OMFG

I finished my Mother Inlaws socks last night, and guess what? I'm a dumbass. One is at least an INCH longer in the leg length than the other. WTF? I'm going to pray to the washing machine gods to help me with this one. UGH. I shouldn't have tried the one on before I finished the second, I actually think its stretched out a bit more.

Sock one: jog in the pattern at the arch.
Sock two: forgot to pick up wraps and its longer. Oh, and there's a weird wrap from me getting the yarn tangled in the DPN's near the bottom of the foot. Brilliant.





And at the 7am photoshoot, I wore one inside out. Thank goodness you can't tell. At least I cropped out my skull pjs ;)

Its all your fault.

I went up a plastic tote size for my yarn, and its full.

Its all "your" fault. You, yes you...reading this. My stash is exploding! I'm eyeing bigger sizes....but I have all this fabric taking up room. Ugh.

Need to get knitting! Must finish Mom Inlaws sock. Next in line are my Father Inlaws socks, and start on something black.

Yes, I'm making this:



Yes, its bulky. Yes it will be black. But it will be damn comfy. The only problem I see is uh, trying to READ the gauge. I probably won't try. I jsut want a comfy black fuzzy sweater. I'll cross my fingers that it will fit :P

If it ends up in the "what the hell was I thinking" pile that's fine. I just need something black to knit dammit!

Okay Locals...

Cascade Fixation: in Wine (#3794). I need a ball. Who carries Fixation (besides Hollis who happens to carry the brighter red? ) in our area?

You know me and uh, shopping where there is wool. Ew.

Pretty Comfy

Got a bit of knitting done this weekend. Unfortunately, I did mess up the heel and it knocked everything a stitch off....but, oh well. I'm at the heel of the second, which I will do tonight. It is pretty comfy, which is why its stretched out a bit compared to the one on the needles. Notice the lifeline? Yes, I rock, and probably won't even need it now that I added it. Figures.

I sent off a huge package to my secret pal today, I hope she likes it!

That sucked.

Well, I learned a new heel, sort of. I got very confused, upset, had to frog, and then pouted a bit.

But now I have a heel. Not sure that the pattern on the top of the sock will match up but right now I'm not caring. I'm calling it artistic and leavig it. Next sock, I'll lifeline before I mess up the heel a bunch of times. Damn SRW!

I'm convinced the pattern is wrong. Then again, last week I was convinced that eating your weight in chocolate was impossible...

"Little" Mens Cashmere Scarf

Childs scarf, based on the Mens Cashmere Scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Its only 40" long...hehe. A great stash buster, and perfect for charity. Made of Lionbrand Wool Ease.

2 balls to go! Yay!

I also got some black Austermann Favola in the mail. Yay! That will be a Rebecca top or sweater. Not sure yet.

Whoa.

Where the heck did I learn to read? Noro Silk Garden is only 10% wool!

10!

Aw yeah.

I thought I would get more done!

I went to the baseball game, and didn't get a hell of a lot done. It was cold, gloomy, and I had "real fans" who were my coworkers screaming behind me for 10 innings.

Do not adjust your screen, these really aren't black!



The scarf is turning out cute! Kinda Really mindless.



No work on this since Tuesday at knitting. Its going to be pretty cute, as well as pretty comfy!

I know, I shouldn't have started it

Well, last night I tried to go to bed early, but failed. I was tired, and didn't want to look at a sock. I cast on for the Mens "Cashmere" Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I know I only do one project at a time, but there's that sock clause. Anyway...its the easiest pattern in the world, I'm embarrassed that its a pattern. Row 1: *K3 P1* till last 3, K3 Row 2: K. I hope I don't get in trouble for posting that! Haha!

Anyway, I have good reason to start this project. I figure by the end of knitting tonight, I'll have my ribbing done on my sock (its only 12 rows) and be into lace. I don't want to do lace at the baseball game tomorrow.

Yes, I'm going to a baseball game, in JEANS. And you thought you knew me? Hah! Okay, its for work, and I have to go. But I do own jeans now, thanks to Elspeth holding my hand at the mall ;) Of course I'll be wearing my black cowboy hat that I bought last year for the event. Its all about sun protection! And I know that HoJo knits at baseball games all the time, and since I never fit in with my coworkers, its a perfect venue to get some things done.

And eat garlic fries.

And get rid of Wool Ease stash.

Did I mention garlic fries?

Figures.

I guess I should have bought that bubble gum pink Cotton Ease. I need to make a Womb and that would have been perfect.

Doh!

A full day

Well, yesterday Elspeth and I ventured to HoJo's house for shopping! It was a lot of fun, even if I did get weird and dizzy. Freaky. I blame it on my first trip to Los Altos! Hehe! HoJo, I don't think its yarn related, but annoying none the less.

I had to check out the alpaca ROOM. Wow, the colours were really great (even the not black), and now I just need some master plans for them. I generally don't knit with anything DK weight, but I know I'm going to now! I bought a Katrina Bear and had a hard time deciding on the colour.



I decided on Navy. Its a purply navy and really pretty. I have eyes for the critter (who will more likely end up a bunny) and they are black. So if I got the black, I'd have to make a panda or something, which is totally doable, but well, I want to try out the yarn in a basic pattern first. Its really soft, and for a good cause. You can get them on her site.

Oh, and I finished my Rustic Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It was going to charity until Ben fell in love with it and told me I owed him a scarf.



Unfortunately, even the 20% wool in the Wool Ease was killing my eyes and throat. Not like the "I'm going to die" that I get from going to Stitches or being around roving, but annoying enough to rush to finish off my stash of it so I can be rid of it all. I have 3 more balls, which is no big deal at all. I have projects planned, I'll just have to do them quickly ;)

Bad news is that my coveted Silk Garden I've been drooling over (virtually) is 20% wool. Ya. If I make something in Silk Garden, I want it for MEEE and to WEAR it dammit! Ugh. I think I just need to cut out everything with the "W" word in it. Not like they ever really go below 20% anyway. Bastards.

Cast on for Mom Inlaws socks. They are the Pretty Comfy Sock by Debbie Young. Charts! Okay, its written out, and honestly, I need to start this with the longhand instructions. Socks and charts are a bit much for me at the moment. I've never done a SRW. This will be interesting!

Not again.

Damn you KnitPicks. I just fell in love again. And made with Elegance? Crap. This one is on the list, but I won't buy it until I make room for making it.

Damn, I love this. A lot. And Elegance comes in black ;) And its very wonderful *sigh*

Diplomacy at its finest.

I know which one I should knit, but really, which one would I use more. The cartigan. But, the sweater has shaping...

The sweater also has 3/4 sleeves. Hrm.

Damn. I can't decide.

Damn, I think I like it.

Well, I thought I wouldn't like it. I was just avoiding it, knowing the price and the hype. Plus, I love what I have right now.

But I finally looked at a photo. And I think I like it. Its actually, closer to love. I feel dirty. The is a feeling of betrayal coming from behind me from my first love.

But I think I need a Jordana Paige Messenger Bag.

Blah.

Give me a few minutes while I try to dislike it. Its blue and black, it might be more than a few minutes. *sigh*

I'm not a bag junkie, so this is a big deal!

Oh dear.

I'm making Samus.

Now, do I swatch that Alpaca I already own (that was deemed for the Hourglass sweater), but I might have the exact yardage or buy something new?

Muahahahah!

Secret Pal 6

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

One word: No. I do prefer natural fibers, but honestly I'll knit with anything that's not wool.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

No, I don't want to spin, and I'm afraid of crochet. Read back a few posts, I have a mental breakdown when it comes to crochet. I'm deathly afraid of it.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

WOOL WOOL WOOL and LANOLIN. Please don't send WOOL to me. I break out in hives, it swells my throat and I can't breathe. Its not nice to kill your secret pal. Don't worry if yarn or something has been touching wool, but don't send WOOL in my package. Please.

4. How long have you been knitting?

Years :) This time around about 2?

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yup! Amazon is here, and you can see my Froogle list there (a work in progress, but mostly knitting).

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I like fruity over floral I guess.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Oh yes!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I make soap, jewelry, sew, quilt...so many things. I've dabbled in just about everything! I LOVE being crafty!

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I *heart* MP3s :) CDs are good too. I like 80's poppy stuff, goth/industrial and things like that.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Black. No, really. Black. "Knit it in Black"...get it? Black. I love jewel tones. Pastels just won't work out. At all. Also, I hate brown. I would take pastels over brown.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a DH, a kitty (Bella) and a bunny (Raven).

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

To work full time on my soap company ( The Alchemic Dragon ), to own a house, and to win the lotto. Oh, and "move back to Canada" is high on the list too.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Alpaca, soy silk, bamboo, cotton....mmm...love.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Wool That whole death thing again. I'm not to into those ladder novelty yarns either, but they look cute in some scarves I guess.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

I've been into tank tops and summer tops. Now besides xmas gift socks, I think I want a few sweaters. I get the most use out of cartigans, but ALL potential sweaters must have shaping to them. Toys are fun too.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Just about everything is fun to knit!

17. What are you knitting right now?

Xmas gifts!

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I think they are a special version of hell.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Circs actually. Straights hurt my arms.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo...*swoon* I still haven't tried any Addis!

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Yep! But no wool ;)

22. How did you learn to knit?

My grandma taught me when I was 3. I picked it up again as a teen, and then again a few years back.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 3 days old. I tend to finish off things before I start another.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

BUNNIES!!!! And for birds: Peacocks. I have a huge back tattoo that's peacock wings.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My birthday, November 14th. I'll be 30! Yay!

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Bunnies. Yarn. Hobbies *smirk*

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None. I pick up Rebecca when I can, I don't have very many and am going to build up my back issue collection (I have 28 to current)

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

The new book by Joan McGowan-Michael that will be out in the spring (White Lies Designs). I do love books, but don't have any from specific companies like Rowan (Calmer, yummy!) or Debbie Bliss books. Those would rock!

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??

I haven't bought Rogue yet, but I'd like to. As I said, I'm on the hunt for fitted patterns. My waist needs the shaping ;)

BIL Socks

My brother inlaw's socks are finit! Yummy Cascade Fixation in Denim, 2 balls. The pattern is from Knit Socks! I think they look kinda funky (in a good way).

And just because I can't have my needles bare, I cast on for the Rustic Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.



Not really a "pattern" mind you, its just a scarf knit length ways instead of width ways. I'm stash busting with some Wool Ease. In fact, I think I still have too much Wool Ease, this might be a damn shawl! Oh well!

Nice

Well, I got some Decadence in the mail from my Secret Pal. Thanks SP :)

I got 3 skeins in Grape, and its really nice. What to make? I'm inspired to make a sweater or cartigan or something for me! What would you make? Gauge is bulky at 3-3.5 stitches per inch. I want a sweater that has shaping at the least. I'll definetly order more in order to accomodate, but I need a pattern first!

I also got some Shimmer. SO nice. The colourway is Turquoise Splendor, and I have 2 hanks (880 yds) of this laceweight gem. What do I make? Obviously something lacey! Hehe! I never research those types of projects.