Post for the sake of a post.....

I realized the other day that I hadn't posted in a while and I began to wonder why. Yeah, that's because not much has happened, especially in my knitterly world.

The Flaming Monkeys now fit and are through their second repeat. If you ever need to adjust the stitch count a bit, I recommend adding a stitch on either end of the repeat and add another pattern row.

Ah...the Coachella....Coachella, Coachella, Coachella......Well, I got the the try on point in the pattern (which is AWESOME, btw) and, well, let's just say it was a "wardrobe malfunction" waiting to happen. If I bent over slightly, anyone could see down my shirt and a slight breeze would have sent the neckline, um, off-center. Now, don't misunderstand, I am not flaming the pattern. The pattern, especially the concept, is great. But how many knitters out there have actually picked up a pattern, knit it to "their size" and it actually fit? Yeah, I didn't think so.

So being the knitter I am, I frogged a ways, did some investigatory knitting, and did a little rewrite to make it fit ME! That is the ability of our kind - to take a pattern and adjust it to our needs. That's what I love about making you own stuff - you get to make it so it actually fits your body....this is of course assuming no intervention by the Knitting Goddesses, causing utter disorientation of a project. Their associates include Gauge Gnomes and Stash Pixies.

I am hoping to hit the try-on point again tomorrow, so I will know if my crazy plan has worked, or if there will be serious vexing going on. If it does work, I am taking good notes and will share my mods. If all goes well, I will probably be making more of these.

In non-knitting news, MovieBoy turned 24 yesterday and we had our traditional family outing today. For pretty much as long as I can remember (which actually isn't very long) we get together for dinner and a movie. Since my parents are up in OK this year, my bro and I got together with each other. For anyone interested, mine was last month and we saw Spiderman 3 and Shrek 3. Today we went and saw Live Free or Die Hard.

As with all sequels, and especially for one sooooo long after the others, I was afraid it would disappoint and ruin the whole thing. Such was not the case here. I was very pleasantly surprised. They could have done a really bad job, but in my opinion, I thought they did a great job. Action-packed and hilarious. I give it two needles up.

Deja Vu


**Official Spoiler Warning: This post discusses the June RSC package. If you haven't gotten yours yet and don't want to be spoiled, come back later.**
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The Flaming Monkeys have hit a rough patch. After my two repeats, they got thrown on waste yarn and tried on. The lovely picot cuff (which I will SO be doing from now on) fit lovely, but the lace sections were holding on for dear life. Bummer....

After knittyboard consultation, I think what I am going to do is frog back the lace sections (obvious much?), throw in another repeat and go down a needle size. Yes, the added repeat adds on another 16 stitches (25% increase), but I hope that going down a needle size and my wonky gauge will even it all out.

Edit: Yeah, that's not gonna work 'cause then it would be all wonky at the instep. I don't think that far ahead. So, I think I am going to increase the number of sts in the repeat and adjust accordingly in the pattern.

I got my June RSC shipment the other day. First of all, LOVE the pattern, will definately be doing that. But during this time, I had the worst case of deja vu. It was insane...why, do you ask? Check it out:
On the left is my Lorna's Laces in Flames (aka the Flaming Monkeys) and on the right is the STR Lightweight in Firebird.


No, they are not the same (the STR has more pink), but it still threw me for a loop that they socks I just cast on were in the same colorway. Good part is that now I have double the colorway!!


Something else I cast on was Coachella from the new knitty.I am doing in in Lion Brand CottonEase in Lime on US6 and US8. I am super intrigued by the contruction of this top and had to make it. Plus, this is super quick. The above is about 2 nights worth of knitting and it's probably about 1/3 done. I am hoping to get it done and blocked before knit night on Tuesday.


BTW, if you aren't on Ravelry yet, be warned. It is the new knitting crack. No lie. If you are, come find me under yarnknita and maybe we can be cracked out together.

WiP it Out!

...but they aren't coming out. :-P

I thought about photographing my current WiPs, but they haven't changed much since you last saw them, and that would just be boring. But, if you really want to know:

- The Flaming Monkeys have 2 repeats done. This is my purse knitting so it gets done, well, when it gets done.

- Lizzie's dress has gained about 3/4"...and that was alot of knitting. I am hoping that I will finish it before she grows out of it. No big worry...she is tall and skinny, traits that some of us/I weren't born with.

- The Larger that Life bag is hibernating for a bit because I am going to start a new crochet project, the Molly Weasley Sleeves.

I actually don't think that I have mentioned this, but I got a job at Barnes and Noble. It's hard, but fun in that lovely nerdy sort of way that is me. And at all bookstores everywhere, a nice little event is coming up: the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (BTW, if you have never seen the likes of a Harry Potter party, esp. at a B&N, and aren't doing anything late on July 20th, just drive by. It's insane.)

So, since I am employed again and have a nice, nerdy venue, I am hoping to have these done for the party. Yes, I will be working, but it will be fun, none the less.

Remind me of that July 21 when I am seriously cranky at 4am.

Socks, socks, socks....


...'cause I couldn't come up with a better title. Granted, that's the majority of my post! Check 'em out!These were my Socktopia Socks from January. Yes, January. Leave me alone! There came a time when they were being very naughty sockies and got put in time-out for a while. I got into that rare "finishing phase" and decided to knock them out.


And when you cast something off.....
....you must cast on again. It's the law....look it up. And so I bring you, the Flaming Monkeys!! I decided to do a pair of Monkey socks in the Flames colorway. Did I choose that just so I can say I have flaming monkeys? I leave that for you to figure out on your own.

WiP-It Wednesday

God, has it been a week? It's been a long week. All good, I assure you, just long. Here are my birdies!They are all grown up now and fly away when I try to take their picture, so this is the best I can get. I made several attempts, but it ended up with me running around my patio in my PJs, chasing a bird. God, I need a job....

Oh, wait, I HAVE ONE!!!! Yes, I finally have an income. I am now working at Barnes and Noble, which is just a little less dangerous than working in a yarn shop. It's a fun icome and I am glad that I can finally have one of those....not that being a dancing monkey-slave (chemistry grad student) wasn't a blast. My only slight frustration is that now I actually have to dress the part. For those not in the know, as a grad student I was lucky to go to school in pants that didn't have chemical holes in them.

Speaking of reading....and it being Wednesday....I've been

Reading this, this, and this.....

Watching....wait for the rental........

And here is what I have been WiP-ing:These are Squares 6-9 of my Larger than Life Bag. Yes, I did the first 5 in a day and these 4 in a week. I have a reason, but that's for later.

I got into a slight finishing kick, so I WiP-ed these out, which are now my travelling sock:These would be my January socks from Socktopia. I got a little distgruntled with them and they got put in time-out for a while. They are now in my purse and have become my travelling knitting. I have about 1.5" left before I start decreasing for the toe and they will be done.

And then I get to cast-on...and here I need some help. I have caught the knitting disease known as Ravelry. This has caused me to come down with a HUGE influx of ideas of projects that I must complete. I have narrowed my next sock project down to 2: Hedera and Monkey. Of course, these have been on my list, but they drastically moved to the head of the line when I saw all of the Monkeys done in Lorna's Laces and Tasha's Hederas in Claudia Handpaint.

Not to worry, these WILL EVENTUALLY get done, but I am having trouble deciding which one first. Here are some choices:

For Monkey:Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in (L-R) Argyle, Flames, Daffodil, Watercolor, and Amish.

For Hedera,Claudia Handpaint in (T-B) Purple Earth, Chocolate Cherry, and Ocean Depth.

Please leave a comment with a suggestion. You know I can't make a decision by myself! :-P

OOOOOOOOOOOO-klahoma

First, I give you an obligatory birdie shot:I have come to adopt these little birdies, seeing as I don't really have to take care of them! It still amazes me that a bird made a nest and laid eggs in one of my hanging plants. My bonus: free fertilizer for my plant. So far, it is still contained in the pot, but we will see how long that lasts.

Okay, back on topic. I spent the last several days at my parents house in Oklahoma, hence the title, but I must give some background. Growing up, we moved up and down the Midwest and at one point, spent 6 months living in Oklahoma. For me, that was 7 months too long. Oklahoma and I severely dislike eachother. Many things happened between us and at this point it's just a given.....until recently.

My parents go to Tulsa quite often and what does a knitter do in a new city? Find a yarn shop. Enter Oklahoma's peace offering to me: Loops, a yarn store. It is a wonderful shop on Utica square, which is a wonderful setup of shopping and dining...I recommend The Wild Fork, but I digress.

Back to Loops...I walked in and immediately knew I would like this place. They have beautiful yarn displays and a great amount of seating. Upon closer inspection, I saw all kinds of lovely yarns like Alchemy, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Blue Sky Alpaca....and Koigu. Okay, you must understand something. I have never seen Koigu in a shop, only online and I have a lone skein that Momma Monkey lovingly gifted me. I seriously thought I was going to hyperventlate. So...much....pretty....yarn!!!

As my Mommy and I walked around and I began to check things out, she kept seeing things, and petty things and saying "Oohh, that's soft" and "Ah that's pretty!" Folks, this place will even effect the non-knitters. We almost left with some Panda Cotton that she picked out, but decided against it since she thought that I already had too much on my list, including her Clessedria socks. Practicality won out.

Unfortunately, I did not buy anything, but that is only because of my employment status. I guarentee you that had I a job, I would have done some SERIOUS damage. But don't worry, Loops folks, I will return.

WIP-it Wednesday


Yeah, okay, I changed by Wednesday's a bit....I got to reading too slow. But I will hit you with a double-wammy of what I've been.....


Reading....for the 7 billionth time; the series is just SO GOOD!


Watching.....again, for the 7 billionth time; same reason


Drinking (Muscat Canelli).....okay, slight divergence.


Every year, I attend a family reunion in Fredericksburg, TX in July. We visit, do some shopping, and some of us have begun to do a hike up Enchanted Rock. We also do all of the wineries and I usually come home with 6-8 bottles of wine. I usually try to save it for a nice get-together or when I have had an especially good day. Since these tend to be far and inbetween, most of it is drank in May-July, usually the first one on my birthday. And then we start with a whole new batch of wine in August. So, there you go....


....and a WIP (work-in-progress)


During all of this West Wing watching (say that ten times fast), I did complete 5 of my 12 squares for my Larger than Life Bag.I am horribly off-gauge (adding about 3" length and width-wise), but it's a bag. Plus, by the time I figured it out, the square was already done with ends woven in. That just means I get to carry more crap!


P.S. My last birdie hatched, so all is well on that front. I haven't heard them that often, but I can hear just about as well as I can see. :-P

New birdies!!

Well, most of my birdies have hatched.It may be hard to see, but I have it detailed here. You can only see two heads, but I have seen all four and then there is the late comer still in the egg. It is really cool to be able to really see then up close. The momma bird still comes around. I think it may be a finch.

Not much knitting to report. I have been spinning alot, with the rainy weather. I actually sat out on the porch today with a book. It was a nice rain that was calming. I can't do more than 2-4 rows of my Ene's scarf at one time, I have learned. Of coure, that ranges from 600-1200 stitches. I am still working out some math on the Clessedira socks, so those are still at the cuff.

My SnB and I are working on the Larger Than Life Bag from Interweave Crochet.

We are doing a bit of an acrylic swap for our squares. I have also put up my services as a sewer and zipper attachement expert for the lining. But I think it will be a great bag and wonderful project. It doesn't get much easier than a granny-ish-square.

Birthday Blog!!

I have offically entered the second quarter of my existance (26).

Okay, my birthday was Tuesday, but I procrastinate....you know this. I also waited, hoping that the birdies would hatch, but then I wanted to get a picture of my Columbine plant flowering:

I spent my birthday with my brother (aka MovieMan). He took me out for dinner and a few movies. We had to wait for a while for the movie so we chatted. In plain sight, I had a bag 'o wool, which was for a felted bag I was working on. The bag had about 10 skeins of worsted weight that I was using double for said bag. He comments, "That's quite a bit of yarn there."

I laughed...well, on the inside. Then I took him to my bedroom and showed him my "real" stash.....well, the most used part that is:You can click here to see details.But I digress.....

We went to go see Shrek the Third and Spiderman 3. My reviews? Shrek was entertaining, but doesn't live up to the first two and could be rented with the same result. I will disclaim that I am not a comic reader, so I like Spiderman. It was good, but kind of long, but I think that they used it to tie everything up and therefore will be surprised if there is a fourth. It will be nice if they just leave it as is, but we will see if that actually happens.

I also received Charmed Knits from my super friend, Kerry. Being a knitter and big HP fan, it was a must have. My thoughts....I like having this book. It's kindof like Interweave's 25 Favorite Socks: I could look through all back issues of IK, but it is awfully nice having them all in one place. After much searching of the internet, I could probably found everything in CK. However, I will pose a question to those reading: Which Molly Weasley Sleeves to you prefer? The CK or Fruitcats'? I have been leaning toward the Friutcats pattern, but I haven't really found anyone who has done the CK one. I would appreciate any comments since if I get a job at a bookstore (akaBN), I will probably make this to wear July 21. Plus, I have loved it since the second I saw it in the theater.

I also received a wonderful subscription to IK and VK from my Mommy and Daddy. Saves me from having to stalk my B&N for them to put it out. BTW, Daddy had Lasik today. He's doing okay so far, but I haven't heard how well he is seeing. He had trifocals and couldn't ever get the script right. I feel I am headed that way myself. I got bifocals at 16 and was surprised I didn't get trifocals at my last visit.

Allright, I'll quit rambling....for now......:-)

Home, home on the range......

All knitters have said it at least 100 times in their lifetime - "I wish I had more time to knit." I probably said it everyday during school, but I will share a quick story. You guys know I ramble.....

When I got Kerry knitting, we made it a habit to bring our knitting to Friday seminar and we would sit in the back and knit. This is where guest speakers, and some professors, would come to talk about their research and what not. This was perfectly acceptable, as long as we were quiet knida thing. Hey, at least we weren't snoring like Tom. :-P Anyway, we got to our seats and got sitchiated (that's Texan) and got clickin' away when one of our profs, who we currently had a class with, commented that we never come and knit in his class. Now, being the smart-ass I am and knowing sarcasm when I hear it, I made the comment along the lines of, "well, I would if you would let me." But, I digress.....

Since I have been home, when I am not job hunting that is, I figured, hey, I will get a TON of knitting done. And I have....too much. I have gotten to the hand cramping point of knitting. It REALLY SUCKS!!! I have gone through the project progression of my lacy Ene's Shawl, to patterned socks, to plain socks, to scarves on a US6, and finally to a felted bag pattern on 10.5. Oh woe is me....

And now, because you don't know how REALLY weird I am, I submit the circulating meme....

7 Weird Things About ME!

1. I cannot sleep with any door open in my bedroom. The main door, bathroom door, and closet door must all be shut. It just bugs me, I don't know why.

2. Where I am going to graduate school is the 20th school I have attended in my life. We moved around a bit. Went from Texas to Kansas to Nebraska to Oklahoma and (thankfully) back to Texas.

3. I have a "thing" for pajamas. I think it comes from living in the coed dorms for 3 years (yes, I lived in a girl dorm for a year. (shudder) WAY too much concentrated estrogen). In a five drawer chest, two drawers contain just PJs - one for tops, one for bottoms.

4. I learned to walk on my toes and did it consistantly until I was about 13, when they threatened that they were going to have to cut my Achilles tendon so I could walk flat-footed. GENERALLY speaking, I finally stopped 2-3 years ago, but I still do it from time to time. Don't ever, EVER let your kids do it....gets painful later on.

5. I didn't have (much less SEE) a Starbucks until I was 18. I remember going to college and everyone being amazed that I had never had Starbucks. I came from a little West Texas town that didn't mave much, but two years later, a town about 45 miles away got one and it was exciting.

6. The first poker tournement I played in I got 2nd place. My dad was excited for me, until I asked him the order of the hands again. He was bewildered on how I got second place without knowing the order of the hands. I know them now....I think. :-P

7. I have never seen any of the Godfather movies and I am a movie freak. It's not that I am against them, I have just never had the opprotunity.