Got Gauge

Tickle Me Teal Take Two

I wanted to show you what has me just tickled teal!

It's the start of this:

A pattern by  Kristen TenDyke in Vogue Summer 2008. I mis-read the pattern earlier in the week. (I know, imagine that!) I thought I was going to have to write out a little cheat sheet. I was thrilled when I sat down to dig into the project and realized "DUH!" So I did a swatch. Garter stitch only and after 4 rows, it looked good so I cast on. If it's too small, it's just the type of holey sweater my friend in SC has been wanting me to make for her for quite some time. And if it fits me, I am not taking it to Maine for fear it might be lost and, oddly enough, be found in SC when she gets home.

I'm using stitch markers to identify the cable bits. The other parts are 8 stitch lace pattern. I got lazy with the increases and started another lace repeat once I had all 8 stitches on the needle. I got confused try to add them in otherwise. I know I'm easily confused. I embrace it.

I'm a bit tickled by my Orange Dreamsicle. I enjoy working with the Pima Tencel. Good thing because I have 34 balls of it!

There is about 3 more inches as of this afternoon. I had a couple of calls that I had to knit while I was on them. I love that about my job. Knitting really helps me stay focused. Otherwise I'm tempted to check email, work on my presentation for the beginning of June or check to see if I'll ever hear from the eBay seller who sold me a bad heart rate monitor.

Tonight the Husband has band practice for a charity gig on Sunday afternoon. So I'm either going to stay home and watch a movie and knit or knit, stay home and watch a movie or watch a movie, knit and stay home.

Happy Weekend! Happy Friday! Happy Knitting! Will someone pack for my trip next week. I've done nothing to prepare.

Decide Already!

I have a cold or it might be allergies. Either way, when I talk it sounds like it's underwater. I'm hoping this goes away before I get on the plane on Monday. I'm already a bit grossed out by planes. You know with the whole Legionnaire Pneumonia the Husband picked up on our trip to Sarasota. I skipped Spin Class today. I feel a bit like I have a fever. Not good. Not good at all. If I'm not better today, I'm going to get drugs. I am going to buy stock in Kleenex. Did you know the first coffee shop opened in Constantinople in 1475? It says so on the bottom of my Kleenex box.

I am knitting or at least I'm casting on quite a bit. I'm on a quest to find a good travel project. I need something that will keep me occupied on the however many hour trip it is to Zurich. **shush, don't tell me, I don't want to know.** I'm thinking there will not be a great deal of knitting time on the ground.

The Smock Top in pretty green is good, for now. That has a LOOOOONNNNNGGG stretch of st st that will be a good, no-thinking project. My Webs order arrived and I cast on last night for the Dayflower Camisole or Dress in Orange. It looks just like a Dreamscile. Isn't there a pattern by that name?

I didn't work out so well. I was having trouble with the chart and the numbers working out. And the yarn was NOT happy. Not even a little bit. So I cracked open my two new CEY books because the Pima Tencel is a good match for many of the yarns.

It's from book 9087 Summer Book 1. It's a twisted st st so there is a little interest. I think this pattern shows off the sheen of the yarn wonderfully. The orange is fun and I think I'm on my way to a staple in my wardrobe. I might even go buy a sun dress.

I was having a small issue with gauge. The gauge that's recommended of 17 stitches over 10 cm, is TIGHT. As in cut off your finger circulation tight. As in make another Kevlar Poncho tight. So I'm going with my own thing. I started with the sleeves so I can adjust the body accordingly. I will be able to do the math to determine which size to knit.

Who watched the Bachelor? How happy was I for Shayne? I really liked her. I hated the way Chelsea totally zoned in on slamming Shayne on her exit. Fake? Oh sweetie, please. If that's not the pot calling the kettle, I don't know what is. Did you see her at his parents? Where was that girl the whole show? At least Shayne has the common sense to act like a nut all the time. "Does England have palm trees?" I think she's hilarious. She knows darn well they don't. But who didn't laugh? I enjoy being with people who make me laugh and she's all about fun. I thought Shayne's gift to him was brilliant! Brilliant. Best one I've seen. Yes, I love trash TV. Can't wait to see Deanna next season.

And DWTS? If Miss Piggy wins, I'm not watching any longer. She looks ridiculous out there. She's not the best of the group. Simply not and I don't care if she's a size 1, 12, 22 or whatever. She just looks clumsy. Now Jason Taylor, that's a dancer.

Happy Knitting! Happy Hope You Are Able to Work Out today! I am going to have another cup of tea.

Itchy Fingers

I have set aside Soleil. I don't like her. She's itchy, she's tight and the armholes are a mess. The neckline doesn't seem to be in the right place and overall I just simply think she's ugly. Maybe it's the rain and she's a sunny sweater? I don't know. But she's currently a nice little ball shoved in the corner of the couch. I think she'll consider behaving herself when I decide to pull her out.

I know she'll relax and get softer after a little dip in Ecualan. Maybe I'll go dunk her now. **sigh**

No, I'm going to read the pattern and cast on for Bella Paquita because it looks pretty and I have Calmer in stash that has been cast on for at least 5 other sweaters only to be ripped and re-stashed. Seriously, I think I could probably have 20 balls of different yarns and be happy forever. What do I finish? I do not have good knitting mojo for anything larger than a scarf. Goodness, grumpy much?

The pattern looks rather complicated but I need something to capture my interest.

Happy Knitting!

A New Project

Thanks for everyone's opinion! I think I might dust off the current La Luz sweater and start wearing it again. Maybe I'll find a cute top and wear it with my black summer pants. Maybe I need to find shoes to match!

I cast on for a new project. I want a spring/summer shell. Casual enough to wear with jeans. I think it will help encourage me to keep up my exercise routine. I hate showing my flabby arms so I'll really kick up the arm work so I can wear it.

Soleil from Knitty.

Silk Garden Lite 2031 from stash!

I was debating between the 2nd and 3rd sizes and settled on making the 2nd size. The description says the sweater should have zero to negative ease and Silk Garden tends to relax. The combination should give me a nice fit. If not,  I know people slightly smaller than me!

Happy Knitting and Let's Go Caps! I hope they win tonight's game. I want to see lots of people "Rock the Hawk" on Saturday.

I Need Your Opinion (Knitting Question)

Remember almost three years ago, I knit this to wear to Granny's 100th birthday celebration?

It's a Bolero knit in Fiesta Silk. I remember loving every single stitch of it. It turned out quite lovely. The problem, I've worn it twice. Yesterday I saw a picture of this pattern.



Think I could rip and reknit? Just a thought I hate to see that Bolero just sit there. Before I end up with a mess on my hands, I thought I'd ask some experts. All 11 of the people still reading my blog.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Va Tech community today. One year ago today I was in NY with Gina. It was one of the scariest times of my life. There she was with her entire family and not really knowing what was going on. Sheesh. Makes me break out in goosebumps thinking about it. We were at Habu Textiles and we both got those super cute kits to knit the scarf with steel yarn. I can't do it. Every time I've tried to knit on that, I just go back to that day and when Gina answered her phone while they were kitting up our scarves. And than later in the hotel room casting on for the scarf. It just has yucky memories. So it sits in stash until I forget that was the project I bought and was working on that day.

May you also take some time today to remember the loved ones around you and be very thankful they are there.

One Week

One minute, one minute left in the period. Ever been to a hockey game and heard the announcer say this? I feel like he should have escorted me in the building today announcing “one week, one week left of working here!”

Yes, I’m changing jobs. It’s the first time I’ve ever switched job in less than 1 year. I enjoy very much the job I currently do but I hate the commute. HATE it. HATE it with a passion that only makes sense to those who drive to within a mile and know that to leave that night, that mile might take 15 minutes. AND no one will let you merge in. It makes my resting heart rate increase drastically just thinking about it. One week, one week left. 

I had a former boss that used to count the days until something big by the wake ups. I like that method of counting. So I seven more wake ups left until this gig is over and only five of them involve getting dressed and driving in. Another thing about the new job, I will be working from home. The thought is both exciting and terrifying. I plan to use the extra time each day to continue my workout. I also plan to be super organized in meal planning so that we can take advantage of me being at home. I plan to make sure to brush my teeth most days before noon.

This weekend I must find the home office. It’s lost. I know we have one. I used it for over 2 years when I was a sales rep. It’s still there, I’m pretty sure. It has a desk, file cabinets, selves, printer, fax, everything a home office needs. Only problem is that it’s currently being hidden by yarn. Lots of yarn. Yarn that escaped from the 70 million gallon storage bins during a desperate such for a new project. I hate it when startitis strikes. Yarn that was flung to the far reaches of the room because I know somewhere in one of those tubs I have a skein of Alchemy bamboo in a wonderful red. (I do! I know I do!) And the yarn just never found it’s way back into the storage bins. There are also the twenty million bags. Some with WIPS. And the baskets. Oh the baskets. I adore my baskets full of yarn, they are so pretty. They also hold WIPS. Looks like I’ll also be performing a rip or re-commit ceremony over the weekend. I might even take pictures and post some for sale or trade items on Ravelry.

In the meantime, I’m zipping away on a new project. (I had to take a break from the blanket.) A scarf made from Kollage Creamy. And get this, it’s for a friend who works for the National Dairy Association!!!! Isn’t that fun? I love it when a project just presents itself like that. She recently had shoulder surgery. So she could use a little pick-me-up. I think it’s going to be a hoot to tell her about the yarn. I’m using the same Vine Lace pattern I used for the Tilli scarf. I really enjoy that pattern. No pictures. Sorry!

Happy Knitting! And did you see that game last night? GO CAPS!

I Like Jam

I don't like traffic jams. I love strawberry jam. Blackberry jam from Orchardside is my favorite jam. EVER. I hid it in the fridge from the Husband. Door jams and I have a tendency to collide in an unfortunate manner. But Purl Jam. I'm all over it.

There are lots of memes out there focused on what you've done, what's on your bucket list and questions to see how unique you are compared to others. Or special. Whatever your family code one is for "yeahhhh ,right, that makes perfect sense. You ARE sane."

One thing I have never done is camp out for tickets. Ever. I don't think it's ever even crossed my mind. And camping out for stuff is completely unthinkable. Waiting on line for a Wii doesn't even make sense to me. I did once spend a good bit of time hitting the redial for tickets but I forget what concert that was. I might consider a line for shoes. But I'd more likely call my favorite shoe store ever to see if they could find them for me without dealing with lines. 

I hope we don't have to wait in line for Purl Jam tickets. I am very excited about the weekend of classes, shopping and fiber frolicking.  I've been checking out the chatter on Ravelry. It seems like a great deal of fun.

I cast on for the next Wallaby. I am making a 12 for an 8 year old. Those Wallabys look rather small. The Curlicue blanket is slightly more than 1/2 done and I'm 20 days from the due date. I have to knit more this week.

Happy Knitting!

Knitter in Beauty Pageant Needs Your Vote!

There are so many aspects of knitting that symbolize joining together for good. Felting being the all time high of bonding fibers together.  K2tog and p2tog, the Kitchener stitch and 3 needle bind-off are all examples of meshing fibers together. All of these help complete the final product. Knitters also rally around each other in times of joy (celebrating many of my shoe and bag purchasing with little questioning as to why I need another), sadness (too many to name), triumph (finally figuring out my tension) and beauty pageants. If we can rally together on this one, we might just put a crown on this knitter! Perhaps a lovely hand knit sash to go with it?

Please help Rebecca win Miss Mustang 2008.

From the Pioneer Woman

Showing us her breathtaking profile is Rebecca, our contestant from Utah! Rebecca loves knitting, scrapbooking, needlecrafts, and scratching her back on fence posts. Oh, and Rebecca really loves people.

Sophia was able to get in touch, the way dogs do, with a litter mate of a neighbor friend of a litter mate's owner's second favorite dog's vet's sister's uncle's brother's cousin's cow who knew Charlie's breeder's mother's dog's vet who just happened to be able to speak to someone who knew Rebecca. She said to tell you that Rebecca really doesn't scrapbook all that much. She only went to one of those Creative Memories parties and bought stuff to do an album of her knitting and spinning. She meant to list that last but got a little nervous in the interview.

Rebecca enjoys her blanket made from Noro Kueryon. She enjoys simple knitting for those days when the cowboys are out there making her run around. For times when they aren't pestering her, she enjoys color work and cables. Rebecca tends to have to use online resources for her materials as most LYS frown when she tries to come into their stores. Rebecca enjoys listening to books on tape while she's knitting. Her favorite is Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry.

Please take a moment to leave your message of support for our fellow knitter Rebecca. Thank you and Rebecca is for world peace.

Update: PW added a survey to her site. Unfortunately she's referred to Rebecca as the Scrap booking Goddess. So much for having a knitter crowned. Very, very disappointing at this title. Rebecca really had the makings of a Knitting Queen!

It's A Sickness

It's not just the flu and cold sickness that has hit our household, it's a major case of startitis hanging around our door as well.

Let's see if I can summarize it. Cardi or Not is sitting quietly with only the collar band needed to complete the knitting. Don't want to bother that because the next step is finishing and I'm not looking forward to that. The Wacky Wallaby is no more. It was replaced with the Andes Wallaby which has a sleeve and I got bored. The Vine Lace scarf is awaiting a soak and block. I cast on for one of those Moss Stitch hats in the Louisa Harding Gathering Roses book and finished the first skein, it takes two. And when going into the stash for the second, I got side tracked. And I started looking at some yummy cashmere and cast on for a scarf but I didn't like that pattern. So I was searching Ravelry and Poppy kept popping into my mind. So on the way home from work on Thursday I went and purchased Yarn Play. And after much digging in the stash I came up with Silk Garden 228 and a bag of Cash Iroha in 99. I think it works.

It's the yarn I used to start a Silk Garden Garden and only did the sleeves. I have oodles of the yarn. I might just trash the sleeves as ripping them is causing much yarn breakage and cursing.

I must go to the library, I'm out of Janet Evanovich books. I just finished To The Nines and need the 10th one. NOW. Just like with Lisa Scottoline, I'm reading all of her books. I seem a little obsessive today, don't I?

Off to the library. Happy Knitting!

Wacky Wallaby & Lingerie Sales Girls Who Don't Match

Most of the irregulars know I have a different mirror than most people. My absolute favorite color in the world is orange. The orange that they make those highway warning signs orange. I've also been known to frighten knitwear designers. I'm not sure if Sasha Kagan has returned to the States since I took a Color Class with her.

So it should come as no surprise when I came up with the idea to use my Lizard Ridge Stash to make a Wallaby. I have enough Kureyon in stock to make at least two of those blankets and after more than a year, I have 6 squares. And those are on display at the Yarn Barn in Burke.

I'm going to show you a picture but there are still 129 pictures to go before the download is complete. I found my camera cable. It was never lost. I just thought it was for something else. I'm not all that technical. It's taken my 10 minutes to find the plug. Who knew there was a trap door on my Kodak Z1275?

For my Wonderful Wallaby, I'm using the following Kureyon colors: 88, 166, 147, 138, 139, 163, 164, 128, 164 (again), 138 (again), 92, 156, 166 (again), 40, 172, 163 (again), 134, 128 (again), 183 and 134 (again).

That's 20 skeins. Six colors are used twice and all of the colors lean towards greens. I gave myself a little bit extra than the pattern calls for my size. I think I might blend the colors by using more than one ball at a time. Maybe 2 to 4 rows. Random. I might even just close my eyes and pick the next ball. I may even knit only 1/2 a skein. In the end, I will have the most unique and perhaps wacky Wallaby.

I was thinking of using a different edging but I'm not. I'm going by the pattern. The edging would get lost in the colors and I do know when enough is enough.

I started my  Christmas shopping tonight. I was happy with some of the finds and I managed to spend more on myself than I'd hoped. Darn J Jill! I went to return a pair of pants and they had all kinds of things on sale, including yummy t-shirts, a turtle neck and a new bag happened to get caught up in all the madness. I had to pick up some Anti-Aging Potions while shopping for new smells for the Husband. A girl can't go looking old with a good smelling husband, now can she? I also got pulled in to VS for a bit of festive cheer. Doesn't every woman need a red bra and panties for the holidays? Okay. Maybe that was TMI but I just have to share a little story.

The cashier was ringing up my purchases and said, "are these for you?"

"Ummm, yes, yes there are, Miss Nosy." I might have left off the last part.

"You are just like my Mother!" shrieked the annoying one.

"How's that you bitch-ho?" Again I might have left off that last part but I thought it. Her Mother?!?!?!? I'm not old enough to be her Mother! And I have the Prescriptives Super Wrinkle Reducer cream in my other shopping bag to prove that or at least look like I couldn't possibly have given birth to something that old.

"You match."

"Of course. Just like every good, God (or Granny)fearing, Thanksgiving adoring, Wrinkle-free, Husband loving, shoe addict, bag queen should." I said all of that, I'm afraid.

"Well, I don't."

"Oh really. And you work here? You really should use some of that discount honey.  Quite frankly I could tell you weren't the matching type just by looking at you." Again, afraid that leaped out before the filter caught it too. I might be banned from that store.

I'm off to knit a gauge swatch for my Wacky Wallaby. Sorry. I should have warned you before I came out with such nonsense. I'm actually going to knit a gauge swatch for this one. It's called a sleeve and they even encourage you to do that in the pattern!

Happy Knitting! And Merry Christmas!