Kelly Knits Too

2010

2010-01-01T18:32:00.002-05:00

A time to reflect and a time to refresh. A time to look back and a time to plan ahead. A time to access and a time for change. I love this time of year. Happy New Year to you all!

You Know...

2009-12-01T09:34:00.002-05:00

When you get started on a project and you can't stop thinking about it or knitting on it till it's done? That's how I feel about this particular baby sweater I'm making for my baby niece. Yes, I'm an aunt for the 4th time by my little sister. I'm making the Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss. Simple yet captivating. Perfect for football and podcast listening.

I'm sure you're probably wondering why I've been absent for so long (sounds like the same old story doesn't it?). Well, I've been working to support this yarn habit of mine. Even crackheads work for their fix (hehehe). You can join my fan page on Facebook to learn more about it (if you are apart of Facebook). Just search for "Mission Nutrition Wellness Center" and join the group.

Sorry there are no pics of my FO's in this post. I'm glad to be back though, so I may give some more time to this whole blog thing in the future.

Merry Christmas!

Nothing Much

2009-07-23T08:55:00.003-04:00

I know you guys are probably annoyed that there aren't any pictures in this post. However, I promise there is much knitting getting done. It's just that work is keeping me very busy as well (which in some ways is a good things because I get to do things like, I don't know, eat and maintain my yarn habit).

I'm still working on the socks, just not as fervently as before. The project of my real interest right now is a orange sweater. I'll have pictures for you guys next week as I want to get some more work out of it before I show you my progress.

This weekend I'm off to Chicago for work purposes. It's going to be SUPER SUPER FUN!!! Not many people can say that, so I'm truly blessed.

So what are you guys doing this weekend?

Changling

2009-07-20T07:47:00.000-04:00

It seems like the last time I was here, I spoke about a touchy subject that no one was willing to respond to. That doesn't mean that you guys did not read (you know you check your traffic stats too, LOL). That's okay. I promise today's post will be light like whipped cream and strawberries (YUM!).

Case in point, remember these socks from a few weeks ago? Well they were just too plain simple. After attempting to turn them into these, the socks proved to be too tight to even go over my foot and I was 3/4 of the way done. So I ripped it out and turned them into these socks.

The pattern is quite lovely and if I spent some more time with this project, I'd memorize the pattern after 1 or 2 more stitch repeats. I'm worried that the sock will end up too lose, but I figured if they are too big, I'll give them away to my husband's aunt up in Saskatchewan, who appreciates hand knit socks like nobody's business (don't you love people like that?).

Revelation

It took me 2 weeks of ripping and knitting to figure this revelation out. I'm a product knitter, so that means it was frustrating as hell to have to rip back after hours of knitting. However, on the bright side, I learned a lot about the importance of gauge. For my whole knitting life I thought I was a loose knitter so I usually go down a size without even thinking about it. I was knitting Jaywalkers on US 0 needles (which is crazy). Turns out that I'm a tight knitter and need to go up a needle size or 2 (or just need to freakin' relax). I figured this out because I had knit a swatch for a sweater I'm going to start soon. I used the needles called for and I got 26 stitches in 4 inches. The label said I should get 24 stitches. Then I started to notice that as I knit with the needles called for, the work was stiff and did not lay nicely. It was hard to push my needles in and out of stitches, and I was using Addi Turbo's.

Long story short, I would recommend that you figure out if you're a tight or loose knitter and do it fast. It will make your knitting experience so much more enjoyable and your hands, arms, and shoulders will thank you for that. Plus your knitting will look better, and more professional looking.

Now off to work. It is Monday you know!

Sick & Tired

2009-07-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

Like any other knitter while they're cleaning, I listen to podcasts. Stash & Burn and Lime & Violet are just two of my favorites.

And like any other knitter, I do fall behind on my weekly listening. Lately I've been catching up on Cast On and found myself very disappointed with the content lately. I love how she talks about the knitting and her travels around Wales and her relationship with Tanya and all. The only problem I have with this particular series is the doom and gloom aspects that have slyly pushed themselves in.

It seems that Brenda is watching too much news and is getting scared of the "economic downturn". It's a bunch of shit and needs to stop right now!

I guess I'm so upset because if I wanted to hear bullshit, I'd watch the news to keep my mind limited, my hopes pissed on, and my confidence turn into fear in a matter of seconds. I don't want my knitting podcast to be infused with the same crap that CNN, Fox News, and other news outlets are made out of.

I listen to podcasts about knitting to escape from the daily grind. I don't want to hear about the stock market, do not want to hear about people loosing their jobs, I don't care about people not being able to afford a "good" college education for their kids or themselves. People who have come from nothing (like Jay-Z, like Oprah, like Warren Buffet) didn't let bullshit like "economic turmoil" deter them from what they wanted. They decided they wanted to be successful and touch other people's lives and they did it. NO EXCUSES HERE!

Here's a reality check: If you're still working, if you haven't lost your home to foreclosure, if you are still buying yarn in abundance, THEN YOU PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS!!! You're doing quite alright. Now, if you're in tons of debt, can't keep up with your bills, and don't know where you're going to find food to feed your kids, THEN YOU PERSONALLY DO HAVE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS!!! Either way, you're responsible for your own household, not me, not the government, not your friends or family, NO ONE ELSE BUT YOU!!!

Ultimately, I'm saying keep my knitting podcasts and bullshit news separate please. Do you think I should tell Brenda this? I mean it is her show, and she does what she pleases with it, but I figure she does seem pretty open to suggestions from her audience. Let me know, eh.

Don't You Love....

2009-06-30T09:16:00.000-04:00

Ravelry! If you haven't gotten on that thing, you must. Many people believe that blogging has fallen by the wayside since the advent of Ravelry. Plus there are so many other places to connect on the web nowadays (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr). I just keep my life simple and do the blogging and Ravelry.

And why do I like Ravelry so much? It's the perfect time waster. I could look at patterns for hours and hours, swoon over the yarn choices, laugh at the cooky avatars, and add a ton of new projects to my queue. It's not that I plan on doing these projects today, it's almost like you save it right away so that you can get back to it a few months later. It's a great way to organizes oneself (especially when you're not organized yourself).

Another reason why I like Ravelry is because it's a great way to get some knitting done. I'm sure your thinking "What on earth do you mean Kelly?" I'm what they would call a product knitter, so I could give two shits about HOW something is done, just as long as it is done. However, whenever I don't have the time to knit, I go to Ravelry to get that knitting itch scratched. I find great pleasure in looking at other people's FO's and dreaming up FO's of my own some day. Am I the only person that feels this way?

So why do YOU like Ravelry?

Pictorial

2009-06-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

I love taking pictures. It's easier to take really good ones when you have a good camera. One thing that makes me stay reading a blog is to check out the fantastic pictures. Now I'm not saying that I'm going to quit what I'm doing to become a professional picture taker (I'll leave that to the experts). What I am saying is that taking really good pictures are as satisfying as finishing a knitting project. Luckily, I have both here for you.

This is a cowl that I started and finished in 1 week. The yarn is Creatively Dyed Yarns and I got it at Stitches Midwest last year. I was going to make socks out of it but decided that the fabric was too stiff. I found this pattern on Ravelry. It's called A Nobel Cowl and it's super pretty.

Clearly it's huge and cannot be used till fall. I have never really worn cowls before but it makes sense when you just want your neck to be warm. Plus it doesn't take as long to make as a scarf and they don't get boring either. Dare I say it, cowls are a great holiday present and they bust stash like crazy.

But what I really think that's super great about cowls is how they make me feel so cozy and warm. Like when it's a super cold day outside, billows of snow and hail falling from the sky, and you have a cup of hot chocolate or tea, some great easy knitting, and some football or your favorite movie on the TV. Yeah. That's how a cowl makes me feel!

But back to my original point about pictures. Even though content is very important to a good blog, excellent photography just makes the story pop. I mean, a big factor on whether I buy a knitting book or not is if the photography looks great. Even if it's plain seed stitch, nice pictures make anything look spectacular. What's your opinion on this matter? Does good photography really matter to you?

Time Warp

2009-06-24T07:49:00.000-04:00

So this is what has been taken up much of my time lately:

Looks like a weird science project, eh? Actually, I've been growing zucchini seeds in them for 4 weeks. And FYI, there is absolutely no dirt in the container. Just SumiBalls. These seedlings were actually ready to be planted by week 2 but I've been carrying them around town showing people how cool this stuff really is. Check out the blog to learn more about these SumiBalls.

Knitting

In addition to cool science projects, I've also been casting on. I started these socks back in May. Look at them now:

The yarn is Indigo Moon and you can get it (where else) at the Loopy Ewe. The pattern is Paraphernalia (rav link) and I got the yarn during our travels to a magical land called Lanigan back in May of this year. It's in Saskatchewan (that's in Canada if you weren't paying attention in geography class back in high school) and the landscape reminds me of all the other boring plains states like the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, etc.

It was so much fun being up there with 4 dogs, 1 cat, several different humans, lots of alcohol, and of course knitting. It was my husband's family reunion so we had a good time. The yarn is super cool to work with and is from British Columbia, Canada. That's why I got it. I know, I know. I told you a few post ago that I didn't need any more yarn. But vacation yarn doesn't count! Besides, people always buy t-shirts that say "I went to __________ and all I got was this stupid t-shirt" even though they don't need any more clothes. And who of you out there need another shot glass that shows famous landscapes and iconic structures of whatever city you are visiting? I didn't think so.

I can't take the Empire State Building home with me, but I sure can go to Purl in Soho and pick up some cashmere. Now THAT'S my type of souvenir.

Raining Cats & Dogs

2009-06-19T10:32:00.003-04:00

So last night it was raining like buckets. The thunder was so loud that it actually woke me up! My husband couldn't sleep either. Poor thing is a light sleeper so even a cat meowing can wake him up.

When I woke up this morning, the sky looked like it was done peeing on us, so I thought it was appropriate to let you guys know that we have added some new family members. No I did not have a baby during my hiatus. These family members have four legs and are hairy.

You all remember my first cat. Here she is all grown up:

Well then we got a dog for my husband's sake (he loves those things). His name is Abby (short for Abigail, which I will explain in a later post why we named him that):

Then for good measure, we picked up a stray male cat and named him Jackie Chan (can you tell why?):

Now we have 3 animals and a house that is always in shambles. Good thing we don't have white carpet!

What? You Finished Something!

2009-06-18T00:59:00.000-04:00

Yes. I do have an FO. I actually finished these socks Saturday night. I've been working on them for like 2 months. Not to say that I'm a SLOW knitter. I've just haven't been a FOCUSED knitter.

The yarn I used was Araucania. It's from Chile, and like the wine from that region, it's nice yet cheap! I have another skein of this in a dark plum color that I'm not sure what to do with. The semi-solid colors in this sock is gorgeous. The pattern is Baudelaire without the cable. I did a short-row heel instead of what the pattern called for, which some purest would say that what I made was not Baudelaires but something else. Sometimes I like learning new knitting techniques, but that day when I got to the heel, I said "No thank you!" and kept it moving. In other words, it's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Too bad I got to wait till October to start wearing them. Off to the storage bin it goes!

Simplicity

2009-06-16T08:07:00.005-04:00

Lately, I've been longing for simplicity. Simplicity in my career, in my marriage, and in the way that I relate to my loved ones. So quite naturally I've also been longing for simplicity in my knitting. Unfortunately, whenever I actually start to do the knitting, I find myself changing my mind for more complication, with the excuse that it will be boring if I just do plain old stockinette. The only problem with this is that it's not great for TV knitting or waiting on lines or for helping me pass time.

Do you ever struggle with this? You definitely want your knitting to be interesting, but you do need something to occupy your hands as you are occupied talking on the phone or doing a long distance drive. I mean stockinette is great for long car rides over night, because you can't see anyway, and if you can't sleep, you can do a couple simple rows before you drop your head again.

The simple solution is to have a few complicated projects and a few simple projects on the go at all times. The problem that I tend to run into is I always have grand plans for my knitting (don't we all) and I really want every project to be spectacular. But at the end of the day, whenever non-knitters compliment me on my work, they don't know the difference between intarsia and cables. They just say, "Wow! That's so cool you can make socks! I can't see myself doing that!" (don't you hate when people say that they can't learn how to knit for whatever excuse. You learned how to brush your teeth, certainly you can learn how to knit).

So in honor of my new found need for simplicity, I started these Sunday night:

I love the bright colors of Perchance to Knit by Susie. This yarn actually was gifted to me by her a little over a year ago when she was doing a destash sale on her blog and I opted to take some yarn off of her hands. I thought I was getting a sweaters worth of yarn and enough sock yarn to make a pair of socks, but when I got the package, she through this lovely skein in as well.

I have to admit that as a skein the colors looked really garish, like something I would have loved in the 5th grade but not as an adult. But as I'm knitting this up, it makes me so happy! The colors are stripping really well and I can see myself pulling these socks out on cold winter days when I need a little pick me up. I'm looking forward to this being done in a few short weeks.

The Marriage

2009-06-12T09:32:00.004-04:00

So you're probably wondering when I signed my life away (i.e. got married). February 2, 2009 was the date we did it (my brother-in-law's day of birth). It was the cheapest wedding I've ever seen - $60 (for the license and the judge to come and perform the ceremony). It was great! I wore a turquoise cocktail dress with shiny red stilettos and one of my hand-knit scarves (a Clapotis actually). He wore work clothes (he's a man, not a peacock). Here are the obligatory pictures:

As you can tell, we were happy that day.

In Like Forever

2009-06-11T09:12:00.002-04:00

Blogging shouldn't be that hard, you know? I mean your just saying a few words about your day and having people come by to read up on you. Unfortunately, for me, I need to be inspired to write, and as of late, I haven't been.

The last time I talked to you all was November of last year. Since then, I've gotten married to this guy:

I now have another cat and my husband just got a cute all black dog. That brings our animal count to 3. Lord help us all!

Don't worry, I'm still knitting. Not as much as I used to though. That pesky thing called work keeps me busy (which I guess is a good thing because it does support important necessities like food and my yarn habit).

Last month, my husband, his brother, and I went to Canada (Lanigan, SK to be exact) and I was able to get some souvenir yarn, under the agreement that when we got home, I would count all my skeins of yarn and not be allowed to exceed that number ever again. So that means, I would have to knit up a lot of yarn before I could buy anymore to replace it.

Tell you the truth I was scared to face my stash (has that ever happen to you?). So on Memorial Day, I did it. I counted my stash. My results were frightening:

Total Skeins - 140
Total Projects - 38
Total Pairs of Socks - 28
Total Shawl projects - 10

In other words, I have enough yarn to make 28 pairs of socks and 10 shawls. Not to mention the one skeins of worsted, chunky, and cotton yarns I have. I also did not add the yarn for projects that I have on the needles (which right now is about 3 sweaters, 3 socks, and 1 crochet baby blanket for my sister who is having a baby in July).

Thankfully, I learned a lot from this experience. One major thing is that I really like sock yarn (that's an understatement) and like buying lace weight. I'm always looking for slick deals, and in my mind, $20-$25 for a project isn't as bad as $100-$150 for a sweater. Lately, however, I've been wanting to make more sweaters. But the yarn just sits there. I wake up every morning to a beautiful display of colors in my bedroom. Whenever I get stressed, I literally go up to my room, and start petting the yarn.

After I counted everything, a thought came to my mind. I hate to admit it, but my husband was right. I don't need anymore yarn! I already barely have time to work on the projects I do have on the go right now (hahahaha)!

At least if the world really does come to an end, I'm prepared with enough projects to keep me occupied for years.

My First Time

2008-11-05T12:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Election Day in America. It was also my very first time voting in my life. At 24 years old I figured well I'm not getting younger so I might as well do this thing while I'm not senile and incapacitated.

I knew Obama was going to win. Not because I really wanted him in office. In fact, I didn't like any of the candidates. I preferred Obama over McCain but tell you the truth I wrote Ron Paul's name on the ballot and kept it moving.

I then knocked on doors in my town and asked people to vote. It was fun cause I got to meet all sorts of people.

I went back to the Republican headquarters in my city and saw sad, scared faces. People were hoping that their candidates won. The energy was not there though. It was a dead scene.

Later on that evening I went to the Democratic headquarters of my city. BIG DIFFERENCE. There was probably 300 people there. All sorts of people. They were cheering and laughing and happy with one another and the election results. Surprisingly, Obama had won Indiana, which is a very red state.

So as I watched Fox News Network in HD, I looked at Obama go on stage to say his acceptance speech. I was scared out of my mind. Mainly because there are still crazy people that would try to assassinate this. Truthfully I only watched, mainly because 50 years from now, when I'm a grandmother of 20, I wanted to let my grandchildren know that I was there watching that thing happen before me, kind of like men who fought in World War II or Holocaust survivors. They were there and that's what makes them cool.

So even though I really wanted Ron Paul in office, it's still kind of cool that Obama won last night. Are you happy with the election results? Doesn't matter if you live in the US or not, let me know.

Where Da' Hell Have You Been?

2008-10-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

I know what you all are thinking. Is she dead? Did she fall off the face of the earth? Did she decide that knitting wasn't for her anymore? None of the above, thank you very much. Many things have happened over the past 2 months of my life. I am now working full time from home with my business (check out the links on the side for my online store if you'd like to learn more). Since then I've been traveling to many places and have met tons of new people.

Currently I'm in a bathroom of my hotel room in Los Angeles. I'm with a group of other work collegues for a company convention and am super excited about meeting all the top producers, learning new strategies, and just having a good time. The month before I was in Detroit for more company training and next weekend I'm flying to Dallas for even more training. I figured if I don't constantly keep up, then my business will slide. Repetition is the mother of skill.

I have been knitting but obviously there are no pictures to prove that. Today, however, I am more interested in what you guys are doing. Since I haven't been keeping up with this blog, I also haven't been keeping up with you guys blogs. Let me know how things are going in the comments section. Just a quick blip so that I know you all are doing alright.

Doom & Gloom

I would like to take this time to talk about the US economy. Everyone is pessimistic about it. How our financial system will collapse and the effect will be worst than the Great Depression of the 20th century. The economic climate doesn't worry me because in my line of business times like these are were we see our largest growth. There will always be a cycle of 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Right now is that time of famine and we are paying for it because we did not prepare for it during the time of plenty.

The funny thing about this whole mess is that our political leaders have tried and failed to step in to soften the blow in the financial crisis and not make it so harsh on everyday Americans. The fact of the matter is that it's not fair for everyday Americans to pay for the mistakes of irresponsible people (investors, people who got into homes they knew they could not afford, etc.) I don't care if financial Armageddon happens next week! Capitalism is about paying for what you do (good or bad), not someone else footing the bill when you fail and only you benefiting from the upside. I guess Congress has forgotten that people are inwardly selfish. Even when we give to charity, there is something that we get out of it personally and we only do it because it makes us feel good about ourselves.

In the end, instead of focusing on doom and gloom, continue your work, continue living your life. That's what people did in the Great Depression and that's what people will continue to do now. Besides if you have food, a home, and clothes on your back, you're better off than half of the world's population who live on less than $1 a day.

Anyway, that's all for today. I hope I didn't sound preachy. I'm off to get professionally trained!

Stitches Midwest 2008 Splurge

2008-08-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

So like I said, I really did break the bank with this trip. The money wasn't an issue for me, though. I wanted to have fun and that's what I did.

A quick rundown of the trip. I met a woman named KallieKY on Ravelry. She's a sweet person and she, her mother, and I drove to a certain point in Indiana to board a bus that was coming from Kalamazoo to pick us up to take us to Chicago to get to Stitches Midwest. Needless to say we felt like hitch hikers waiting in the McDonald's parking lot for our bus ride.

We got on the bus and then we were all each given this lovely bag:

Doesn't it look like a knitter's tool kit? Each of these bags had some little trinkets like a pen and notepad, animal crakers for snacking and this wonderful ball of yarn:

I've never knit with this stuff before but I do plan on making a hat or maybe some fingerless mitts. Something small and great for a holiday gift.

Two hours later we got to the convention center and began the frenzy. For a Friday, the place was already buzzing. I was glad we went that day because we probably would have not gotten to every single booth due to the crowds. I bought a ton of stuff and then we got back on the bus to go home.

On the bus ride, I got to know KallieKY personally. We learned that we like knitting pretty much the same things and are always ready for a challenge. She's been knitting longer than I have and is older than me, but I believe we established something special together last Friday. She's also a spinner and promised to teach me how to do it on her wheel some day soon. And you guys know my boyfriend knows how to knit but he's not very passionate about knitting. It's nice to meet people like KallieKY who are just as fanatical and crazy about yarn and needles as you are. Great trip and a great knitter!

The Goods

Two skeins of Noro sock yarn and a skein of Kauni (remember the Yarn Harlot made that crazy cardigan out of this stuff). The yarn itself is not the softest, but those colors are just spectacular.

I got this whole bag of orange DK weight yarn to make a sweater out of the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. I can't remember the exact name of the pattern, but it is a turtleneck with tons of cables. Couldn't resist this yarn (Mission Falls DK to be exact).

Malabrigo silk/wool blend. I only got it because it is Malabrigo and I wanted to try out this new yarn. Pretty colors. Christmas presents? Maybe.

Of course I could not leave that place without some sock yarn. From left to right:

Arucania from Chile, Shelridge Farm from Canada, Creatively Dyed Yarns, and and STR mediumweight in Farmhouse. I would have linked the other companies, but they should be well known by you guys, right? Moving on to...

The Luxury Goods

I did not really go to Stitches Midwest with a plan. However, I did tell myself that I wanted to get things that I did not already have in my stash. Here's what I got:

Some angora/wool blend and a drop spindle from Illinois Green Pastures Fiber Cooperative. I also got...

SOME CASHMERE!!!

Sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I had to get this stuff. The price was right, the vendors were friendly, and the yarn was GORGEOUS.

And that of course is the climax of our Stitches Midwest 2008 review. This weekend is Labor Day weekend in Canada and the United States. Therefore enjoy the holiday and everyone else, happy knitting!

Birthdays Are Fun...

2008-08-26T12:45:00.000-04:00

When your family drives all the way from New York to play in your garden:

When your friends bring their baby:

When your father gives you a hug:

When you look this damn good at 24 years old! Well, maybe not so much this picture, but trust me I am quite hot in person (hehehe).

It was a good day.

Next post I promise pictures from my Stitches Midwest trip last Friday. Oh yeah. This trip did break the bank!

Since Last Post...

2008-08-21T23:25:00.000-04:00

Lots of things have happened in my life. So much so that I will share them with you in bullet form.

FUCKING

nutrition business

Stitches Midwest

Anyway, off to bed I go. If you're going to Stitches, holla at me. If not, tell me what are your plans for this weekend? Take care!

Twist Collective is Here!!!

2008-08-01T18:58:00.004-04:00

RUN DO NOT WALK TO THIS SITE!!! I literally want to knit EVERY SINGLE PATTERN on this site! Remember that you heard it here first. I will say it right here, right now. Twist Collective is definetely the best thing that has happened to knitting on the interwebs since the dawn of Ravelry. Now that's a bold statement.

Noro, How I Love Thee

2008-07-23T07:25:00.000-04:00

Uh, I think I have a problem.

I finished a Noro and Malabrigo hat a couple weeks ago and love the result. I took the stitch pattern for Ziggy and felt that it would look cool in a hat form.

I have also found a local gem. Erica's Craft & Sewing Center is mainly a sewing shop but has an amazing selection of quality yarns. One of them is the Noro Kureyon sock yarn you see above and I couldn't resist.

I also could not pass up trying the new Lion Brand Sock Yarn. I love basic sock yarn and this fits the bill. The only bad side is that the color selection is rather limited but I'm sure this yarn will get a good response and they will come out with new colors soon.

Wollmeise Rant

2008-07-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Am I foolish for thinking that I would be able to buy a skein of Wollmeise sock yarn? I guess so. Last week the sneak up at The Loopy Ewe came up at 9 p.m. Central Standard Time. By 9:05 p.m. Central Standard Time, all 300 skeins were gone! Can you imagine the amount of profit Sherry is making right now. I can't even imagine. Maybe more or less than we all think, but either way, that's good for the knitting industry. As long as someone buys it, yarn (and might I mention good yarn) will still be available to the rest of us.

I guess what I'm more upset about is the fact that I checked the website every day several times for a whole month and a half. I figured if I checked multiple times a day, I would catch the sneak up and have my chance to knit with this stuff. But alas, I did not check the site when it really mattered. This reminds me of American football. You could have a perfect field goal score in practice, but if you do not kick a good field goal when the Super Bowl is on the line, you're toast.

What disturbs me more is how obsessed I became with getting the yarn. It was almost like I forgot why I knit. I mean many of the yarns I have in my stash are good quality stuff. However when I was thinking about Wollmeise, it was almost like I thought my stash was really balls of twine and skeins of acrylic. I felt when it came to knitting, nothing else mattered and my stash would finally be complete with some of this stuff. Wollmeise is like the Holy Grail of sock yarns right now and unfortunately I can't get any of it.

And for those of you on Ravelry, just look up Wollmeise and see what you find. It resembles more of a stock market or trading bazaar than a place to display your stash. There are tons of people on there looking to trade Wollmeise for other Wollmeise sock yarn. It kind of makes me think that maybe a lot of the people that bought last week were just trying to get what they could and if they didn't like the color, they figured they could trade for something they liked on Ravelry. I must admit that was my plan too, but again, I failed.

Wollmeise is like crack for knitters. And even though I'm jealous of all of you who have a skein, I will be a big girl and wait till the next sneak up. Hopefully I will be clicking on the Loopy Ewe at the right time. Otherwise, I'm just going to have to get over this obsession I have with this lady's stuff. Or fly to Germany and take her hostage and force her to dye some yarn specifically for me. You know, I'm just saying (LOL).

Tejedora Autentica

2008-07-21T08:59:00.000-04:00

Everyone, meet Bullseye:

Isn't she cute? My boyfriend and his brother (we all live together) surprised me on Saturday with a cute little kitty. Now I feel like an official knitter because I have a cat. I already know that she likes string, so I'm keeping my stash away from her. You know, just in case.

And yesterday said boyfriend got a little dirty working in the fireplace (isn't he cute, well actually, don't answer that). He took out the old frame and in a week or so will put in a new fireplace insert. Experts say this fireplace insert will be 70% more efficient than a normal one. We plan on using the fireplace to heat our house since it is well known that Natural Gas prices (in the Midwest, at least) have doubled since last winter. Whenever I hear news like that, I just scoff and say, "Man I'm glad I'm a knitter!"

See ya!

Traveling Again

2008-07-03T20:19:00.000-04:00

Tonight I shall begin my journey to the wonderful land of Canada. I love that place. It's so clean and the people are friendly and the natural beauty of the place is gorgeous!

We will be driving (Lord help us with the gas prices), and I do plan to knit for most of the trip. I'm so excited because my boyfriend has agreed to take me to a yarn store in Toronto and I do plan to purchase some soveniers.

Therefore, I wish everyone in the States a Happy 4th of July and I'll post when I get back.

I Love New York!

2008-07-01T21:09:00.000-04:00

Came back from New York City last night. What a trip! I did everything that I could for the short 3 day trip. So much so that I am completly sleep-deprived, but in a good way. Most of the time was spent with family and friends. But I also got to do some very New York things like ride the subway, drive in rush hour traffic, and even go to a night club that played only dancehall, soca, and reggae music. I felt right at home with my Caribbean people, food, and culture.

As soon as I got off the plane, my mother, sisters, and I went to this fabulous Japaneese restaurant for lunch. Later on that day I went to see my grandmother, some cousins, and some aunts. The next day I went to see some more aunts and a very good friend of mine. Later on that night I went out to a club with my best friend. Can you tell that we had fun?

The next day I spent it with my very good friend all the way from Argentina. Guess where we went?

To the Empire State Building! I only mention this because just like her, this was my first time up there. Isn't that a shame? How many New Yorkers do you know that have never been on top of this building? I've traveled to Rio de Janeiro to visit O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue and Machu Picchu in Peru but I've never been to the Empire State building until this past Monday. I'm sure there are people who live in Rio de Janeiro that have never stepped foot on Corcovado to see the Jesus Christ statue but have been to the Empire State building. I guess in the end, we never really appreciate what we have till we loose it.

I had a great time showing my friend the city. We haven't seen each other in 2 years and the only reason she was able to come up here is because she won $5000 pesos in this contests that a Spanish bank called Banco Santander was having in Argentina. I would have done the same thing. I mean how often does a person get that much money at one time? I'm just glad she came. We only spent a few hours together, but I enjoyed ever momemnt. Siempre estara en mi corazon. Es muy buena esa chica.

But alas, even though I love NYC, there are just certain things about it that I can't live with anymore. Like how dirty everything is. Or how expensive living there could be. So in the end, even though I don't see myself moving back to my hometown, New York will always be in my heart.

I did get some knitting done on the plane but sorry, no pictures today. I do have a great surprise to show you guys but that will be later. Right now I really need to rest up. Traveling can really drain you man.

Mi Patria

2008-06-27T17:52:00.003-04:00

I'm flying out to New York this evening to see family and friends. A friend from Argentina is going to be there too and we are going to hang out. We haven't seen each other in 2 years so we have a lot to talk about. Needless to say I am super excited to be going home.

Que tengan un buen fin de semana! See you next week! Happy knitting!

Pretty Yarn

2008-06-22T18:46:00.000-04:00

Recently, I heard a report on National Public Radio talking about the rise in lipstick sales in the United States of America. The journalist stated that usually in hard economic times, women cut back on more expensive cosmetic related items like facials and day spa trips, but lipstick seems to be a cheap "pick-me up" type of consumer good to buy. I mean let's think about it. Women, even in hard times, want to feel beautiful. And if a new tube of red lipstick or sparkly lip gloss will give them the "pick-me up" they need to get through the week, why not? Seeing that I don't wear lipstick, yarn has replaced that "pick-me up" that I need so badly right now.

Yesterday I went to the world famous Thread Bear yarn store in Lansing, MI. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the store itself because I forgot to bring my camera. But I will say that if you are anywhere near Lansing, MI, pay a visit to this store. It is huge, carries a wide selection of yarns and knitting notions, and they even sell spinning wheels, drop spindles, and fiber. I even got to meet with the owners of the store, Rob and Matt, who were both very funny, pretty nice and hospitable. Love that place and do plan on returning whenever I'm in the Lansing area.

I'm sure you're wondering what type of yarns are these. From top to bottom, some worsted weight Malabrigo, some gorgeous hand dyed sock yarn by Susie (hmm, that makes 4 skeins from her), some Colinette Jitterbug, and some more Malabrigo in the chunky weight. I only picked up the Malabrigo because that fire in Uruguay really destroyed a lot of the inventory. I hear it will take them anywhere from 6 months to a whole year to get back to full capacity (anyone can correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, Malabrigo addicts, you need to snatch whatever skeins you can up before it is all gone for a while (see I wasn't crazy when I talked about "THE END"). The Jitterbug was too beautiful to pass up, as the colors were just so whimsical and pretty.

As for the pink variegated yarn above, I must take a moment to talk about the Perchance to Knit sock yarn. I saw this skein and knew that it had to come home with me. The price was a little steep, but quite frankly, the dye job on this skein was hard to beat. Like I said, I have about 4 skeins and from time to time I just admire and pet them. GORGEOUS!!! I command all who read this to run over to the Loopy Ewe and buy Perchance to Knit because I would do anything for Susie and the work she does is phenomenal.

Remember the secret hat I was working on? Here are the pictures.

This was my first time using Noro Kureyon and each time I picked this hat up to work on it, I felt such peace and calm with my knitting. I only mention this because whenever I knit, I'm completely obsessed with getting the project done ASAP. That definetely makes me a project knitter. But seeing the colors transition so well in this hat was really intriguing. A very enjoyable project for me indeed.

So today I'm cooling out. Lots of knitting and getting some housework done (you know the usual).

Later! Ate logo! Hasta luego!

Women and "Getting Ready"

2008-06-18T07:44:00.000-04:00

You ever think about the amount of time we spend wasting time? I mean, I'm sure the majority of you that read this thing are women. And women for some reason are notorious for taking ass loads of time just to "get ready" everyday. And as the importance of an occassion increases, so does the amount of time a woman will spend "getting ready".

I will give you an example. If you are getting ready for work, it may take you about 45 minutes to shower, get your hair combed, put on your make up, find an outfit to wear, etc. Forty-five minutes isn't too long of a time for most women. But lets say you are going on a first date with a man that you have fancied for months now. Add some girlfriends and another 30 minutes to your routine. How about a special dinner with your husband or a special ceremony held in your honor? Plan on at least 2 1/2 hours to get ready.

Last year, my boyfriend's step brother was getting married and I had the pleasure of hanging out with the women of the bridal party. I'm always with men (not in a slutty way, come on guys), so it was nice to be with some women. Needless to say the high amounts of estrogen were at times overwhemling over that weekend, but it was a cool observe women enjoying each other. So that Sunday was the wedding ceremony and the bride woke up a 8 a.m. to start the process of getting ready. FOUR (4) HOURS LATER she was ready to take her first set of pictures. Of course she looked gorgeous, but 4 HOURS!!! Why can't women get married in burlap sacks? When men get married, they spend most of the wedding day golfing or playing basketball. Then 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, they remember "Oh yeah, I'm getting married today" and race back to the hotel to slosh some Listerine in their mouth, slap on their tux, and make sure to wear lots of cologne to hide the smell of sweat build up on their backs.

I don't know if many of you guys know this, but when I was in high school, I used to chemically straighten my hair (perm is what most black people say). Anyway, there were many reasons why I stopped (we won't go into them here). But do you really want to know the main reason why I stopped? It is because I am completely lazy. You see, when you have permed hair, you have to do all sorts of things to keep it looking fresh. Touch ups every 2 months, wash and sets every 2 weeks, deep conditioning every month so your hair doesn't fall out from being so dry from the harsh chemicals you put on them in order to keep it straight. Did I also mention this cost a fortune and requires much time in a salon, just to do hair! No wonder celebrities like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera wear weaves, wigs, and hair extentions. The chemical processes, heat styling and excessive products just kill your hair.

So it goes without saying that when it comes to making myself presentable to the world, I do the BARE MINIMUM. Shower, deodarant, chapstick. You're lucky if I even put on lotion (which I have to do in the warmer months because crusty legs and feet are just not a good look). And forget about make-up. To me it is just another waste of time and money.

Another reason why I'm so terribly minimalistic with my daily routine is because I feel there are better things I could be doing. Like cleaning my house, working on my business, and of course, knitting.

So my final argument is this. Are you a knitter who always complains about not getting enough knitting done? If you find yourself spending hours in the bathroom getting ready for the day, think about redirecting that time to knitting. I'm sure you'll get a lot more done and feel a whole lot better about yourself in the end for accomplishing so much. That would mean forgoing make up application, elaborate hair styling, and maybe leg shaving if you could handle it. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Shower daily, brush your teeth, and if you plan on showing some skin, make sure those areas being shown are well moisturized. That's my two cents, what's yours?

A Blah Day

2008-06-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was World Wide Knit in Public Day. Did anyone participate? I sure didn't. I mean, I wanted to and all but I got lazy. Quite frankly, knitting is a very solitary activity for me. Now, I do like chatting and socializing with people, especially knitters. But why should I leave my house just to knit with perfect strangers? Yeah, I'll save my money on gas and stay at home, thank you!

It was a glorious and sunny day in northern Indiana. I woke up refreshed and decided that since it was the Lord's Day, I was going to rest and knit for the entire time. And I did:

I worked on the Clapotis, started a hat out of Noro (pics later), and continued working on the socks above. It is a pattern from Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue and I'm so happy to be doing this project. Unfortuntely, my hands tend to hurt after a while of knitting on these stockings. I think it's because this yarn is supposed to be knit on size 8 US needles but I'm using a size 3 US , just like the pattern says. I don't know how long it will take me to get these stockings done, but I love cables and will enjoy every minute of knitting on this thing.

Photo Shoot

I also got a package in the mail from KnitPicks. Here are some shots:

It's the blue/green lace sampler pack. Six skeins of gorgeous lace weight at a very economical price I must say. I have only shown you half of the package because I'm sending the other 3 skeins to a friend of mine in Chile. This should be a real treat for her, seeing that Knitpicks does not ship anywhere else but the United States and Canada.

Anyway, today I will be working on my health business and cleaning my house. I might as well, seeing that it will be raining all day. But before I close this post off, do tell me, what did you do yesterday for World Wide Knit in Public Day?

See ya!

Why Stash?

2008-06-10T19:26:00.002-04:00

This will be short and hopefully what I am going to say is not something you have heard before.

There are many reasons why knitters stash yarn. Some revel in it while others dread the stash and work to cull it down only to find themselves helpless in front of some lace weight merino-silk blend. As for me, I stash because I like how it looks in my room. My stash is on a book shelf right next to my bed so I get to see it every single morning. It gives me much joy and pleasure being able to be lulled asleep by the stash and quickly rejuvenated by it the next morning.

Today at the job, I came up with another reason I, and probably you too, should stash. Let's face it. The popularity of knitting is fading. And if it hasn't yet, it sure will pretty soon. That means that the market for the knitting industry will dry up and not be as hot as it once was. Therefore, all the cool fibers that have been coming out lately like bamboo, seacell, and soysilk will be the first to go. Then the more traditional materials will become less available like silk, cashmere, and alpaca. If there is not a market of knitters clamoring for beautiful yarn made for hand knitting, then yarn producers will go out of business. Places like Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Cascade, and smaller hand dying operations will cease to exist. And all of those knitters who are now obsessed with stash busting will be left with nothing but lint and scraps to knit with. Oh how they will regret their present day actions in the future!

In short, in order to keep the current yarns we have available to the knitting community, consumers must continue buying. As long as someone can make money and fill a gap in the market, then we knitter's will have what we want. But realistically, 10 years from now, the knitting industry could revert back to the days of the 70's of Kevlar acrylic and itchy as all hell wools. Mind you, I was born in 1984 but I have heard the horror stories and do NOT wish to return to the "good ol' days." God forbid when that day comes, your left with only a couple skeins of hand dyed sock yarn to last you for 2 months. You WANT to be prepared for the day when fiber artisans and hand knitting producers finally shut down shop by the thousands. When your source for high quality wool ceases to exist, you don't want to be left high and dry without any yarn.

So my advice? Buy within your means and remember that if you don't buy yarn, businesses will loose revenue and eventually go out of business. Always remember that the party will have to end at some point. The stuff you covet now will be gone tomorrow. Nothing lasts forever, therefore BE PREPARED FOR THE END!!!

Don't I sound like a religious fanatic? What do you think?

Rewarding Myself

2008-06-08T21:22:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! How has your weekend been turning out? Para mi, ayer fue espectacular! The day started off with washing dishes, making breakfast, and finishing up some knitting related stuff. After all of this, I was ready to sit and knit for hours on end when I realized that my house was a mess and needed to be cleaned from top to bottom. The problem was that I really wanted to go outside and make a frivolous yarn purchase. That's when I said, "Hey, if I clean the house to my satisfaction, then I will reward myself with a trip to the yarn store." Needless to say, I got what I needed to do done and headed straight to the yarn store a couple hours later. Here's what I got.

Some more lovely roving. I finally learned that the fiber I was spinning last time was Corriedale and this roving is the same animal just in different colors. I like the whole barber pole affect of plying 2 monochromatic singles together and I think that these two colors together will give me a more sophisticated yarn (unlike the last one I made, which was more sporty). What I really like about these two colors is the 80's feel they have together. The colors are soft and pretty and remind me of a businesswoman in Manhattan in a a tan pencil skirt with a purple satin blouse, pearls, chocolate brown shoes, and chocolate brown crocodile patterned purse to match.

I also bought some yarn I've never worked with before.

Two skeins of Noro Kureyon. I picked it up only because of the colors. The yarn itself is not the softest but as I mature as a knitter, I don't think everything has to be baby soft and cushy. Besides, I like working with rougher yarns to make some really tough as nails garments like hats and mittens. And seeing that I am trapped in the Midwest for the next couple years, long wearing knitwear is needed for the terrible winters we experience.

Spinning

I do agree with Jenny and Nicole from Stash & Burn podcast. Spinning is the new sock knitting! The yarn store I went to yesterday happens to sell wheels, particularly Ashford wheels. The owner was kind enough to give me a catalog and my boyfriend and I looked through it. I've spun on the Joy before and thought it was cool but my boyfriend really likes the Traveller just because of the way it looks. Believe it or not, he actually learned how to spin a LONG time ago when he was a young boy of 7 or 8 years. I'm sure if he started up again, he could pick it up fast.

That's all for now. Today I'm going to the beach with some friends to get a tan. I know, I know, I'm already fairly dark skinned (i.e., I'm a black person) but I have to say that sitting in the sun for a couple hours doesn't just darken my skin, it also adds a nice golden glow to it that I absolutely LOVE. Plus laying on a towel on the beach and sun bathing is even more relaxing than a full body massage or a pedicure and yet it is a lot cheaper!

Lastly, here are some pictures of my boyfriend's garden. He's the one with the green thumb and I'm proud of his accomplishments. He has some zucchini, tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, and thyme growing. Enjoy!

NOTE

We didn't end up going to the beach because a tornado decided to mess up our sunny day. Nevertheless, I had fun with my friends inside waiting out the storm. Later!

Business Unusual

2008-06-04T16:58:00.006-04:00

It is absolutely amazing what we knitters can do with our hands. This past weekend, I took a step further and became a spinner. Behold my first yarn ever!

Isn't it atrocious! Hey, I'm just keepin' it real folks! Needless to say that I didn't expect to have my first handspun yarn look beautiful anyway. Nonetheless, I am super glad I did this, mainly because it was one of my New Year's Resolutions to learn how to spin. The only bad thing is that I got somewhat bored and frustrated with the spindle and have since gotten the itch to buy a wheel. Now I don't know much about wheels or which one to get and quite frankly, I'm doing a lot of other non-knitting related things in my life that would keep me from purchasing my own wheel. I did get to spin on a friend's wheel for a short while some time ago and I sure did like it. Maybe I'll get it later on this year. Any suggestions?

Non-Knitting Related Thing

For the past couple of weeks I have been working on a side project that has been keeping me away from posting as often as I would like on this here blog. Though it is not knitting related, I think it could help more than just us knitters. It is a website (click here to see it) that features weight loss and nutritional products. I wasn't too sure about posting about it on the blog because I didn't want to mix business (the website) with pleasure (the blog). But I thought well there could be some one of you that may be looking for a weight loss solution or a healthier alternative to coffee or soda for energy. Therefore, this will be the first and last time I will mention it. Go and fiddle around, tell me what you think. Tell a friend and see if they would be interested in it too. I hope you all like it.

Well that's all for now. I got to get back to working on my side project.

A Little Knitting, a Little Dyeing

2008-05-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

This past weekend has been very enjoyable. It's always nice to have a 3 day weekend. Anyway, here is what I have been doing lately.

This is the second skein of 50/50 wool/silk blend from Carolina Homespun. At first I dyed it a bright green that I did not really like. I then overdyed with Black Cherry Kool-Aid and it still didn't come out the blood red I was hoping for. But I figured that overdying it a third time was too much. The yarn is still 50/50 wool/silk so I'm not giving this away. I think I'll warm up to it eventually but for now in the stash it will go.

I also finished my Lorna's Laces socks. The pattern is from the Harmony Guide: Cables & Arans. I usually like trying new stitches on socks because I could never get bored of socks and plus they are so quick.

I also got a package from a yarn swap over at Ravelry. A lovely woman named Kathy from the east coast sent me many patterns and stitch markers but this was my favorite thing:

Good plain ol' sock yarn from Regia. I think these will be for me (because I'm selfish and the colors are so nice). Maybe I'll make it into a baby hat for my friend. Who knows!

Lastly, I have finally started the Clapotis.

Just to let you guys know, this is my first time EVER making this pattern. I only have two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport and decided that a scarf would be best for now. I like the pattern. It's not as boring as other people have said (maybe it's because I'm doing a scarf and not a full wrap). Either way, I'm thinking about doing the full wrap version later on this year. I have some yellow mohair that I scored while traveling in Argentina a couple years back. I know mohair will be a bitch in terms of ease in dropping stitches but I can't see myself making a vest or sweater out of mohair and I can't give this yarn away. We'll see.

That's all for now. I'm working on some extra curricular activities right now that have nothing to do with knitting and more to do with my life. Details later. Have a good week everyone!

Knitting and the Election Year

2008-05-18T07:59:00.000-04:00

This year is a presidential election year in the United States of America. No I'm not going to go on a tirade about who you should or should not vote for because I don't want to alienate any of you guys. Besides, this blog is about knitting and you already get enough political news from the bias American media everyday anyway.

Some time ago I was imagining what would happen if the future First Lady (I only say this because it doesn't look like Hillary Clinton is going to win the Democratic nomination, also I do not think that her husband Bill actually knits) loved to knit. Would there be some type of legislation past catering to the yarn industry? Would there be national knit alongs or weekly Stitch 'n Bitches at the White House with all of her political friends sipping tea and munching on expensive cookies and biscuits? At state dinners, would you see her knitting under the table as her husband addresses the crowd with an eloquent speech? Will she demand that the National Census include the question "Are you a knitter?" and then use that information to make sure that every knitter in America has a yarn store no farther than 50 miles away from their domicile? These are things I wonder about.

Do you think it would be a bad thing if the First Lady enjoyed knitting as much as we did? Just a thought.

Some Updates

2008-05-12T19:13:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Hola! Como estan? Anyway, I've been doing a lot lately. To make this easier on all of us, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

A co-worker and I this past weekend went to a alpaca shearing at a local farm. She, her two children, and I had a delightful time there, learning about the animals, petting them, and oogling at the great yarns and fibers they had. Unfortunately, I didn't buy anything there, but I'm glad I know about this place because I could always go back in the future to purchase something.

After the alpaca farm, my friend took me to an undiscovered yarn shop further up the road. I'm not sure they have a website but I know I would not have recognized this place if she had not taken me there. The selection was impressive. Lots of hand dyed yarns like Noro and Green Mountain Spinnery. Their sock yarn, unfortunately, was not the prettiest stuff. Still it's great to know that I have a yarn store this close to my house (like 20 minutes close to my house). This is what I got:

Some Fortissima sock yarn.

And some roving. In which my friend later taught me to spin into yarn.

I also bought some orange roving which I spun first. I figure if I buy two colors that contrast well, I could ply the two singles and make a barber pole effect. I've been interested in spinning for a while now and one of my New Year's resolutions was to learn how to spin. As you can tell the yarn is terrible, but I really enjoy this new avenue I'm going on right now.

Oh yeah, I also did some Kool-Aid dyeing.

Being this was my first time dyeing yarn, I must say that this Kool-Aid thing can become addicting. IT'S SO EASY!!! I say if you're interested in dyeing yarn, Kool-Aid is a great starter. Plus if you have kids, you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals (but I think Kool-Aid is unhealthy to drink so that last statement may be disputable). Anyway, so the yarn used is something new, sold only at Carolina Homespun called Nature's Palette Silk and Wool Lace-Weight by Hand Jive Knits. I wasn't able to get it in the color I wanted but they did have the cream so I bought two skeins and dyed up one of them. What do you think?

Let me know what you guys are doing. Adios tejedores! Bye knitters!

Yarn vs. Clothes

2008-04-27T10:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I finally visited a new yarn store near my house called The Red Purl. The store is small yet cozy, the yarns are gorgeous and the owner was very friendly to me. Lots of hand dyed yarn like Fleece Artist, Peace Fleece, and Lobster Pot (all yarns I've heard fabulous things about but never got to know up close and personal). Feast your eyes on my booty (not my culo but the yarn people)!

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Uptown and some Peace Fleece Pyho Mnpa in Shaba Green. I've knit with the this yarn before and I was very disappointed with the wear of it (remember these socks?) Well now they have a hole in them.

I knitted these socks two and a half years ago and after just a few months, they got holes in the heel. I grafted those holes but they still kept coming. This hole is probably the third one on this pair of socks, which kind of pisses me off (being expensive sock yarn and all). So why did I pick up this same yarn yesterday? Because the colors are phenomenal! And though the yarn does not wear well on my feet, the yarn is sooooooo soft. Maybe for the safety of this future pair of socks, I should regulate them to being house socks or bed socks. Too soft to wear in boots in the cold Indiana winters but just perfect for wearing while knitting by the fire, sipping on some hot chocolate or tea.

The Peace Fleece is nice too. A 70/30 wool/mohair blend that is tough as nails yet soft and squishy. The store owner showed me a hat she made out of this yarn and told me that the hand really softens up when you wash it. Sure enough she was right! I just picked it up because the green was so fresh and lovely. I'm not sure what I'll do with this one. Sometimes you just buy things because they make you happy and that's what I did.

Yarn vs. Clothes

Which brings me to my next discussion topic. This past Friday, I was at my desk thinking about knitting (actually, work is where I get most of my ideas for this blog) and thought about women and fashion. Knitting magazines and pattern books are largely influenced by current fashions. Where as in most men spend their extra money on gadgets, video games, or sports gear, typically, women spend whatever dispensible cash they have on appearance: hair, nails, tanning, and of course clothing.

Growing up in New York City has definitely influenced my fashion sense. I remember practically every other weekend my mom, little sisters and I would go to the mall to shop. Sometimes we would buy something, and other times we would just walk around, look at the styles, and finish off our day at a nice restaurant (needless to say my mom went broke doing that but we were spending time as a family). However, since I have become a knitter, my shopping excursions have become less frequent as I have forsaken fashion and replaced it with yarn or knitting related items. I am so for real when I say I haven't been shopping since Christmas. And even though I've been telling myself, "Kelly, you really need to get yourself some new Spring pieces to keep your wardrobe fresh and interesting." I dismiss that thought with, "I don't have enough money right now" and leave it at that.

Nowadays, past food, shelter, and gas for my car, the only thing I'm concerned with is collecting more yarn for my enjoyment. However, I think it's rather funny that I would spend $24 on some hand dyed sock yarn but think that would be an outrageous price for a button up shirt? I would never spend $35 for a sweater from Banana Republic but I would spend that much on yarn for a sweater and tell myself "Man, this is a bargain!"

I mean lets face it. $24 for a pair of socks is outrageous in an economy where you can get 15 pairs of socks for that same price. I guess the point of this whole thing is I realize that my spending habits when it comes to yarn and clothing have changed. Frankly, I'd rather spend $24 on some yarn than $24 on a shirt. Does that mean I'm weird and have lost all my fashion sense? Have you as of late lost all of your style for the sake of knitting? Do you ever think about these things? Let me know what you think about yarn vs. clothing.

Playing Catch Up

Oh yeah, I've been knitting too:

I finished the Back to School Vest from Fitted Knits and have started some toe-up socks out of the Lorna's Laces I scored from Susie. The sock is coming along great, the vest, however, is not my favorite. You see, the vest is too short on the bottom. I know the simple solution is to just cut out the bottom and add some more ribbing, but I'm feeling lazy right now and it's already spring so it's not like I need to have this vest right now. Besides, I'm already psychologically done with it.

And finally, some Lion Brand Yarn:

Two weeks ago I was in a JoAnn's and saw this on the shelf. I have never seen it before and I only bought it because I did not believe that JoAnn's was capable of selling anything but acrylic. The yarn is pretty basic but gorgeous. Called Fisherman's Wool, it's 100% wool, worsted weight, 8 oz, 400+ yards and cost about $9 USD a skein, making it an even better value than Cascade 220. The only drawback is that it only comes in two colors: the cream above and a dark brown color but there are enough dyeing tutorials online to remedy that. I knitted up a swatch and plan on making the Tyrolean Stockings from the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. I can't wait to get that started!

That's all for now. Today I'm planning on doing nothing but knitting and watching The Shield. See ya!

Nothing Much

2008-04-22T19:12:00.000-04:00

I know I've been absent these past couple weeks but I find it rather amazing that despite that, I seem to get over 400+ visits every week! (What? Don't act like you don't have a hit counter on your blog.)

Anyway, I have been knitting but I'm too lazy to take any pictures of them right now. Since Sunday afternoon I've been nursing my boyfriend to back to health. He caught the flu from someone at work and he's been spuring out all kinds of evil from every orifice of his body. Poor thing! But this is what a woman does for her man.

It's finally getting warm in Indiana. Last Friday it actually hit 80 degrees F (26 C) and let me tell you the freaks sure come out once the sun decides to bath us in her glory. Pum pum shorts, sandals, tank tops, and dish rags for skirts have all made their 2008 debuts. And though it's hotter now, it's still not warm enough for me. When I say I like hot, I mean I like HOT (90 degrees F, clear sunny skies and humid). I know I'm strange, but I attribute it to my heritage. Guyana is pretty much the rain forest you know.

And while I'm hear, I might as well ask you all a question. I'm planning on going to Stitches Midwest this August and I thought it would be a good idea to walk with cash (because if I use a credit/debit card I will over spend). Now I know that if I ask you guys "How much should I bring?" all I'll get are a bunch of "Well it depends" responses. What I'm interested in is this: If you are going to a fiber fest this year, how much do you plan on spending? What are you planning on getting? Do you like taking credit/debit cards or cash? Let me know!

That's What Friends Are For

2008-04-06T15:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! This weekend so far has been great. I've been meaning to share this with you so here it is.

A couple of weeks ago, two friends of mine that just got married last year came by and gave us a housewarming gift.

Aren't they sweet? Some lovely Jiffy from Lion Brand Yarns. I'm thinking this shall become another crochet blanket (maybe for when they have their first baby in a couple years, who knows). However, the framed scrapbook page was most meaningful to me mainly because it shows that our friends took the time in being thoughtful of their gift to us. In other words, we were worth their time. It almost makes me cry thinking about it.

Receiving their gift made me think about growing up and moving on. As you all know, I just graduated from college last year. Though that was a great time in my life, in terms of my career, nothing exciting has happened since. It makes me sad, but all I can do is send my resume out to prospective employers and hope for the best.

But then I talk to my friends and they tell me things like, "We're getting married" or "I'm going for a job interview in New York and I'm hoping they hire me." In other words, people are growing up and moving on, and I'm having a hard time coping with it.

I mean logically speaking, I know that getting married to the love of your life and starting a new career is exciting and good for everyone. But still, deep down inside, I just wish we could all be together forever. The comfort of having a strong group of friends around you all the time is really enticing but that will never happen. Life is too dynamic for that and change is inevitable.

Has this ever happened to any of you guys? How did you deal with separating from all your college friends or moving on from one place to the next in your life? As you can see, I'm going through a transitional phase in my life and I guess I need some assurance from someone, somewhere.

And this is where the sad-fest ends. I hope I didn't bring you all down today.

WIP it Good!

2008-04-02T17:37:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are some WIP's of mine.

A simple ribbed sock made out of Yarn Hallow Yarn. It's a sport weight so it is knitting up rather quickly. This past Monday I had to go to my monthly departmental meeting at work and decided that was prime knitting time (seeing that they usually take up a whole hour). I got most of the leg done and got working on the heel the next day.

This is the Back-To-School u-neck vest in Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. I started this thing last Thursday and I'm almost to the armholes! Super fast, satisfying, and pretty. I got the yarn from Purl a couple weeks back (remember?) and it's nice to work with too. Plus the cheerful color brightens up my evenings while I knit on it.

Last, the spring lace scarf is done. I started it way back in December after Christmas and finished it like 3 weeks ago. I hope you like my amateur photography skills.

I'm pretty proud of it. It's light, warm, and beautiful. I made this one up, though it is not original. See I found the lace motif here and decided it would look so much better as a scarf. Three months later it is done, just in time for Spring weather.

Spring Cleaning

2008-04-01T19:19:00.000-04:00

I have finally decided that the only way for winter weather to go away is if I put away my winter clothes. This past weekend I did a lot of laundry, in particular of my hand knits and many delicate store bought items. As you can see they have since taken over the floor space in my living room and now are dry enough to be stored in Rubbermaid bins for the warmer months ahead. Thank God!

My only fear are moths. As you all know I just moved into this house, and I'm not sure if I have them, but I heard that if you just throw some cedar chips or some dried lavendar satchets into the bin with the items, they should be hole-free when it is time to wear them again. Is this true? Please let me know.

As you can see I have also gotten bitten by the crochet bug. This is a giant granny square from what I understand. Lots of double crochets, chaining 3 or 5 or 6 stitches where appropriate. You get the idea (if you don't, well, ask a crocheter). At present, this blanket is good enough for a baby, but I really would like this to cover an adult body.

What has propelled me to learn this technique is the pure interest I have in granny squares. I have to admit that I'm not very fond of the look of simple crochet. But the more complex crochet is really cool to look at and I find granny squares to be aesthetically pleasing. I shared my love for granny squares with a co-worker of mine and she offered to teach me how to do them (BTW, she also knows how to spin, so guess who will be learning how to spin soon!)

Because I knew the basics of single and double crochet, I picked it up fast and 3 nights later I had made about 10 squares. I soon discovered that granny squares are perfect for knitters like myself with tons of odd balls that can't grow up to be anything on their own, but are too much to be thrown away. However, the prospect of sewing hundreds (well, maybe not hundreds, but close to it) of squares for a blanket didn't look as appealing as it once did before. So I got some other random balls and started this blanket.

The rainbow yarn is a throwback. 300 or so grams of lana sedificada ("silky wool" or "silk-like yarn" to be exact) from Buenos Aires. As far as I can tell, however, there is no wool or silk content in this thing at all. I think it's really all acrylic. But let me tell you, the acrylic in Argentina is nothing like the stuff we get here in North America. It is soft, easy to knit with, and comes in THOUSANDS of appealing colorways every season (again, if your interested in making Buenos Aires your next fiber trip destination, refer to my Yarn Heaven post I wrote some years back).

The neutral yarns I bought 3 months ago from Joann. It's by Bernat and it is 70% acrylic, 30% alpaca. I couldn't believe that Joann was selling yarn with natural fiber in it so I got 1 ball of each color. The yarn is not the best quality out there, but it is soft and good enough for my purposes. Besides, Joann seems to be stepping up their game in terms of different yarns these days. Not only are they selling cotton, but I saw some 100% wool yarns that would be perfect for felting, and even some yarn that had bamboo in it. Needless to say, I was rather impressed.

So back to the blanket. This is my first attempt at crocheting a blanket. Let me tell you, this was done so fast, that I'm thinking the next person that needs a baby blanket from me, will have it crochet because it can be done in 3 days (if you get a large hook, of course). The only draw back I see about crochet is that it uses WAY more yarn than knitting does, so projects may cost more money than usual. Still, the speed in which something is made is ridiculous and I find that rather charming.

Anyway, that's all for today. Tomorrow will be some WIP's, some FO's, and of course more of my intellectual banter.

Look At What I Got!

2008-03-31T19:14:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Thanks for the great feedback on my last post. It was an idea that kind of just developed as I wrote it. Anyway, since I was so serious last post, I decided to lighten things up a bit with some good ol' fashion yarn pr0n.

Last week as I was browsing my usual blogs, I fell upon Susie's blog and found out she was having a destash sale. At first, I fought the urge, saying, "I don't really need this stuff. Besides, I just wrote the post about yarn being much like designer hand bags and wouldn't that make me look like a hypocrite?" After a day of thinking about it, however, I felt that my purpose in writting the essay was not about scolding the knitting, or for that matter the crafting community, but more of an observation of how we knitters and consumers on a whole react to certain stimuli. It was then I decided, "Ah, what da hell!" and contacted Susie via e-mail to find out if she had sold the items that I coveted. Lo and behold, she hadn't and I placed an order IMMEDIATELY!!!! Two days later, I got this in the mail:

Some lovely Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Bittersweet and equally as beutiful Classic Elite Follies in some colorway I'm not sure of. Aren't they gorgeous?

As for the sock yarn, it has already been made into a ball and therefore needs a project assigned to it. Any suggestions? As for the Classic Elite, I looked on Ravelry and found out that the yarn unfortunately has been discontinued. I really don't know why. The reason being is first, the yarn is soft (a good mix of alpaca, wool and some synthetic material). Second, it is springy (which is due to the multiple plies and favorable twist). Third, I like the soothing quality of the color, which is rather odd seeing that I usually go for blood reds and deep purples. It is begging to become some type of cabled sweater (I have 18 70 yard skeins of this stuff). Maybe a cardigan? An aran? My own design? We'll have to wait and see.

Further into the box, I also stumbled upon this splendor:

What I had failed to mention in the beginning of this post is that Susie is the lovely proprietress of Perchance to Knit (also available at the Loopy Ewe). Personally hand dyed by Susie, the colors are right up my ally. BRIGHT, OBNOXIOUS, AND IN YOUR FACE!!! I LOVE IT!!! I have to admit, however that this skein was not apart of the original deal. Let's just say that Susie and I had some difficulty with making the sale (not any fault of her's, just my lack of understanding of how PayPal works). This glorious skein of sock yarn was placed in the package as a peace offering for the trouble. How freakin' cool is that?! Again, I'm not sure what this skein will be when it grows up. Maybe some plain Jane stocking stitch socks? Only time will tell.

That's all for now. I haven't posted any WIP's lately, but I do not want to overwhelm you guys (seeing that there are a lot for some reason). Therefore the pictures will be posted sporadically throughout the course of this week. Hope you like them.

Take care!

Yarn and Designer Hand Bags

2008-03-27T00:05:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been thinking about yarn, consumerism, and desinger hand bags. This may seem odd to many knitters, seeing that knitting is seen as something being very "punk" in that it's totally non-consumerist and against being a clone of some big, evil corporation only concerned with taking your money as well as your individuality. However, in my opinion, kntting as of late has in many ways taken on traits of classic American consumerism.

My first set of evidence can be found in the types of yarns we use. Hand dyed yarns are very popular for their uniqueness and charming variations in every single skein. It is for this reason many knitters want to buy these materials to knit with. The desire to be unique and seen as an individual is strong in the knitting community, while consumerism works best when everyone buys and wears the same things. But on the flipside of that coin, isn't that need somewhat of a commonality between knitters, and therefore is some form of consumerism at hand? In other words, can't marketers use this "need" to push their products as the thing you need to acheive that individuality?

Second, look at the amount of yarn we all have. I believe in living simply, yet my stash is taking over my bedroom as you read this! Frankly, I don't need to knit like I need to eat or drink water everyday. But I do knit because I enjoy it. Still my need to live simply is overwhelmed by my obsession with buying and collecting yarn. I swear to you that lately I've been enjoying going on Ravelry, fantasizing about new projects, and cruising site after site of online yarn sellers MORE than the actually knitting that I'm doing right now. It seems sad, but I think buying yarn is just so gratifying. We're so starved for real mail (because we use e-mail so much) that whenever a chance to receive a package in the mail comes up, we jump right at it. And lets face it, sometimes your fantasies (whether knitting related or otherwise) tend to be a lot more interesting than reality.

And finally, mainstream ideas are entering the knitting industry. Case and point, many yarn companies like Lorna's Laces and Rowan are launching "green" yarn lines for public consumption this year. Now I've been living "green" since Noah was a boy, and there is nothing new under the sun. "Green" is just a new and more hip term for "recycling and living within one's means" something that has been going on for centuries and has recently became in vogue. What I argue is are these yarns necessarily more eco-friendly than other non-organic ones? They may be cultivated from completely organically grown sheep or cotton fields but aren't the finished products shipped in huge, gas guzzling trucks from yarn store to yarn store? And why are they usually more expensive than their conventional counterparts? Is it because the procedures in making the product aren't commonly used and therefore not as cost effective as say, acrylic? Or is it another marketing ploy, disguised as something beneficial to the environment, but really is just another means in which markerters use to separate you from your hard earned cash?

Here's where the designer hand bags come in. Many rich people and celebrities have the leisure and money to shop for days on end. Hand bags (as well as shoes) seem to be the downfall of many women. On average a designer hand bag can run you anywhere from $200 to $5000 or more each. And every season, women across the world clamor and squabble over the latest hand bag.

The reason these bags are so expensive is principally the amount of craftmanship that goes into one. The materials also play a factor, as many high priced designer bags are made out of leather, suede, and other exotic skins like crocodile and snake. Third, you are essentially paying for a trusted brand. That's why you will NEVER see a Louis Vuitton or a Coach bag sold at a WalMart. The clientele for such accessories simply aren't at WalMart. Furthermore, the companies that represent these brands would not want to tarnish it by selling their wares at discount stores anyway.

So the point I'm trying to make is that aren't hand dyed yarns much like designer hand bags? Both are seen as very unique, well made, hand crafted, exclusive and are more expensive than their more frugal, yet just as functional counterparts.

I means lets think about it. Red Heart yarn could work just as fine as Cascade 220 or Sundara Yarns in making an afghan for a baby or as sweater for yourself. However, Red Heart sucks, Cascade 220 is a good value but is not as luxurious as Sundara or for that matter, the venerable Wollmeise yarn.

It's the same with designer bags. Most women carry a bag filled with crap (chapstick, work related items, gum, one of your kids toys, food, etc.) that they feel they need close by. Though a plastic bag would work just fine, it is not very appealing. Buying a mid-priced bag from say Target or even Macy's would be nice but what you really want is the latest Fendi or Burberry bag to carry your most serviceable items as well as garner some compliments from your co-workers and closest friends.

In the end, knitters are much like their non-knitting consumerist counterparts. Yet we hide behind the notion that we are being "punk" or "anti-authoritarian" when it comes to big companies. I mean, don't get me wrong. A hand dyed yarn can't be massed produced like a Abercrombie sweater or Steve Madden boots but the fact that almost every knitter on Ravelry has at least 1 skein of Socks that Rock in their stash makes me think twice about how much we value the "punk" attributes in the knitting community.

Finally, I leave you with this note. In my opinion, yarn is much like money. They are both dangerous in that no matter how much of it you have, you always want more of it. To state it plainly, in the great words of the late great New York Rapper The Notorious BIG, "Mo Money, Mo Problems."

Primavera

2008-03-19T20:40:00.000-04:00

Last year I wrote the Primavera pattern and published it on this here blog. After all the "ohhs" and "ahhs" from you guys, I put it up as a link on my sidebar. A couple of weeks ago I realized that this link was broken. Therefore here is the pattern, re-published on this blog, so that whoever would like to make it can. Pictures of the finished garment can be found by clicking the "primavera" link above. If anyone wishes to see more clear, close up shots of the garment, let me know and I'll do a re-shoot of it.

Primavera
By Kelly A. Chichester

Gauge: 6 stitches x 7 rows = 1 inch in stockinette

Needles: Size 4 US, Size 5 US (Both straight needles)

Notions: Crochet Hook, Waste Yarn, Tapestry Needle, Stitch Markers, Cable Needle (Optional)

Yarn: 6, (6, 7) balls of Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel (109 yards, 50% Cotton, 50% Tencel) in Color # 4084

Sizes: 34 (36, 38) inches around bust

Foliage Lace Pattern (Worked over 20 stitches)
Taken from Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Volume One

Row 1 (RS): *K5, p2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, p2tog, k2; rep from * to end
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl
Row 3: *K4, p2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2tog, k7; rep from * to end
Row 5: *K3, p2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, p2tog, k6; rep from * to end
Row 7: *K2, p2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, p2tog, k5; rep from * to end
Row 9: *K7, p2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2tog, k4; rep from * to end
Row 11: *K6, p2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, p2tog, k3; rep from * to end
Row 12: Purl
Rep rows 1-12

Cable Pattern (Worked over 20 stitches)
Row 1 (RS): P3, K6, P2, K6, P3
Row 2 (WS): K3, P6, K2, P6, K3
Rep Rows 1 & 2 till the 10th row
Row 11: P3, Slip first 3 stitches on cable needle to the back, knit next 3 stitches, then knit 3 held stitches, P2, Slip first 3 stitches on cable needle to the front, knit next 3 stitches, then knit 3 held stitches, P3
Row 12: Row 2
Rep Rows 1 -12

Directions

Back:

1. Using Size 4 US needle, CO 102 (108, 114)
2. Knit 3 x 3 rib for 2 inches
3. Change to Size US 5 needle and knit 1 (3, 4) stitches then start row 1 of lace pattern to the end (Place markers if you wish to separate the selvage from the lace pattern and the repeats within the lace pattern. Makes things easier to remember and you can catch mistakes quicker).
4. There will be 1 (3, 4) stitches at the end of each row for selvage. Once you do the 5 rep of the lace pattern, just knit (or purl if on a WS row) these last stitches.
5. Knit the lace pattern in this fashion till piece measures 13 (13.5, 14) inches, ending on a WS row.

Armholes:

1. Row 1: (RS) BO 6 stitches, knit till stitch marker for beginning of second rep of lace pattern, do 3 reps of lace pattern (depends on what row you were on when you started the decreases for the armhole), slip marker, knit last 21 (28, 34) stitches
2. Row 2: (WS) BO 6 stitches, purl till stitch marker, do 3 reps of lace pattern, slip marker, purl to end. 90 (96, 102) total stitches remain.
3. Row 3: (RS) Slip 1 stitch, SSK, knit to stitch marker, do 3 reps of lace pattern, slip marker, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
4. Row 4: (WS) Purl till stitch marker, do 3 reps of lace pattern, slip marker, purl to end.
5. Repeat Rows 3 & 4 till 78 (84, 90) total stitches remain
6. Continue stockinette on armhole stitches, maintaining lace pattern in middle of back, till piece measures 20 (20, 21.5) ending on WS row

Neck:

1. (RS) K20 (21, 22), BO 38 (42, 46), K20 (21, 22)
2. Place 20 (21, 22) stitches on right side of neck on waste yarn to work on later.

a. (Left side of Neck Back):
i. (WS) Slip first stitch, Purl till end
ii. (RS) Slip first stitch, SSK, knit to end
iii. Rep these two rows till 16 (18, 20) stitches remain.
iv. Continue to knit till whole piece measures 21 (21, 22.5) inches in length
v. BO remaining stitches

b. (Right Side of Neck Back):
i. Row 1: (WS) Place held 20 (21, 22). Starting at neck, attach new yarn and purl back to armhole
ii. Row 2: (RS) Slip 1, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
iii. Row 3: (WS) Slip 1, purl to end
iv. Rep Rows 2 and 3 till 16 (18, 20) stitches remain.
v. Continue to knit till whole piece measures 21 (21, 22.5) inches in length.
vi. BO remaining stitches

Front:

1. With Size 4 US needles, CO 102 (108, 114)
2. Do 3 x 3 rib for 2 inches
3. Change to Size 5 US needles and knit 1 (3, 4) stitches then start 2 reps of row 1 of lace pattern, pm, do row 1 of cable pattern, pm, do 2 more reps of lace pattern, knit last 1 (3, 4) stitches at end of row
4. (WS) Purl 1 (3, 4) stitches then start 2 reps of row 2 of lace pattern, pm, do row 2 of cable pattern, pm, do 2 more reps of row 2 of lace pattern, purl last 1 (3, 4) stitches
5. Continue in this fashion, following cable and lace stitch patterns, until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14) inches ending on WS row

Neck (Left Side):

1. Row 1: (RS) BO 6 stitches, K28 (30, 32), BO 34 (36, 38), knit to end
2. Place stitches on right side of neck on waste yarn to be held of work later
3. Row 2: (WS) BO 6 stitches, P28 (30, 32)
4. Row 3: (RS) Slip 1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
5. Row 4: (WS) Purl
6. Rep rows 3 and 4 till 16 (18, 20) stitches remain
7. Continue to knit in Stockinette till armhole measures 8 (8, 8.5) inches
8. BO remaining stitches

Neck (Right Side):

1. Remove held stitches from waste yarn back on to needles.
2. Attach new yarn at neck and purl back to armhole.
3. Row 1: (RS) Slip 1, K2tog, knit till last 3 stitches, SSK, K1
4. Row 2: (WS) Purl
5. Rep rows 1 and 2 till 16 (18, 20) stitches remain
6. Continue to knit in Stockinette till armhole measures 8 (8, 8.5) inches
7. BO remaining stitches

Finishing:

1. Weave in Ends
2. Sew pieces together
3. Iron garment to block it (if using wool, just immerse in water and lay flat to dry)
4. Wear and Enjoy!

So what do you think?

If You Don't Know Yet...

2008-03-12T09:11:00.002-04:00

New Knitty is out everyone! Go and see. Lots to read and many patterns to choose from. I may do a review later. We'll have to wait and see.

Nothing Much

2008-03-09T16:05:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. I don't have much to say today so I thought some good ol' yarn pr0n was in order.

First things first. I got this yarn the first week I moved into my new home. I bought it online from Purl, a yarn store in chic Soho in downtown Manhattan (or New York City for those who don't know). When I first started knitting 4 years ago (wow has it been that long?) I went on a yarn crawl to every single yarn store in New York City that I could find. Purl was definitely on the list and let me tell you it was great. Even though the store is no bigger than a walk in closet, the yarns are gorgeous and the staff were friendly to me. Still the prices were way out of my price range so I didn't really get anything that day. However, I still cruise the site from time to time for some deals for some great yarns. I came across such a deal 3 weeks ago.

From left to right I got a skein of Rowan Big Wool for my boyfriend (he wants to make a scarf for me but based on his work load, I don't think he'll be getting to that project till next winter). The yellow skein is 1 of 3 of Cascade Quattro. I got the Fitted Knits book by Stephanie Japel last year and really wanted to make this vest. We'll have to wait and see for that one (seeing that I have so many projects in queue right now). The last ball is new from Jade Sapphire called Lacey Lamb. 800+ yards of gorgeous lace weight yarn. I bought it at full price but at about $19 a ball, I'm not complaining. This will obviously be a shawl for me. Which, shawl pattern, I haven't decided yet.

Last week, I got some yarn from Webs. They gave me free shipping to compensate for the situation that took place with my last order from them. I also ordered something bigger but that's on back order and when it comes in, I shall reveal it to you all. I purchased all Valley Yarns. This was their hand dyed sock yarn called Franklin and it is GORGEOUS! I love just looking at it and petting it and stroking it and caressing it (in other words, I REALLY like it).

I also got some much needed Eucalan and some yarn for felting. Again, Valley Yarns, but one called Northhampton. It reminds me of Cascade 220 but better. 247 yards, tons of cool colors, and $4.99 a ball are some facts I like about this yarn. Like Cascade 220 it's not so soft for next to skin wear (I'm pretty sensitive to wool) but it is perfect for thicker sweaters, toys, blankets, and of course, felting.

And I had to save the best for last. I finally got some stuff from the Loopy Ewe. I have never ordered from them before but heard so many wonderful things about the place. I couldn't resist this Chewy Spaghetti skein. The colors are like cheerful camoflauge. I love it.

I also picked up a skein of Perchance to Knit. This lady's stuff is PHENOMENAL. I love her color sense. So bright, in your face and beautiful. Many hand dyers use very muted and soft colors, which are nice but not really my thing. Perchance to Knit yarn is bold and I really enjoy it.

Oh yeah, I do have a FO to show.

I actually finished this baby blanket when the NY Giants won the Super Bowl back in February. I really liked how it came out. However, I tried wet blocking it and I haven't found a way for it to lay completely flat without having creases throughout the blanket. Plus, many people have mentioned that it is too small for a baby. I have to agree, but damn it, isn't it the thought that counts? Either way, I had fun doing it and next time around, will make sure it is large enough for a baby to use longer than his first month of life.

Sadness

I wanted to express to you guys some sadness. Last post I wanted to start a discussion about crochet vs. knitting, but I only got 3 comments about it. Still, I want to thank everyone that did participate (including Marly of the Yarn Thing podcast) and encourage the rest of you guys to continue the discussion. I'm really interested in what you all have to say about the matter.

Anyway, that's all for now. For those of you in the United States, don't forget to change your time up by 1 hour. I was kind of sad when I realized that we had to loose an hour today, but if loosing an hour means Spring will come sooner, I'm all for it! As always, happy knitting!

Some Knitting, Some Crochet, Some Remodeling

2008-03-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I missed you all this past month. I have been checking in with your blogs (at least the ones I know of) from time to time but moving is really a challenge. Still, owning a home is like the American dream, and I'm happy to be living it!

Yesterday was fun. We installed our counter top, sink, faucet, and cabinets. I never done anything like this before but my boyfriend knew roughly what we needed to do. After 12 hours of work and 3 trips to Lowes, our makeshift kitchen now looks like this:

Pretty cool, huh? I know it's not the nicest looking kitchen, but it's functional for now.

And even though we've been living out of boxes for a month now, I have still found time to knit some things.

This new project is the Felted Clogs by Fiber Trends. Clog #1 for Nathan is complete with clog #2 on the needles. I used 2 different colored balls of Cascade 220 (even though I had two skeins of each color, I was too lazy to roll those skeins up into balls). I'm going for a varigated/heathered look. Thankfully, these are just house shoes and my boyfriend does not care that much about how they look.

Anyway, so here's an update on that lacy scarf I showed you a couple weeks ago.

The scarf is about half way done, I think. I only say this because when I began I had a baseball sized ball of yarn. Now I have about a golf ball size of yarn left. The project is easy and I have been taking it with me to work. But seeing that this is a spring scarf, and Spring doesn't seem to be coming anytime soon, I'll have a lot of time to finish this up before then.

Crochet vs. Knitting

Many of you who read this blog most likely also listen to the plethora of knitting podcasts now available for download on iTunes or other parts of the Interweb. One of my favorites is the Yarn Thing podcast by Marly. If you haven't listened to this podcast, please do, it's fun and even plays regular pop music you would hear on commercial radio. On Episode 27: Men at Work, Marly talks to a crochet designer named Peter Franzi of Hooker-Bear.com. Even though I enjoyed listening to the podcast, I felt that at some parts of the interview, there was some bashing of knitters, knitting and the manner in which the needlecraft industry in America has been treating crocheters lately. I understood because both Marly and Peter are avid crocheters. And they are correct when they say many of the crochet publications do not showcase modern designs for modern crocheters. But I still felt that there was some negative energy towards knitting that was uncalled for.

Now, I'm a knitter, but I do like some crocheted things. And as far as I'm concerned, I don't need to make my hobby a political issue or have it reintergrated into mainstream American culture in order to feel excepted or valued as something worthwhile. What I'm trying to say is I felt that this episode was trying to bring up the value of crochet by dissing knitting as a whole. And I don't think that is right. I'm not saying that crochet is not long overdue it's props. There are some lovely crochet items that I wish I could make but do not have the time or inclination to learn how. However, can't we just knit and crochet without making it a political issue or controversial subject matter? Who cares if the majority of American's believe knitting is still for grannies or crochet is always done with ugly scratchy 70's acrylic. You live your life the way you want to and I shall do the same.

That's all this time folks. I would love to hear from you about this crochet vs. knitting discussion. Do you think one is better than the other? Do you think crochet should be given as much attention as knitting receives from the needlecraft industry? Does it really matter? Let me know.

A Place to Call Home

2008-02-06T21:41:00.001-05:00

So today my boyfriend signed his life away and bought a house:

Clearly, I am super excited about this. A bigger house means more room for yarn, right? The moving process will begin this weekend and end by the end of this month (because we do not want to have to pay another month's rent for March).

This house definetely needs some TLC, much like the other house we were looking at months ago.

If you are confused, let me inform you that this room is where the kitchen used to be. Yeah. Let me give you some time so that can soak in. Completely gutted, everything gone, start all over again type of kitchen.

Obviously we're planning on renovating this entire house. However, major renovations will begin this summer. For now, we're going to have to create a make shift kitchen so we can survive in our new home. Used appliances, second hand sink and countertops, peel-and-stick floor tile. In other words, we're trying to make the ugliest kitchen in America. Good thing it will be temporary.

I have no clever way to end this post, so I will say that's all for now. I'm going to be busy moving these next couple weeks, so you might not hear from me to much this month.

A Good Week

2008-02-02T10:56:00.000-05:00

This post is going to be una mezcla (a mix) of things that have been going on lately.

Thanks

Last post I talked about the problems Webs was having with it's shipping department last month in it's monster end of the year sale. I didn't expect it, but the owner of the store, Kathy Elkins, left a comment on that post stating how thankful she was for my positive words. Now I'm not sure if she did a Google search of what people were saying about her store, or if she really reads my blog on a regular basis, but I'd just like to say thanks. Her kind words made me realize that this knitting blogsphere world is not as large as I thought it would be and a normal knitter like myself could impact the day of a more prominent knitter/businesswoman like Kathy. I thought it was cool.

FO's and Other Projects

I have finished the Lombard Street socks.

It took me a week to do a pair of socks, which is shocking because it usually takes me 2 weeks to do a pair of socks. The socks were done on a sport weight, so I only needed 48 stitches to go around my foot. I would have finished it sooner, but listening to back episodes of Lime and Violet has kept me on the computer searching for yarn rather than working with the stuff I already have.

There are so many pictures of these socks because I took these photos myself. I used my boyfriend's camera and instead of just giving up and accepting the pictures as they were I decided to play around with the camera and see what I got. I think these pics are pretty cool for a novice.

I've also been working on the pinwheel baby blanket.

I'm on skein 4 with one more to go. I'm not sure how I'm going to bind off for this but I think I want to do something decorative. Maybe use the bind off used in the Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood or something simple like a picot edge. We'll have to wait and see.

This scarf project I started earlier in the year. It's been somewhat hibernating because I was getting bored with it, but initially I enjoyed seeing the pattern develop. I got the stitch pattern from these socks and decided to reinterpret it into a simple scarf. I just took the stitch pattern and added a garter stitch border and voilá! A lovely light scarf for cool spring nights.

A thought

As you already know, I have been listening to the Lime and Violet show. The show is wonderful, to say the least. My only complaint, however, is how it is taking away from my knitting time. The whole week, I have spent more time surfing the net for new yarn to buy and projects to make, rather than working on the things I already have. In fact, listening to so much yarn pr0n almost made me buy some sock yarn this past Thursday night that I don't really need right now. Thankfully, my boyfriend saved me from myself.

So when I woke up this morning, I thought about how I was falling out of love with my current stash. I decided the best way to remedy this mood was to reorganize my stash. I confronted my stash, and organized it by weight, and I realized how many scraps of sock yarn I have. The more I organized, the more I realized that I have a lot of scraps that can easily be designated to some project. It kind of pissed me off that I had enough sock yarn scraps to make a couple pairs of adult socks (mismatched socks, but still that's kind of amazing). Then I began to look at the entire stash, and I realized that I have so much yarn that sometimes I can't look at it all. The strange thing is, the more I organized the stash, the more creative I was becoming in terms of getting rid of the scraps. I said, "Oh these colors look nice together for a baby hat." or "I could probably make some nice mittens out of these two colors."

Therefore, I have concluded that buying more yarn when there are so many more creative ways to just use the stuff I already have is the easy way out. I think it would be nice to challenge myself creatively by using what I already have. It saves money, it enriches my knitting, and of course gives me a challenge that I have been craving lately.

This post is pretty long and right now I want to get some knitting done. Also, the Super Bowl is tomorrow, and we're rooting for Manning (because the other Manning didn't make it this year). Lots of time to knit this weekend, hundreds of possibilities with the stash I already have. As always, Happy Knitting!

Lots to Say

2008-01-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

Though I have been absent for most of this month, I have been getting some work done. Observe:

3 hats and 1 1/2 socks done. The hats I did in 1 week (yeah, I was crazy). The two brown caps are variations of a basic hat pattern I got from my LYS that I always use for quick gifts or whenever I need something quick, practical, and beautiful to knit. The fuschia and purple hat is a pattern I found off of Ravelry (you can find it here).

The red socks I used the Knitty toe up sock pattern (which by the way is terrible if you want to make stockinette socks). The cable I've seen before on many other sweaters and hats so I just thought about how to make it and it worked out fine. Sadly, they are not for my feet. These socks will be shipped off to Canada some time this week, where an older woman friend of mine lives. Here's a close up of the cables on the toe:

The blue sock is half of a pair of socks for me. They are the Lombard Street socks from Magknits. I heard about it on some back episodes of the Lime & Violet podcast. I know many of you are wondering if I've been living under a rock or something but, I must admit that when I first heard their podcast 2 years ago, I didn't really like it. Lately I've been enjoying their past episodes, mainly because they talk incessantly about knitting and yarn and have no music interupting the conversation. It's perfect! I would say if you haven't been listening to them, subscribe and download their past episodes. Literally hundreds of hours of yarn pr0n, laughter, and sometimes some more politically charged discussions, which I do appreciate from time to time.

Here's a close up of the stich pattern on the foot:

I've also been able to buy some yarn. I ordered this yarn from Webs in the first week of January but I just got the package this past Friday. They werre having their monster end of the year sale so they were pretty backed up in terms of getting orders filled and out the door. My boyfriend didn't like that and told me to not order from them again. However, I'm willing to forgive for wonderful (and usually well priced) yarn.

The thick green yarn is Classic Elite Alaska (gorgeous). The thinner lime green yarn is some Araucanía Ranco (Hecho en Chile/Made in Chile) and the pastel colored yarn is some Berroco Touché, a cotton/rayon blend for my sister-in-law's baby (she's due in April). It will be a blanket, most likely a pinwheel blanket. It looks simple and fun and I have alloted myself tons of time to get it done before this child is born.

That's all for now. Life is getting pretty hectic for me right now. I have much more to tell you, but I don't want to jinx anything, so when the time is right, I shall reveal it all to you guys. As always, happy knitting!

I'm Staying Inside

2008-01-03T00:06:00.000-05:00

Yes the weather outside is frightful.

But the knitting is so delightful.

I decided to rip out the sock I showed you guys a couple post back because 7 inches into the foot it started to look like this.

Pretty ginormous for even a man's foot. Look!

The former sock fitting loosely on my boyfriend's foot.

Needless to say I really like how the sock is coming along now.

This is not the first time I've tried to knit this pattern in stockinette. Many moons ago (pre blog) I knit some socks for myself using this Knitty pattern. Second time around, the same thing happens: MASSIVE socks that would not fit an elephant's foot let alone a woman's.

Therefore I have officially black listed this pattern for simple stockinette socks because the stitch is too loose and you'll end up with a huge sock. But as you can see highly textured stitches make for a very snug, beautiful foot covering.

I'm going to eat dinner. Oh yeah, Happy New Year everyone!

The Holidays, Part 2

2007-12-31T07:59:00.000-05:00

Before the new year is out, I had to tell you guys about my time in NYC.

There was lots of family:

Mind you, my family is large, many more cousins, uncles, aunts, and other people who are like family that aren't shown here.

There was food:

I had to show you guys my family's Christmas tradition as I ate it, Pepper Pot (scroll down for a recipe to try out). EVERY Guyaneese family has this dish EVERY Christmas in the morning time with some bread to soak in the sauce. It can also be eaten later on in the day with rice (but the Pepper Pot is done way before lunch time anyway!) And it's not a cheap dish. Lots of oxtail, cow heel, turkey, and chunks of beef (you can also add pig feet if you like, but we've never done that in my family). I think the cost and the time it takes to make it is the main reason why it is a holiday treat!

And of course there was lots of knitting:

My mom loved the hat and my grandmother really liked the cardigan. When my aunts and uncle and cousins saw it, they said I should really knit for pay. Don't you hate when people do that to you? I keep telling people I knit for fun and there is no way I would knit for money because I'm not as efficient and fast as a machine to make real money. I'd prefer to design or make the yarn at the mill, or something that makes more sense. Even if you charged $500 for a handknit adult sweater (which by the way is way higher than what I saw was going for handknit sweaters online) it still would not be worth my knitting time. I'd rather keep my hair in my head, thank you.

I even let my dorky side come out of me this year:

I had to take a picture of the E train, the train that I practically grew up on. As the artery of Queens, it got me to anywhere I needed to be in New York. This and the annual Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center are very iconic to New York and seeing that New York City shall forever be in my blood, I had to take a couple shots of them.

So, as you can see I had a pretty good holiday. Tomorrow will be the new year (how cool is that). More blogging on the way. Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano Nuevo y felicidad a todos! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and happiness to everyone!

The Holidays

2007-12-28T22:46:00.000-05:00

I returned from home this past Wednesday. Needless to say it was wonderful to spend time with my family (I hope the same happened for the rest of you guys).

Of course I got pictures, but I still am in holiday mode. My boyfriend's family is coming up to spend the New Year with us this weekend. Therefore I will be cooking like a fiend, entertaining, and possibly knitting. However, here are a few pics of knitting to make this post less boring.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

Christmas Knitting: DONE!

2007-12-18T19:35:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that all of my holiday knitting is done, with time to spare. All the presents are wrapped and ready to be packed and transported with me to New York this Christmas. I'm just glad I finally finished this thing:

Bristow, from Knitty for my grandmother. What do you think? I hope she likes it. When she opens the present, I'll try and make her try it on and take a picture of her wearing it for you guys (but I'm not making any promises).

I also made some hats. The dark blue is the same yarn I used for the Cablelicious pattern (for my boyfriend's younger brother) and the light blue hat is for my mother (remember I punked out? on the shawl) Anyway, I decided to beef up her gift with a framed picture of me receiving my college degree this past May. I believe she'll like the hat and the picture. The yarn I used for my mom's hat is this gorgeous merino/cashmere/silk blend from Sublime in an aran weight.

The only unfortunate thing about finishing a long term project is that you feel lost for deciding on the next project. I also got to plan my travel knitting. I'm thinking socks but what I really want to work on is a top down raglan sweater. I've been fishing around online for patterns, but I can only plan for now. That sweater would have to wait till I come back from New York.

So yeah, with that, I'll end this post. I'm flying home Thursday night and I'll be in New York till Boxing Day (Dec. 26). Maybe I'll see some of you guys that are out there on the subway or on the street, but in a city of 8 million, I doubt it. Plus I'm spending the majority of the holiday at home with my family, so I won't be doing a lot of knitting related activities.

So whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year, I hope it is a fulfilling and happy one! And most importantly, Happy Knitting till then!

Bamboo

2007-12-12T18:53:00.000-05:00

This baby hat pattern is quick, easy, and fun. I started and finished this one in about 6 hours (but that's only because I was making the pattern as I go). If you knit faster than that, then every baby in your life will have a hat this Christmas. I used a lovely bamboo wool blend yarn that is machine washable, so the mother has one less thing to worry about. I hope you guys enjoy it!

PATTERN SPECIFICATIONS

Size: Infant (14 inches in circumference)

Gauge: 24 stitches x 26 rows= 4 inches (in pattern on larger needles)

Needles:
A set of Size 5 US (DPN)
A set of Size 6 US (DPN)

Yarn: 1 50 gram ball of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo (80% Bamboo, 20% Wool, 104 yards)

Notions: Darning needle or crochet hook for weaving in ends

STITCH PATTERNS

Seed Stitch

Even number of stitches
Row 1: Knit 1, purl 1.
Row 2: Purl 1, knit 1.
Repeat both rows till desired length is met.

Tiny Bamboo (From Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Volume 1)

Multiple of 2 stitches
Row 1: *YO, K2, pass the YO over the K2; rep from * to end.
Row 2: Knit.
Repeat both rows till desired length is met.

PATTERN

1. With smaller needles, cast on 60 stitches.
2. Do Seed Stich for 1 inch.
3. Change to larger needles and start Bamboo stitch till work measures 4 1/2 inches, ending on row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.

Decreases

1. K4, K2tog for entire row.
2. Work row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.
3. K3, K2tog for entire row.
4. Work row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.
5. K2, K2tog for entire row.
6. Work row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.
7. K1, K2tog for entire row.
8. Work row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.
9. K2tog for entire row.
10. Work row 1 of Bamboo stitch pattern.

Cut yarn from ball, leaving a 6 inch tail, thread yarn through last stiches of hat, pull tight, and weave in ends. Block hat for shaping and enjoy.

Knitty Winter 2007 Review

2007-12-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

The Winter 2007 edition of Knitty has finally arrived. Let me tell you that all last month I would visit the site pretty much every day to see if they had updated. Yesterday I finally saw something new. Since I have been reviewing many of the other popular knit publications like Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits, I thought it would be appropriate to rate this issue.

Overall, this issue is solid. As usual Knitty (like many other knit wear magazines) has a few hot messes that makes you question why you were ever excited for this new issue to come out in the first place. However, as you browse around, there are still a couple great treasures that reaffirm why you love Knitty so much. I definintely had a "What the Hell!" moment when I saw this hand puppet and this ball. However, this could be the practical knitter in me taking over my judgement. I figure hand puppets and balls can very easily (not to mention more cheaply) be bought at a local discount store.

Some items that are just darling to look at but not necessary something I would like to knit is the cover pattern named Ice Queen, Three Tams, and Quant.

For those who love socks, this issue offers 4 sock patterns, my favorite being Azure. Other noteworthy accesories are Jeanie, a gorgeous wrap of cables and lace, Toasty Topper a cute and quick hat and scarf combo to warm your little ones with , and Fair Isle Rapids, a stunning color work scarf that I feel would not only be fun to knit but a great addition to anyones wardrobe. Matrix is another pattern I definetely see myself knitting this winter for myself, most likely in colors I prefer (like green and yellow because I love Brett Favre or blue and white because I'm a dedicated Colts fan).

Though the accesories are strong, many of the wearable garments are rather disappointing. Out of 6 sweaters, only 2 are worth my time. My favorites are Laughing Carrots and Cables & Bits (which technically is a dog sweater but it is a wearable garment for someone).

I did skim through the articles but lets face it, many knitters are looking for patterns, not articles. Still some of you may want to check out a tutorial by Frankenknits about changing a pullover into a cardigan, Cool Stuff, and more about dying yarn with food coloring and Kool-Aid.

Aside from this particular issue, one qualm I have with Knitty in general is the timing in which their issues are uploaded, especially the Winter issue. The focus for these issues tend to be gift giving and quick yet thoughtful are what we knitters need this time of year. Many other knit publications have their holiday issues hit store shelves at the beginning of November, giving you ample time to buy your materials, knit a bit, procrastinate, become overwhelmed with sleep deprivation from staying up and knitting all night for 4 weeks straight, and get the thing done in time for Christmas. The time that Knitty updates (around Dec. 1) I feel is too late for knitters who are serious about their gift knitting to wait for their designs to come out every year. I would suggest that they update the website around the middle of November. That gives you ample time to make several hats or one sweater for someone very special in your life and still be sane by the end of it all.

That's all I have to say. Do leave some feedback about this review and about the new Knitty in the comments section.

Happy Knitting!

Cablelicious

2007-12-10T19:42:00.000-05:00

A lot of people are deathly afraid of cables. I'm not sure why seeing that cables aren't very difficult at all. They are just twisted stitches, knitting out of order if you will. This hat will not only bust some stash and give you a quick holiday knit, it will also help you get over your fear of cables. And if you love cables, well this is the hat for you. I used a hand dyed yarn from Chile that had enough varigation to keep the hat visually interesting without loosing the beauty of the cables. Of course, a solid colored yarn would work wonderfully with this pattern as well.

PATTERN SPECIFICATIONS

Size: Small adult, (Large adult); 20 inches, (22 inches) in circumference
Gauge: 22 stitches x 30 rows= 4 inches (in pattern on larger needles)

Needles:
A set of Size 5 US (DPN)
A set of Size 7 US (DPN)

Yarn: 1 100 gram skein of Araucania Nature Wool Regular (100% Wool, 240 yards)

Notions:
Cable needle or preferred method of making a cable without a needle (here's one)
Darning needle or crochet hook for weaving in ends

STITCH PATTERNS

4 Stitch Right Twisting Cable

Rounds 1-5: K4, P2 for entire round.
Round 6: Slip 2 stiches on cable needle, hold them behind the work, knit next 2 stiches, K2 stitches from cable needle, P2; repeat for entire round.
Repeat these 6 rows till work is to desire length.

K4, P2 Rib

Multiple of 6 stitches
Round 1: K4, P2 for entire round
Repeat round to desired length

PATTERN

1. With smaller needles, cast on 90, (96) stitches.
2. Do K4, P2 Rib for 1 inch.
3. Change to larger needles and start 4 Stitch Right Twisting Cable stitch till work measures 6, (7) inches.

Decreases

1.
Larger hat only: K6, K2tog for entire round. (84 stitches remain)
Smaller hat only: K6, K2tog till last 8 stitches of round. K4, K2tog, K2tog. (77 stitches remain)

2. Knit entire round.
3. K5, K2tog for entire round. 66, (72) stiches remain.
4. Knit entire round.
5. K4, K2tog for entire round. 55, (60) stitches remain.
6. Knit entire round.
7. K3, K2tog for entire round. 44, (48) stitches remain.
8. Knit entire round.
9. K2, K2tog for entire round. 33, (36) stitches remain.
10. Knit entire round.
11. K1, K2tog for entire round. 22, (24) stitches remain.
12. Knit entire round.
13. K2tog for entire row. 11, (12) stitches remain.

Cut yarn from ball, leaving a 6 inch tail, thread yarn through last stiches of hat, pull tight, and weave in ends. Block hat for shaping and voila.

Playing Catch Up!

2007-12-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

What does a person do in a month of not blogging? Live, of course! Here are some pictures to help get you guys caught up:

We got a new TV. I had to get my "Price is Right" on for this one! We got it for a steal $999, down from $1999! It would have been foolish of us not to spend our money on this rather useless yet fun electronic device.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving meal. It even snowed! This year I opted to have all-American food. Having a Guyanese background while living in America has allowed me to sample dishes from both countries during this time of year. For example, we'd still have stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce but we'd also have all sorts of rice, curry and roti, and of course sweet plantain.

This past holiday was not stressful at all. I cooked some food, a friend cooked the rest, and she, my boyfriend and his brother, and I just sat, watched football and ate ALL DAY. One of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had!

There has also been some knitting going on:

Bristow is coming along well. I'm almost done with the right sleeve and have started sewing the pieces together (because I could not wait to see how everything would look). I still have to buy buttons and make the button and neck bands, sew everything up, weave in the ends, and block the thing. This should not take too long, however I do have a problem. I still have not even started my mom's present, the Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Fall 2006. I'm flying into New York City Dec. 20, 2007. That means as of this writing I have 11 days to start, finish, block, and wrap a lace shawl for my mother. Maybe I should just start the shawl and give it to her later (like Christmas 2008). I'll find something store bought or make something smaller (maybe some gloves or a quick scarf). It's unfortunate that I procrastinated like this but I'm not trying to have a stressful holiday this year.

I've also made a couple quick hats. The green one is an Odessa (without the beads) for one of my boyfriend's step brothers. I did it in some Cascade 220 stash yarn I had lying around. The blue and white caps are hat patterns I'm working on. They are free and the idea is last minute gifts that are interesting yet quick. I still got some numbers to rework but these patterns will be available soon.

That's all I got for now. I still have a lot of house work to do. Laundry, cleaning, and decorating are just a few of the things on the long list of things to do. Oh yeah, in addition to the hat patterns, I'm working on a review of the new Knitty. I have just gone through the patterns and still have the articles to read. Talk to you guys later! Happy Knitting!

Productivity

2007-11-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

The set of twin sweaters are done:

Now I'm working on the sweater for my Granny:

Yeah, yeah, a bunch of stockinette. But so far, I'm liking this Bristow pattern. The yarn is Knitpicks Swish in Red Pepper. The color is more Christmas red than orangy red (as shown in the picture).

As for the other things I plan on knitting, I haven't started my mother's shawl, nor have I thought about the other things I have to do. But I have a feeling that if I keep on being monogamous with my knitting, I'll have all of the stuff I have to get done by Christmas completed, wrapped and ready to be open.

My strategy this year is making certain things for certain people, keeping the majority of the projects small, and throwing in some larger items for more special people in my life. As for the rest of them, they get store bought Bath & Body Works stuff. Which reminds me, doesn't it seem that the fall back present for women is lotion or some type of bubble bath? And even though sometimes I don't like getting 8 bottles of lotion and 6 tubs of body oil every Christmas from relatives I barely see but who feel guilty for not getting me something, in a pinch, those usually not so great scents are great for ashy knees and cracked hands at work (especially when your low on your favorite lotion and need something to hold you over till your next shopping day). What do you think?

Other News

So remember a while ago I was house hunting. Well we placed a bid for this house because it was on silent auction, and we did not win (sad I know). However, seeing that our realtor is a genius, she found another house in another neighborhood that she felt we'd be interested in. My boyfriend went past it last night and he liked what he could see, so we're going to set up a house tour. Hopefully this is the one. Buying a new home is scary but it's also a lot of fun. Kind of like a roller coaster, or sky diving (if you like that sort of thing that is).

Back to the Knits

Saturday I received the Winter 2007 Interweave Knits. I have to admit at first glance a lot of the stuff looked like things I've seen before. For example doesn't the cover jacket:

Look like the cover design in Winter 2006:

Or how about this cute but boring pattern:

And lets not forget the plain ugly garments that many knitting magazines must have in order to shock and awe (or alienate) it's audience:

However, after reading through it, and looking at the patterns again, I began to appreciate some of the designs. Sadly, there is not much in this issue that I have to knit now, or would want to knit later. And this surprises me because I usually love what IK has to offer us knitters. But in comparison to the lastest Vogue Knitting, IK is not looking so great (which I never thought could ever happen in a million years!).

That's all for now. This Bristow project will take me a while to complete, so maybe I should cheat a little and knit some smaller things so I have something to show you guys in terms of progress. But with my once a week style of posting, I don't think I'll have to.

Monogamy

2007-10-28T12:44:00.000-04:00

Although I have been absent for some time from blogging, there has been some knitting done around here. Case and point:

I started and completed these fingerless mitts in about 2 weeks. I used some Shelridge Farm sock yarn. I like the project, but I'm not too sure about the color choices. Everytime I look at them all I could think about it how 70's it looks! I would most likely knit this again, but maybe in some more toned down colors and in colors that contrast more so that the pattern really pops.

Yeah I know it's a picture of stockinette, but this is special stockinette. This is sweater number 2 of my 3 part baby/toddler garment series. I have twin nephews and a 1 year old niece that need some knitted goodness from their aunt this Christmas. And I'm (usually) not one to disappoint!

The pattern's simple, from the Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd. I figured that clothes for growing children don't need to be complicated nor take a long time to make. And besides I have more intricate gifts to make this holiday season.

This (and 15 other balls of yarn) will become this cardigan. I haven't swatched or anything for this project but most likely I'll get started on it next weekend. The baby sweater is coming along fast and lately I've been pretty monogamous with my knittng.

And remember I said I wanted to start up a shawl? Well as you can see the only thing I have done is roll the yarn up into a ball. I bought the yarn at Stitches Midwest 2006 and always thought I'd make something for my mother out of it. When the Fall 2006 IK came out, I knew that this yarn would be the Swallow Tail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark. The design is beautiful and I think my mom will really like it. And besides, all this Christmas knitting is great for stash busting.

Other News

Today is Sunday and I'm going to knit with some friends. I mention this because most of my time in Michigan I've been knitting alone. I've taught many of my friends while down in Argentina how to knit but they have all since forgotten the craft, leaving me all by myself. Lately, however, one of those friends has renewed her interest in knitting. She has a lot of friends that want to learn how, so we figured the best way to do that is to have a meet up at her house. Hopefully this becomes more frequent (like once a month or something). Either way, I'll report back to you guys about what happened there.

Now that is is 1 p.m., the Colts are about to play and as the significant other of a Colt's fan, it is my one of my obligations to watch with him. As always, happy knitting from me!

When It Rains, It Poors

2007-10-12T07:46:00.000-04:00

Last post I was talking about my new house venture and how that has taken time from knitting. Well I haven't heard much from my realtor, so that has created some time for knitting - LOTS of knitting. Take a look:

Some leg warmers for a friend, an almost done baby sweater, and some freshy mailed sock yarn from Yarn Hollow. My friend plays flag football and she mentioned she wanted some leg warmers. I started these Wednesday and I'm almost done with the first one (1 more inch to go). Total kniting time has to be 4 hours, which surprised me a lot because I did not think I knit that fast. That's a nice surprise!

The almost done baby sweater is for one of my twin nephews for this Christmas. I'm waiting on some more yarn from KnitPicks so I could start and complete the second sweater. I used the drop sleeve sleeve sweater pattern in this book but I don't want to do it again for the second sweater (sometimes I don't like when identical twins are so matchy, matchy). Instead I'm going to do the raglan sleeve sweater with a brown body and green or red sleeves (I have to decide once I buy the yarn).

I have also received the new Holiday Issue of Vogue Knitting:

Let's just say that when I came home from work, saw the magazine on my coffee table, I had a relgious moment (as in I prostrated myself and praised the Lord). I know last time I completely shitted on Vogue Knitting, but I must say that this time they do have some things in there that I really want to make. For example, the cover alone draws me into this issue. Maybe because the featured pattern is made out of red yarn (one of my favorite colors) and many of the patterns are garments I would see myself wearing. So, I guess I could forgive Vogue Knitting this time. Last time I was ready to write them off my subscribtion list of knitting magazines, but they have truly redeemed themselves with this new issue.

Last but certainly not least, I got my invite to Ravelry this past Wednesday. My name is Kellyson if you are interested in making me a friend. I was rather surprised and excited when I got my invite. I immediately logged on, started editing my profile and looked around. I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed. Maybe it's because instead of clicking the "What can Ravelry do for you" button, I just wandered around. One thing I did not like was that you can only upload pictures from Flickr. This is because to get the most out of one of these accounts, you need to pay money, and as cheap as I am, I'm not paying for this type of webspace. I know Flickr does a lot more than hold pictures but that's all I need. That's why place my pictures on Snapfish. All you need to do is buy at least 1 photo per year for them to print and you can put as many pictures as you want on their site. It's wonderful, and the printing service is fast and easy if you want to print some digital photos.

I think what also contributed to my small disapointment in Ravelry is that I didn't feel like I had enough time to really get into it. I hear from many people with blogs on Ravelry that spending time there takes time away from their blogging, and quite frankly, I'd rather but writing about knitting than searching on a site for knitting. Furthermore, I guess in a sense, even though I really enjoy looking at other people's projects, the volume of patterns and yarn and everything knitting on Ravelry would make me more of a spectator than a knitter. And if my goal is to get rid of most of my yarn by next year (life spare), I better start knitting, rather than watching other people knit!

Man that was a lot of writing! This weekend I'm going to start a shawl, because I'm itching for something challenging and requires focus. Until next time, happy knitting!

Now You Know

2007-10-05T07:20:00.000-04:00

This is what has been keeping me from my knitting and essentially you guys:

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to buy a house.

As you can see from the pictures it is a little shack that needs some love. It's in foreclosure and has been on the market for more that 9 months. The asking prices is $27,900. We're offering $24,000.

It's in a nice neighborhood, right downtown in a city close by to my new job (my commute is 1.5 hours a day now instead of 30, living there would give me a 15-20 minute commute total per day). It's right across the street from the hospital which has a helipad for emergencies:

I know a lot of people are scared of buying homes now a days (there's this whole credit crunch and mortgage meltdown in the United States which is a whole bunch of jargon for people are becoming homeless at a very alarming rate).

As everyone else is scared to loose their homes, people like me looking for a home can profit. Homes are way undervalue, that means I can save! And one things for sure once the market bottoms out, it can go no where but up! That is why I'm buying a house now, instead of later, when the prices are really high and I'll have some 30 year mortgage that will never get paid.

Anyway, in knitting news, the little time I've had to just relax and knit I got to finish this:

Socks for Auntie Dee. The plan is to send up a DVD of SurvivorMan (my boyfriend loves the show and Auntie Dee sure loves the outdoors). And seeing that it should start getting cold up north in Canada, I finished these puppies in the nick of time.

I'm working on some other things but frankly, I'm too lazy to pull out my camera and take a picture. So till next week, Happy Knitting!

I'm Still Here

2007-10-01T08:30:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile. Part of the reason is because I did not have much to say these past few weeks. The other reason is because I've been so busy doing real life things, that knitting has some what taken a back seat--until this past weekend. I'm going into work earlier all this week, so I won't be able to post in the morning, but I will be revealing some cool things to you guys. Just hand it there for me.

How's everyone else doing?

Thank God!

2007-09-14T09:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was sad because I didn't have anything to say to you guys. When I got home from work, however, I decided to visit Knitty. I was plesantly surprised when I saw that they uploaded the Fall 2007 issue.

I know many of you guys are probably giving your personal reviews of the issue. I'm doing the same here. First I would like to say that this being their 5 year anniversary, this issue is pretty lack luster in terms of proclaiming that fact (unlike another certain publication that I do not really like right now).

The majority of the sweater patterns are flat out plain, boring, or too ugly to knit. However, I am somewhat interested in this sweater but it's not on my "I have to make that right now" knitting list.

What is refreshing is the amount of sock patterns. Many of the socks are plain to the eye but knit up in a not so conventional way (like this one and this one), which makes for interesting knitting.

However, one thing that I am completely in love with is this shawl. I think it is the best pattern in this issue. I can definetely see some KAL's popping up for this number.

Lastly, I just wanted to comment about this man's hair (you got to scroll down about mid-page to see it). I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HIS HAIR!!! If only I were as disciplined as he to have my hair like that (I mean I cut my hair just so that even when I do not pass a comb through it, it still looks somewhat descent).

That's all for now. This weekend will be busy but I believe I'll have some time to knit this Sunday as I watch football.

Some Tidbits

2007-09-10T10:55:00.000-04:00

So I had an especially wonderful weekend. Saturday I had to run some errands like grocery shop and things like that but on Sunday I spent the whole day knitting and watching some football! Here are some pictures of what I worked on this weekend:

I figured I get some Christmas knitting started with this wash cloth. I'm thinking I'm going to make several and then buy some nice soap, baskets, make some candles, and make a little nice homemade bath kit for the women in my life. Quick, easy, and tasteful.

Two scarves. Remember this scarf I was making for my sister this Christmas? Well I figured that it looked ugly so I ripped it out and started over again. The result is the Windy City scarf from the original Stitch 'n Bitch book. Since I had two different colors of Malabrigo that were within the red family, I figured I would alternate knitting from the two balls by knitting two rows from one than switching to the other for the whole scarf. Hopefully you guys can see the slight striping affect this made. This scarf is so soft, I wish it were for me! But I know my sister would love it and get some great use out of it.

The second is a chunky scarf made out of this stuff from Rowan. It's for me; perfect for brisk fall evenings and cold winter days. I love making scarves like these because they are quick. I used a stitch pattern from one of the Vogue Stitchionaries. BTW, there is another set of stichionaries that are ready to come out next month. I'm thinking of getting them all. Maybe not all at once but if I like one book, I think I'll like the rest.

Last but not least, progress on the Jaywalker socks for Auntie Dee. I'm about 1 inch away from the toe and I'm very excited. At the rate I'm going, I think the pair will be done by the end of this month or sooner. Which is perfect because Sascatchewan gets very cold very quickly.

Complaints

As of this writing, has anyone noticed that all of the knitting publications have released their fall issues instead of Knitty? Am I the only one bothered by this? Here we are already in September and Knitty has not updated its web content. I mean it's not like I need to add any more new projects to my queue but I still enjoy clicking through the website to look at the patterns that people have created. I did hear, however, that Amy Singer, the editor of the website, was sick last week, via Cast-On. But I would think that if this is her full time job, she would have a staff to depend on to ensure that the website is updated in a timely fashion. Thankfully those of you that need your new project fix, Magknits has updated and they have some pretty cute things to fantasize about and eventually knit.

A Short Excursion

2007-09-04T09:58:00.000-04:00

So I meant to tell you guys before I left, but with packing and all the craziness that a trip involves, I had no time to write a post. So here is a little recap on my weekend.

I went to a wedding of 2 friends of mine this weekend. They were getting married to each other in a town called Arnprior, about 20 minutes north of Ottawa, the capital of Canada and the home of this hockey team.

It was a very traditional wedding with a casual flair.

Afterward we ate, drank, and danced the night away.

All in all a good time.

Knitting

So remember I was knitting this boring sock for my boyfriend's aunt. Well I had enough of it and ripped it all out early Friday morning. Mind you I was almost done knitting the short rows for the toe on Thursday! I could have finished one sock and started the other the next day! But the mind numbing boredem I saw ahead of me was just too much to bear. I decided to make some Jaywalkers out of them. Boy am I happy I did. Look at my progress:

I'm already on the heal of the first sock and it's only been 4 days! I've made more progress in 4 days on this sock than I have on the plain ol' sock in 3 months! Now I am confident that these socks will not be forgotten because I actually enjoy the pattern.

Thats all for now. I got to unpack and readjust to the real world of work and drudgery.

Michigan Fiber Festival, Part 2

2007-08-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

As promised, pictures of my booty:

Go ahead. I won't mind if you drool!

As you can see I went a little crazy on the sock yarn. From top to bottom:

Knitting Notions handdyed lace yarn. This is the only yarn that will not become a sock. I'm making it into a lacy scarf. Maybe for me, maybe as a Christmas present. We'll see.

Some Merino-Tencel blend from some farm I forgot the name of (when I bought the skein it didn't even have a tag on it!).

Some fad yarn. Socks That Rock to be exact. I'm not one for fads but I have never knitted with this stuff before, and if I find out it is as good as people say it is, well, I may become a fanatic myself!

Perchance to Knit sock yarn. I recently found this lady's blog after she had left a comment on mine some weeks ago. I knew she dyed yarn but I never realized that she sold her handdyed creations. Absolutely beautiful, Susie ! I think once I'm done with this baby, I'll purchase some more.

Some solid colored sock yarn from Shelridge Farm. I figured I needed some solids because I would love to utilize the stichionary I have to make socks one day. Plus solid sock yarn seems to be more mature than multi-colored (as if pink and bright yellow are mature colors).

Some Mountain Colors Bearfoot in a wool and mohair blend. I see myself wearing these socks around the house, on an extra cold winter day, sipping some hot tea, listening to a podcast, and knitting away on something else.

And finally some sock yarn from the Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill, Inc. I simply fell in love with the jewel like tones of the blues in this yarn. Whatever this becomes, it will be something for me!

Now that I have all this new stuff to add to my stash, the hardest part is choosing what to work with next and with what pattern to pair the yarns with!

Now excuse as I roll around in my new treasures!

Distractions

2007-08-24T08:17:00.001-04:00

Due to poor lighting (it's been raining since yesterday afternoon), the photoshoot of my booty has been delayed.

In the mean time, here are some shots of some FO's I have recently completed:

The hat was finished Sunday night and the bag was felted Monday morning. Both projects were very satifying. As you can tell, though, I gave up last minute on one of the straps for the bag. I ended up not wanting to do the intarsia motif on the strap because I really just wanted to felt this bag up and start using it. It doesn't bother me that the straps don't match. I have a bag that beautiful anyway and thats all that counts.

The hat is the Odessa pattern by Grumperina. Again, this knit is fast and easy. Perfect for last minute gifts.

Speaking of last minute gifts, has anyone started their Christmas knitting? I know it's still August but if you're a knitter with a couple hundred things to knit this year, it's best to start early and plan ahead. Let me know what you guys are cooking up in your houses.

Hopefully the weather will improve today or tommorow so I could show you my newly accumulated stash. Until then, happy knitting!

Michigan Fiber Festival, Part 1

2007-08-22T09:06:00.000-04:00

Today I have a long post to write but not much time to write it in. So this is going to be more pictures than words.

The BF and I woke up very early so that everything wasn't sold out by the time we got there.

There was plenty of this:

Beautiful roving. It made me think maybe I could become a spinner. That's when a man that was selling electric spinners (at $800 a pop) showed me that it was easy to do. Needless to say that is easier said than done.

Nonetheless I tried but failed many times. I didn't want to learn how to spin after that. But I did end up with this:

Remember I chopped off my hair 2 weeks ago? Well I kept my hair, thinking that it could be spun up into some yarn. And the man was right! See, I told you my hair was like wool!

Then we got to my favorite part of the show:

I was whoring around:

By the end of it, we got to the animals:

Mostly sheep and alpacas, with a couple of angora rabbits were there. Everytime I go, I fall in love with the sheep:

Then I step in a pile of shit, and realize why I do not like animals.

All and all, a wonderful day:

In part 2, I will be showing you my booty (Pirate talk for: the stash I accumulated this past weekend).

And the Prizes Are...

2007-08-20T12:20:00.000-04:00

Today is the big reveal of the prizes for the contest.

Since Valerie guessed the closest answer, she gets the "grand prize":

A copy of the 25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition of Vogue Knitting as well as some laceweight merino from Argentina. I got this yarn a year ago and the only reason why I picked it up is because it did not look like any other yarn I had seen in Argentina. This yarn definetely screams lace but alas, I can't think of anything to do with it. Therefore I am giving it away.

And don't think I forgot about you Trek. I got you this:

Some lightweight Socks That Rock in the Grandma's Flower Garden colorway. Tell you the truth I was somewhat hesitant to give this one away, but I can't be selfish. I'm sharing the yarn love!

Hopefully the both of you guys enjoy your prizes. I can't wait to see what you guys make out of it!

Oh yeah, make sure you email me at kellyson718 AT yahoo DOT com so I can know where to send these wonderful gifts to.

That's all for now. Tomorrow I'm going to share with you what I did at the Michigan Fiber Festival!

A Nice Birthday

2007-08-17T19:34:00.000-04:00

The contest has come to a close and two winners have been determined.

Valerie was the closest, guessing 9:17 am.

The second closest was Trek and she guessed 12:02 am.

Congratulations ladies!

Tomorrow is the Michigan Fiber Festival and Nathan and I are attending. I have a prize for one of you guys but I have to purchase the other prize tomorrow. Therefore the prizes will not be revealed till Monday.

Thanks to everyone that participated. It was fun reading your guesses.

And just so that all of you guys know the exact time, I was born 5:38 am on August 17, 1984.

A Great Day

I'm having a wonderful day today. I'm a year older, I took a day off, and had a wonderful bath with this bath bomb stuff from Lush. They sell other beauty products if you are interested.

Then I baked some cupcakes...

Red Velvet Cake mix from Duncan Hines with vanilla frosting (Duncan Hines too).

Then I picked up my mail and got these lovely magazines:

I paid for a subscription over 2 months ago and there was a mix up in the payment that delayed the Summer issue from getting to my house. Now I got the Summer and the Fall issue.

I have to admit that the preview on the website did not make me as excited about the patterns in this issue, but I'm so glad I got a copy of the magazine because though I may not see myself wearing alot of the designs in this season's issue, everything in this issue looks beautiful and comfortable to wear.

Now I'm watching Food Network and working on this baby:

It's the Odessa hat by Grumperina. I've been wanting to make this hat for a long time and I got sick of my other projects so I figured why not cast on for this. It's going pretty quickly. I'm not rushing this one. I'm using the yarn called for (Rowan Cashsoft DK I believe) and I love the stitch definition and just the soft feel of the merino. And now that I have chopped off all of my hair, I can actually wear some of the hats I knit myself this winter.

That's all for now. I start a new job Monday and life is looking pretty positive for me right now.

Until Monday, Happy Knitting!

Eye Candy and a Contest

2007-08-15T11:19:00.000-04:00

First the Eye Candy:

I got this package in the mail from this retailer in New York City. The yarn is Rowan Big Wool in the Gingersnap color. I'm kind of disappointed because I thought the color would be brighter but I've gotten used to it now. And like the last big scarf I made, this yarn will become a thick winter scarf. Though the color is not what I had expected, it is still appealing and this new scarf will match many of the outfits I have in my closet.

Contest

I'm not sure if I told you guys but my birthday is this Friday, August 17th. To celebrate this occasion, I have decided to host a contest. Here is your challenge:

You guys all know the day I was born, but can you guess the exact minute I was born?

The 2 individuals with the closest guess to the time that I was born will receive a special prize from me.

Leave your answer in the comments section to enter the contest.

The contest closes 12 pm Eastern Standard Time on August 17th and from then on I will determine the winner.

Good Luck to everyone!

Random Developments

2007-08-13T09:49:00.000-04:00

Here are some progress pics:

The scarf was started last year in October. I never blogged about it because frankly, it's just a boring 2x2 rib scarf. Lately however, since I've been stash busting, I've decided to make this a Christmas gift for my sister. I gave her a felted bag last year. Hopefully she'll like this.

The two hats are for two friends of mine that got married last week. They've been together since high school and the both of them just turned 23 in the past 2 weeks. This Friday, I'm turning 23 years old and Saturday night we're going to Olive Garden to celebrate my birthday.

Though this Saturday's occasion is really about me, I decided that I could share the spotlight and the hats were a great way to not only spread the love, but also get rid of some stash. Two birds, one stone.

Vogue Knitting

Almost two weeks ago, I received my copy of the 25th Anniversary Edition of Vogue Knitting. This issue is pretty thick in comparison to previous ones, and has many articles in there, from pieces that teach new techniques to interviews with several of the knitting industry's past and present icons.

Unfortunately, I buy knitting magazines mainly for their patterns, not for articles and techniques. If I wanted articles, I'd read a newspaper and if I wanted techniques, I'd reference a book or the internet because to wait on a quarterly magazine to talk about a skill you've been dying to learn about or try is foolish in this day and age.

The color for the 25th wedding anniversary is silver, and Vogue Knitting used that in their editorial spread for the first couple pages of this issue to showcase designs that are in yarns from icy grey to shiny silver tones. Some of these designs are actually wearable and appear interesting to knit, but the patterns are not found anywhere in the magazine. The patterns that are found are of ugly ass designs in the back. This is because currently, high fashion runways are showing off styles from the 80s, that means ill-fitting, oversized, boxy clothing. Frankly, I do not care what era I'm in, I like my clothes to fit. And I am sorry, Vogue Knitting, if I am too cheap (aka, poor) to knit a cashmere sweater 4 sizes to big for me just so I can be up with the times of excess and opulence.

To put it simply, this issue was a HUGE disappointment, in my eyes. Thankfully I do not pay for this subscription (my boyfriend got this as a Christmas present for me last year), however, once the subscription is up, unless Vogue Knitting decides to make some radical changes in their design selection, I'm not buying their publication. I hate saying that because I truly appreciate the gesture that my boyfriend made by buying me a subscription to a knitting magazine. Unfortunately, I'm not having a good time with my gift right now.

My Life

I cut and colored my hair brown this Saturday:

I love the cut, but the color I do not really see a difference in my hair. Besides all that, I'm pretty happy with the result. Now I feel more confident and sexy in my own skin. Plus this hair is absolutely perfect for my lazy hair habits. I really just wash (or wet) and go. I LOVE IT!!!

Tomorrow I have a very important job interview. I'm somewhat nervous, but I've been doing this for 3 months now, and the more I search and interview for a new job, the closer I feel to the job I really want.

That is all for now. This Wednesday I have a very important announcement to make concerning my birthday this Friday. Here's a hint: it includes yarn!

Almost But Not Quite

2007-08-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

I don't have much to talk about today so here are some progress pics of the bag and the sock for Auntie Dee:

I got 7 more rounds to go before I start knitting the straps on this bag. I'm hoping I could finish it by this weekend and felt it so I can use it for this event in 2 weeks.

As for the socks, there is only one more inch to go and sock number 1 will be done. I'm dreading knitting the second sock because it's boring, big, and long. It has taken me almost 2 months to get to this point of the knittting. Because of this experience, I think I will never knit another stockinette sock on such small gauge (9 stitches the inch, to be exact).

This week should be busy for me, so don't expect much from this blog. However I do have something special for you guys next week. Details later!

Saving for Yarn

2007-07-30T11:09:00.000-04:00

Remember a couple of months ago I told you guys about my financial plan for my future? Well my boyfriend came up with a wonderful idea that I think may help not just knitters, but anyone with a hobby that takes up alot of money.

Nine weeks ago, Nathan (the BF) opened up an ING checking account. Apparently this is very new to ING because when we opened our savings account with them in March, they did not offer this service.

Long story short, my boyfriend loves photography (last post he took the pictures of my shawl). However, when you're poor, you can't donate alot of money to your hobby. So he opened the ING checking account so that he can fund his photography obsession.

When he told me about it last week, he suggested that I open one for my habit (knitting). So that's what I did yesterday.

And the great thing about this method of saving for yarn is that I can still access my money, plus this account accures interest (about 4.5%, just like the ING savings account). Lastly, I automatically save as much as I want every week because it comes straight from my other checking account.

I'm glad I got the account. I see this new account not just as my knitting fund but also my "Just for Fun" account. That means lets say I want to get a pedicure or a massage or do some other leisurely activity not in my budget; I can use the money I saved for that purpose. It's great!

Knitting

I have been knitting on the bag, but if I had taken a picture of it, you guys would have thought I was lying. So here is a picture of a simple sock:

This is the first sock to a pair for Nathan's Auntie Dee. The way this sock is going (84 stitches around with 9 stitches to the inch as gauge), I might finish it by September, which is perfect because that's when it starts to get cold in Saskatchewan.

Well, that's all for now. On to more job searching!

El Centésimo

2007-07-24T08:52:00.000-04:00

For those of you that do not know, this is my 100th post. No, I am not starting up a contest or doing anything else to celebrate (that will be next month, if I am still able to. Stay tuned!).

As promised, here are some glamour shots of the finished shawl:

It is absolutely beautiful! The colors are right up my ally: bright, obnoxious, and full of color! Perfect for brisk Fall days or windy spring nights. And even though there are a bunch of holes in this shawl, I tried to wear it this past Sunday while I was knitting inside and it got me too hot!

Now that the shawl is done, I have started the bag:

I'm half way through the first intarsia repeat and my yarn is depleating rapidly. I'm not worried about yarn, though, because this is a stash buster, so it is all good! Honestly, I can't wait to get the knitting done on this baby so that I could felt it and turn it into something useful. I don't felt much because I do not have a personal washer and dryer (aka, I have to pay for each load I put in), but for this bag (which hopefully would be done by this fall) I'm willing to break some rules.

That's all for now. I got a lot to do today and unfortunately, it does not involve knitting.

Just Blocking

2007-07-21T11:37:00.000-04:00

Today is a lazy day at my house which is perfect because I can get some serious knitting done. But before I get to that, I still have to finish the shawl:

Here it is taking a bath:

And now it is on the floor stretched out.

Measuring to 48 1/2 wide and 21 1/2 inches long, I have to say that this was a good first attempt at shawl making. I love how the stitch pattern hides behind all the color, which would urk some but doesn't bother me at all.

Movies

If anyone is looking for a good DVD to rent this weekend, last night I watched The Last King of Scotland with Forest Whitaker. Though Forest won an Oscar for his performance, the entire film is equally as good. The soundtrack is rather sexy, which is my favorite part of the whole thing.

One thing that interested me the most is the films potrayal of interracial couples, particularly white men with black women. In American society, though it is becoming more accepted, it is still somewhat looked down upon for people to date outside of their race. With that said, it seems to me that the majority of white/black couples in America are white women with black men. It is very rare to see a black woman with a white man. And because you rarely see black women with white men, its almost looked down upon even more than black men with white women!

I have only bought this up because I believe as society changes, movies, TV, and other creative media outlets reflect the issues and present day culture. For example, 10 years ago there was never a TV show where gay men where even minor characters, let alone the stars. Now there are several TV shows were these characters are playing major roles. Now whether these men and women are really homosexual is not the point. It is the fact that society has changed so much in the past 20 years that showing this on TV is not only accepted, but welcomed.

Does that mean that in 2007 Americans are still not ready to accept a TV show or movie where a interracial couple are the stars? This may be true in some ways, but The Jeffersons in the 70's was a huge hit that had a black woman with a white man as the neighbors of the two stars of the show, George and Louise Jefferson. Hopefully, one day television and other media outlets would show these types of relationships more frequently, so that maybe the television audience would be more accepting of interracial couples when they see them at the mall or in the grocery store. Please, do tell what you think about this topic. I would really enjoy the discussion.

That's all for now. If you would excuse me, I have a bag to make.

Inspiration

2007-07-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

The shawl is maturing into a wonderful teenager, everyone! Here is a progress pic:

I'm almost done on the last repeat. The pattern says to knit till there are 195 stitches on the needles, but I haven't been counting stitches. I'm just trying to get rid of yarn so that I can make more room for new yarn. You guys seen my stash.

Because I like to plan ahead, I decided to read further along in the pattern to prepare myself for what was next. I found out that the pattern wanted me to create a scalloped edge on the border of the entire shawl. That's when I started to panic because it did not explain exactly how to do this. I fiddled around the web for a moment and found only this page to be somewhat useful. However, if you are an expert in lace, please let me know how I would attach a scallopped edge to my shawl. I would love to finish this piece before the month ends. It's not that I have a deadline in terms of wearing it somewhere or giving it as a gift. I just can't wait to block this thing to see how it comes out!

New Project

On Sunday as I was listening to podcasts and working on the shawl, I was sitting in front of my stash and glanced over at these skeins of yarn:

I immediately got the inspiration to knit this bag out of it:

It is from Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick. I've wanted to make this bag for a long time now. In fact, when I bought the skeins pictures above, I knew they were going to be felted (which reminds me of a story about what happens when a knitter picks the wrong yarn for certain projects I have to tell you guys later).

The pattern calls for 4 colors but I'm only using 3: 2 for the main design and possibly 1 for the accent color on the crosses (you see the little light flecks of color on the crosses?). According to the introduction to the pattern, the fourth color was similiar to another background color which made a slight stripey affect that made the yarn look hand dyed when felted. That sounds cool but when a knitter's on a budget, you can't afford a stripey affect that even the picture in the book can not detect.

Q&A

Del asked me in the comments of last post what the stitch pattern was for the yellow scarf. Just to let you know it's a seed stitch. Usually I do not like seed stitch because to me it's really plain but requires alot more than stockinette. For example, if I do stockinette in the round, I don't even have to think. I could knit and watch tv for hours and before I know it, I'm ready to turn the heel of a sock. Seed stitch, however, you got to make sure that you start with a purl if you did a knit on the last stitch of the last row. It is for this reason that my rule of having an even number of stitches when making a scarf go out the window. For this scarf in particular, I casted on 13 stitches. Then I knited 1, purled 1 to the end, then I turned the work around and did the same thing the entire scarf till I ran out of yarn. Very easy, very simple, but the results are very Banana Republic.

My plans for today vary. I got some errands to run, knitting to do, and a mock interview to go to so that I can test out my interviewing skills. I don't plan on doing perfect the first time and hearing some constructive criticism right now would be great. That is because, quite frankly, that's one of the best ways to improve.

Forgetful

2007-07-14T10:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was reminded by this man:

my boyfriend that Friday the 13th was my blogaversary. Needless to say that I had completely forgotten all about it. I must say that it has been wonderful this past year writing and sharing my life and knitting with you guys. To commemorate the occasion, Nathan gave me a card as well as this:

A lovely camera so that I do not have to bother him for his. Isn't he sweet? I've been wanting a camera of my own lately but I could not find the money to purchase one right now. I did not even tell him I wanted a camera but he just knew that I needed one. That's a good boyfriend!

Knitting

The big yellow scarf was started and completed yesterday. No my wonderful boyfriend did not knit this up for me as planned.

Here's the story. My boyfriend and I were discussing how I wanted my scarf to look. I wanted a Banana Republic look, that is something lucious, thick, and warm with a simple stitch that they would charge $60 for but because I'm a knitter, I would look at it and totally say, "I could make that for a third of the price," and then actually do it. That's what Nik did.

Anyway, so my boyfriend had somehthing else in mind, something that he tried to explain to me but I did not understand. And seeing that I was determined to get a certain look, I told him forget about it.

So who in their right mind would wear a whale's worth of yarn in hot ass July (well, for you and you it's not crazy at all seeing that this time is very cold)? Me of course! I wanted to show you guys the capabilities of my camera.

Some random pics with the camera.

That's all for now. Happy Knitting Guys!

I'm Back!

2007-07-11T11:33:00.000-04:00

Okay, I've been back in Michigan since Monday afternoon. New York was fabulous! Most of my time was spent with my family, though, so I was not able to visit any yarn stores. However, looking at my bank account these past couple days, I was glad I did not have the chance to go.

Knitting

I've been knitting, mostly on the shawl and not seeing much progress on any of my other projects. I think it is because it takes me a long time to actually get to knitting these days. I'm still job hunting so I'm busy calling people, mailing resumes, and working on the computer. Then I can't leave my house dirty, so that has to get cleaned. Before I know it, I have to go to work (I work the second shift, 3pm-11pm). Then I always say, "Well I have this whole weekend to knit." But then you know how it goes. Your weekend is always filled with things that you could not do during the week. Groceries, laundry, house cleaning, catching up on sleep; all eating away at my knitting time.

The reason why I said this is because as a blogger who loves to knit, I sometimes feel pressured to sit and knit for a couple hours just so that I have something to show you guys the next day. Because lets face it, after awhile, a knitting blog gets dull if the author does not show some sort of progress in his/her projects.

Now, don't get me wrong. Much like you guys, I knit because I like it and I do not feel obligated to knit things I do not like or knit on things that I do not have passion for simply because I need some material for my blog. All I'm saying is that surfing the blogosphere can really inspire a knitter to challenge their knitting skills, or sadden a knitter because he/she is not producing as much FO's as other knit bloggers are doing.

So I ask you, do you sometimes feel pressured to knit just so you have something to say on your blog? Let me know!

Big Bird and Big Yellow Yarn

2007-07-07T00:14:00.000-04:00

I'm having such a great time with my family in NYC. Today my twin nephews, my sisters, and my mother went to Sesame Place to have some fun in the water. We had such a blast just hangin out with my twin nephews, and getting to reminisce about the time my sister and I spent at Sesame Place as kids. Though I would love to place a picture of my nephews up here, I hear that doing that could place them in danger, so to be safe, you guys would have to settle for words.

So what does Big Bird have to do with Big Yarn? Everything:

A big yellow bird...

Some big yellow yarn.

I bought this stuff last week after a job interview that did not go down too well. I was planning on making a simple seed stitch scarf for this winter out of it. I know it's pretty bright for winter, but I think winter is already a sad time of year and a bright scarf would definitely brighten anyone's day. However, my boyfriend saw it and asked me if he could make it for me. He told me though that he had a very different design idea from mine. We'll have to wait and see what he comes up with. Additionally, although I would love to knit something quick (that is a scarf in a day quick), that's one less thing I have to knit.

I hope this Eye Candy brightens your weekend! Happy knitting!

BTW

My grandmother loved the socks! She told me I should consider selling my work, which I take as a big compliment from a women who is the queen of everything domestic.

A Late Birthday Present

2007-07-03T06:33:00.000-04:00

I have a little time before I have to leave for my flight home. I've been waiting to show you guys the finished pair of Jaywalkers for my Grandmother. Here they are:

My grandmother's birthday was June 9th. I believe she is 70 years old now, but I'm not too sure. I decided to knit her some socks after the occasion had past and thought that mailing them to her would be a nice touch to my old-school gift for my old-school grandmother. However, once I knew I was going to NYC I decided to just finish the socks before the trip and personally deliver them to her. Hopefully she'll like them.

The yarn is KnitPicks Essentials in the Pumpkin colorway. I ran out of yarn on the first sock so I used some left over Trekking XXL yarn. Waste not, want not! Would I make these socks again? I think so for myself. They were quick, easy, and interesting. I'm not sure if I want to submit mine to the gallery she has going but I'll think about it. I'm somewhat scared that they will not fit because I've heard that many people complained about the narrow leg. If they do not fit my grandmother's feet I still think she'd be so touched that I made her something that she would not care about fit (or that's what I think in my head).

By the time you read this, I'll be on my way home! See you next week!

Working Girl Gets to Travel

2007-07-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

Today I'm going on a job interview at a local hospital. I must admit that I was rather surprised to get a phone call from them, seeing that I gave them a resume more than a month earlier. My boyfriend told me that employers may take awhile to return your phone call. My impatient ass, however, gave up after 2 weeks. Cross your fingers for me. It's a job I really want and something I believe is good to start out with right out of college.

Travel Knitting

Yesterday I told you guys I'm flying back home to New York to see my family. I'm really excited to go. I haven't seen them since January when my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. I know that to many of you, New York is a scary, mysterious place, but for me, it's home. New York is the only place I know where you really do not need alot of money to have alot of fun (unless that is, you like the high life, then you might need a little more than $20 bucks to enjoy yourself). Living in Michigan for so long has made me yearn for some traditional Guyanese foods like curry and roti, or rice and stew cabbage, or pine tart and black cake (here's a page that talks more about the cultural influences on Guyanese cuisine).

So there are certain things I have to buy at home that Michigan simply does not have, like Wise Cheese Doodles (simliar to Cheetos but simply not the same), mouth watering thin crust pizza that you have to fold in half to eat, and $10 pedicures. I'm also planning on visiting some yarn stores in the city like Purl in Soho, Seaport Yarns and School Products in Downtown Manhattan (I know yesterday I placed myself on a more strict yarn diet, but technically, this yarn will be vacation yarn).

So of course I have some plane knitting:

I started this shawl on Saturday night. The yarn is from my stash, some Lorna's Laces sock yarn in the Rainbow colorway. I've never been so excited about a project in a long time. I've done lace work before in socks and other garments but this is my first lace shawl. I'm hopping to give this one away, but I'm thinking to myself the colors are so wild, I'm not sure many people other than myself that would like it, let alone wear it.

The reason why I have stayed away from lace for so long is because I did not want to go through the process of blocking the thing. Don't get me wrong, I love to block my knitting, but I also do not have to use thousands of pins to get the right shape like I would have to do with this shawl. Nonetheless, the pattern is not too complicated and should keep me busy on the plane ride to New York.

If I am able to, I'll see if I could blog in NYC. If not, this is goodbye till next week!

Delicious yet Bitter

2007-07-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

I've been gone for awhile now (since June 19th to be exact). I have to admit that I did not have much to say and I feel that if you don't have something real to discuss, then you should not blog until inspiration comes naturally. Well, I got my inspiration this weekend:

I finally moved into my boyfriend's apartment and I have to say that when I stacked all of my yarn on this make-shift bookshelf, I was surprised and enthusiastic about it all at the same time. You see, I was thrilled to see all of my yarn in plain sight. Now I could feel like I'm shopping in a yarn store every time I go up for some new yarn (it's dorky, I know). The bitter part of this delicious moment came after I had realized that I had alot more yarn than I expected.

I mean though some of the yarn is for my boyfriend (straight from Argentina) the majority of it belongs to me. Soon after, feelings of shame began to formulate in my soul. In fact, at one point I was somewhat embarassed to display my yarn to the world, seeing that the shelf is right across from the door and the first thing that friends and strangers would see when they walk in. Even after I stacked the yarn on the shelf and came back from a long day at the park, it overwhelmed me to see it all there first thing as I walked into the door!

I have to explain to you guys why I am shocked that my stash is larger than I had expected. All this time I thought that I did not have that big of a stash. In fact, I thought I was doing so much better than other knit bloggers with huge stashes. Before yesterday, I was so nieve and self-righteous. I would constantly tell myself, "I have so much self control. I may have alot of yarn but at least I don't have enough to fill up an entire room," or "My stash only fits into one rubbermaid bin." The reality of the matter is that I have so much yarn that I can barely fit it all on one bookshelf!

Realizing that I have all this yarn has placed alot of stress on my mind. What about this August? I was planning on having a yarn binge but it looks like I haven't purged enough of my stash to justfiy that. Additionally, in some ways I feel selfish for spending so much money on this hobby of mine when there could be better things that I could do with my money like start paying my student loans off or zero-out some credit card bills.

Still these feelings won't push me away from knitting. This is what I love to do and as far as I'm concerned, knitting has only enriched my life, not taken away from it. In fact, I don't think ANYTHING would keep me from knitting for the rest of my life, tell you the truth.

So I have a new plan. I want to make alot of Christmas presents this year (I know it's July!). Therefore, I have decided that if I'm making a Christmas present, I have to see if I could use up some stash yarn first before I purchase something new. That will be my challenge for the next 7 months. Now all I have to do is go through the stash, sort the yarn by what I want to make out of it and choose a recipient for this December. However, I'm too lazy to do that (it is Sunday, you know). I think I'll do it when I come back from vacation.

Oh yeah, I did not mention that I'm going to New York City this Tuesday. More details on that tomorrow.

Quick Fast Knits

2007-06-19T09:32:00.000-04:00

No wonder this pattern is so popular:

I'm finishing this thing in lightening speed! Look I'm already working on the foot of the first sock!

Knit Picks Podcast

This past weekend I listened to all of the episodes of the Knit Picks Podcast. I have to admit that I had some reservations about the show before I even heard the first episode. This is because I figured the whole thing would be another marketing tool for Knit Picks and each show would turn into a commercial. However, it is my belief that though the idea of marketing Knit Picks may have started the process of creating a weekly podcast, the result is rather plesant. Kelley Petkun, the Owner and President of Knit Picks is the host and every week she does a book review, talks about her personal knitting, shares some exciting things that Knit Picks is doing with their monthly catalog and new lines of yarn that should be coming out this Fall as well as other personal experiences about her past and her coworker's past.

What I enjoy the most about this podcast is how obviously dorky Kelley is about her knitting. Lately she's been working on one vest for her husband and it is driving her crazy but she won't start any other projects till that one is done. And much like me, she also loves fantasizing about future projects and all the neat bags she can organize them into.

I think I like the podcast so much because Kelley is much like myself. For one, we carry similar names (however I do not have the extra "e" at the end of my name). Two, we were both history majors in college (can you believe I can actually say "I was a history major in college?). Three, she is as equally dorky about knitting as I am and does not really care what others think.

I guess the only qualm I have with this podcast is whenever the ladies talk about projects that they are working on, they seem to only use Knit Picks yarns. Frankly, I'm certain that they use other yarns, even if they get a killer discount on the stuff that they sell. However, this is a podcast for Knit Picks so I would think that talking about how great more expensive yarns are would be a bad marketing move.

Nonetheless, this podcast is great to listen to while you're drinking some iced tea on a big blanket under a big tree (or curl up on your sofa and sip on some hot tea, for you guys in Argentina and other parts of the southern hemisphere).

Band Wagon

2007-06-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

This past week I started 3 new projects. Here are some pics:

A normal stockinette stitch sock for my boyfriend's Auntie Dee . These socks are my mindless tv knitting project and don't have to be finished anytime soon.

Some more socks, this time for my G-ma. I would like for these to be done by July 3 because that's when I'm flying out to see my family in NYC!! Very exciting, I know. Oh yeah, the pattern is very famous, BTW.

It's like 90+ degrees Farenheit in Michigan but I simply could not wait to make this scarf. It is the Here and There Cables scarf by Norah Gaughan , featured in the book Scarf Style. The pattern is great and the garment is reversable. The only problem is I'm not too sure that my scarf looks anything like the one in the book. I'm not complaining though. The Cascade 220 I'm using is pretty nice to work with and besides, I want to have a very nice grown up looking scarf for this winter. I even bought new needles for this project. Some Clover Bamboos in size 7 US. I usually buy ugly cheap needles. However, this time I decided it was time to work with nice tools so the process would be enjoyed even more.

New Knitty

So I'm sure you guys have already heard that the new Knitty is up. There are some patterns that I would love to eventually knit like Sweet Pea and Wisp , but the only pattern I really care about right now is Coachella . The garment is sexy and the pattern looks quick and easy. The only problem I have is the yarn of choice, Berroco Suede which is 100% nylon and not in my budget right now. In addition to that, when I think of summer, I want 100% cotton all the way. Is anyone else thinking of making this pattern? If so, maybe we could discuss some options for cotton substitutions for the yarn. Ideally I would love to have this baby made before the summer ends so I could wear it to this fiber festival in August. We'll have to wait and see.

That's all for now. This weekend should be hot and sunny so I'm planning on going to the beach (Lake Michigan) and work on my tan.

Second Post of Week

2007-06-08T13:56:00.000-04:00

I did not want this week to end without showing you guys my finished Pomatomus socks:

Aren't they beautiful? The second time around was alot more enjoyable with Trekking XXL yarn. Now all I have to do is block them.

Remember the knitting group that I talked about last post? Well we met today and it was pretty cool. Only 5 ladies but that's all you need. They don't meet very often so hopefully the organizer will get to it this summer because I want to knit with them again!

A swatch and a ball of Knitpicks Essential yarn for some socks for my grandmother. Other than that, nothing special around here.

As always, Happy Knitting everyone!