Peony Knits

Patterns on Ravelry

2010-03-13T02:03:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

If you are visiting to download the Circular Shrug or Anthropologie Capelet patterns, they are free downloads on Ravelry.

Thanks for your loyal readership and support!

-Julsey

I did it...so can you!

2007-11-15T13:53:00.001-05:00

Brought to you by the number 15

2007-11-01T19:38:00.000-04:00

Knitting as a general rule has caught up with me. It's one of those obsessions that is so captured in the moment, so emotionally tied. I see a photo of a pattern in IK, or WIPs on craftster, or a host of gorgeous FOs and all the possible yarn choices on ravelry, then cast on. Then, I hide said project in a bag in a basket as soon as something better comes along.

I took a Knitting Daily poll last week, on UFOs. I estimated that I had 15, without really counting them up. I finally found a few minutes, charged my digicam and decided my new dining room table was a good enough canvas to catch up on photographing said UFOs. Is there an official timeframe, or formula that is needed to convert a WIP to a UFO?

After laying them all out, and counting them up, I came to the realization that it really was 15. That counts the current WIPs...but wow, some of these were from 2005!

In case you are curious to see them, in all of their unfinished glory, you can check out my recently updated ravelry notebook, or my 2007 WIP photoset on flickr.

I'm a Square!

2007-10-19T11:41:00.001-04:00

Rheinbeck is Tomorrow! I wanted to let you know that I may be a square on your blogger bingo card. I will be there with the hubby, and another couple. She knits, but I think he is afraid of sheep. I think we can sway him into the allure of fiber festivals...what do you all think?

I found a new favorite etsy shop, Moon Rover. Lacey's handdyed/handspun merino is beautiful and so squishy! I received my custom order that will become a BSJ for my college roomie's baby to be. Niblet even likes it...
Well, ok... Niblet also likes needles...

I have also been knitting. Finally a photo...although crappy quality. I've been working on the Textured Tunic from Fitted Knits. I'm using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed on 7s. The gauge was so off for this yarn that I followed the cast on and raglan increases for the Boatneck Bluebell pattern. I made quite a lot of mods so far, including a hemmed neckline, longer torso, but shorter "tunic-y" section...

I'm working on the sleeves now, and I'm taking suggestions - should I make long, belled sleeves (since this is a tunic), or short sleeves that end after the 5" of box stitch (right above the elbow)? HELP!

Thats it for today's update...See you at Rheinbeck!!!

The internet is a mysterious thing

2007-09-10T22:40:00.000-04:00

So, I've been searching the internet for fun and interesting things...but being the self-indulgent that I am, most of these things are me-centric.

Not sure if you remember, but over a year ago, I dyed some of my own yarn and sold it on my etsy shop (currently empty). I've bought some yarn to dye since, but haven't gotten around to it in a long time. Searching ravelry earlier, I found out where some of my yarn had got to, and some of the crazy patterns it made...I had no idea it was so, um...unusual...

This motivates me to get back to the dyepot.... Live & Learn, I guess!

Some of you may still be knitting the anthropologie-inspired capelet...If you haven't knitted it yet, and if you live in the San Diego area, this store is offering a class on how to knit it...I'm not posting this to endorse the class, nor do I really think you need to spend $30 to learn how to knit the shrug, but if you are a beginner knitter, and want to learn the basics, this may be a good way to start...Or you could just go here or here.

I'm also not quite sure why the capelet is considered intermediate skill level, and this crochet project is considered easy...

In knitting news, I'm 90% done with Wicked...So, if you see me at Rheinbeck, I will be wearing it (unless the weather doesn't get any cooler!)

I leave you with this vintage Sesame Street clip...Any child of the late 70's-early 80's would be afraid of this like I was (or think it's extremely hilarious). Let me know your favorite "H" words for crying out loud!

Maryland Recap

2007-05-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

Hi all,

Yes, I've been hiding in my photolessness. Our digicam broke after my mom took it to Italy in March. Some of their pics came out great, but on some, the color, well, started to turn pink...Check em out here!

So, the hubby and I went to Maryland yesterday. I got there in time to get one of the last 4 skeins of STR. Sorry, no pics...haha...

I also scored some of Brooks Farm's new(?) Solana line in an amazing blue color. I got 3 skeins, almost 1000 yards...Now what to do with it?

We had a blast with the sheep, alpaca and llamas. They are so cute :)

I have actually been knitting...I finally finished Pomatomus the second - a FULL YEAR after the first one! I also just started a project which is sort of a combo of two sweaters from Fitted Knits:

=?????????

Using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed from my stash...I hope to make something interesting...Wish me luck!

Oh, and everyone at MSW had these buttons that said "RAVELRY ROCKS"...could someone lend me an invite, pretty pleez??????

Thanx for reading :)

Old blog, New blogger

2007-02-04T20:02:00.001-05:00

Hi kids. Boy, Ive missed you :)

I'm sitting here in my bedroom of my own house, with my only kitty Niblet and my Deep-V Argyle WIP, wearing my Angelica watching the commercials on the super bowl...by myself!

The more things change, the more they stay the same I guess.

The past few months have been really busy, but not knitting related. I've started knitting all of 3 items, and finished only one. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy and is on chemo. I knit her Shedir, because she lost all her hair. She's doing well, and my parents are planning a trip to Italy next month.

My cat Buster passed away on Labor Day. He's buried in my backyard where he can safely rest comfortably in his favorite garden. Niblet is doing well. He really enjoys being an only kitty.

Furry is off with his boys tonight. I miss him...but I'd rather watch Prince sing his 20 year old songs with my cat than his friends :)

We have become completely obsessed with Guitar Hero II. I am a really big fan of The Beast and the Harlot and Psychobilly Freakout. Anyone ever heard of those songs?

I've been working on Lady Eleanor (who isn't or hasn't? Sheesh. way to jump on a bandwagon, huh?), and Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vest I bought yarn for over a year ago....with a twist. You'll have to stay tuned if you wanna see!

Please fill me in...what are the newest knitblogging trends? Any swaps worth joining? Now that I've reconnected with my blogger account, you will hear more from me.

Happy Blogiversary to ME!

2006-08-31T23:14:00.000-04:00

Did anyone think I fell off the planet?

Didja? Huh? Aw, come on, you know you did.

I bought a house and then I fell into the deep abyss.

Yup. That's exactly what happened.

I bought a house, turned 30 and fell into a deep cavern.

That too.

Since we last spoke, I bought a house, moved all my earthly belongings, got a pap smear, oil change, 2 pedicures, turned 30, moved into a new office...twice (with the same job), went to a few happy hours, ~~painted~~ primed ~~a few~~ two rooms, got a haircut, spent many weekends and weeknights at home depot, planned and hosted two housewarming parties, worked 12 hour days, said goodbye to 4 coworkers, hired a new team, developed a strategic plan for 2007, force fed my poor, sick CRF kitty, fought and made up with my dear, sweet husband and still had time to knit.

Ok, I lied about that last part.

For all you photo hounds, here is the wonderful package I received from my secret Knit Sock Kit Swap Pal, Sarah, from knot another hat.

In addition to the beautiful bag she sewed (tiny happy's shoulder bag), she included some Socks that Rock in County Clare (y'all know how long I've been after the STR!), a ball of Lana Grossa Fantasy, THREE sets of addis for magic loopin', some sour candies (already ate the jelly belly's!)...and not pictured is the 2007 Stitch & Bitch calendar! Thanks so much Sarah!

I'm really late shipping mine out to my KSKS pal, but she's on vacation...oh, wait, she's back now SHIT...It's done, no need to panic! You'll see pics once it's shipped and received!

I am slowly knitting away at my one-skein project...which I will reveal AFTER it's shipped.

As for the blogiversary...well. It's been ONE YEAR since I've been a peony. Almost one year since you've seen the Circular Shrug. It's time to knit another one...in a better yarn (the original cost me $4 to make!)

My promises for this upcoming blog year: I will post more than 79 times. I will hang out with the Spiders more. I will not leave you hanging for months at a time wondering if I fell into some deep, dark hole somewhere...

I promise.

We're Homeowners!

2006-07-18T00:23:00.000-04:00

In case anyone was wondering where I've been, today we closed on our first house! We're going to be broke until 2036!!!! Tomorrow, we start the repairs...nothing major, mostly indoor cosmetic stuff...but all I have to say is THANK GOODNESS FOR CENTRAL AIR! It's HOT!!!

OMG, IT's DONE!!!!!

2006-07-07T20:55:00.000-04:00

Finally, the Grumpecue is complete! Doesn't little Ben look so happy on it?FO: Grumperina's Grumpecue
Yarn: 12(!) balls Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere
Needles: Susan Bates US 6 circs
Date started: Way too long ago...about 2/15/06
Date completed: 7/1/06
Date given to the baby: 7/1/06
Date baby was born: 5/20/06
Dates of baby showers (attended both): 3/26/06 and 4/4/06

More pictures to come!!!

I guess you can see that I'm SO happy this is done, HALLELUIA!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

2006-06-24T12:36:00.000-04:00

These were sent off to the UK on Thursday to one lucky buyer! I'm so excited :) The etsy shop is empty now, until I get some new base yarn...

Until then, I keep myself busy with all the WIPs that never seem to make any progress, and tryin to think about what to make for the One Skein Secret Pal swap, and the Knit Sock Kit Swap. No photos yet, sorry...

But last weekend Karen, Evie and I (knitters from work) did get to meet Debbie Bliss over brunch at SNS! I was running late, so I forgot my camera, but Monica captured the event wonderfully! Debbie talked about her experience as a machine knitter, and how she learned how to hand knit, design patterns, and how she chooses her colors (based on what's happening in fashion in Milan!) The most exciting part was that we all got to try on the sample sweaters that were modeled in her books. Here I am in a cute cardi from an unreleased book that comes out in September...I can't wait to get it so I can make this!!!

I also got an autographed copy of her new book, Pure Silk, and hope that Furry will buy me the yarn for the cap sleeve top for my BIG birthday next month. (Furry, in case you're reading this: I need 7 skeins of the pure silk yarn in either turquoise or magenta!!)

Happy knitting on this rainy weekend!

The Long Overdue Thank You Post

2006-06-18T23:00:00.000-04:00

I've been so busy this week and haven't had a chance to post till tonight, but I wanted to say THANKS to a few lovely ladies for some great packages!

My Dye-O-Rama pal was Heather from Knittervention. This is a great package! In addition to the gorgeous Merlot Sky colorway she created with ProChem acid dyes, she included some of my favorite goodies, sour Skittles and raspberry sour Altoids, and a cute pencil case for storing DPNs. (Heather, did you know that my needle collection is stored in a really messy bag?!) Thanks so much Heather!

Gorgeous "Merlot Sky" colorway - purples, royal blue and a grey/blue

Contents of my D-O-R Package in all it's colorful and yummy glory!

I received my June package this week from my One Skein Secret Pal! In it was a skein of Wool in the Woods Swan in "Lottery". This is very different than the yarns I'm used to buying for myself. It's 82% rayon, 18% cotton, and really light and summery! Thanks secret One Skein Secret Pal!!!

Yummy Yarn in blues and greens!

Last, and certainly NOT least, is a little giftie I received from a lovely lady Rita (blogless, I think) who made my capelet pattern. She sent me some yummy chocolates from Harbor Sweets. Check out their website - everything is so beachy and summery! Thanks so much Rita!

Seashell-shaped Dark Chocolates! Yum!

I really need to get the capelet gallery up and running now! Send me your capelet photos!

Now for a new swap: I joined the Knit Sock Kit Swap! Can't wait :)

KSKS Meme...

2006-06-18T22:04:00.000-04:00

For my Knit Sock Bag Swap Pal...the questionnaire:

What are your favorite colors?
Pinks or Blues with greens

Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks?
I wouldn't call myself a new sock knitter, but I've only been knitting socks for about a year.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?
Multi!

What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn?
Merino Wool. Superwash. Definitely.

Where do you usually knit socks?
At home. In the car. On vacation. In a box. With a fox...

How do you usually carry/store small projects?
In my Sock Bag that Trek made! (Check out her blog for her ingenious bag ideas!)

What are your favorite sock knitting patterns?
Jaywalker, Pomatomus

What are your favorite sock knitting techniques?
I like all techniques I have learned...they all make me go "wow, that's how you do that"!

What new techniques would you like to try?
Short row toes, german heel, picot edging that won't fall down

Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting?
Magic Loop on circs. But I also have WIPs on DPNs.

What are some of your favorite yarns?
Sundara, Brooklyn Handpun, Vesper, Scout's Knitted Swag, Koigu, my own handdyed!

What yarn do you totally covet?
Still covet the Socks that Rock and now Yarntini!

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
Anything Alice Starmore. For the challenge!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?
AddiTurbo circs for socks.

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?
Malabrigo. Soft and buttery smooth merino.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?
Sour anything!

What’s your favorite animal?
My cats :)

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages?
2 cats: Buster (9), Niblet (6)

If you were a color what color would you be?
Azalea/Peony pink

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s)..
anything flowery and stripey!

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?
Peony.

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read.
"All of us get lost in the darkness dreamers learn to steer by the stars"

Do you have a wishlist?
Yes, but there isn't much on it.

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?
Happy sock knitting, bag making and pattern developing!

Two Years Ago Today

2006-06-12T20:20:00.001-04:00

I married my best friend. Happy Anniversary Furry!

We spent a long Anniversary weekend in Spring Lake at a B&B. It was really relaxing, although weatherwise, it wasn't really a beach weekend.

Here is furry in the whirlpool tub looking for a place to have dinner (don't worry, there's no water in it!)

The B&B was so cute, the room came equipped with a lounging teddy bear. When you squeeze his left ear he growls!
Us at dinner at the Avon Pavillion. If you look closely, you can see the moon rising between us.
The moon rose steadily over the Atlantic. It was so beautiful (and hard to photograph!)
Our view from our oceanfront table at dinner. I was trying my hand at "time lapse photography" to get the moon, but I loved the view down the Avon pier.

Today we went to Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant...Anyone from NJ will know...what a blast from our teenage lives this was! We played mini golf and had beer at Martell's, and some yummy ice cream!

What a fun anniversary trip :)

Self Striping Wars

2006-06-06T21:25:00.000-04:00

I think I'm in love with Star Wars. I don't know why, but after seeing Episode III, this weekend, Furry put on the original film (I refuse to call it Episode IV: A New Hope, I prefer "Guerra de las estrellas"). It ALL made sense for the FIRST TIME! Does anyone feel this way? I was only one year old when it came out, so I wasn't gung ho as a child, but now all the Empire vs Republic stuff makes sense!

I even bought the Cantina Band song on iTunes! It's so catchy...

Onto knitting content (ok, dyeing content!). I sent off my Dye-o-rama package yesterday! I hope she likes it!!!

Over the rainy weekend I tried my hand at self striping techniques. I don't have any pictures of the dining-room-chair method in action, as I think you've all seen that before.

But, I DO have pics of the colorway. This one is inspired by a purple, pink and green striped shirt I saw at a boutique in town.

Stripe-ed goodness! I'm so excited! My first striper! I used a mix of icing dyes and Fruity Punch koolaid (forest green: green icing dye, one packet lemonade kool aid, pinch of fruity punch kool aid, purple: blue icing dye and fruity punch koolaid, pink: 2 packets pink lemonade kool aid and a pinch of fruity punch koolaid) . This time I used the immersion technique rather than hand-painting. The superwash yarn literally sucked up the color so fast I had to make 2 dye batches for each color! I do see a strange little bit of stray green dye... that didn't mix properly, but I think I'm gonna keep this one.

A Closeup

A mini swatch on size 3s...just to test the striping. Obviously, on size 1s with the amount of st needed for a pair of socks, the stripes won't be as thick!

Oh, and there is another addition over at the etsy shop. One you will find strangely familiar...

FYI - I am knitting. I am working on Fad Classic, finishing the Pomatomus, the wrath-of-my-existence-Grumpecue and finished another Anthropologie Capelet this weekend. FO pics once I weave in ends.

Out on a Limb...

2006-06-02T00:29:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for your votes in the poll! Sherbet was the clear winner, but I went out on my own for this one...I'm such a rebel!

My dye-o-rama pal wasn't very specific with her color requests, but I wanted to seem more advanced than a kool aid dyer, although the kool aid was really easy to work with! I had some icing dyes from my Williams Sonoma Cookie Decorating Kit I bought last Christmas (or 2 years ago...actually, maybe three!) It came with blue, yellow, red and green. I mixed the blue and green together, the yellow and green together and used straight blue and straight green and hand painted (with a squirt bottle) each quadrant. Here it is on the swift:

And here it is all skeined up:

And a macro:

Oh, and a Buster...lounging in the window...

I hope my pal likes it! It's off to her this weekend, once I get all the acoutrements!

I hope to have some knitting time this weekend...I haven't picked up the needles in a long time now!!

Check Me Out!!!

2006-05-28T16:43:00.000-04:00

I am loving dyeing yarn...and my apartment can't support all the prettiness, so I set up an etsy shop!

Check it out :)

So which one???

2006-05-23T23:36:00.000-04:00

I'm probably going to experiment more...but, which one of these three would you like as your Dye-O-Rama swap yarn? (click for bigger)1. Tums 100% merino, 2. Sherbet 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon, 3. Watermelon 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon
Take My Poll

Fruity Goodness!

2006-05-22T23:31:00.000-04:00

The house is full of the smells of fake fruit and Eucalan tonight, as I type with colored fingers. Finally, I had time and all the necessary materials for dye-o-rama! I'm in the WTF group, so I decided that kool aid was about my speed. Started yesterday, and I'm addicted! I'm nor sure anything I've done yet is worthy of my DOR pal...but, if you are reading this and like any of these colorways, please tell me!

Day 1, Sunday:
I ordered 2 skeins of 75% superwash merino/25% nylon from Beth at Socks That Fit. This yarn is a dream. It soaks up the dye so fast, the dye bath ran clean before microwaving! The red is two packets of fruit punch, and the green is arctic green apple. I call this one Watermelon. It's really the colors of the skin and fruit of a watermelon!

Buster watches patiently as the yarn swings from the rod...(heh, i said rod)

still wet, i couldn't wait to see it skeined up!

and a closeup!

twisted ala Purl Soho...

reskeined!

all dry and ready for the custom wrapper...

Day 2, Monday:
Today, I received a package from Marie with some "practice yarn" (AKA Knitpicks). I used lemonade, artic green apple and grape. The purple raaaaaaaannnnn....the yellow got overwhelmed by the marathon grape, but the green came out swimmingly. Compared to the superwash, this yarn don't stand a snowball's chance in hell at holding color! I call this one Tums. I think the colors stand for the candy flavored tablets I will need to chew after dyeing with Knitpicks!

Tum t-t-t- TUMS!!!

I had to go back to the superwash...couldn't end the night like this...so here's one more: 4 packets of pink lemonade, 2 lemonade and 2 cherry. Aahh. Much better!

more swinging yarn!

Clockwise left to right: Watermelon, Rum from the Dominican Republic (Thanks Jess!), Tums, Sherbet.

More tomorrow! I didn't even get to tell you about my weekend, and that I met Monica at stix-n-stitches, where we had a bit of stash enhancement, started Fad Classic, Debbie had the baby and I'm still not done with Grumpecue!

White Trash Party?

2006-05-16T20:29:00.000-04:00

Has anyone ever had a white trash party?

Both Furry and I are turning 30 in the next 2 months (GASP!) and I had the bright idea to have a WT party once we're in and settled in the house.

Any feedback? Would you all come if you were invited?????

Who let the cat out of the bag?

2006-05-15T22:52:00.000-04:00

Oh, nobody did, because he's still in there! Just like these cats.Update on Buster: he's getting on just fine - and likes to hide out in the Bloomie's bag. No comments about the messy floor please...I need a weekend at home to clean!

I never got to post this, since I've been away like every weekend, and busy at work. April 28, we went to New Hope, PA for a friend's bachelorette weekend. It's such a cute town, with lots of trendy shops, and even a kitchen supply store where I decided I needed to stock up for Dye-O-Rama!
Here are my dyeing utensils...I loved the mustard squeeze bottles! So kitchy...and only a dollar each. Now, to my DOR pal, I'm still waiting for my yarn to come in from Socks That Fit, then we'll get to dyeing!
In other bag-related news, I swapped some good ol' Brooklyn Handspun for this cute sock bag made by fellow NJ blogger Trek! She calls this fabric "Starry Night"...so here's the obvious connection with my dining room artwork ala Van Gogh. Stop by her blog to check out her custom fabrics and request one of your very own!
It even has this cute teddy bear applique (and dons my Knitters without Borders pin I bought when the Yarn Harlot came to town).

Not much in knitting news to report, but on the way down to a college roomie's wedding in Baltimore, I decided to use some of my newly acquired Brooks Farm Limited Edition 2 from MSW to make, yes, an Anthropologie Capelet. Even I'm not sick of them, folks. I just didn't get a chance to finish it. It would have matched my dress so perfectly...but I was 2 bind off rows away from completion...

Is anyone still knitting this? If so, I've decided to set up a reader gallery. Email me and I'll add your pic!

Dye-o-Meme-a-Rama

2006-05-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

For my dye-o-rama pal:

Specific to this swap:
Your favorite colors?
Pink, Green, and cools with cools, warms with warms

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)?
For socks? Sport I think…

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?
Multicolored!

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? Self striping is really fun. But I love variegated too!

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)?
Absolutely!

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it?
Peonyknits. HAHA…I’m such a selfish brat.

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along?
I collect hand-dyed yarn. And the challenge of learning a new skill.

General yarn/fiber questions:
Have you dyed yarn/fiber before?
Only once – at Marie’s. I learned from the best!

If so, what’s your favorite dye and method?
We hand painted. I’d like to learn immersion dyeing, and self striping.

Do you spin?
Nope.

Have you knit socks before?
Yep.

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too?
I haven’t used much of my sock stash yet. I’m not planning on strictly using it for socks though.

What are some of your favorite yarns?
Brooks Farm, Sundara, Vesper, Brooklyn Handspun, Sweet Georgia, Scout’s Swag.

What yarn do you totally covet?
Socks that Rock. (Sorry Yahaira). I’ve never been able to get my hands on any to see what all the buzz is about.

Favorite patterns?
Glampyre, Saunshine, Phildar

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
Lady Eleanor. I already own the yarn for it though.

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?
Susan Bates circs. Although for socks, I’m a big fan of my Addi’s. Magic loop baby!

Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:
Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?
Sour skittles, twizzlers.

What’s your favorite animal?
My kitties.

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages?
2 cats, currently. Buster, 9 years old. Very sick. Niblet, 6 years old. Healthy!

If you were a color what color would you be?
Azalea.

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).
My variegated pink, yellow and khaki Banana Republic diagonal striped button down. I wish it fit me.

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?
Peony. Definitely.

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read.
“All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars.” – Rush (the band, NOT Limbaugh)

Do you have a wishlist?
Yes. Here.

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?
I can’t wait to see all the hand dyed wonders!!!

Maryland Sheep and Wool

2006-05-07T21:43:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you've heard quite a bit about the fun we all had at Maryland this weekend...and yet, here is another account. Carrie came in from NYC on Saturday, and we made it a spidery outing. My Furry was kind enough to drive us down from NJ. On the way, we picked up his sister in Delaware so she could join the fun! We got there a bit late for Cara's meetup, so we didn't get to meet our spiderly friend Sandra, or Mama-E, or Trek to name a few I was hoping to run into), but I did get to meet both my March (Amanda Cathleen) and April (Suzanne) Project Spectrum Postcard Pals!! How ironic is that? Suzanne, Me and Amanda Cathleen on the lawn

And what's a Project Spectrum meetup without its creator, Lolly? Here we are in front of the Brooks Farm tent (where else would we be?) I really love Brooks Farm. Can you tell? I got a few skeins of the Limited Edition 2 (can't even find it on their website) Even a natural one to dye...but not for Dye-O-Rama. (It's not sock yarn...sorry DOR pal!)After the shopping, we had to eat! (Ok, we ate before too...I didn't want you to see me pig out on corn dog AND cheese fries!) Here's furry chowing on his favorite...FUNNEL CAKE!! Ain't he so cute?

Mmmmmm.....Funnel Cake... (Ala Homer Simpson)

Then, once we were fed and watered (again), we watched the animals eat...Llamas and Alpacas, but surprisingly, we didn't take any pics of the sheep. Maybe it should become the Maryland Alpaca and Llama Festival?

On the way back, we knitted, slept, and sang to 80s hair bands...Sorry, no photographic representation of said tomfoolery. But here we are displaying our haul!

Carrie and I at the end of a long day!

It was great meeting you all! To be on a yarn diet till Rheinbeck!

Appreciation for Knitbloggers!

2006-05-05T00:11:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to thank everyone who commented or emailed in the past few days about my kitty Buster. He feels really loved right now by all of you. He's not doing well according to his blood levels (for anyone who has experienced feline CRF, his BUN is >180 and creatinine 13.5) but he's eating and is in good spirits. Thank you so much for all your well wishes!!! Knitters are so awesome! I can't wait to meet so many wonderful knitbloggers at MSW on Saturday!

Speaking of knitters being awesome...Scout and Suzanne are the two awesomest!

Scout just started selling her hand painted sock yarn here, so I wondered...could she custom dye me a self-striping colorway??? COULD SHE! Working together to find the right shades based on the combination of pink, yellow and green, Sweet Pea was born!

Here she is on the cute tissue paper (I think it sort of matches her website!)
and the yummy smelling insense she came packaged with!

Our heroine, ready for her closeup!

The colors came out perfectly! Thanks Scout! What she will become shall be revealed in due time! (yes, sweet pea is a she)

Today, after a long day at work, the vet and the dentist, I came home to this lovely postcard in my mailbox, from my April Project Spectrum Postcard Pal Suzanne! Yes, April is over, but we had a "special agreement" that late is ok (I just sent hers out yesterday...) Thanks Suzanne! It's so happy and springy, and I really needed the sunshine today!

Springy Orange and Yellow painted flowers! So pretty!

Lastly, (Lisa this is for you), I FINALLY received my Asparagus from Knitpicks for Eunny's Deep V Agyle Vest. Now that it's 80 degrees, do I want a 100% merino wool vest??? Well, it can be worn in the fall, right?

Knitpicks Merino Style in Asparagus and Petal

That's it for tonight! See you at the festival on Sat! Save me some STR!

Untitled

2006-05-01T21:59:00.000-04:00

Warning: this is not my usual blog post. Today we got some sad kitty news. Buster, our 9 year old domestic long hair was diagnosed with feline kidney disease. It’s a common condition in cats, yet chronic and irreversible. He’s pretty far along now, his left kidney function is almost completely gone and his right one is picking up the slack. He’s severely anemic, underweight and has no appetite, yet he drinks (and pees!) like a fish. Buster is sweet, yet very strong. Not once did he let us know that he was sick – he bears his burdens with grace. He never complains. Although there is no recovery in sight, we are trying to help him gain weight with a special diet, and regain some of his strength with electrolyte injections.

We have had the pleasure of loving Buster since 1999, when he came to us from an unhappy family. At first, he was timid and shy, only speaking up when he was scared or hungry. He has grown to be a very important part of our family. Chris and I couldn’t imagine life without him.
When we took him to the vet on Saturday, they did a “geriatric profile” for poor Busty. Chris was shocked that he has grown old enough to be considered geriatric…His entire life flashed before our eyes in what seems like a single moment. He’s lived in three apartments with us, endured lazy life with student Chris, rejoiced at the birth of a baby brother kitten who suffered major trauma, yet played the role of big brother flawlessly. All the while, Buster never faltered.

Now, we have to consider the future without our furry friend. Moving into a new house and children are part of our future. Buster may not be so lucky.
We plan to cherish every moment, but not let him suffer. He deserves to be peaceful. I just hope it doesn’t take him too quickly.

Thanks for listening.

There's a hole in my jaywalker...

2006-04-27T22:31:00.000-04:00

...probably because I wear them every night to bed...

Good think knitty posted this tutorial for repairs.

I joined this KAL today (clickety)...

I'm excited to share and have one-derful yarn shared with me :)

Oh! and to my dear April Postcard Pal...I'm almost done! It should be in the mail tomorrow!

Happy Earth Day!

2006-04-22T14:16:00.000-04:00

When you think of Earth Day, what comes to mind? Socks? Yeah, me too. Green ones.

I finished Pomatomus the first! I haven't cast on for the 2nd yet...and I refuse to get SSS.

That's the view into my backyard, I mean driveway. See all the leaves and pollen that fell to the ground. Yeah, it's all over my car now, but who cares? It's raining. I like how the driveway is completely green, although not as green as Sundara yarn in seaweed. Yum.
Have I mentioned this yarn is so unbelievable? Soft, dramatic color, and perfectly spun (not overspun, so that you have to untangle it...) Now you even can buy her spectacular superwash at Pure Knits.

Onto other sock-worthy news,

I received some knitterly goodies today! Knitpicks Sock Memories in Gladiolus and SweetGeorgia Speed Demon Sock in English Bay. I love the English Bay colorway so much that we're going to decorate the main bath in the new house in those colors. Ok, don't get too excited. We don't close until AT LEAST July, but the house is ours! YaY! Passed inspection and everything...now for a mortgage...

In other knitting knews, I joined Scout's Dye-O-Rama, in the "WTF am I doing?" group. Any other newbie dyers out there? Sorry, Marie - without you to guide me, I'm all up in the Kool-Aid...and I don't even know the flavor...
Also, decided i'm going to MSW! Hopefully, Bronxie, my Spider Pal will be able to join the fun! If you're going, head over to January One to sign up for the meetup! I can't wait to meet some new knit bloggers!

HAPPY 29+1 DEBBIE!! We love you!

Harlot + NJ = Crazy Delicious

2006-04-13T21:52:00.000-04:00

Sorry this is 2 days delayed, but work has been crazy! Tuesday, the Yarn Harlot came to good ol' NJ! Karen, Pat and Evie (all blogless) from my office and I trekked over to the Rutherford Library to see her in action and to buy her new book Knitting Rules!

She told us a story of meeting her husband's high-profile, trendy colleagues, who would introduce her as "This is Stephanie. She's a knitter", and the awkward stares that would follow. However, it appears that since the sign out front refers to her as "Author and Knitter" that she has clearly made it into "author" standings. Congratulations Stephanie! You rock! There's nothing about knitting that should make you feel less cool than the cool kids!

I mean, seriously - this is Hardangervidda, her Knitting Olympics project. She knit this unbelievably complicated sweater in 16 days. That's So FREAKIN' Cool!

This event was also a social event for NJ knitbloggers! I met Jersey Knitter and her beautiful Sockapaloooza sock (no pics though - she's camera shy!). I also found, simply by reading other blogs, that also in attendance were Enchanting Juno, Annie Modesitt (and her daughter), Made by Ewe, Mary Beth Temple, Trek, Calling on Kahlo, and Forgetful Stitcher. I guess there are more of us in NJ than I thought! I hope the meet you all again some day soon - maybe at MSW?

Here is the Harlot taking a picture of me taking a picture of her...hope to see the other side of this photo (a not-so-subtle hint to the Harlot!)

Well, better get working on Grumpecue, Pomatomus and reading Knitting Rules!

Cheerio :)

Knitters Connect Via Cherry Blossoms

2006-04-10T22:06:00.000-04:00

It's SPRING in New Jersey. Yesterday DH and I went to Branch Brook Park to their annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It wasn't really a festival, but a lot of people walking around looking at the trees as they spring into bloom. (More photos here).

I even saw a couple taking pictures of a green sock still on the needles! I thought "I wonder if she's a knitblogger"...well, long story long, I left a comment on Mason-Dixon Knitting's blog (incorrectly, I might add!) about them coming to NJ for a book signing (umm...they're not), and I got an email from Ina from Jersey Knitter asking for more information on the signing. I then noticed on her blog a link to the park I was at yesterday, and a familiar green sock...

...IT WAS HER at the park! Small world this knitblogging community, huh? I was wrong about Mason-Dixon, but the Yarn Harlot IS coming to NJ tomorrow! So, if you're in the area, come on down to the Rutherford Library...but call first and make sure there will be a seat for you!

I'm bringing Pomatomus. Here it is after the first repeat. I've gotten a bit further since this photo was taken (yesterday!).

I'm using Sundara's superwash in "seaweed". This yarn is so dreamy. It's soft, perfectly spun (meaning I don't have to dangle the sock and untwist it every 5 minutes), and the colors are so amazing!

I also know you've been dying to see the progress on the Grumpecue...Well, here it is (CLOSE YOUR EYES DEB!) I really hope I can finish this before she gives birth! I have about a month, and this is so slow going! This is a project I DO have to untwist every 5 minutes...and since it's so large, I untwist the yarn, not the project.

Lastly, don't forget to check out the Spring Knitty. I don't think I'm going to knit anything this season. I'm just not impressed. My "to knit"queue is also way too long...

Buster and Niblet say...

just love us. we're cute. give us yarn to play with.

2006 Knitalongs

2006-04-05T22:38:00.000-04:00

Since there are still no worthwile pictures to post of any sort of progress, I thought I'd list the KAL's I joined! Thanks to Xavier Knits who updates the KAL blog!

Knitty's Pomatomus (I even cast on for this with my lovely Sundara superwash!)
Ferragamo Knit Bag (Craftster)
Sexy Knitters Club (duhhhhh!)
Knitty's Starsky (Yahoo Group)
Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vestalong (not on her list...but it should be!)

I catch up on my reading, but I've been a really lax post-er...with no knitting knews :(

Oh...OFF TOPIC! Does anyone who has a REAL blog belong to Myspace? Anyone over 21? Just curious - I have some friends who joined and want to know if it's possible to find someone other than college binge drinking frat boys to chat with...

Will the real stash please stand up?

2006-04-01T18:35:00.000-05:00

Left to right, top to bottom.
(For larger sized photos, here is my Flickr photoset)

1. All the crap barely fit to post - acrylic baby yarn, etc
2. My vice - SOCK YARN!!! Vesper, Brooklyn Handspun, Sundara. Also in this photo...the ~~coveted~~ way too expensive Joseph Galler Pashmina.
3. Balls. Just Balls. Most of them left over from previous projects.
4. Rowan 4-ply cotton for Orangina, some cheap cotton and 4 skeins of KP Dye your own... enough for Starsky? (I may not even dye them!)
5. KP Merino Style for Eunny's Vest...still waiting for my asparagus...
6. Noro Silk Garden 205 (i think) for Lady E
7. Sundara Superwash...it was so nice I had to flash it twice!
8. DB Baby Cash...I bought it for Marilyn's NSS Cardi, and I think I'm gonna frog it for Green Gable. (I already got the pattern!)
9. Goddess Isabella for Colchique... will I ever get to her?
10. Skeins. Some old, some new...some left over...some blue!
11. Cashmere blend from frogged poncho...use? who knows!
12. DB Cotton cashmere...for Grumpecue, still WIP! ARGH!

It looks like I haven't done any knitting since Christmas...I stink. All I have done was successfully purchased sock yarn. Use it? NO! it looks prettier all skeined up and in a box.

Spring is coming, so the list is now (in this order):
- Finish Grumpecue. It is taking forever! Mail to Deb, since it won't get to her 2nd shower tomorrow.
- Finish orangina (April's pattern for SKC)
- Eunny's Vest
- Green Gable
- Starsky
- Yeah, and those gloves...haha!

Flashing My Stash...

2006-04-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

Here you go!

Niblet says, "April Fool!"

Yous guys gotta hold yo' ho-ses till I take-a da pictyas! (said in my NJ Guido voice).

This sure takes my mind off of real estate!

2006-03-28T19:51:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Emmie!

Place an X by all the things you've done. This is for your entire life:

(X) Smoked a cigarette
(X) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
(X) Been dumped
(X) Shoplifted
( ) Been laid off/fired
(X) Quit your job
( )Been in a fist fight
(X) Snuck out of your parent's house
(X) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) Been arrested
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Lied to a friend
(X) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Felt like dying
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored your hair
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach
(X) Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
(X) Ice-skating

This feels good...I wish I could go ice skating and kiss my furry under mistletoe right now! Who am I kidding? Spring is around the corner!!!!

The waiting game

2006-03-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take this oppportunity to thank you for all the positive vibes you have thrown my way with regard to the house. I just heard from our realtor that the sellers accepted our offer, and signed a contract. And thus begins the long and arduous process toward home ownership. Yes, I am well aware that there can be many broken stones on the road to closing, but we're ready!

Unfortunately, I have nothing knitting-related to post. This weekend was busy with a dinner with friends, wedding and baby shower (and my Grumpecue is still unfinished!) So I convinced 2 friends to split the most embarrassing gift ever...a breast pump kit! Hey, those things aint cheap!

I guess maybe, since there are no pics, I can try and thrill you with a few links?

On Flickr? Join The Biggest Group! Goal is to take over the most popular group on Flickr, which currently has 23,503 members...

Stolen from Amy, this game is really addictive!

Need your daily dose of cuteness? Click here. (check back later...youtube.com is down)

House Hunting

2006-03-14T23:08:00.000-05:00

I can't believe March is half over already. We've officially been house hunting for 4 months. It's a long and arduous process of rushing through a house, going home to think about it some, then calling or emailing the realtor for next steps. Most often we're not interested. 40-odd houses in 4 months. Today, we went back to a house for the 2nd time. The only other time we did this was in December when we put an offer out. And lost it. Today, right before our trip to potential-house-candidate #2, I found out that the house we didn't get sold for $5k LESS than we offered...WHY??? Just when I was beginning to understand the market, I get thrown this wrench. What does this mean??? I shouldn't care - move forward. Not back. Don't think about what you can't have only what you can. So...keep you posted if we offer on house #2.

For now - KNITTING! Yesterday, I came home to 2 packages and a postcard!

It's for the Project Spectrum Postcard Swap! Thank you my darling Postcard Pal! it's beautiful! Yours will be out later in the week...it's been tre busy at chez Peony this week!

I also got my Silk Garden from Hot Designer Yarns at ebay! So excited to start Lady E, but that won't happen for a Y-L. A LOOOONG Y-L. Hmmmm. Pink and Red. I think this qualifies for Project Spectrum, whadda ya think?

I also got the first half of my knitpicks order...

The petal (pink) merino style is 1/2 of the necessary yarn for Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vest. The other 1/2 is asparagus green, and is on backorder until 4/7. Boo! Hiss! I am excited though, because Kathy Ruth and Eunny have both used these colors...and they look FABOO together, and so spring-y! Now...to start swatching in (2 handed?) fair isle...but not just yet.

Must. Finish. Grumpecue. Due for the shower on 3/26. I don't have a whole lot of time! AAAAHHHH! Only 33% done. I don't even want to figure out how long it will take me at this speed...I'm further than the photo now, but not much. Any advice on how to knit faster? PLEEEASE??? Sorry for the cryptic photo...babymama may be peeking :)

Enamored with Grumperina

2006-03-06T21:02:00.000-05:00

I just realized something...I have been knitting three of Grumperina's patterns at the same time! Kathy really has an eye for texture in her patterns, and I think that's what I've been craving in my knitting. Here's some progress on my second pair of jaywalkers - this one will go to my mom (eventually). It's the "Spring Chicken" colorway of my Spiders' handpainted!

And Odessa...this was such a quick knit - I started it when Furry was napping on Saturday, and finished in the car on the way to Avenue Q yesterday (which if you haven't seen...you really should - so funny!) This was knit up with one ball of Rowan Wool Cotton on (get this): size 3s for the ribbing, size 6 for the "body" and 2 size 5 DPNs and my 16" 6 circs for the decreases...now that's improvising! Yay - completed my Project Spectrum Project for March!

What's the third Grumperina knit you ask? Well...it will go in this room some day soon! This is the future nursery of my friends Deb and Dave - they're expecting a boy and he's due in May!

In case this scene looks slightly familiar, but you can't really place it...let Maurice Sendak lend a hand... here's the back cover. Still don't get it? Click on the photo...

Oh, and I can't forget to tell you about the wonderful yarn I got from Sundara today! It's her sock yarn in colorway seaweed. It's so bright and green - and the superwash is SOOOO soft! I was thinking of Pomatomus...Any other suggestions?

Catching Up

2006-03-02T14:58:00.000-05:00

Helooooo faithful blog readers! I haven't posted in a while, but I've been reading a lot of your blogs...so here's the news according to me!

No knitting updates since Angelica. I've been working on a new pair of Jaywalkers for Mom, and the Grumpecue...but no pictures yet.

I just ordered some of this beautiful sock yarn from the Secret Dyer, Sundara Yarn...No longer a secret! YAY!

Oh...and here's my gold medal for finishing Angelica!

I wore her to work yesterday, and I finally heard from a coworker, "that's a nice sweater". I'm used to the "did you make that?" comment, and yes, got about 15 of those...but finally, finally someone complimented the sweater, not the talent of the sweater-maker. I should be happy regardless, but too many people know I knit! I can come into the office in a Banana Republic sweater and I'll be asked if I made it. I guess I should consider that a compliment...But I don't.

I have some great pics from my weekend in Mass. My friend Deb painted her baby's room like the back cover of "Where the Wild Things Are". I can't seem to get the pics off my camera, so you'll have to wait for those...BUT! I noticed a recurrent theme of on-the-fly photos that my cameraphone seems to enjoy...

BIG FOOD!

Dave enjoying his "Magic Apple" Jess enjoying her GIANT Matzo Ball

Hee hee!

Edit: I forgot to add that I must make the modified version of Forecast and Starsky very soon. And, Furry, if you're reading...I think I need this knitting bag by Jordana Paige (the designer of the latter "this") for my birthday, or Easter... The spiders will be more likely to see me in public if I have something other than a ShopRite bag to carry my knitting in!

Goin For Da Gold!

2006-02-25T00:48:00.000-05:00

Howdy peeps! Tonight, I completed Angelica, my Knitting Olympics project! I finished a sweater in only 2 weeks. Unfreakinbelievable! I'm goin for the gold!

Pattern: Glampyre's Angelica, available at HipKnits
Yarn: 6 1/2 balls (approx 700 yards) Plymouth Suri Merino (50% merino, 50% alpaca), color 2174
Needles: Susan Bates Quicksilver, size 8 and size 6 for keyhole trim
Start: Olympic Opening Ceremonies - 2/10/2006
Finish: 2/24/06
Modifications:
- 4 decrease rows in the "bust darts" instead of 6 to make up for my lack of waist!
- additional plain rows to add length
- added 4 increase rows before beginning hip shaping
- added 3 inches to sleeve length

The story of the yarn
My SIL bought me 5 balls of different boucle yarn for Christmas. She's not a knitter, so although the thought was there...the yarn was not my style. She also lives in Delaware, so I had to drive 3 hours to the LYS she purchased the yarn from to exchange it! Furry and I drove down one afternoon in December when we were off from work. We left our apartment around 2 pm...and got to the store at 5:15...they close at 5! Luckily a phone call was all it took to keep them open a few extra minutes, so I didn't have too much time for browsing. I picked the first soft, relatively inexpensive yarn I could find...Plymouth Suri Merino was $6 for 110 yards.

I think this yarn was a bit too thin for this pattern. The gague was pretty close with the recommended size 8 needles, but the stitches are not as crisp and firm as I would have wanted, like Illanna's or Bronxie's. But, the yarn is soft, and warm, so I will get a ton of wear out of this one!

Keyhole:
My row gague was off a bit, so instead of 2o rows/4", i came in at 23 rows/4". This made for a slightly smaller keyhole, which is fine by me because I don't have to wear something under the sweater!

Have a great night - we're off to visit friends in Massachusetts tomorrow!

Feeling blue today

2006-02-22T21:25:00.000-05:00

So, here we are, 12 days into the olympics. How's everyone doing? I'm a bit blue...I realized I have more blue knitting projects than any other color...and here's more proof.

Angelica, ala knitting olympics. Day 12. She needs a right sleeve, a seam for the left sleeve, neck detail and a button. Stefanie directed us to this site yesterday, so I felt it would be fitting to order a button for Angelica...but I wouldn't make the deadline, as they take 2-3 weeks to deliver...Gotta Go for the GOLD! So, off to the local buttoneria tomorrow!

Back to the blues...At Marie's I dyed this skein of Knit Picks "dye your own" sock yarn.

I couldn't figure out a good name right away - so I posed it with my favorite springtime candy...

And lo and behold...Spring Chicken was born (or hatched?) Doesn't a freshly wound ball of yarn look surprisingly like a bird's nest? It's less expensive and more knitterly goodness than this eastery option.

I joined Lolly's Project Spectrum, and the postcard swap. Mainly because the colors for March are red and pink. NOT blue!

Back to the olympics - 4 days left kids - let's get this show on the road!

too drunk to post...

2006-02-19T01:11:00.000-05:00

I can't even type right now..furry has the real camera, so here are some fotos of the wonderful Brooklyn Handspun i received from Marie the other day...on the cameraphone, so don't try to blow them up - quality SUCKS!

pathetic photos...gorgeous yarn!

Finished the body of angelica today...but the size isn't really good. tomorrow, more intelligent post. promise...too much wine tonite - can barely see the keyboard!!!!

Peony loves Orchids

2006-02-15T23:17:00.000-05:00

Furry was a sweetheart on V. Day. He bought me orchids (because Peony hates roses). So I played with the camera...
Displayed in the Waterford vase we got as a shower gift...I would never have registered for it, but it works.

Some of you would call this technique "macro mode", but my camera has a little flower icon...and i pushed the button...so here is a closeup. (I'm not THAT tech savvy...)

And then got a bit carried away...

Oh, and no progress on Angelica, but ake a look at the sidebar and feed and love the llama (LTL!)

Also - please tell me if you can read the Olympic Countdown...it's really fugly on my screen, and I can't figure out how to change the color of the text.

Finished Jayalkers...Finally!!!!

2006-02-13T22:18:00.000-05:00

Nope, I'm not going to post a photo of the 16 inches of snow we got here in Northern New Jersey (I'm sure you've seen it already). I have much, much more important things to post tonight!

Hallelujiah! I FINALLY finished my Jaywalkers! I know you weren't waiting with baited breath (because you would most definitely have died from asphyxiation by now) . Just under the wire for Cara's contest AND during the knitting olympics too, whew.

Pattern: Jaywalker Socks, by Grumperina published in Sept 05 MagKnits
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper sock yarn, 100% merino wool in Knit and Tonic
Needles: Clover bamboo DPNs size 1
Time to complete: WAAAAY too long, but finished on 2.13.06 at 10pm!
Recipient: Mememememememememe! My first FO this year for me!

I love this pattern. I would make more jaywalkers if I had time. I have 3 more skeins of Vesper, and 2 skeins of sock yarn I dyed myself...plus one more on the way from Brooklyn Handspun!

But, I have no time to start another pair until after the Olympics! Team Spiders is kicking ass on their olympic projects, (I'm too lazy to post them but Lisa did). Here we are on Angelica after the blizzard. Doesn't she look like she has boobs (little mosquito bites???) I am loving this pattern so far, the combination of merino and alpaca makes this yarn so soft. I am a bit worried about the gauge though...we'll see.

I have the best husband on earth! (Sorry Emmie - I bet this ties your V-Day) Before the blizzard hit, Furry decided he'd cook me a romantic dinner! He went food shopping by himself, and wouldn't let me in the fridge all day on Saturday while he hid the "secret ingredients." By dinner time, I had gotten a lot of knitting done, but still had NO CLUE what he was making for us...I let him surprise me.

Isn't it gorgeous? We had the Valentine's Dinner for 2 from the Jan/Feb Cooking Light magazine. Rosemary Shrimp Scampi Skewers ,
Carrot Couscous with Fresh Chives ,
Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding with Raspberries
He even made the chocolate pudding - from scratch!

How awesome is that? We have a Valentine's day contest...we are only allowed to spend $3 (card not included) on each other, and see who comes up with the most creative gift...I'm running out of time - any suggestions? I couldn't stick to the limit, so I got us tickets to Avenue Q...ha! Happy Valentine's Day!

Let the Games Begin!

2006-02-11T00:04:00.000-05:00

Ok, a trite title...but appropriate. Here we are, just after midnight on day 1 of the [Knitting] Olympics! The opening ceremonies were just crazy...Yoko Ono? Why? Anyone else think this?...but Pavarotti...i heart him.

Here's my Angelica after 4 hours of not quite uninterrupted knitting, our wireless internet went down, but it's back up now. Also, Furry bought me my favorite sugary V-day treat, RED HOTS!!!

On a separate, yet knitting-related note, I got my replacement yarn for the Grumpecue, DB cotton cashmere. I know, babies + cashmere = WTF was I thinking? The ladies at the YS assured me it's machine washable, in cold water. Anyone else wash cotton/cashmere? Regardless, I couldn't pass up these vibrant colors...Gotta go to bed now, so I'm rested for a long weekend of knitting! Since we're getting 6-12 inches of snow tomorrow night, we plan to stay home and ~~cuddle~~ knit...nauseating, huh?

In case you wanted to know more about me...

2006-02-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

I totally stole this from Purse_Ho! How funny!

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Peony Knits!

1. All of the roles in Shakespeare's plays - including the female roles - were originally played by Peony Knits.
2. There are roughly 10,000 man-made objects the size of Peony Knits orbiting the Earth.
3. If Peony Knits was life size, she would stand 7 ft 2 inches tall and have a neck twice the size of a human!
4. Peony Knits will often glow under UV light!
5. Worldwide, Peony Knits is the most important natural enemy of night-flying insects.
6. Fifty-two percent of Americans drink Peony Knits.
7. In the Spanish edition of Cluedo, Peony Knits is the victim.
8. The pharoahs of ancient Egypt wore garments made with thin threads of beaten Peony Knits!
9. All swans in England belong to Peony Knits!
10. Only fifty-five percent of men wash their hands after using Peony Knits.

Knitting content: Building suspense, so no photos...Jaywalkers will be done this weekend!

Oh - and I'm also joining this team for the Knitting Olympics (I can be part of more than one team, right?)Woo hoo!

Time to think and plan

2006-02-05T10:21:00.000-05:00

Ahhh. Sunday morning. Not a Lazy Sunday, though mr. pibb and red vines = crazy delicious! We're having a bunch of hungry football fans over at 6pm...Tons of cleaning to do!

Just wanted to document some knitting plans...since I haven't been actually knitting, much...so no real progress to document.

1. Jaywalkers - I finished one. I'm 3 inches into the second. But, I have to finish this pair of socks before the Olympics start so I can dedicate the entire 16 days to Angelica.

2. Angelica - I started this sweater a while ago. I know, I know - if I started it, then I can't knit it in the Olympics. But HA! My loophole. I frogged the WHOLE THING. I started it on 7s, because my gague on 8s (although spot on) looked too open. Well, on 7's it was wayyyy too small. So, I consider the 5 inches I frogged my "training". I think the Yarn Harlot would approve. Oh, and I'm joining TEAM SPIDERS!
3. Grumpecue - I started this beach-ball-baby-blanket for my friend Deb. Her shower is Mar 26. I think after completing the other 2 projects first, I will have time! This one, also, has been started...and will be frogged. I bought Lion Brand Baby Soft...and I HATE, HATE, HATE it...the dark blue was great, but once I switched to the yellow, the fabric started to streeeetttccch...I looked at the two (monstrous, cheap) balls, and noticed the yellow is just a wee bit thinner than the blue. WTF???? So, off to buy some Baby Ull to complete the project.

4. Jess's Gloves! AAAAAHHHH...The Christmas Present Gone Awry. Sorry Jess, I will get to them. I promise. They're (it's) nice and soft. They're (it's) Vesper.

5. My precious Phildar sweaters...um. maybe next winter. Sigh

6. Best Friend...still calling to me, with that ball of $55 Cashmere in a box under my bed and all.

Lastly...to update the sidebar! Sheesh. this blogging is hard work!

Spiders Dyeing Day...Finally!

2006-02-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for - my photos from Spiders Dyeing Day! I would have posted sooner, but I came down with a terrible stomach bug on Sunday, and was out till Wednesday. On top of that, my internet was down at home all week (cable too!), and I worked 13 hour days Wed and Thurs for a client presentation today!

So, without further achoos, let the festivities begin!

Here's the gratuitous closeup of Marie showing us the ropes.Here are my two skeins of knitpicks sock yarn drying in my bathtub!And after they were reskeined! I am so excited to start a new pair of jaywalkers in the magenta/grape/green-gold colorway! Unlike Stephanie, I'm not creative enough to give my yarn sexy manly names!

Oh - and for those of you who asked (Sorry Cara this is so late!)...I finally finished my first Jaywalker! Please don't mind my shiny leg...i had to color correct for lack of light in my apartment.

It was great meeting all of the spiders! I hope to get to know you all better and make it out to The Point soon. hmmm...you must all be there now...but here I am at work. Funny how these things happen...

Dying to Dye!

2006-01-27T17:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited - I finally get to meet the spiders tomorrow...and learn how to dye my own yarn...YAY!!!

The Onion Meme

2006-01-24T18:38:00.000-05:00

I HATE memes (primarily because I never get tagged), so I'm posting the longest one I could find, thanks to llamallamaduck - with absolutely NO knitting content! But before we meme, we QUOTE...

Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers. [sighs]
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.

layer one
name: julia
birthdate: july 23, 1976
birthplace: nyack, ny
current location: montclair, nj
eye color: brown
righty or lefty: lefty
sign: cancer/leo cusp
innie or outtie: innie

layer two
heritage: 100% I-talian
shoes you wore today: black suede with zebra striped buckle
your hair: shoulder length, layered, brown with highlights
your weakness: procrastinating
fears: death, overflowing toilets and abandoned houses
your perfect pizza: Thickish Crust Margherita Pizza!
one thing you'd like to achieve: stop being so lazy!

layer three
your most overused phrase: what I did was…
your first waking thoughts: do I have to get up, or is snooze an option?
the first features you notice in the opposite sex: eyes
your best physical feature: eyes
your bedtime: 12-1 during the week, 1-2 weekends
your greatest fear: I think we covered this already…
your greatest accomplishment: earning the respect of my parents…cheesy, but true!
your most missed memory: this one’s hard…

layer four
pepsi or coke: coke
single or group dates: one on one baby!
adidas or nike: Since New Balance isn’t an option, Nike.
lipton iced tea or nestea: Snapple.
chocolate or vanilla: CHOCOLATE!!!
cappuccino or coffee: depends on the time of day. Coffee if I’m tired.

layer five
smoke: only socially.
cuss: shit yeah!
sing: sure, I enjoy embarrassing myself often.
take a shower everyday: If I get up on time!
have a crush: not currently
been in love: yup.
went to college: all 4 boring years.
liked high school: not much.
want to get married: i am married.
believe in yourself: sometimes
type with your fingers on the right keys: I try to!
think you're attractive: when wearing makeup and skinny jeans!
think you're a health freak: nope, definitely not!
get along with your parents: Lately, yes!
play an instrument: I miss having skills on the piano!

layer six
in the past month, did you…
drink alcohol: yes
smoke: yes
do a drug: no
make out: yes
go on a date: yes
eat an entire box of Oreos: no
eat sushi: yes.
been on stage: no
been dumped: no
gone skating: no
made homemade cookies: yes
fall in love: no, i was already there.
go skinny dipping: no
dyed your hair: yes
stolen anything: no

layer seven
have you ever...
played a game that required removal of clothing: yup!
if so, was it mixed company: Yup!
been trashed or extremely intoxicated: yup!
been caught doing something: Yup!
been called a tease: Not since Jr. High.
shoplifted: only gum when I was 5.
if so, did you get caught: I turned myself in!
changed who you were to fit in: tried in HS…

layer eight
age you hope to be married: i'm already married, remember?
numbers and names of children: ZERO
describe your dream wedding: June 12, 2004 was the most perfect day of my life! I couldn’t ask for more than I got!
how do you want to die: I don’t ever want to die.
what do you want to be when you grow up: how old is the target audience supposed to be for this thing?
what countr(ies) would you most like to visit: Italy, Ireland, Spain, France, most of S. America

layer nine
number of men i have kissed: Way too many to count!
number of boyfriends you've had: 10-15?
number of drugs taken illegally: 4
number of people i could trust with my life: 3.
number of CDs that i own: a lot. i'm not going to go count them.
number of piercings: 5. All in the ears, and I’m not sure they’re all open.
number of tattoos: None. Again – how old is the target audience for this thing?
number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: only once - editorial section in HS. I've been in trade publications, like MedAd News many times...does that count?
number of scars on my body: 1 from walking into a clothing rack...so ridiculous!
number of things in my past that i regret: Two. And I’m not telling you.

Baby Weekend!

2006-01-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

Did anyone miss me lately????

I've been the world's worst blogger, and I did not even knit ONE STITCH this weekend! I spent a lot of time with babies instead. I'm not sure that one is a replacement for the other.

Friday we spent the evening at our friends' house with their 2 year old who speaks 3 languages...and knows who to speak to in which language! WTF?

Sat, we looked at 5 houses. Two of them had families who were home, and had VERY young children. One guy was even changing his baby while we wandered through his closets, stared at his comic books, bobble heads and patent for a new card game. (Again WTF?)

Today, I went to brunch with the NJ Nesties. Here are just a few of them. Drew and Gracie will like totally get together when they're older...well, at least we hope they do!

Drew and Gracie...sitting in a tree...well, you know the rest!

Ho-slappin' N Knitalongs

2006-01-17T12:17:00.000-05:00

I just found the funniest website:

www.gizoogle.com.

It will gangsta-ize anything you search for...so I plugged in my blog address...Remember a few weeks ago when I said I was going to take on socks for the first time, well this is what I should have said:

I'm a mutha fuckin 2-time felon! FINALLY in tha dogg pound. Gett'n over tha fear of socks. And smizzay needles . Nigga get shut up or get wet up!

Well I'lll be...

Knitting content to come, I swear!

Jaywalker Disaster

2006-01-07T17:34:00.000-05:00

No pics today. Frogged the heel gussets...for some reason I started out with the right number of stitches on needles 1 & 4, but after a while, I wound up with 18 on one and 21 on the other!

Also - have a small hole after picking up stitches on the second side...any suggestions on how to alleviate this?

Otherwise, sad sad sad.

Happy New Year!

2005-12-31T19:34:00.000-05:00

I'm heading out the door, so here's a progress shot on my Jaywalkers:

New Years Knit-olutions

2005-12-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it's almost 2006? Here is a recap of 2005, thanks to my blogging buddy Dr. Charles and Yahoo News.

What are your resolutions for 2006?

Mine are simple:
1. Get back on track (pun intended) with diet and exercise
2. Make a valiant effort to get into the office on time. Really, I mean it.
3. Try harder to see and stay in touch with friends who live far away.
4. Knit smaller, simpler things, ie socks.

Exhibit A:

I am doing it! FINALLY. Getting over the fear of socks. And small needles. I received size 0 and 1 DPNs from my in-laws for Christmas, and I'm gonna use them! I'm starting a pair of Jaywalkers (so I can be as cool as everyone else who has completed them!) with my Vesper in the Knit and Tonic Colorway. AND using my new ball winder and swift - Christmas presents from my hubby!

I've also decided to get back in knitting sweaters - the Phildar sweaters are on the back seat to Angelica. A while back Yahaira twisted my arm to join, so here I am! I bought Plymouth Suri Merino (an alpaca merino blend) for this, but my gauge isn't quite on yet...

Ah, it's good to be knitting for myself again!. I know that sounds selfish, but after 9 holiday gifts - 2 of which are still not complete - I need to keep myself sane by looking forward to wearing something I knit. Anyone else feel that way?

Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR! More blogging in 2006!

A little game of holiday catch-up!

2005-12-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

Wow, I haven't posted since before Christmas! It was such a busy week! I am happy to say that I have completed many projects in the past week, and have a whole lot more on the way. Here's my photographic account of the holiday - mostly knitting (so as not to bore anyone with too much plot, we'll get straight to the action scenes):

FOs - hats: Black cashmere Irish Walking Hat For Furry's cousin, made from old poncho.
And this one - Hothead from SNB made with Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande for Uncle Nick (I made the same one in green for my dad, but didn't have time to photograph it!)

FOs: Scarves

This is the finished (pre-blocked) snowflake illusion scarf in DB Alpaca Silk for my MIL. She is so excited to wear it so she can ask everyone she knows if they can see the snowflakes...hee hee!

You've all seen the pics of the Noro Crapotee for my SIL, so I'm not reposting them now :)

Here's the finished lace leaf scarf from VK for mom with Brooks Farm Harmony. I worked on it until 3am Christmas Eve (and STILL didn't finish in time!) - here's proof...

I'm knitting at Christmas Eve dinner at Furry's aunt's house while opening presents with my MIL **and, no I'm not flipping off the camera...click to blow up photo**

BTW - if you noticed, they do have WAYYYY too many teddy bears:

One even attacked my FIL!

Christmas day, I cooked for 8 people, and well, didn't have time to take any pics except this one: DESSERT. Click to see the details of all the yummy desserts. I'm so proud! More later!

Just a little HELLO!

2005-12-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy with knitting holiday things and house hunting (Oh - have I forgotten to mention that?) that I have not gotten around to saying HELLO to the spiders! I have been accepted to the circle - and wanted to acknowledge! I added you all to my blogroll, so I can keep up. I haven't made it into NYC in a while, so as soon as I do, after the holidays, I'll introduce myself :)

Till then, MUST KEEP KNITTING!
6 more knitting days till Christmas...and another open house at 1pm!

My Camera's Going on Vacation for the Holidays

2005-12-15T20:17:00.000-05:00

This will be my last post with digital photos taken of my holiday knitting, or anything else for that matter until after the new year. My camera is going to Cambodia! Unfortunately, I'm not going to Cambodia...but my wonderful husband is lending our digi to a friend. So if you lucky readers are, well, lucky...you may get to see the beautiful Asian countryside in '06.

Now, onto the knitting content.

I'm still considerably overwhelmed by the pile of still unfinished holiday knitting, but here's a start. I have succeeded in turning this hat:

Into THIS hat:See the difference? Whadda ya mean no? I added a flip-up brim (like a flip-top head!) for my MIL. I like it better this way, I think I may make all my hats with a flip-up brim!

I'm also just beginning the Snowflake Illusion Scarf to go with the hat - or a version of it in Debbie Bliss alpaca silk. Yum.

Here we have the mini clapo-twins. The one on the left is the one I made for myself with Diaketo Diamusee. The one on the right in Noro Kureyon is blocking, and will be packaged up tomorrow for my SIL. The Diaketo is a lighter, slightly softer yarn than the Kureyon, but the colors in the Noro are a bit more predictable, and the stripes are wider. Like em both, though I do.

For all you Vesper junkies, I still have not attempted the illustrious art of knitting socks, but instead decided to use one of my skeins to tackle a pair of gloves for my fiend Jess (hi Jess!) Not mittens, or wrist warmers, or fingerless gloves, but GLOVES! Here's some progress. 6.5 fingers left to go...Although Vesper is self striping, if left to its own devices, the fingers would be solid orange. So I needed to do a bit of cut-and-paste to equalize the stripes on the fingers...Ok it's not perfect, but I'm proud, since I loathed DPNs before I started this, and now I feel quite adept at juggling 4 needles at once. Progress takes practice.

Well, that's the show and tell part of this program. I'll be here, but in words alone until the 1st of the year!

Finally, a Holiday FO...

2005-12-08T23:43:00.000-05:00

I finished the Irish Hiking Scarf for Furry today. I'm happy to have one Christmas knitting project finished...but so many more to go!

Started: 11/19
Finished: 12/8
Yarn: Classic Elite Inca Alpaca in Kentucky Teal
Needles: Susan Bates size 7 circs
Dimensions: 58" long by 4.5" wide (unstretched)

So, in addition to the pile o' stuff I'm working on, I've decided to turn this:

into this:

Going into 2006, who needs a poncho? Ponchos are icky. These balls of merino/cashmere blend belong as Glampyre's Bulky Cabled Cardi, or some hats for gifts. The yarn is really black, the pics are deceiving. I liked the poncho last year, but I just can't bring myself to wear one (well I really can't now that it's frogged!)

Aahh the sweet release of Baaaad knitting projects....
Up next:
Remainder of the clap for SIL
Most of the Lace Lead Scarf for Mom
Hats a plenty for the boys
and a scarf (I can't seem to load the pics) for my MIL...next time I guess.

Must. Make. This. NOW!

2005-12-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

I know you all know the new knitty is up. I'm always the last one on the bandwagon. But, I viewed this issue differently than the way I normally view knitty. Typically I like a few patterns at first glance, think about which one to make first, since they're free think to myself that I can't pass up a FREE pattern... NOT this time. This time, I am DROOLING over a pattern. It's this one.

Remember the good old Secret Pal quiz question, "are you a yarn snob?" I think I need to change my answer to a resounding YES!!!!! The Joseph Galler Pashmina this pattern calls for is $55 a ball! OUCH!

Luckily, I have a friend in Portland, who is willing to pick me up one from her LYS. Like the pattern's namesake, she automatically becomes my best friend.

When to find time for this knit? Between the Clap and the lace leaf scarf and the IHS and the 50 million hats. But before New Years. That's when.

Oh - and for those of you who commented about my Christmas tree falling over, calm is exactly what I wasn't on Saturday! Here's the scene. DH, MIL, SIL and I are ready to go out to dinner after a long day of shopping and errands around 9pm.

Julsey runs around looking for shoes, purse, glasses, keys, etc, SIL sits calmly on couch, DH, MIA

MIL (frozen in tracks) OH MY GOD!!!!

(tree falls towards the glass dining room table)

Julsey (also frozen in tracks) AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

(finally realizes she should be catching it runs across the living room)

MIL, SIL, Julsey run for paper towels to catch water that is running in every direction, DH emerges from (where?)

Gang furiously cleans the floor, fixes the lights, dumps the tree skirt in the bathtub and heads out for sushi.

Sushi...mmmm....gotta eat now.

Holiday Knitting and our Tree!

2005-12-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it? We have a Christmas tree already! Here's a tutorial on how to make one of your own:

Take one green tree (species unknown),

add some cartoon characters who wanna party,

and you get one big happy Christmas tree!

Then it fell over. Oh well onto knitting content!

So, 21 days left till Christmas and no FO's yet to speak of! Here's the progress on the mini Noro Crapotee for my SIL:

And a closeup. I can't wait to finish this...as MANY of you know, this pattern isn't very enthralling. Add that it's my second one, and the ho-hum factor is doubled. At least the yarn keeps me on my toes - the variegations are so unpredictable that it's keeping me from wrapping this one in a pretty gold box while it's still on the needles!

I'm going to borrow a technique from blogger Fig and Plum. STASH BOXES!!! Click and ye shall find more details on the yarn allotted for Christmas knitting and other unidentified projects.

Oh well, back to knitting or I'll never finish anything!

TTFN :)

A new and exciting contest!

2005-11-28T22:20:00.000-05:00

Keohinani started a contest called "You know you knit too much when"...Here's my entry (thought I'd share it with you all as well!) If you want to join, the contest ends 11/30!

You know you knit too much when you can sing the "12 Days of Christmas" to the knitting related items perpetually atop your coffee table (I really do live like this!):

12 plastic stitch markers
11 sheep gift tags
10 pieces of scrap yarn
9 patterns in the queue
8 balls of Noro
7 WIPs "on the needles"
6 Trendsetter labels
5 Clover circs
4 skeins of handpainted boucle
3 distracting items (subway drink, cell phone, Visine)
2 of DH's sock-ed feet*
and a calendar of the LYS's December activities!

*not handknit socks - he just came from the gym - I hope that's not a disqualifier!

In addition, I changed my mind for the gift for my SIL - she's getting a Crap-o-tee mini made of good ol Noro Kureyon 153. I love it - I want to keep it for myself! More WIP pics later...oh and I added the Reversible Winter Capelet pattern to my sidebar (all you craftsters know it as the "Anthropologie-inspired capelet". I changed the name, just in case :)

My oldest friend Debbie is PG, and I'm going to make a Grumpecue for her baby. Thanks for this great pattern revise, Grumperina! I ordered the hard-to-find Oat Couture Curlicue pattern from Angelika's Yarn Store. Once Deb has her BIG ultrasound, I can buy the correct colors of yarn to match the boy or girl bedding they've chosen.

Well, enough of this chatter. Back to holiday knitting!

Thanksgiving's Over...You know what that means!

2005-11-25T11:17:00.000-05:00

It's the official start of the "holiday season" (read as the overabundance of Christmas songs, lights, gadgets, scented things, bad sales, half-dead trees, cold weather, TRAFFIC, CROWDS, and allover CHAOS!!!). But, I'm happy as a clam.

I've got a ton of knitting projects started and planned for Christmas gifts...That means the only store I need to go to is the LYS!

Here's the stash I've amassed over the year so I don't have much to buy (I'm so proud! The balls and skeins are like my children or something...creepy, I know.)

Here's the list (with photos where appropriate!):

Mom: Lace Leaves Scarf from Fall VK
Brooks Farm Harmony
In stash/on needles

Furry: Irish Hiking Scarf (and hat?)
Inca Alpaca
In stash/on needles

SIL: Mousse Shawl (Although I'm not loving this pattern for this yarn - any other ideas for boucle yarn?)
Blue Ridge Handpainted Mohair Boucle
In stash - on needles

Dad: Ribbed or Cabled Hat
Uncle Nick: same idea
Dee: same again...damn I'm boring!
Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande
Most in stash...

Kestly: Reversible Winter Capelet
Rowan Polar
In stash
(You've seen this before!)

MIL: Updated hat to add a brim (from last year's Christmas!) and matching scarf (pattern tbd)
Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk
Need to buy 4-5 more balls

Jess: Something with Vesper? I love Vesper! I just ordered a 3rd skein from kpixie - in the knit and tonic colorway!

Dennis: Another Irish Hiking Scarf?
Inca Alpaca? Something heavier?
Need to buy.

In other news...I picked up these sweet treats from the store at Piddleloop! How awesome are they? All my knitted gifts will get a custom tag! I'm trying to figure out who to give the pouches to...I just *heart* them!

Decisions Decisions...

2005-11-19T17:25:00.000-05:00

So, should I continue working on the Irish Hiking Scarf for Furry...or should I consult Cooking Light for a recipe for the potato bread stuffing???

Going to see Harry Potter tonite!!! I can't wait!!! Must go shower now!

Home sick today

2005-11-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

So I figured I'd catch up on some overdue blogging! My knottie friends got married this weekend! It's about time they can now become nesties!...We're so happy for them, but not as happy as we were eating mini cannolis...

In other news, I started the Lace Leaf Scarf for Mom. I feel guilty giving her this as a Christmas present since she bought the yarn herself at the NYS Sheep & Wool. It's Brooks Farm Harmony in browns that remind me of my hair...I'm sure nobody else sees it but me.

Here is the first repeat and a half with and without the flash - it's hard to see the pattern with the flash, but the color is truer than without.

Not much progress made on Colchique or Tendances. In fact, Tendances had it's first trip to the frog pond...never to return. Damn, I need a ball winder!

I'll leave you, my law abiding Jersey drivers, with this, your "Moment of Zen" with credit to the Barista:

Anthropologie-inspired Capelet - FO and Tutorial!

2005-11-08T18:37:00.001-05:00

Here are some photos of my interpretation of Anthropologie's First Frost Capelet, and the pattern. It's really easy (I completed it in a few hours).

I used 1 ½ balls of Rowan Polar on size 11 needles. (gauge = 12 st and 16 rows over 4”)

CO 49 st (this makes a S-M with 16" neckline - I'm not good enough to do sizes!)*
*For exact sizing, measure around your neck at the collarbone, and multiply the gauge (per
inch!) by that measurement. If that number is even, add one st to get your CO amount.

Knit in 1 x 1 rib for 2 inches to create neckline

Raglan Increases: (you will need 4 stitch markers to separate the body into 5 sections: left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve, right front)

Row 1 (RS): k2, p6, yo, pm, p1, yo, p7, yo, pm, p1, yo, p15, yo, pm, p1, yo,
p7, yo, pm, p1, yo, p6, k2 (57 st total, 8 have been increased)
Row 2 and all WS rows: knit all stitches
Row 3 and all RS rows: k2, *p to next marker, yo, sl marker, p1, yo* repeat from * 3 more times, p until last 2 st, k2
Continue raglan increases until sleeve measures the circumference of your upper arm.
End with a WS row.

Split sleeves and body:
RS: k2, p to 1st marker, move all st from 1st to 2nd marker onto scrap yarn (right sleeve). P to 3rd marker. Move all st from 3rd to 4th marker onto another piece of scrap yarn (left sleeve). P to last 2 st, k2.
WS: Knit all st
Continue in reverse stockinette stitch for 4 more rows (with k2 at each edge of the row)
Switch to 1 x 1 rib, for 5 rows. BO all st

Sleeves:
Pick up all st, one sleeve at a time from scrap yarn.
Work back and forth in 1 x 1 rib for 5 rows.
BO all st
Seam ribbing on sleeves

That’s it, you’re done! This is easy, I swear!
Finish with a pin at the neck, or sew a button on, whatever you want! The other cool thing about this, is it’s reversible! I like the reverse st side better, it’s more vintage looking.

ETA: Corrected stitch count, added ways to fit to your body, 8/1/08.

Here are some detail shots:

It's back! But not for long.

2005-11-08T01:24:00.000-05:00

If there's any left, it's yours, if you want it :) Consider this your tip off...If you think you know what I mean (or are burning with curiosity), click here.

Edit: OMG, I have to have one of these! How cute are they?

Edit #2: They're gone...if you're looking now, you missed it. Vesper was around for a short time...I snagged one in tartan... Now, who's gonna teach me sock knitting???

Secret Pal and some progress shots

2005-11-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

First, I'd like to say THANK YOU!!! to my secret pal. A package came for me yesterday incuding "At Knit's End" by the Yarn Harlot, 2 balls of italian merino (yum!), and a cute card! I'm going to use the yarn for some fingerless gloves, I think...or a Winter Femme hat! THANKS!! In other yarn-related news, I saw this post trying to recreate an Anthropologie capelet on Craftster, and thought I'd give it a try. Here's my progress. I'm using the last 3 balls of Rowan Polar from my stash. I think it's coming out really well! I'll post a tutorial once it's complete.Lastly, I MUST leave you now to do some laundry. Do you think Niblet's trying to tell me something????

Blackberry c'est fini and the 2 French girls are Phriends

2005-11-03T20:48:00.000-05:00

I must appear to be all knitting, all the time...but really it's the only thing I enjoy sharing with the world. You don't care to listen to my day about attending lectures on chemotherapy research in NYC...so I'll cut to the chase (see I got to vent anyway!) Blackberry is done! Ok, so I still need to weave in the ends, so I can't really wear it yet. I'm not gonna do that "started on" "finished on" thing...cuz I don't measure my projects in time it takes me to do them...or I'd be really depressed about just how slow a knitter I am. I will give the stats though:

6 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino superchunky in Grape on size 10 1/2 needles. Mods I made:

The WHOLE thing is in stockinette stitch, vs reverse.
Kept the cables and skipped the bumpy bobbles.
Shortened the sleeves to 3/4 length (I may lengthen them a bit...if I can find 10 1/2 DPNs)
I did a whole lot of extra ribbing, because, well, even after immense blocking, the pieces were still not quite the right height. My row gague was off, but I figured...ahh F* it! I'll just do lots of ribbing. And that's exactly what I did :)

I am not really sure Blackberry's going to get much wear - it's actually kind of tight. And, in true shrug style, it shows off my "assets". In other words, my GUT. Why, oh why do I insist on knitting shrugs?

That brings me to the next topic. When one door closes, another opens (how do you say door in French?) I'm going to call Colchique and Tendances "the sisters", since I'm working on them both together.Smilarities between the sisters:

Neither is a shrug. (read as "both will cover my gut".)
Both are wonderful Phildar patterns with KALs and French speaking knitters to help us translate them.
They love to be photographed together
Cats love them.
Furry loves them.
I want to leave work on time to knit them.

There, now I feel better.

QED.

A new KAL, some knitting stuff and a general lack of interest in halloween.

2005-10-30T01:18:00.000-05:00

Why am I blogging at 1:24 on Saturday night of Halloween weekend, you ask? Well, I guess the simple answer is that I didn't want to go into the city with Furry and all the boys. The long answer is that I'm broke, sick, don't feel like getting dressed up, and definitely don't feel like drinking again. So, I'm catching up on my knitting, blogging, etc.

I was so proud - Furry wore the Manly Sweater again today (that's twice this fall so far - do you think he likes it?) This time I was able to snap a pic of him before he got away! Isn't my hubby cute?

Today was a banner day for Phildar Tendances - I started a a new KAL blog for the new brown sweater with crocheted flower. Click on the button if you're interested in joining! It'll be fun to translate with some bloggerbuddies! Here is some yarn porn French style...

I've also gotten up to 95% with Blackberry from Knitty...I used 10 1/2 needles, and knit the entire thing inside out (st st, instead of reverse). So, it's a bit off, and I had to make up some extra inches in the ribbing. I hope I'm done soon. I love the Debbie Bliss cashmerino superchunky, but it PILLS like there's no tomorrow! Rather disappointing, since ths sleeves look a bit ratty, and the damn thing's never even been worn...

Here is the pre-seaming pic...
On that note...enjoy your extra hour of sleep tonight!

Words that are the kiss of death

2005-10-26T11:24:00.000-04:00

"Is that a SHRUG?" - not so bad.
"It's really cute - I like the color" - great compliment
"It looks homemade" - AAAAHHH!!!!

I know people at work know I knit, and the whole circular shrug phenomenon (dare I call it a phenomenon?) is hitting NJ hard...BUT one of my coworkers (who's leaving here to go to a competitor next week BTW) told me my circular shrug looks homemade...then she added..."but in a good way". Like that helps.

I must be PMSing, because normally this wouldn't bug me enough to post about it.

I haven't posted in a while, because work has not been fun, but in knitting knews (see, I've been working too much - everything's in outline form):

1. I am putting the finishing ribbing on Blackberry tonight, so there should be pics tomorrow or Thursday.

2. MNSS is still on the slow - the straight stockinette is really boring...

3. Colchique is on hold until the rest of my yarn comes in. I got about 4 inches (10 cm to you French knitters) from the 1 ball I had left of the Goddess. Thank goodness for the Goddess - I was dying to start this, and the gauge matched perfectly! Now...a waiting game...

4. Lastly (for now), this sweater! Who is in on a knitalong? It's another wonderful Phildar pattern. I bought the book (in French), but it's really easy translation! I also got the EXACT yarn, Phildar Quiteude in Kraft 101 on ebay for $19.99! Check out all the auctions that knit-n-tyme has. They sell a lot of yarn that's hard to find in the US on ebay, and the bids start really low.

Is it lunchtime yet?????

Sorry I missed you all yesterday :(

2005-10-16T10:37:00.000-04:00

Ok, So I DID get to the NYS sheep and wool, but not till 2:30! Friday night was crazy, and I woke up just a wee bit tipsy yesterday...Then I had to FIND my cat...Buster hides and doesn't come when he's called, so I couldn't leave until he was in sight. Then, I picked up my mom, and off we went! Although she's not a knitter, she had a blast picking out colors of the hand dyed and natural colored mohair/silk blend called "Harmony" from Brooks Farm Yarn.

Sorry no pics yet - Furry has the digital camera...But I was able to take a phone shot of this cutey llama in the stables! LTL, knotties and nesties, LTL! Isn't he cute?

EDIT: while on the subject of llamas, here is a catchy tune you must listen to!

So, I give into the meme craze. This one's fun. do a google search for "(your name) needs". I was not aware I needed most of this stuff (PS, most of these are specifically for Julia Roberts!)

Julia needs to learn to let go.
Julia needs to find something to sell, give away, throw out or burn.
Julia needs a bad boy, not a saint.
Julia needs an adoptive family who will love her unconditionally and commit to her.
Julia needs to worry about leaving a legacy.
Julia needs a soy cappuccino and a mocha.
Julia needs those notes, but they're not a crutch.
Julia needs You.
Julia needs a devoted stud who’ll make her feel desirable again.
Julia needs the promotion and then we will all be happy to sit back and get on with talking about things that REALLY matter.
Julia needs an eye shade to get a good night's sleep.

I totally agree about that last one! Ha. Enjoy :)

Lookie what came in today!!!

2005-10-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the suggestion of my blogging buddy yahaira, I was able to snag the last skein of Vesper from etsy.com. Here it is in the Midnight Knitter colorway. I'm gonna have to learn me some socks now...Maybe I'll actually use one of the patterns from my pattern-a-day knitting calendar! For those of you who've seen that thing, there are a multitude of photos of a woman who must have been knitting scarves with her actual hair (pure white or grey), and has gotten herself one of those black 60's beehive wigs for her head. It's a trip!

Here's the Vesper up close.
On another note, have you ever had one of those days where whatever you do, nothing but nothing goes right? First I wake up to find out the Yankees are out of the playoffs, then I found out that I only got 3 picks (out of 15) on the football pool this week - which knocks me down to 4th place (I was winning, dammit!), last, I get yelled at by my boss...which kept me in the office till 7:15. Luckily, Furry got us pizza and Milano cookies. And we ate in bed (again!).

I'll end on this note...at least I'm not trapped in a box like our furry friend Niblet (aka nibbies).

U2 at MSG!!

2005-10-09T00:51:00.000-04:00

Hi kooky kids! There would be NO KNITTING today - I actually had my first *good* experience with ebay, and scored tickets to tonight's U2 show at MSG...There was a special guest star...Mary J. Blige...To be honest, I'm not really sure why she was there, she sang with Bono on "One", but it took her almost half the song to get on key...Here are some really quality pics from my phone:

The setlist, as I was able to capture (feel free to correct me!)

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
All I Want is You
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday (with one of Bono's political rants - this one entitled "Coexist" )
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride: In the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have No Name
One - with Mary J. Blige (with a request to join one.org)

Encore:
For the First Time (Bono/Edge - acoustic)
Wild Horses (acoustic)
With or Without You (2 girls and a guy pulled on stage!)

Double Encore:
All Because of You
Fast Car
Original of the Species
"40"...trail off the stage...

Overall, I thought this was a 180 from a typical U2 show...They started with all the hits and crazy effects, and ended with the new stuff. Honest - it was a great show, but I felt that the end lacked the energy of the beginning. We had a blast though! I'm going to bed now :)

NYS Sheep and Wool is Coming!!!

2005-10-06T17:15:00.000-04:00

It's a crazy day in the knitblogsphere! Everyone's abuzz about Rheinbeck! January One has started a meetup on 10/15, so if you're planning on going, here's the link. I'm dragging my poor mom, since Furry's doing something with his car and a track and high speeds...I don't want to know any more!

So, I've never been to NYSS&W, but I'm very excited to go to the spinning demonstrations. I've never spun nor have I been around anyone who spins, so this ought to be a blast. Plus (I hope) there will be some yummy yarns and roving to drool over...

MMM alpaca...

Oh Vesper, Vesper, Wherefore Art Thou Vesper?

2005-10-04T17:44:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I logged in last night to KnitPixie to check out their stash of "one of a kind yarns", and they had a multitude of colors of that crazy Vesper Self-striping sock yarn...And, as you all know, I'm NOT a sock knitter. But, I've never wanted to try a yarn so badly, so I put a skein in my cart. 400 yards per skein! That's unbelievable. I went on to try and find other yarn options for Colchique, and got sidetracked, never to return to the Vesper until today, when this is what I got when I tried! They're all out! How can they sell out of all this wonderful yarn overnite? I'm so sad. If anyone knows any other website or LYS that sells Vesper, I'm on a mission, and I MUST have it!

Buttons, we've got buttons...

2005-10-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

See sidebar...Maybe it's wishful thinking, but all the cool kids are doing it, and I had to have a button too!!! Actually, the background for the second button is from Mary Stebbins, used with permission of course. Check out her photo blog, it's really awesome!

A new kid on the block...

2005-10-01T10:17:00.000-04:00

I just have to say, with much glee, that my town has opened a new LYS called Modern Yarn!!!How giddy I am like a little school girl! They are open late on Tues and Thurs, and have Sunday hours...Today is the grand opening, but they let us in to browse last night. They have all the stuff I wanted to try - the new DK weight DB alpaca/silk, Frog Tree Alpacas, and some really funky metallic Diaketo merino. Luckily, Furry was wearing his Manly Sweater, so I could gloat about my work in front of newbie-in-town store owners! Yay! NJ girls, see you there!

Applefest this Weekend!

2005-09-30T19:58:00.000-04:00

I have never been happier that it's the weekend. Furry and I are going to Indigo Smoke - NJ's best Kansas City barbeque (huh?) for dinner...and Sunday's Applefest. To top it off, Furry is wearing the Manly Sweater from SnB I made him!

I love fall, couldn't be happier that it's 65 degrees, and can't wait to wear sweaters, jackets and my mini Clapotis pictured here.

I've been a blogging machine - although it's mostly behind the scenes. I added my flickr photoalbum, and today I figured out how to join bloglines.com, but I didn't figure out how to list my blog so others could join...That has something to do with site feed, but help me if I know how that works!

Also, here is some sleeve progress on Blackberry. I haven't gotten far, because I have been working on the NSS Cardi...No progress pics on that, though, since it still doesn't look like much. I haven't gotten to the part where I split the sleeves, and to be honest, I'm not really sure when to do that. I'll just keep trying it on till it fits! Click to enlarge. It's dinner time, check ya later!

French? What am I thinking?

2005-09-27T19:08:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I'm madly in love with Phildar patterns...I just joined the Colchique knitalong for this lovely sweater...unfortunately, the pattern is in French! Luckily, there are a bunch of French-speaking knitters who kindly offered to help out for those of us who are lingually challenged! I also ordered this Phildar book from Knit n Tyme for the sweater on the left of the spread (and many many other wonderful creations! Oh, did I mention, this one is...ALSO in FRENCH!!! To add to the craziness, do you see my sidebar of pending projects? I have knitting ADD! I am now up to 99% complete with Clapotis, she just needs end weaving and a bit of blocking. For anyone who has completed Le Clappy, did you steam or wet block this lady?

Lukily, I'm obsessed with knitting. I'll say it again. I'm OBSESSED!!!

Ice cream anyone?

2005-09-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I missed this one! This truck crashed into the train trestle about 2 blocks from my house on Monday...lucky kids! Don't truck drivers know their own height? I hear this has happened here before. I have to thank The Barista for this one, and all my local news!

EDIT: Progress Bars are up!!! YAY!

The Clap and the Cardigan

2005-09-23T14:33:00.000-04:00

I took a vacation (knitting) day today, since our presentation went really well on Wednesday! We actually got feedback DURING the presentation, and we have some new projects for '06 we can start now. It feels really good to be done with the planning process, whew!

First thing today, I ordered the first little surprise for my secret pal - these stitch markers from Zephyr Style! Aren't those sheep cute? They even customize one for you, so I added her blog name (which will remain anonymous....in case she figures me out!) I still haven't heard from my secret pal, but I hear she's trying to contact me...If you're out there, secret pal, leave a comment here!

In my crazy yarn spree, I picked up some Diakeito diamusee in this funky rainbowy colorway. What else to use it for other than the famous Clapotis? (Does it even need the link?) I wanted mine to be more of a scarf than a shawl, so I only increased to half the total width. I'm about 2/3 of the way done now (ok I used 2 of the 3 balls...).

Click to enlarge either image:

Anyone know how to put up those rockin progress bars? I just started working on the NSS Cardigan from Knit and Tonic, and here are some progress shots. I'm using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino. It's so soft, and already I can tell it's going to be really drapey...surprisingly I got gague on 6's, so I didn't have to make any mods to the pattern, although I think I'm going to make it a bit longer than waist length because my waist = a waste.

When I was 10, my parents and I went to a party at my mom's cousin's house, and all their kids are way older than me (in fact everyone in my family is!). I was always a pretty loud kid, and spoke without thinking first. True to form, this day was no different. Trying to get everyone to notice me, I started in on my dad...who was eating everything in sight, and wearing a too-tight zip up cardigan...I yelled out across the pool table, expecting a chuckle from the crowd, "hey dad, you know in that sweater you have no waist!" My dad, always quick with the retort, yells back, "You're a waste!"...Everyone holding their beers cracked up. Embarrassed, I didn't open my mouth the rest of the day! So, here is the first teeny bit of the cardigan, I hope (thanks to Wendy) will never, ever be too tight on the waist.

For all of you in Texas, Louisiana or anywhere else in Rita's path, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Who is my secret pal?

2005-09-20T19:29:00.000-04:00

Who can it be???

Hello whoever you are :)

Work sucks. Presentation tomorrow. Blog more later.

Cheers.

Cooking up some stash...and kitties!

2005-09-16T19:13:00.000-04:00

So, after the camping trip where my father in law covered his face with marhmallows and chocolate from the s'mores I was ordered to make, I rewarded myself with a little yarn! The cats couldn't resist getting near the soft alpacas and chunky cashmere blends...either that or they like to pose for the camera...

The purple debbie bliss is for Blackberry, the winter white Polar is for the illustrious Ferragamo bag, the alpaca is for a scarf for the DH and the rest which you can't really see is for....well, I don't know!

I bought the pattern for Knit and Tonic's Not So Shrunken Cardigan...Not sure what yarn to use for this one yet...But here's a FO! Candy! I have to sew on the buttons, and she's fini!

Off going clothes shopping! Have a great weekend :)

Just in time for camping...

2005-09-09T15:15:00.000-04:00

Fall knitty is up!!

Even though there is a birthday party and a Street Fair in Nyack, I am being forced to go camping this weekend. Therefore I MUST have a new project to work on. Maybe Flora, or Ella, or Arisaig...

My LYS is having a fall preview and sale on Sunday, so I better figure it out...

Secret Pal 6!!!

2005-09-09T14:10:00.000-04:00

It's about time I found out about a Secret Pal before the end of the signup period! Here's my questionnaire:

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?
I enjoy working with higher quality, natural fiber yarn like Rowan or Debbie Bliss when I have a project in mind, but I will stock up on the cheap stuff like Caron Simply soft for projects I design myself.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I have not spun anything to date…just spiderwebs. I learned crocheting a few weeks ago, and look forward to learning mad skills.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I HATE the smell of leftover cigarette smoke. I am not allergic, but it’s gross on clothes.

4. How long have you been knitting?
About a year – I learn new techniques very quickly.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have one on Froogle…But it’s not really all-inclusive yet!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
MMMM…vanilla, lilac, and pumpkin. But not all three at once.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
The sweeter the better! I also have a chocolate tooth, and a cinnamon tooth. But not a ranch tooth. Ranch!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I have a quilt in my closet that my mother started when I was born and never finished. I took it over last year, but I don’t have a sewing machine, so it’s slow going. I also cross-stitch and love making my own paper products, invitations and magnets.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Unfortunately, I’m a lazy CD buyer, and my CD collection hasn’t changed much since 1996. BUT…I do love the kind of music from the Garden State and the new Six Feet Under soundtracks (what genre is that?) I take my iPod on the plane and play Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, etc.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love mixing all shades of cool colors, deep blues, turquoise, purples and greens. I don’t like green, brown and orange together. Reminds me of the mural on the ceiling in my bedroom growing up – how 70’s!

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with 2 furbabies (kitties), Buster and Niblet.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
This is a tough one. I want to travel, dream to own my own home, be satisfied with my career, and stay madly in love with my husband.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Debbie Bliss alpaca silk. I hear she has a new DK weight, which I’m going to try. I also love all Rowan and Karabella yarns.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I hate itchy, bulky wool. I couldn’t wear an itchy sweater or scarf, so I won’t knit with it for anyone.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Although it’s not knitting, I’m obsessed with learning to crochet! I am dying to make the Ferragamo bag see below…

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Raglan sweaters. Top down or bottom up, I love knitting in the round.

17. What are you knitting right now?
I’ve been working on Orangina since April…It’s always on the back burner. I finished a bunch of things this week, so it’s time for a new project. I'm also trying to convert the Lucky Clover Wrap from SnBN to a non-lace pattern for the same reason...lace takes forever. Especially with Rowan 4-ply!

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I knit one, and I liked it last year, but I think this is the year for the shawl collar rather than the poncho.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular. Even for back and forth projects.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the yarn. I have both bamboo and aluminum. I’m dying to try the Addi turbos. I think I knit too slowly, and if they’ll help me speed things up, I’m game!

21. Are you a sock knitter?
No. I hate needles (especially DPNs) under size 5. I only use them for finishing hats and sleeves. But I’d give ‘em a try if I can get a hold of some self striping yarn (but not the fair isle kind).

22. How did you learn to knit?
Mostly, I taught myself. I did take a class, but I didn’t learn much other than the good restaurants in my area!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Orangina…UFO since April.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
This is such a weird question…nothing I’d want tattooed on my body...Probably Stewie from Family Guy...

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving! I love to host it – my mother or MIL makes the turkey, and I supply all the sides and desserts! Yum!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Can’t think of anything. I like to use things, then throw them out. Although the collection of purses in my closet doesn’t seem to get any smaller…

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits currently.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
It’s not really a book, but I’m dying to pick up the past few issues of Rowan.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Rogue, Angelina from White Lies Designs, and the good ol' Ribby Cardi to name a few...

ETA: 30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
I wear a size 8 shoe...but I don't know what that translates to in sock land...I don't really have a sock fetish...It's still summer, and apart from the camping trip, I haven't worn socks since it was boot weather. And, well, you can't really see socks under boots, SO...I guess what I'm trying to say is, as long as they don't have holes in the toes I guess I like them ;)

Crocheting on the Beach

2005-09-05T13:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went to Spring Lake for the last time this summer (boo hoo). While the boys played on their boogie boards (yes, they're all adults!), I sat in my beach chair and taught myself the basics of single crochet, increase and decrease. Here are the results.

It's not quite the Ferragamo bag I wish to accomplish, but, hey, ya gotta start somewhere, right?

What's next? Ordering handles from M&J Trimming!

What a day for a FO!

2005-09-04T01:10:00.000-04:00

It's time! I finished something...The Urban Outfitters circular shrug is done! Doesn't it look like the real thing? Except the photo has that horrible camera-in-the-shot thing, proving how unprofessional my photoshoots are...And you think that since I work in advertising, I could hire an art director to pose me and a photographer to shoot this for free...maybe even hire a skinnier model. Nah. It's 1am on a Saturday. Furry is out with the boys and the cats don't have thumbs. Therefore, it's just me, the camera and the mirror. Whadda ya think?

Project: UO FO
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Soft Blue
Needles: 29" #9 circular
Date started: 8/8 (ish)
Date completed: 9/3

Here are some progress shots:
Finished but unseamed...

Seamed and mighty circular!

My first post!

2005-08-31T22:32:00.000-04:00

Wow. I have finally joined the blogging generation...I feel so cool now, it's unbelievable. I'm patiently working on a new knitting project, and it doesn't have a name...but it's based on this sweater/shrug from Urban Outfitters. I've spent all of $4 on yarn, so if it comes out ok, I may actually buy some more expensive merino (Debbie Bliss cashmerino chunky?) for a more wintery version...Keep you posted!

I'm teaching myself how to crochet this week...in the hopes of creating a stellar knockoff of this bag by Ferragamo. Who's with me!?