my bland and mostly dull life with knitting thrown in for interest

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Wisp Away and Old Spice


I'm chugging along on my Wisp scarf and am really liking the results. This buffalo fiber is deliciously soft and cozy. I'm about 75% through my 125 yds of yarn and will yield about a 28 inch scarf before blocking. Since it's so lacy - it's going to stretch quite a bit. This will be a neck wrap in the end - nothing that's going to go around a few times. I'll have to email a photo to Dream Come True Farm in Oxford, CT to show them what I did with the beautiful buffalo yarn they spun.

Minimalist Cardigan has been shifted to a post holiday KAL (knit-along). Most of us who wanted to do this all have too much going on through December, so we opted to commit to casting on in January. Gives more people an opportunity to join in too. I've created a Ravelry group for this KAL - so if your a member of the community - join up for the post holiday fun!

I'm taking my kids to a school Halloween party today. I've got an American Indian and a Knight. Remember the days of the plastic hospital gown style costume with the mask that would cut your lip on the mouth opening? You could go to Caldor or Bradlee's and choose any one from the bunch. I was Wonder Woman a couple times for sure! Happy Halloween!

PLEASE, PLEASE - you've got to agree with me....this is the funniest ad on TV right now, right? Click here to watch Pay close attention to that bar of soap! FYI - I use shower gel!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

A package at the door!



Oh yeah! I came home today to find a package at my front door! Andean Silk from Knit Picks has arrived and I am ready to start my Minimalist Cardigan in the knit-a-long! Ohhh yeaaah!





In the meantime, I'm going to get my thrills knitting Wisp in my bison yarn. I only have 125 yards or so - but I'm going to go with US8's and hopefully will get enough length to wrap this baby around my neck.

Off I go! Knit today and enjoy!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Topi down


oh yeah - finished my Topi hat late last night. I couldn't go to bed without finishing the brim. It was knit as a pocket and then you inserted plastic canvas into it for stiffness. I think it came out cute. My kids really like it! They're so proud of me after having watched me knit this for way too many days!

I was hoping my Andean Silk would arrive while I was at work today so that I can get my Minimalist Cardigan cast on and started - but much to my dismay - no packages at my door. Bummer!

I've got the knitting bug - so I've got to start a project NOW! I just don't know what....with the knit-a-long starting soon I don't want to get into anything too big....I wonder.

knit today and enjoy!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

one last time...

I'm passing my time knitting Topi - a Knitty pattern - inspired by cadet style hats that are all over the place now. I am using left over Elann Sonata yarn in a steel gray from Reid's skull sweater. I thought this would be a day and a half project - but here it is the 3rd day I'm working on it. First it was getting it started. No lie - it took no less than 12 times to get it going. Then I didn't increase enough and it was too small for my head. Then I didn't make the edge long enough and it wouldn't stay on my head and then finally I forgot to switch to smaller needles for the border and had to redo that. I am just about done now - but I swear, if I find one more "mistake" I might freak!

On another note, I've heard lots and lots about Rhinebeck. I am green with envy about all the yarns I missed seeing and touching. There were so many vendors it made people's heads spin! Since I tend to be more of an impulse shopper - it was good I didn't attend because I would have spent all my money in the first hour! I heard it would have been very hard to be strategic and hit those vendors you were most interested in just because of the sheer numbers in attendance, some said it was hard just to remember where you saw what yarns. I recommended that next year they utilize technology and bring a phone with GPS on it so they can mark where they saw good yarn and be able to get back to it!

Some of my Monday knitting group and I are starting a Minimalist Cardigan knit-a-long. I'm waiting for my Barn Red Andean Silk to arrive. This came up at the suggestion of a one of the groups members last week...I hadn't planned on knitting this cardigan quite yet...but a knit-a-long...I'm in! Thanks Margaret!

ssk, k2tog....enjoy!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Bison on the brain and endless ideas

I've got so many projects on my brain I don't know what to do first.

I won an Ebay auction for a hank of lace weight bison yarn a couple weeks ago. I can't seem to stop thinking about it! It's appx 125 yards of the softest, luscious brown yarn I've touched, EVER. I'm thinking about Branching Out from Knitty. This pattern calls for 190 yards - but I think I can swing it with my 125.

But, my brain is running through other projects that seem just as worthy
1) finish my Seda Vest (so close - but just not thrilling me)
2) frog my Seamless Chunky Raglan Sweater because I knit it too large (and now I've misplaced the dang pattern!)
3) frog my recycled Unbiased Bag I started 2 years ago in the recycled sari silk yarn (because it's too shallow a bag to actually put things into.
4) OR start any one of the new patterns I recently purchased that I can't wait to make! (like Rusted Root by Zephyr Style, or Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang, or Trapeze Jacket by Stitch Diva Studios)

I don't know what to do! So many choices - all so tempting...I need to quit living and just knit all day, I think!

ssk and enjoy!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

drats!

My children struck again! I missed out on another Monday night of knitting group because of my family! Don't they know that if they keep me from knitting, I'm going to be grouchy? I guess they haven't figured that out yet. Both kids are in the early stages of a cold - weepy, clingy and low fevers. They couldn't wait until Tuesday....oh no. Monday's are jinxed! Maybe I should tell them I've changed knitting to Wednesday nights and then they'll start getting sick or make plans for Wednesday's instead! Maybe I'm on to something here....

I telling you now....nothing stands between me and NEXT Monday....only blood or something messy will stand in my way.....well, maybe!

ssk and enjoy!

Monday, October 15, 2007

take the plunge


so - I'd been working diligently at my Seda Vest and even got to cutting the steeks...but then I noticed that there was some unraveling occurring at the top edge where I obviously didn't crochet correctly to anchor the bound off stitches. I balled it up and shoved it into a bag and refused to deal with it. Until now...

I'm going to take the plunge and stitch down those unraveling ends and finish the damn vest already. I was so freaked by the unraveling I haven't knit in 2 weeks people! This was trauma. I researched steeking and took step by step actions to prevent just this from happening and when it did anyway I think I took it too personally.

"to err is human, to forgive devine" Alexander Pope

enough said

Sunday, October 14, 2007

A long pause.......

I don't know how it happened....one day I was posting and the next...

I must have hit my pause button somewhere. But I think I'm back in the game again. Think...now is that a word you would use if you were going to commit to something? I probably should keep it in there just to use as an 'out' should someone say "why haven't you updated your blog lately?".

Anyway - I'm up on Ravelry and I couldn't be more excited. I'm so anxious to knit and knit some more that I can't get a hold of myself. Some friends and I decided that the initial week or two you are on are going to be the most time consuming - you're loading pics, patterns, books, projects, etc. I was on for 2 hours the first day and didn't even realize it. I am going to have to pace myself. Easy does it!

ssk & enjoy!