6XsE/s400/DSCF0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433722498293384610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h176IlSTI/AAAAAAAAACU/bkzDi5FBBcI/s1600-h/DSCF0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h176IlSTI/AAAAAAAAACU/bkzDi5FBBcI/s400/DSCF0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433722622500489522" border="0" /></a>These are really, really cool.....until they start falling and scaring the crap out of you.<br /><br />Look! Knitting!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h2R1tou6I/AAAAAAAAACc/2P01oKYRgh4/s1600-h/DSCF0041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S2h2R1tou6I/AAAAAAAAACc/2P01oKYRgh4/s400/DSCF0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433722999270849442" border="0" /></a>My first Februrary Baby Sweater. Seems everyone I know is having babies right now. My family had a large census increase over the holidays. I think we grew by three.... So I will hopefully be knitting some things for them for their first birthdays, seeing as I wasn't in the knitting groove before they were born.<br /><br />I would have to say that my new job has really helped with my knitting groove. See, I am very, very lucky. To avoid traffic implications, I leave early enough for work that I am usually there 30 minutes early. Bring out the knitting. Then, I get 3-30 minute breaks....on the clock. Use one to eat, that's another hour of knitting time, which is actually paid! This new job has given me about an hour and a half of knitting time that "can't" be interrupted or used for something else.<br /><br />Initially, I was using up stash and stocking up on baby hats and these<a href="http://sockpixie.blogspot.com/2008/01/solution-to-sock-knitters-dilemma-magic.html"> new baby booties</a> that use up extra sock yarn. These getting me by until I could get a project in mind....and that project is the<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ivy-league-vest"> Ivy League Vest</a>. Yep, I'm just going to jump in....eventually. Some of the yarn has gone on a sight-seeing trip, but it called and said it would be home soon. When I ordered the yarn I could actually order, I snuck in some KnitPick Shine Worsted and figured I could do a FBS in the meantime. I just attached the second of three skeins I got so I'm hoping there will be enough for a February Baby hat.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-55852293453168284882010-01-30T01:46:00.002-06:002010-01-30T01:58:24.585-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Joys of Wool</span><br /><br />Okay, so it's 1:45am Saturday morning. I got home from work a little while ago after driving through a "crazy winter ice storm", or so they say. I say, "Meh". But I had a wonderful knitting epiphany and I wanted to share my joy with you.<br /><br />Wool is wonderful.<br /><br />I know some of you know this already, but you must remember when you first realized you loved wool too.<br /><br />This winter ice/snow storm started last night, practically shutting everything down in the state. By the time I needed to drive to work, there was about 5 inches of snow (plus some ice underneath) on my car. It took me about 20 minutes to sweep it away and chip at the ice, trying to free my wipers and all that jazz. <br /><br />But that's not the part we are here to talk about. When I was finally done, I got into my car and had my epiphany. You see, I had on my nice, newly-knitted mittens. The pretty red and gray ones. The ones made of wool. You know what I noticed?<br /><br />My hands weren't cold.<br /><br />Now, this seems like a simple thing, but after pawing through snow and ice and your gloves being wet, you expect your hands to be cold. But not if they are made of wool. They are just so nicely insulating and just wicked the water away to some mystical place where it wouldn't bother me.<br /><br />I love wool.<br /><br />P.S. I rescind my opinion about my mittens, as mittens. They felted and shrunk a tad during this incident and are now marvelous! Just thought you should know.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-71378005414594063002010-01-26T16:56:00.009-06:002010-01-26T17:44:56.411-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Actual FOs!!</span><br /><br />The business portion of today's blog:<br /><br />Or....there was going to be stuff....but having technical difficulties. <br /><br />So we are going to do this the "not as pretty" way.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193T25SNqI/AAAAAAAAABU/7F1DKE6ud4Q/s1600-h/DSCF0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193T25SNqI/AAAAAAAAABU/7F1DKE6ud4Q/s400/DSCF0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431190858669110946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193m0IYDkI/AAAAAAAAABc/MRru0MV1aHI/s1600-h/DSCF0033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193m0IYDkI/AAAAAAAAABc/MRru0MV1aHI/s400/DSCF0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431191184344616514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193wSf7HUI/AAAAAAAAABk/3nkL4K3i6l8/s1600-h/DSCF0034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S193wSf7HUI/AAAAAAAAABk/3nkL4K3i6l8/s400/DSCF0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431191347115269442" border="0" /></a>Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hannah-4">Hannah Hat</a> (formerly of MagKnits)<br />Yarn: Cascade 220 Quattro in #9432 (held double) less than a skein<br />Needles: US 10<br />Adjustments: I keep my bun/ponytail down lower, so I moved the hole down and added some stst rows to put it nicely all the way down on my ears. Specifically,<br />"Rows 16-23: Work in stockinette." *added 4 more rows, started knitting in the round at this point, add 4 more rows of stst.* I also added a super cool pompom on the top. Cause ever hat needs a pompom.<br /><br />I absolutely LOVE this hat. I always have my hair pulled back and most hats just weren't made for that. I don't have an exact amount of yarn that I used, but it was probably about 1/2 a skein. Super quick to knit and nice and cozy. BTW, this yarn makes the coolest pompoms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S196DaMVhvI/AAAAAAAAABs/ejV033VYC50/s1600-h/DSCF0028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S196DaMVhvI/AAAAAAAAABs/ejV033VYC50/s400/DSCF0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431193874621368050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S196R8UApMI/AAAAAAAAAB0/YQrVIvXPYw4/s1600-h/DSCF0030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S196R8UApMI/AAAAAAAAAB0/YQrVIvXPYw4/s400/DSCF0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431194124298527938" border="0" /></a>Pattern: Manly Mitts from <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/PATTmanlymitts.html">Knitty</a><br />Yarn: Paton's Classic Merino in Dark Gray Mix and Bright Red<br />Needles: US4 and US6<br />Size: Medium<br /><br />Still figuring out if I'm a mitten person, but they sure have been keeping my hands cozy. They are a little long, but I'm too lazy to rip them down. It says to knit to the top of your ring finger before starting decreases, but I would start before that, like maybe knitting to where your fingernail starts on your ring finger. I changed the cuffs to be different....makes like interesting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">KITTEN!!!!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S19710NFqGI/AAAAAAAAAB8/x-R-XWvwUz0/s1600-h/DSCF0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S19710NFqGI/AAAAAAAAAB8/x-R-XWvwUz0/s400/DSCF0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431195840108931170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S198IK-4EuI/AAAAAAAAACE/Ov9fqULUdfc/s1600-h/DSCF0026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S198IK-4EuI/AAAAAAAAACE/Ov9fqULUdfc/s400/DSCF0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431196155460981474" border="0" /></a>This is Smokey, The Boy's kitten. Yes, I am living with a cat and I haven't exploded. I have always been very allergic to cats, but, Thank God, not this one. We get along nicely, snuggling up with me when I read, and he mostly stays outta my knitting bag....as long as I don't leave it on the couch.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">**I think things have changed since I last did this. For some reason, I can't post pictures from my flickr account, at least not the way I used to. Any help on how to post pictures from flickr into the ol' blog would be greatly appreciated.</span></span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-30561860227420524422010-01-19T13:27:00.003-06:002010-01-19T20:44:05.910-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Really? REALLY? /facepalm</span><br /><br />Okay...so now I've only been back into knitting for like a month now and I'm already annoyed. But I have to tell you the funny part of the story first.<br /><br />While researching my new project some more, I basically kept looking through all the Ivy League Vests on Ravlery. Like everyday. That helped me to decide that's the one I wanted to do. But there were so many color choices and I have never been able to pick colors that go together, so I figured I would find a color scheme I liked and steal it....urm, I mean, build upon it.<br /><br />I need help deciding and who's opinion is readily available?<br /><br />Me: I need your opinion on some knitting.<br />The Boy: Okay...<br />Me: I'm trying to decide which color I want to go with for this sweater. Which of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/turtlegirl76/ivy-league-vest">these</a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knittingmedic/ivy-league-vest-2">two</a> do you like more?<br />The Boy: *contemplates while we switch back and forth between the two* I like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/turtlegirl76/ivy-league-vest">that one</a> more.<br />Me: Okay....I like that one too...<br />The Boy: It's more For The Horde....<br />Me: I'm sorry...*starts giggling*...what was that?<br />The Boy: Well, one is more Horde colors....the other is Alliance.<br />Me: *Starts laughing uncontrollably*<br /><br />'Cause that's how we roll. Sidenote: Yes, we both play<a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/"> WoW</a>. He's Horde and I'm Alliance. Every relationship has it's complications.<br /><br />I finally get everything together and sit down to order the yarn. The Twig and Fog color of KP Palette are discontinued and the white is unavailable until the end of March, supposedly.<br /><br />Therefore, I'm putting out a shout-out that if anyone has some of either the Twig or Fog color and can tell me which color they most closely resemble. I will also be bugging the turtlegirl goddess to see if she can tell me.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Edit: Manda makes an excellent point. Being away from the fiber world for so long, I had forgotten how gigantically useful the Rav is......</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-74855632550199244432010-01-15T14:36:00.002-06:002010-01-15T15:04:09.015-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">What to do....what to do....</span><br /><br />Since I have gotten back into knitting again (and I find it safe to say I'm officially back in, considering what I knitted this week*), I am now at an impasse at what to knit. I mean we can always do a quickie hat or scarf or mittens, but I am looking for something more substantial....like a sweater.<br /><br />Yeah, I know.<br /><br />I've been getting back on ravelry and started looking though my ancient queue, looking at all of those things I liked back then. Guess what....I still like them. So...I have a decision to make and, since I can now only communicate with knitting peeps online, I need some help with what to knit now. And I'm not going to be helpful about it.<br /><br />Project #1: "Plain" Oatmeal Sweater.<br />Yeah, that's not helpful, I know, but hear me out. I have some oatmeal-colored wool, already in the stash, that I have wanted to make into a sweater for a long time. I found the sweater I wanted to make in Interweave. It's marked in the magazine. But do I currently have the magazine? No. Still in the moving process, okay? But it's only of those good, simple sweaters.<br /><br />Pros: Already have the yarn and pattern....theoretically.<br />Cons: Worried it would be too plain and not keep my interest.<br /><br />Project #2: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ivy-league-vest">Ivy League Vest</a><br />I have wanted to make this ever since I saw it in the magazine and even more when I saw <a href="http://turtlegirl76.com/2008/04/20/ivy-league-vest/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TurtlegirlsBloggyThing+%28Turtlegirl%27s+Bloggy+Thing%29">turtlegirl's vest</a>. It would definately be an endeavor, but that's kinda what I want. Plus, I just finished some fair-isle mittens and I'm still kinda feeling that. But here's the catch: I would need to buy the yarn. Granted, it would only put me back like $15 (using KP Pallette), but there's is definately something to be said for using something from my VAST stash of yarn.<br /><br />Pros: Very attention-grabbing....would learn how to steek.<br />Cons: Would have to but even more yarn....would have to steek.....eek!<br /><br />I also have another sweaters worth of yarn (a nice wine color) that was going to be another CPH, but I'm thinking of doing one of the other 5 million cardis I have queued up. Something like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mariah">Mariah</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/19-cabled-cardigan-2">Cabled Cardigan</a>, or <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mr-greenjeans">Mr. Greenjeans</a>.<br /><br />Need opinions!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*I finished a pair of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/manly-mitts">Manly Mitts</a> and a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hannah-4">Hannah Hat</a>, but trying to find the cord for the camera. Hopefully, will post soon.</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-32411657278507039552010-01-09T15:37:00.004-06:002010-01-09T15:48:22.874-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">One more time....with feeling...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Ok…so here we go for another attempt. But I’m really going to try and make it stick this time!</span></span> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Yes, I have been gone for over a year. Yes, I have missed ya’ll. Yes, a lot has happened </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">since we last spoke. If you are here becaus</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">e I popped up on your Bloglines or you’re cycling through your bookmarks, I a</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">pplaud your </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">confidence that I would return.<br /></span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">My return to the blog will have to be broken into seve</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">ral posts because I just can’t ima</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">gine anyone that would want to know that much ab</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">out my life that they would read page a</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">fter page. So…we’ll do it in small doses.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">First off, I moved to </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Oklahoma and moved in with my parents for a while.</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The move</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> got me a promotion and helped me to save a bit of money. However, this past</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Christmas was my last in retail, but more on </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">that later. For those Chickies who are </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">still watching, I have a surprise for you and it’s more important than any knitting I coul</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">d</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> show you. Not only did I get a promotion at my new store, I found something much, m</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">uch better</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S0j4GLNtyaI/AAAAAAAAABE/YhMIP2tERXg/s1600-h/photo+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S0j4GLNtyaI/AAAAAAAAABE/YhMIP2tERXg/s400/photo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424858536140982690" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I found a boy.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Yes, he’s cute, isn’t he? He worked at the same store I </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">did and we hit it off almost immediately. We’ve been together almost a year at this point and have begun to move in </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">together. He did not run away from the massive amou</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">nts of yarn. Always a plus.<br /></span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">But one of the biggest was this conversation. One of the things we did when we first </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">started dating was watch Firefly. I had never seen it, but had always wanted to. We hit t</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">he episode of “The Jayne Hat”. Firefly knitters know which ones I mean. Short and sweet, Jayne (played by Adam B</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">aldwin) gets a hat in the mail that his mom made. The others don’t think much of the style, but he likes it and proudly wears</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> it because his mom made it. I then tell Sean about the big popularity of the Jayne Hat in the</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> knitter circle.<br /></span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Me: Yeah, I have always thought about making me o</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">ne.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Boy: Is it hard to do? Do you think you could make m</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">e one?</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Me: If I made you that, you would totally not wear it </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">in public.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Boy: I would totally wear that hat every day if you m</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">ade it for me.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S0j4jInl0UI/AAAAAAAAABM/551MKNP0-HY/s1600-h/photo+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tLcflEED8zg/S0j4jInl0UI/AAAAAAAAABM/551MKNP0-HY/s400/photo+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424859033660412226" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Yeah, I know. It’s what he got for Christmas and, true to his word, he wears it whenever he goes outside.</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On to the knitting…I kinda got into a knitting funk for a while and didn’t knit much, which I think is a big reason I didn’t blog this past year. But I did knit some. I did another (and hopefully last) Christmas stocking. Still trying to find the picture I took of that one. Knit the Jayne hat for The Boy. And I have been working on a pair of mittens for myself. And that’s it. Seriously.</span><br /></span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But I now have a new job, working at a casino. I work in the blackjack pit, basically being the pit boss’ lackey. It's easy work for more money, so you can't beat that. Plus, it gives me quite a bit of knitting time.</span></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hope everyone is doing well and I hope to be here much more often!</span><br /></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-37701822705416484832008-12-15T12:45:00.002-06:002008-12-15T13:18:08.888-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Mother of All Posts</span><br /><br />Man, I am a blogging slacker. Many other kinds of slackers too, but my blogging seems to be the worst. Almost three months and not a word and I left you with so many things to come! Well, the end of the year is coming to a close, so I figure I better wrap it up. There is moving, knitting, family and sudden realizations to come.<br /><br />So, I made it to Oklahoma. Um...yeah. We'll just leave it at that. Moving on! Most of my stuff is either unpacked or in storage. The only things I kept out of storage were my yarn/fiber, clothes, and a selection of books. I, oops, sorry, I mean, my mom limited me to one six-foot bookcase. The only thing that contends for space in my realm is yarn and books. They are at constant battle. The knitting book shelves is an interesting boundary.<br /><br />While I have been unpacking, putting yarn back into it's loving spots among plastic drawers and bins, it really, and truly hit me. I have officially hit SABLE status. For the non-fiber folks, that stands for <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>tash <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>cquired <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span>eyond <span style="font-weight: bold;">L</span>ife <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>xpectancy. That means that if I never (hah!) bought yarn again and just knit from what I have, I would not run out before I died. I have sat and looked at all the money that's locked up in the yarn and it is quite baffling. "Yes, my 8 little balls of cashmere. I know you were 50% off and to pass you up would have been a sin against the knitting gods, but when will I ever get to you?" Yeah, I talk to my yarn, what of it?!?<br /><br />To counter-act that, let's look at some actual knitting that was accomplished. So remember what I was doing this time <a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2007/12/praise-lawd-sorry-still-very-excited.html">last year</a>? Yeah, so that was apparently the start of a trend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3110435369_3810deac17.jpg?v=1229368191"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3110435369_3810deac17.jpg?v=1229368191" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3110436337_0e19b6f8a6.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3110436337_0e19b6f8a6.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Yep, another one....actually, two but the other one is still on the needles. We just won't talk about it, shall we? Luckily, I got to pick the yarn so knitting this one didn't actually kill me. I got me some nice Cascade 220 and went to work. This one is for my cousin's new wife. They were just married last month. I really enjoyed this one and I think it turned out really well. However, I was definitely freaking out when it got a bath, saying "Please don't let the red bleed, please don't let the red bleed..." And it did, but only on to the white towel I had it drying on. Interesting, no? A towel can be bleached. White parts of a stocking cannot.<br /><br />More to come....Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-61749394860749199592008-10-04T20:58:00.002-05:002008-10-04T21:07:55.438-05:00<strong>So....much....CRAP!</strong><br /><br />Okay, so I am done-ish with packing before I leave and, as always, I don't understand why I have so much stuff. It boggles me.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago, my mom was down visiting for the PKD walk that we do every year. (Of course I forgot my camera...but I know someone has a picture...more to come.) She brought the pickup and we loaded it up with boxes that I had packed up and we filled it the best we were able. BTW, that first load had my knitting books in it and of course the day after she left I needed to look something up. I now have two large suitcases, two large duffles, 12 boxes, and various bags packed into my car and it still looks like I could be living there (short of the empty closet and dresser).<br /><br />So here I sit in the "Business Office" at my apartment since my internet-connection apparatus is packed, there is a no wireless. Yeah, I sat at my laptop for 10 minutes trying to figure out why the internet wasn't working. S-M-R-T<br /><br />Once I get to the Other State and get situated, hopefully, I can get those updates up that I have been promising! Happy knitting!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-68495486021962864432008-09-30T21:24:00.003-05:002008-09-30T21:59:27.307-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm Back</span><br /><br />Allright, I'm officially back on the blog and things will be back to normal....well, normal-ish.<br /><br />As I mentioned before, I've been away, dealing with things. Everything is fine now, so don't worry, but it was a little hairy there for a while, hence my absence from my and everyone else's blog. Very long story short, I have ended up transferring to another Barnes & Noble and I will be moving....to Oklahoma....and living with my parents. Surprisingly, the bad part about this is the living in Oklahoma.<br /><br />Now, I don't want to hear from all the Okies about me ragging on their state. It's nothing personal. Oklahoma and I have just never gotten along. Last time I went to visit my parents (who moved there not too long ago), I got my new-to-me car and the state chased me out with TWO tornados. Yeah, we don't like each other. We aren't going to talk about the last time I actually lived in OK. Plus, I'm a Texan, so there you go.<br /><br />So this week, I have been packing, which is quite a chore 'cause long-time readers of the ol' blog will know how much CRAP I have. It's progressing nicely and all was going well. This weekend we had the DFW Knit Out which was awesome and I got to see folks I haven't knit with in a while. Tonight, however, was my last Knit Night with the Rockstars. We had a blast doing some eating, drinking, and knitting. I left to go home and then it hit me. I'm really leaving. Yeah, I cried the whole way home. It's crazy how it just hits you like that after all the preparation.<br /><br />But things move forward and it's not like I'll never be back......or wat least I hope I will!! TTYLJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-10137109844567207392008-09-01T10:31:00.002-05:002008-09-01T10:38:37.168-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">MIA</span><br /><br />Okay, so I'm here.....sort of. Stuff has been going down and I have really been paying much attention to the blogosphere lately. I miss all of ya'll greatly and will be getting back into the swing of things soon. <br /><br />I just wanted to let you know that I am here and I haven't been buried underneath a pile of yarn and fiber (although that is always a possibility). Information will be coming forthwith, including my experience in meeting the person I most wanted to meet. Well, famous person that is....all though some of ya'll bloggers are pretty famous, whether you know it or not.<br /><br />Until then, may your gauge be correct and may you always have enough yarn!<br /><br />P.S. Ripped out the sleeve on the baby sweater, started to reknit it again and still forgot to add on the stitches at the beginning of the rows. Yeah....it's still in time-out. FTLJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-17241697114913727642008-07-11T16:34:00.002-05:002008-07-11T16:49:13.258-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Verbal Expletives</span><br /><br />I seem to be in a funk. A knitting funk. Thus, the lack of knitting content lately. I had a nice knitting day with my friend Becky and actually started to progress a bit on a baby sweater for one that's due in August. Figured I should get going on it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2651016954_6b4812a282.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2651016954_6b4812a282.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>That would be the EZ February Sweater being done in CottonTots. I do like the pattern....probably make the adult version someday.<br /><br />So I'm at the Rockstar meetup on Tuesday, planning on finishing the second sleeve. Had to keep the little the mojo I had going. So I do finish the second sleeve that night and sit back to admire my work. This is the point at which I came very close to a very loud verbal expletive in the middle of a public place.<br /><br />I had forgot to increase the 14 stitches on my sleeve.<br /><br />Shit.<br /><br />So, I pick out the bind off, put it back on the needles, wind up the yarn and put it in the bag. It's still sitting there. It's in time out. It's been naughty.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-91231803308259562232008-06-20T12:00:00.002-05:002008-06-24T12:13:07.356-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">New Year's Day Curse</span><br /><br />Want to guarantee something won't happen, like say trying to blog more? Make it a New Year's Resolution. That's sure to nip it in the bud. So, since it has been a while, that makes for a long post. I'll at least lead you in with some good knitterly content: my adventures from World-Wide Knit-In-Public (WWKIP) Day.<br /><br />That Saturday morning, both <a href="http://disfordiana.wordpress.com/">Diana </a>and I had to work for a few hours and the ol' B&N. Diana was wonderful promoting our National Holiday. We even got a coworker to make out with some yarn!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2581611401_91a0ff0157.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2581611401_91a0ff0157.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Okay, small tangent (you knew it was coming). The night before, say around 10pm I finally decide to get my stuff together for the next day. I start sorting through projects...and more projects.....and I realize, I do not have a portable, mindless project on the needles. That's ok....I'll pick out some sock yarn that I wanted to just make some plain socks out of. Also, I wanted some done toe-up for me. (Why did I not take my mom's socks? Well, me and the calf increases still aren't speaking to each other. I would just end up making a scene.) I cast on toe-up with the crochet CO, got it started and put it in the bag, after about 4 rows.<br /><br />Okay, so back to WWKIP day. Diana and I get ready to head south to pick up <a href="http://www.pisceanknits.com/Home/Homex.html">Kristina </a>and meet up with the other Rockstars. I reach for my knitting bag for the directions to her house. Didn't bring that bag. Schnikes!! That's okay....I'll just call her. Forgot my phone. Double schnikes!! So much for leaving straight from work.<br /><br />After a small detour to my apartment, we head down south, pick up Kristina, and head to north Dallas where we go to hop on the <a href="http://www.dart.org/">DART </a>rail to head downtown. That was our big thing for WWKIP day. We were going to take mass transportation for as much of the day as we could. The DART lines don't quite reach up to us, so we had to drive a little ways. Not only is it "good for the environment", it's good for the wallet.<br /><br />Okay, so this is my first time on a train of any kind, so this was an experience for me. I grew up out in West Texas where the term "Mass Transportation" involved the back of someone's pick-up. I would have to say, I absolutely loved it! If I lived a little farther south, I would be using it every day. As we wait on our train, we, obviously, pullout our knitting. I'm going along when I realize.....I really need to go down a needle size.....badly. Triple schnikes!!! We still hadn't left the car yet, so I run and get my emergency knitting out of the car. If you want to know, it constitutes of a pair of US 19 needles, a skein of Homespun wrapped into a double stranded ball, CO 10 stitches, K till you run outta yarn. Perfect scarf. Plus, I tell myself, we are stopping by a LYS, I could pick up some needles later.<br /><br />After our train ride, we met up with the other Rockstars for lunch at the <a href="http://www.trinityhall.tv/">Trinity Hall Pub</a>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2582442624_d2895e7a3c.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2582442624_d2895e7a3c.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Apparently, I should have just skipped work and gone straight to the Pub because <a href="http://texaspurlgurl.blogspot.com/">Dawn</a> had earmarked several cute European soccer fans, but they left right before we got there. Damn...<br /><br />After we were done eating and drinking (of which I did none, for which I was thankful for later), we hopped back on the train to head to <a href="http://www.theshabbysheep.com/">The Shabby Sheep</a>. This involved taking the train to the only underground trainstop, taking two very long escalators topside, where happened to be about 10 feet from the freeway. Completely freaked Dawn out. We then headed over to the spot where we were going to hop on a trolley. And these were originally trolley's folks. It was awesome.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2581618663_c6dcfe92a8.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2581618663_c6dcfe92a8.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2582450982_db5e241c6e.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2582450982_db5e241c6e.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2582454724_f300483e84.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2582454724_f300483e84.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>From here, we walked to The Shabby Sheep. Now, we were originally under the assumption that it was 2 blocks from the trolley stop. Oh not so....try about 6-8.....in June......in Texas. And being in Texas, most of us are in flip-flops. So, once we got to the shop, the shop owner took one look and got us all some water. It was wonderful. So I got my US0 for my socks when I saw it. I had searched for the perfect shade of it and never really found one I liked enough to buy. Meet my future My-So-Called Scarf.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2581658145_7b6c3b1362.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2581658145_7b6c3b1362.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>My first Manos. I seriously couldn't have left this there if I tried.....and I did. Didn't happen.<br /><br />After we left the shop, we lost a few Rockstars to a cab back to the station, but others of us were on a mission. We headed down to the Dallas Museum of Art in search of a statue. We searched high and low, even had to stop and take a knitting/water break.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2581632237_3661875cc6.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2581632237_3661875cc6.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2582463190_2e9b9657be.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2582463190_2e9b9657be.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Then we began to search and search. And with some help from the DMA, we found it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2581647329_5c9eeea6b7.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2581647329_5c9eeea6b7.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2582467100_0aac3eff73.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2582467100_0aac3eff73.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2582470846_00babf6c11.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2582470846_00babf6c11.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2582479952_0f5257a6de.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2582479952_0f5257a6de.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2582483848_162aed1c3b.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2582483848_162aed1c3b.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2583025958_d642579862.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2583025958_d642579862.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>We loved the accuracy of the statue: the unlady-like posture, the multiple bags she carries, and the fact that she had multiple projects in said bag. It was a good end of the day.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33902934.post-15817853255039070312008-06-03T16:50:00.002-05:002008-06-04T08:31:05.811-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">WIP it Wednesday</span><br /><br />Thanks for all of the complements on my hair. I absolutely love it! The length is just perfect. Shorter would be bad. We've been down that road...it wasn't pretty. Longer and it would juuuust be too short for a ponytail and that would drive me nuts. I have even almost gotten to the point of got getting out a gallon of shampoo to wash my hair. What's harder than putting shampoo back in the bottle: conditioner.<br /><br />Here we have the current, active WIPs:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2549516344_d521b39a90.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2549516344_d521b39a90.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>This my lifetime-perpetual project, enabled by Tasha. This is my first square for a Barn-Raising quilt from the new <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Knitalong/Larissa-Brown/e/9781584796657/?itm=1">Knitalong </a>book. This has become my purse knitting 'cause it's mindless and easy to remember! Great for using up sock scraps. You might recognize this as the Lorna's from my <a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2007/09/am-i-being-stalked-alright-so-i.html">Flaming Monkeys</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2548690857_50e33ba5de.jpg?v=1212530266"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2548690857_50e33ba5de.jpg?v=1212530266" alt="" border="0" /></a>I decided I needed a larger needle and a baby sweater for my boss, so I started a EZ February Sweater outta some CottonTots. When I first saw the sweater I really loved it, until I realized that it was done on small needles. You know me and <a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2007/08/fo-fo-its-off-to-knit-i-go.html">kid stuff on small needles</a>. But after surfing the Ravelry, always dangerous, I notice alot of people doing out of worsted, so I thought I'd give it a try.<br /><br />Since summer it starting, this is the time of year when we start......<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2551156606_fb0bb24bd6.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2551156606_fb0bb24bd6.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>CHRISTMAS KNITTING!!! That's right folks! For those of us who are trying to be proactive about our Christmas knitting (or those of us who tend to knit REALLY slow), we use the 100 degree temperatures to remind us that in the knitting world, Christmas is just around the corner. This is destined to be a surprise Christmas stocking, and on the off chance they see the blog, this will be the last time you see it until it is given. Frankly, this is more of a Hey-mom-I-really-did-cast-it-on kinda entry! :-) (BTW, I got a little free reign on this one, so it's getting made out of Cascade 220, not <a href="http://yarnknita.blogspot.com/2007/12/praise-lawd-sorry-still-very-excited.html">Red Heart this year</a>. WOO HOO!!) This is #1 of 2 that will need to be done, which is why I'm starting now like a good lil' knitter.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085480033016215580noreply@blogger.com4