Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I'm still here - are you?

Ugh - it's rough starting a new job.  You never know what to expect (lack of computer access, orientation, impromptu training, traffic) and there's always an adjustment time.  So far, though, so good.  I'm still working on a schedule, and hopefully things will get back to normal.

Oatmeal is still in progress.  I was so good - I did all the math, calculated everything, figured out all the rows and number of stitches for short rows and increases and decreases...and then I put in the short rows on the back.  It's actually quite humorous, and as soon as I can, I'll take a picture of my backwards sweater.  But at least it's not too big under the arms anymore!  I would just go on with it, but unfortunately, the back is higher at the neck than the front, and it's just not feasible.  *sigh* Once more with feeling.
From this...

To this...
 My skirt is STILL not hemmed.  I was planning on having hubby help with that, and with the last job ending and the new one beginning, I just haven't had the energy.  Soon though, and I hope to add another sewing project or two to the list.

Still just pinned
Gemini is still waiting for me to frog her and restart.  Dang not starting with a GAUGE SWATCH.  

Gemini by Jane Richmond

I still want to get to my Owls sweater.  The buttons and the yarn are waiting for me, BUT, I want to finish Oatmeal first and at least take out some of Gemini.  I may wait until this summer to make Owls (like during the Luvinthemommyhood Summer Sweater Knit-a-long).  And yes, Virginia, there really will be a gauge swatch.
Owls by Kate Davies
 Of course, since the large projects aren't going so well, I of course started another project.  I found a cute pattern I had from Ysolda Teague, and after a long weekend with my family, I couldn't resist.

Mousie by Ysolda Teague
Mine is brown, but I'm thinking of making a grey one as well for my new desk.  My new desk is lovely and large and now clean (since I had no computer access yesterday, I cleaned and set up a few things).  I have lots of desktop space, and I'm thinking of a lovely Zen-type place on it where I can keep all kinds of happy things.  This mouse would be one of them.  Don't you think?  So, what's on your desk?  Is it cluttered over with paper (like mine used to be), or do you have a nice clean desk?  What are some of your favorite things to gaze at on it for inspiration?

Monday, February 18, 2013

All I wanted was a hem and Winner(s)

Okay, so I got my skirt ready to hem.  Not a big deal, except that I can't duplicate myself, stand on a chair, and hem it.  I asked my mom, seamstress extraordinaire to help, and she offered some advice. The advice was helpful, but it would have been much more helpful if she had actually pinned it up for me.  Perhaps I wasn't clear.  So, I took it to Knit Night, since there are several women there who sew.  I thought SURELY I could find someone to help me pin it.  This is what I got:


 I know it's hard to see, so here's a close-up:


Not exactly the most helpful yet again.  What I had hoped was that someone would turn up the selvedge edge (the bottom) and pin the top of that edge to the skirt so that the bottom folded edge would be the hem and it would hit where I wanted it.  No such luck.  Instead, I get someone who rambles on about how big of a difference it is between the front and the back (I have a big behind - I get it, I'm a big girl - I'm big all over; why would my rear be any different than the rest of me?!) and that I need a chalk line thing (she didn't even know the word for it) to mark it.  Is this a seriously hard concept to get?  All I wanted was someone to pin the skirt.  Really - that was it.  I thanked her (like a good Southerner), took the skirt home, and complained to my husband (like a good Southerner).

In other news, here is what Oatmeal looked like:




Sorry, the bathroom at home is limited in mirror space.  I know I'm a big girl, but it was a little TOO big.  I seem to have problems making sweaters for myself.  I think it's because I'm in too big of a hurry, and I'm not paying attention.  Skelf was a little different, and requires more tweaking than re-writing.  So now, my Oatmeal looks like this:

I did some math, and broke out my trusty TI-83 calculator from high school.  Yes, I still have a graphing calculator, and yes, I used it in high school.  I know I'm a nerd. :)

For the contest (I know that's really why everyone is reading this - to find out if they won), you're going to have to wait to find out what's happening.  I think I have figured out that the mystery ball is actually Patons Roving.  In any case, I'm going to make BOTH ladies who commented the winners!  Please contact me Molly and Brittni, (l r n b r o w n AT gmail DOT com - obviously with the spaces removed and the AT and DOT, well, you know) and we'll get the prizes settled!  Yay!  Winners!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Here are a few things that make me happy:

The Smell of Wool

Alpacas!  Need I say more?

My Little Man

My Princess

A Sweater...

In Progress!

Monday, February 11, 2013

A week in pictures

So, I can tell you that I did not take one of these each day - there were a couple of days when I didn't take any, and some days when I took more than one.  But, I'm learning more about good photos.  At least I think I am.

Homemade Bread

Treasures from Knit Night

Breakfast - yum!

A great goal for all mothers and wives

My precious Little Man

Would you believe - yarn? :)

Saturday's Lunch - homemade lasagna

Dessert for Valentine's Day
I have been knitting, and crocheting, but I'm having such fun playing around with some other pictures, I have been lazy and haven't taken any of the work I've been doing.  I've also been extremely tired, and trying to wrap up my current job so I can start my new one on the 25th.  It sounds easy enough, but I have lots of training to do, and even though this place has not been my favorite, I have learned several things from there.  One of the big ones is how to pull a lot of stuff from a lot of different places together and clean it up and streamline it.  But enough about that, here are my goals for this coming month:

  1. Finish my Oatmeal Sweater.  I have a good start on it, and I just need to keep going.  I added several inches (negative ease is NOT my friend) and so I want it to be a big comfy sweater.  
  2. Finish my simple skirt.  My mom suggested cutting off 6 inches, then turning it up about 6 more, to see if that's where I really want it, and then cutting off another 5, and adding a 2 inch hem.  I'm just not happy with that solution.  I think tomorrow night, it's going over to Sew Main Street with me, and I'm going to see if one of the lovely ladies there will help me tack it up so it will be even and I'll know where to cut it.
  3. Work on my sporran for my spoilee in the Outlander group on Ravelry.  I have some ideas for her; I just need to get them all together and pack them up.
  4. File our taxes.  It's not like we're going to owe - I'm just lazy.  I always think it's going to take more time than it actually does.  It never really takes me long and yet I always delay it.  It's not like I don't like to do it either - I actually like filling in all the blanks and filing.  I'm just lazy.
  5. Finish my purse, and possibly start another.  I really just want to sew some more, and I have a couple of embroidery items to make.  I'm trying to be as fearless in sewing as I am in knitting and crocheting.  I'm just not there yet.
I think for the next month, that's enough goals.  What are your goals?  Have anything you're working towards?  This is the year for change, so let's make it positive change!

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Too many loose ends

So, here's the past 3 days in pictures.

Feb. 1: Skelf Sweater - still not happy with the fit.

Feb. 1: Finished the Gemini body, but it's too short.  Gotta rip back and lengthen it.

Feb. 2: Beautiful Princess 

Feb. 3: It's cold outside

Feb. 3: So cold, but we're having having fun inside.

Feb. 3: Spending time with family is the best.
So, as you can see, so far, so good on taking pictures every day.  I have found that swatching and measuring are essential to a good fit for sweaters.  You read it, you know it, and you know you should, and yet, somehow it gets turned off in your head when you start to knit a sweater.  If you are delusional about your size, that doesn't help either.  Measure yourself.  I don't care if you just made something and it fit; measure yourself again.

In other news, I start my new job on the 25th.  It's a ways away, but it helps me wrap things up for the next person.  I'm being extraordinarily nice, for multiple reasons.  I know that no one at my office knows what I do, and they don't realize the extent of my duties.  They will once I leave.  I really do want to make the transition for them easier, but they will only let it be so easy.

My back has been playing tricks on me - it's been going out the past 3-4 days.  That makes it difficult to do much of anything, but I am still finishing my simple skirt.  I now have to hem it, and I think I can get some help with that at my local fabric shop.  I've gone right off one of the big box stores, because their sales aren't that great and their coupons have too many exclusions.  You say 40% off anything not on sale, but not on Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z products.  Then why not just say it's a 40% off coupon on J, K, L, M, N, O, and P products, since A-I are on sale?  Too many exceptions to the coupon, and when it's only $1 off per yard, that's not that great of a sale.  I'd rather wait until it's not on sale then use my 40% off coupon.  But I digress.  I spend more time and money at a smaller chain store and my LYS and LFS if I want something crafty.

Don't forget about the giveaway here.  I also have taxes to do, a sporran to fill and send to a spoilee from Ravelry (Outlander group fun!) and Downton Abbey to watch.  What have you been doing?  Anything fun?