PRGE is fun!

I found out who my SP was today! Melinda totally went overboard and spoiled me rotten. I'm so happy to finally find out who she is, aned look at all the great stuff I got! I have to say that Ben is eyeing the Harry and David tower, but the Moose Munch is ALL MINE.

MUAHA!! Gawd, I'm so addicted to moose munch. I need help. Not in finishing it mind you. You know what I mean.

I'm still on the ribbing of the waist. I guess I should take some WIP pics. I'd need to make a WIP folder on flickr. I'm sure I can do that. I'm so damn lazy.

I broke my Denise

So I was knitting on Sunday, being bummed I couldn't go to knitting (early dinner/late lunch before my husband ran off to a concert). Guess what? My Denise set snapped! I know this has happened a few times (looks at E), but I didn't really think it would happen when it did. I was knitting at a small gauge and there were a lot of stitches to tug. So blam!

Good thing Denise sets can connect together to make new cords. And it broke in ribbing.

Speaking of ribbing, I'm still on the waist ribbing. I haven't really knit since that break on Sunday. The ribbing is annoying because it is at such a tight gauge that it isn't fun. I only have 24 rows of it left, I should just finish it off so I can go back to big needles and lacey stuff.

Wow, I just read this and I feel like a teen wrote it. I've been getting a lot more headaches/migranes lately. As in, every day. Today is pretty bad. I need to get to my new cube so I can knock out the overhead lights. *sigh* That, or I should ask to focus in the teen specialties to market to them online. Because they are so totally cute I'd be moted if they hated them.Um, Like ya.

Gretel

I finished Gretel on Saturday after Strangefolk. Had to stop by Hobby Lobby for more yarn, and used about 200yds for the regular size instead of the stated 150.



I like it, but I like the Cherie Amour yarn I'm working with more. I ordered this online at first, and I didn't know it had the other colours striping through it. Same with the Bernat I'm using for the sweater. They didn't show it. The yellow bits are odd, but kinda funky in this hat. I don't think it detracts too much from the cable work.



The band is really stretchy, and there is no chance of getting hat head with this one. In fact, I might have to tuck a clip on it if it is windy.

Yep.

Ran out of yarn. Bugger. I even made the "regular" version instead of the slouchy.

Figures.

Hoodie Scarf

Hoodie Scarf, from d-made. It was a pretty easy knit. I'm not sure I'm in love with the ribbing that goes along the scarf sides and bottom of the hood, but it is okay. I had 4 skeins more of the shine worsted than I thought I had, so I could of made something a lot bigger.



While I was knitting this I was trying to think of ways to make it not so nipply in the back, but then I just gave up. Now I have a nipple on my head because there are no decrease. It adds character ;)

New Knitty

So I go to the new knitty and see Cherie Amour and ooh and aah. Of course, a bulky knit...which I have been obsessing over. The Handpaintedyarn.com Merino Bulky it calls for is 12 sts per 4". Okay.

But I want to make this now.

I wandered down to Hobby Lobby (it is across from a Target and the husband has been bugging me to buy him socks all week) and they don't have any of the yarn I was thinking of for this damn sweater. Mainly Bernat Black Lites Yarn (in the blue colour), or Patons Rumors. And I didn't notice until today that the gauge on the house "Yarn Bee" yarn is a crochet gauge. WTH?

No yarn was bought, and now I'm kind of at an impasse. Sure, I could buy the "cheap" yarn online, but it isn't all that cheap because the yardage is 60 yds per skein! Or I could get something nice, but if I'm subbing out for 100% wool, it can't be 100% alpaca or cotton because it will droop. So acrylic or an acrylic blend really is my best bet *sigh*. And I've never actually seen/felt this big lights yarn, even though it is bright blue and black I'm still unsure.

I was almost tempted to make it out of homespun, but then I came back to the real world ;)

Subbing is a pain in the ass.

Ravelry

Username: Xanthia

I look forward to seeing you all there!

It was necessary!

So I figured out that all my small sized needles (under 4) are dpns so I didn't have any needles for the secret stole! Oh noes! So after I went out for pancakes with my loving husband (he who pays for said luxuries like pancakes) I stopped by the International grocery store in Kirkwood then to the knitting store.

Of course since I haven't knit a swatch, I didn't know if I wanted size 2 or 3, so I picked up both. Since I'm knitting with alpaca I didn't really want addi turbos (too slippy) so I bought s 24" addi naturas. They better be nice dammit. And the 24s seemed right to me.

Now lets hope that the cat doesn't think the tips are tasty, or I'll have to spend another $13 on a new pair.

Also, there are 22 people in front of me for Ravelry, so I have a feeling I'll be posting my username quite soon!

Secret of the Stole

Since I can't seem to get my act together for the whole mystery stole/shawl thing, I signed up for the Secret of the Stole which is supposedly a lot easier and you won't rip out your hair as much as those "other" lace KALs.

Hey, I got to buy some black misti alpaca lace weight and some beads for it. I just couldn't say no! It figures, I have the knitpicks lace yarns (well, not the wool one, duh), but of course I only have 2, not 3 hanks. And I bought them many moons ago, so no chance on something matching. Hey, I was shopping for my secret pal so it all evened out.

But the KAL doesn't start for awhile. I've started the hood on my hoodie scarf though! I didn't knit last week at all. I do love the feel of this shine worsted, but the yardage kind of bites. 75 yds per skein...no wonder I couldn't find anything for the 6 I had. Sheesh. I might finish it by knitting this week if I actually knit during my time off. Today I had a tattoo removal session, and this wasn't NEAR as bad as laser. It was like, um, getting a tattoo. It did take an hour and a half though (my laser session took about 3 minutes), and I couldn't knit because the woman's husband was chatting with me to take my mind off of the pain and I didn't want to be rude. Though, they were of the "interesting" variety (read: a little nutty) so the conversation was very colourful. Oh yes indeed. I didn't need to bring knitting into that environment. Really.

Me, in a nutshell

My bunny Chucks (THE BUNNIES ARE FUZZY!!), and cupcakes. All I need is a bit of knitting in this photo and it would be complete. Well, minus the half lasered off tattoo.

And this is what you get if you are a coworker! Don't you want to work with me?

I know it is wrong but...

I know it is wrong but I'm really digging chunky knits lately. I know they make a person look huge, but after sitting in the A/C in my Torque for awhile, I want nice big chunky sweaters for the winter.

And then I'll complain that I look like a whale and pout.

But at least I haven't put Twinkle's Big City Knits Book in my shopping cart.

Yet.

I bet I'll end up buying it with my next Borders coupon that my husband donates to the cause.

*sigh*

And then there is the pain of subbing yarns. I guess it is just an excuse to buy some Misti Alpaca Chunky or something. I'm so weak.

Next I'll be knitting a sweater full of bobbles or something. Ugh.

Torque

So this was an okay knit. I'm not in love with it, mainly because of the gorilla sleeves and it was pretty boring. I had a spidey sense tingling as I was knitting the sleeves that they were too long, and I was right. They also don't fit in the armholes amazingly well, but I made it work. This is the size SMALL, believe it or not. Pretty insane. I understand it is a big sweater, but I would have been peeved if I had made my size. I think only used maybe 3 skeins of Simply Soft. Not too sure as I haven't weighed my leftovers, but it looks like that or even less. Which means I have 3 skeins left over. Good thing I like this colour!