Waiting on Wal-Mart

I'm waiting on Wal-Mart for my pictures. Their one hour photo isn't exactly one hour...more like 4 hours. There was also a roll I had to send off, so I'm waiting to get it back as well. The elephant for my friend's lovely son is almost done...he just needs a trunk. There will be pictures.

Oh, good news! First, our building doesn't have to re-piped after all. That means no moving the whole apartment upside down for 3 days. Second, hubby's power supply finally arrived. Here's a side note: DON'T use UPS to send packages. They suck. Long story short- hubby had to go to the distribution center to get it and waited for 2 hours. They never came by our place. Hopefully, pictures can go up at home instead of work now. I haven't ordered a new computer yet. I should, but I'm waiting. On what, I'm not sure, other than money.

Another week down...

Man! What a week. I went from being not busy at all to pretty busy at work, and here I am at not very busy at all again. I found out Tuesday night, after I posted, that a friend of mine was induced yesterday (Thursday). You know what that means! Socks go on the back burner, and baby stuff comes to the front! I'm working on an adorable elephant for her son, and he'll get a sweater and afghan like his sister did too. I have to get the yarn for his afghan, but I have the yarn for everything else. I usually crochet baby items for friends, and knit for myself and family. I don't know that I've ever knit anything for anyone else. Wait...I have...Cigar gloves for my brother and an afghan for my grandmother. Whatever I make I usually do give away to family or friends. I have found that it's rare a friend who truly appreciates the handmade items a crafter can provide. They're not usually that expensive (depending on the yarn of course) and they take more time than anything. People don't appreciate time like they used to. If it doesn't come from a store, they don't really understand it.

Someone asked about the $250 computer...try www.tigerdirect.com. It's good to know people in the IT world who shop frequently for new stuff, or refurbished stuff.

I have pictures to take to Wal-Mart this weekend...maybe I'll be able to post some of them!

As promised...

More pictures!!!!

Here's the finished sock...I'm not happy with the toe grafting, but I'm going to leave it and do the second one the same way. Why, you ask, would someone who is a perfectionist leave something they don't like? Well, one, I'm tired of messing with this sock, particularly the toe part (I had to graft that sucker 3 times!) and two, I've already started on the second one...see?

That was this morning's progress...there's about another half inch to three-quarters added, since I worked on it during lunch. My goal is to finish it this week...I would like to be working on it through Saturday, and then finish it and start on another project. And I have oh, so many! I'm going to start on my purple sweater...the one I completed and then took out. I didn't take any pictures of it, but I can assure you I will this time! I'm trying to complete one project a month, give or take. January's project is socks; February's will be that sweater, and I also have a baby blanket to do in February. If the sweater goes into March, that's ok. I should still be able to finish it before the weather heats up too much to wear it (it's acrylic and it gets uber hot). I put all the projects on my Palm Pilot (I'm being very digital these days - go figure) and I have them through May, I believe. There might be several more pairs of socks done this year. I have a skein of Magic Stripes that needs knitting, and oh! There's also a pair of kid socks in my future! I bought a one skein-er at a LYS, and thought I'd do anklet socks with it! I hope there's enough. If not, I might do something funky with it, but what I haven't decided. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Well, I should go clean now...besides, this computer's uber slow. I found a great one for $250; I just don't have $250 right now. Someone want to give me $250 for a new computer?! I'll be more than happy to take your money! =0) Just kidding! In a couple of months (or sooner I hope) I'll be able to order it. It just takes some time (and not traveling). I don't think people realize how much money it takes to travel around here. Gas is so expensive, and so is food. Oh well...hopefully another progress report tomorrow (with pictures)!

One down...

and one to go! I completed the first sock this afternoon during lunch. I was hoping to finish it over the weekend, but found it was too long, so I had to do some reconstructive surgery on it. When I tried to put the stitches back on the US3 needles, it didn't want to go. Since I was in Birmingham visiting friends, I had to wait to come home and get my US2's. The stitches went on easily today, and I used grafting to sew up the toes. I don't think I like it, but it was a good beginning for me. The grafting takes a lot of concentration though...NEVER attempt grafting while watching a movie you haven't seen before. You lose your place a lot.

Someone asked what yarn I was using for my socks...it's Fortissima Colori Socka Color. I think it's in color # 9074, and to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't have chosen that color for myself (a secret pal sent it to me) but I LOVE it. The more I see it, the better I like it. I have found that when other people choose things for me, they hardly ever pick out something that I would (sometimes I'm just too practical) and I usually love it. The yarn is 75% wool, and 25% polyamide (whatever that is). I think they'll be lovely and warm.

I'm hoping to post some pictures tomorrow; long story short, I have to be careful what I do at work now, and so I'll have to take pictures at home, load them on the computer at work (since this one won't handle it, I think) and then email them to myself, check email at home, and post from here. It'll only be until I get a new computer (that's in the works...I found a good deal and just need to order it).

I found it!!!!

I found the digital camera on Wednesday night...yay me! It was hiding in a bag that was in a bag in my closet (I have weird ways of carrying things and putting things away sometimes). But, I have this:

This is my first sock attempt ever! Woot! But wait, there's more...

And here's the other skein for the second sock by itself....

I found that the second skein starts differently, so I'm waiting to finish this first one to see how much is left over. The good news is, the pictures are what the sock looked like Wednesday night...I started the toe shaping last night, so I can definitely have the first one done by tonight (since I have a 3 hour road trip ahead of me, and I think I can catch enough daylight to finish it). If I can borrow a computer at our friends' house, I might upload more pics there of the finished sock! Woot! I'm all kinds of excited. I'm even thinking of joining a Sockapoloooza! Woot! =0)

Making progress...

on socks at least. I have about half the foot done on the first one. I spent two hours watching American Idol and knitting. Tonight I'm tearing apart the apartment looking for our digital camera. My hubby is convinced that it's there...I'm not so sure. However, I will scavange the whole place tonight. I'm really stressing over this whole camera thing. I hope and pray that it will turn up.

As for the socks, they are going well. Last night I had to tink them a little...I found some places where I didn't quite catch all the yarn and there was a little snag. I took that stitch off the needles (making sure the other stitches didn't fall off!) and removed all the stitches down to where it wasn't completely caught. Then I took a crochet hook and put the stitches back up the rows. I'm running to the store at lunch, so I'll pick up a disposable camera, in case I can't find the digital one tonight, and take pictures. I should be able to get them developed over the weekend, and I can post some pictures on Monday.

Failing miserably

But at least I tried. I was trying to get the buttons to appear for Southern Bloggers and for Knitting Blogs, but I can't get the code right. If anyone knows how, and would care to share their HTML wisdom with me, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, then I'm bound to what I can scavenge from the net and various and sundry books. Until then, it'll just have to be as is. Maybe this weekend I can pry some HTML knowledge out of one of our friends.

I'm still working on the socks, and not making a whole lot of progress. By this weekend, I would love to finish the first sock, and maybe find the digital camera that has been lost in the sea of holidays and post a picture. Yet one more promise of pictures...one that is close to being fulfilled, but something always manages to go awry. IF I find the camera, pictures WILL go up! If I can't, then I'll pull out an old school camera and take pictures...soon.

Playing around

I'm not sure if this will work, but I'll give it a whirl. I'm trying to fix oh so many things here, and if it fails miserably, well, at least I tried.

Problems solved...almost

Here were the problems I was facing:

1. Large quantity of mohair (in a mauvy color); had originally been knit into a sweater, but was itchy and required another top underneath (it was hot enough on it's own, not to mention the shedding).

2. Bag of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino; had been bought for a wide neck sweater; however, it was discovered that this style didn't work well for me.

3. 3 skeins of eyelash yarn

4. 3 more skeins of mohair (cream and peach varigated)

Here are the solutions I have come up with:

1. New sweater, combining with lovely shade of brown wool (Wool of the Andes in Maple Syrup from Knit Picks). Possible Grecian Plait pattern for mohair; or combine yarns for entire sweater. Haven't completed all the details yet.

2. Since I doubt I can get the same dye lot in the same color, I decided to mix it with some other colors, and make an argyle sweater. I think with color 601 from Debbie Bliss, I can either go with spring colors or fall colors. I was first thinking about using Asparagus, Honey, and Petal from Knit Picks Merino Style to go with it, but now I'm thinking perhaps Moss, Butternut and Maple Leaf.

3. I still have no idea what to do with these 3 skeins. I have thought about combining them as well with something else, but what I have no idea.

4. I was originally going to make some Moebius scarves with them, but I've been considering combining them with something else as well.

I guess it looks like an advertisement for Knit Picks around here, doesn't it?! I guess since I'm on a budget, I'd like to get good quality at a good price. As nice as it would be to afford more expensive brands, I just don't have the budget for it. I figure I should get the biggest bang for my buck, and most other yarn suppliers just aren't that great of a deal. I know Knit Picks' quality is good (at least what I've seen and used) and they are cheap. They allow me to be a yarn snob without the budget. =0) Score one for the champagne tastes on a beer budget.

If anyone has any suggestions at all for anything, please leave a comment! I can always use an opinion!

Friday the 13th

Most people are superstitious when it comes to a Friday that's the 13th. I say, bring it on. Granted, I'm saying that as I have to constantly move my neck that's sore and stiff from knitting on the couch while watching the tube. At least that's what I think it's from.

I decided not to knit last night, since after cleaning the kitchen my neck started cramping. Of course, had it not hurt so terribly bad I probably could have convinced myself to knit anyway, as it would HELP my neck (there's a sucker born every minute, and it's sad when you consider yourself one). It's no worse than it was yesterday, but no better either. I can keep moving it and stretching it, and that makes it a little better. It's when I stop moving it that it gets stiff and really hurts when I try to move it. I'm sure people at work think I'm suffering from some weird affliction since I'm typing and wobbling my head around.

I'm still a little upset about my sock. I hate that I had to frog almost 4 inches worth of good quality work. But, maybe I can work on it some during lunch. I know, with a stiff neck? Sure, why not? It'll help it. =0)

Sock Issues

I thought I was almost done with sock number 1, only to discover after a stitch count that I hadn't decreased enough. Perfectionism set in (it is after all my first pair...they should be good, especially since they're one of the few projects for myself) and I took out about 4 inches worth! I did read my pattern and realized where I went wrong, and got ahead of myself. I had about 6 stitches too many, and I can fix that in another 6 rows. Maybe I'll finish this sock and the next one before March, but I wouldn't count on it. I do'nt know why it seems that I'm so slow with these. The Cigar gloves I knit for my brother seemed to go faster. Of course, I also worked longer on them in a sitting I think. I did spend a good bit of time knitting on the sock on Saturday. I think I'm going to sit down and read a little tonight, and then get cracking on the sock. I'm reading one of my Christmas gifts:

I love his work. I also received Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire. I need to finish Wicked before starting that though. I'm massively behind where I'd like to be in reading and in knitting, but I'll catch up. My goal this year is to finish stuff I've started. If I can just finish things (like a sock and a book) then I'll make progress and be moving forward. I guess that's really my goal...to move forward. I could say I'd like to lose weight, knit more, read more, blog more, but what it really all comes down to is moving forward.

I'm already moving forward by finishing this book (a week or so ago):

I love the series Outlander. There are lots of books to read at home, and being a bibliophile means there will always be another purchase. Of course, since my hubby is a bibliophile as well, we have a HUGE library. And it continues to grow. Hubby was working on the card catalog (not through the Dewey Decimal system, just by author) and it has expanded to three boxes, and it looks like we need another one.

I taught my brother to knit late last year (in October I think) and he's doing well. He's bought some really nice yarn (much nicer than what's in my stash) and some really nice knitting accessories, like this. It must be nice...but I have a hubby to support. In any case, he wants to start on some sweaters and socks this year, one of which being a cardigan from My Fair Lady. In case you haven't seen the movie (what's wrong with you?!), rent it and it's the cardigan Higgins wears after Eliza leaves. It's a camel color, and there's no band at the bottom. My brother has specifically bought the movie for this purpose...to deconstruct the sweater and replicate it with my help. Being the wonderful brother that he is, and having few financial responsibilities, he paid for my attendance to a class in March with...Annie Modesitt! It's very exciting, since I made the Backyard Leaves scarf from Scarf Style that was designed by her.

More good news...my computer is now connected to the internet at home! Woot! Maybe I can find a port on the back and connect my digital camera up, and then take pictures! That would definitely be exciting. Now, where did I put that camera?

Issues with set-up

I am having a few issues with some of my settings. I need to find the right links for the icons for Southern Knit Bloggers and for Knitting Blogs. For some reason, the links in the code don't work. Go figure. That requires MUCH more Html code than I know...which is none. I guess I should mess with it more and see what happens, but I'm at work, and that could get ugly. Although, I don't really think they care what I do just as long as everything gets done timely. It's now into my monthly lull, where I have virtually nothing to do unless they give me a special project.

On the knitting front, I can see my sock almost finished. I have about half of the foot knit, so it's just to complete the foot and then do the toe, bind off, and I will have finished my first sock (and it's about bloody time too). Then I just have to do it all over again. Maybe the second one will go faster, since I know more of what to expect. That's my hope anyways.

I have decided to try and find either a matching color or complementary color for the mohair. It's an odd shade of mauve that's near impossible to match, but I figure if all else fails, I can use a cream color to soften it. There's going to be a BIG order placed when I get to that stage. I still have to decide if I want to attempt the Lacy Mohair sweater from the Knit Simple magazine or not.

I'm coordinating a Secret Pal exchange on the Ample Knitters' list with at least one other person. That should be fun...as long as we can get stuff together. I hope that by the end of the week we'll have all the details ironed out about the exact method of operation and I can email the AK list. Once that's done, I hope within another week to have people paired off and get started. It sounds like a lot of work, but I'm not doing much around here, and I should have something to fill my time.

Socks, socks and more socks!

Well, I'm not done with them, but I've made good progress on one. I spent most of the weekend knitting the one unfinished lone sock I have. It fits too. I know that statement sounds odd, but I was at first afraid if I followed the pattern that they would be too small (I have large feet - we're talking a size 10-11 here people) and so I increased the size according to the gauge and prayed they would fit. Now that I've completed the heel (and a lovely heel it is too, if I do say so myself) and I'm working on the actual foot part, I decided on Saturday to try it on (provided that I wouldn't lose any stitches off the needles). I did, and oh, was it ever comfy! I can't wait to wear my crazy stripe socks.

I finished frogging the lovely purple sweater. Not the mohair, but the other one. It's sitting waiting on me to cast on and start a new lovely sweater with it. I think I've decided on a pattern; it will be one of my own creation, and it will look good on me. I will most definitely write it down as I go, and perhaps even submit it to a magazine somewhere. I also have to frog the mohair sweater and I'm going to attempt a pattern in the new Knit Simple magazine. I have to upsize it first, and then I have to consider my options for the other yarns, if I decide to go that route. I might use something else to soften it, and make it more substantial (so I don't have to wear something under it).

Over the New Year holiday, I knit up this. I used some leftover Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks, in Evergreen. It's a great way to use up leftovers. There's more planning, and hopefully once we stop having computer issues at home (power supplies seem to be hte main culprit) I can post some pictures.

Brilliant Ideas

I have just had two major break-throughs in knitwear design.

First, a sweater gone wrong...I tried to wear the Soft Focus sweater from an old book, and it just wasn't working for me. I made the sweater by the pattern (a first for me, since I always wind up modifying it for some reason or another) and it worked, but it wasn't the best style for me. Since I made it, and it wasn't very flattering (note to self: boatneck sweaters don't look good on EVERYONE), I decided I could modify the neckline slightly, so it wouldn't be so open and causing bra-strap issues. Once I did that, the neckline then proceeded to thank me by strangling me. It was not happy. It is now in the frog pond. Luckily, my crafty brain refused to give up on the warm and soft sweater...and now, after it is frogged (frogging still not complete), it will have new life as a lovely sweater with a crew neck (more flattering to me, although V-neck would be best...the details of the sweater haven't been fully decided yet).

Second, TONS of leftover yarn from various and sundry projects. I will make an afghan; one to use in the living room with the couch that should be replaced this year (hopefully). I think I'm going to go with a miter-square pattern for it, and then sew the squares together. Either that, or I'll be doing just a striped pattern. I'm leaning mroe towards the mitered square concept.

Third problem without a solution currently: the mohair sweater. I haven't figured out yet what to do with this, but it needs to be frogged and possibly worked into something like the lacy pullover in the Knit Simple magazine. It looks lovely, and simple, but it will give all that yarn something to do.

Fourth problem: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino bag. I have approximately 10 lovely skeins, and I was going to do a sweater, one with a boat neck, but after the Soft Focus fiasco, it would be better served doing something else. I haven't quite thought of what yet, but there's still time.

I have other small stash yarns, and most of those will get used up in lovely scarves, shawls, or wraps. I also think I might have solved my problem of the 3 eyelash skeins! A swatch is needed to determine if the solution will truly work.

Oh, more big news! I finally have a computer that can handle the software for the digital camera, and the software and correct cord for said camera is now in my possession. Hopefully, this will mean pictures soon! I know...I keep promising, but hey, I can only do so much, because believe it or not, I AM only human!

I love this time of year

New Years are great. It's a time for a fresh start, a new beginning. This promises to be a great year.

This year will be a great year for knitting. There are already some projects forming in my head, and hopefully I can put them into action before the year gets too far gone. I'm planning to use up my stash and replace it with yummy stuff (KnitPicks here I come!).

I have to buy some yarn for a friend...she's having a boy, who undoubtedly needs his own blanket, since I made one for his sister. I'm trying to decide between green and blue, and I'm thinking green, just simply because blue is so overly done on little boys. His sister got a really cool afghan, the Baby I.Q. afghan. Sure, it's crocheted, but it was cool to do, and easy. Of course, doing 16 granny squares does kind of wear you out a little, and you get tired of doing them, but it was really cool once it was all put together. I think her little brother needs an elephant, and maybe a cool sweater as well. However, she STILL can't fit into hers, and I used the 12 month size. She'll be 2 in April. Oh well...I guess the pattern was a little big. At least she can wear it later.

Cool reads

I went to Borders yesterday, and picked up a couple of knitting magazines. I could have spent a fortune just on those, but hey, I had other things to buy. I picked up this one, since it was the men's issue and my brother is into knitting now too. The articles were interesting, and I liked some of the designs for the sweaters. Most of it was men's wear, but that's ok...what woman doesn't like curling up in an oversized sweater on a cold day?! Sometimes having something huge makes you feel amazing. I liked some of the ideas as well. I think it has good potential for future work.

Then I was looking through the rack and saw this new one and there was an article about knits for plus sizes. That definitely caught my eye. I picked it up and flipped through it quickly, and just bought it. I'm hoping to write the editors and let them know WHY I purchased it, and perhaps they can do something about the lack of plus sized patterns in the knitting magazines. It might only be one voice, but better one than none. Who knows what might happen? They might do a spin off and make all the patterns in it for plus sizes. One can always hope.

I guess I'm gearing up for the new year. Last night we saw this:

It was good...really good. It was a good re-make, and although I haven't seen the original, I really did enjoy it. It was like a cross between the squeaky-clean movies of the 1930's and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The only drawback was there was someone who added some ambience through smell. Smell-o-vision would be great for cooking shows, but not for gorilla movies.

Woot for Christmas!

Well, Christmas was nice. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to, but Christmas still turned out nicely. I am hoping to knit more this year, and make presents for everyone for Christmas. I like doing handmade gifts, if for no other reasons than 1) they are generally cheaper and 2) they are more personal. I have some really hard people to buy gifts for...what do you get a retired person who has everything they need and most of what they want? For some people, the gifts are easy...sometimes they even provide a list.

This next year, my goals are going to be to reduce my stash and get through at least level one of the master hand knitter's course. There are some things I'd love to make just for Christmas, and hopefully I will make those as well. Then there are projects that are stacking up faster than I can knit them. I'm hoping that one of these days I'll have a good balance between stash and projects. Right now, all the projects I'd like to do I don't have the yarn for, and what I do have the yarn for I don't really want to do. Sad, isn't it?! Maybe I can fix that this year, and focus on what I have, find projects for that, and then the projects that I'd like to do slowly work towards getting the yarn for that. At some point, I need to see what projects I have started and where they need to go (finish them or frog pond?). There are also things in the frog pond that need frogging...maybe this week I can frog stuff. Keep your fingers crossed.

Time is all I need...

Just time. I wish I had more...I wanted to make some Christmas gifts. Oh well...I'll plan for next year. Maybe everyone will get socks. Everyone wears socks. Handmade socks all around...just what next year's Christmas ordered. Of course, that would mean I'd have to do at least one pair a month, and I haven't even finished the first one of mine yet! Oh well...maybe 2 at a time? I'm hoping to get some needles so I can do 2 socks on 2 circulars. Then we'll see how fast they go.

Patterns, patterns, everywhere...

So, I've been cleaning. I obviously have been doing something else, since I haven't been posting. Work's been a little more hectic, since it's the end of the quarter, but it hasn't been too terrible. I found patterns upon patterns upon patterns. I have 2 boxes stuffed full of patterns. I still have more left. I'm sure there are duplicates, and they're not organized, but at least they are all together. That's a step in the right direction. I have more organization to do, but we're sticking to cleaning for the time being, since Christmas is right around the corner.

I need to get my secret pal something. She's so sweet, and after having to put up with me all year, she deserves to get something nice. I'll have to see what I can find for her. Tis the season after all. =0)

Slow socks

That's what I'm going to title these things. They are SLOW. On the bright side, it gives me something to do while watching TV. I'm almost at the point of finishing the gusset of my socks, and then it will really be mindless knitting.

Good news...I finally moved almost all my yarn into the study. The bad news is that it doesn't currently have enough space, but that should hopefully be fixed tonight. I have 2 shelves to clean out of the Yaffa blocks (from my college days, but good for storing yarn) and fill them in with the rest of the yarn. That should be enough space, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I still have to figure out what to do with all my other craft stuff. I have cross stitch, crochet, tatting, and who knows what else lurking for storage. In my head, I think I've solved some of the storage problem, but the space problem is now before me. I might have an answer for that as well, depending on how I work things. Some measurements are going to be required. I am hoping in just 2 short weeks to be ready to start sewing on the stockings I want to make for Christmas. I have the felt (easy sewing) and my machine is all hooked up. All I need to do now is cut them out and sew them up.