still crocheting away ...

Josh's blanket isn't done yet. But I'm getting close!



I'm putting it on hold so that I can knit on a secret project with a deadline looming. I told Josh that his blanket might be a birthday present instead of a Christmas present! (His birthday is in about six weeks.)

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

knits for friends

Oh hai.

Things have been busy 'round these parts.

Especially my knitting needles.

I've got something like a dozen FOs since August + am going to do my best to blog about them. Tiffany is doing a blog-post-a-day thing in December, and while I clearly missed the boat on that, as it's Dec. 2, I'm going to do my best to post less sporadically this month.

Speaking of Tiffany ...

I knit her some socks (Rav link)! Way back in August.



Sometimes, friends just need a pair of hand-knit socks, ya know? Knitters are the best people to receive hand-knit socks because they know the work that goes into each stitch. And getting those texts from Tiffany when she got the surprise package in the mail just made my day! (And months later, it still makes my day to think about it.)

(By the way, this is Yarn Pirate sock yarn in Wildflowers, a color I've had in my stash for several years.)

Also falling under the category of "knits for friends" is the next pair of socks (Rav link):



These are for a swap I did with my Twitter friend Melissa. This is Cascade Heritage Paints in a lovely semisolid blue. Y'all, this yarn is heavenly to work with. Really soft hand, no splitting, and SO reasonably priced. Go get some now + be amazed at the loveliness (and thriftiness). Oh, and in exchange for the socks? I got tons of delicious canned jams. I cannot wait to open strawberry margarita jam in the midst of a dreary wintry day and have a taste of summer on my toast. Thanks, Melissa!!

I'm in the midst of Christmas crocheting ... though the knitting is all done (in fact, three of my four knitted gifts are already at my parents' house -- BOOYAH). Here's a progress shot of an epic ripple blanket I'm making for my beau:



By the way, it's folded in HALF in that shot. SO huge.

It won't be done by Christmas, especially with a four-day break looming in which I will be skiing in Colorado and not lugging around a massive blanket. But he's OK with that. =)

pics from the documentary

OK I was a big nerd and took some pictures of the documentary I mentioned in my last post. I waited until my roommate left for work, haha, nor did I t post them on Flickr. Anyhow, here goes:



Here is my second-ever crocheted afghan. Yes the colors are really that bright. Red Heart Supersaver, baby.



Ta-da! It's me. And Jimmy. Let me tell you, taking pictures of TV is difficult. Random splotches appear when you use the flash, so I had to keep a steady hand and not use the flash.

Time to tackle that Monkey sock again. I tinked the other needle like I said I would, but I cannot figure out my mistake. I'm going to have to go stitch by stitch. Boooo. I give myself 10 minutes to get really angry at it and abandoning it again for my other sock-in-progress.

Woe is me - or, the most scattered post ever.

I've been listening to a lot of weepy, plaintive piano-chord-y, girly music lately. I have nothing to be down in the dumps about - in fact, I'm the opposite of down in the dumps right now. Yet I can't stop listening to "The Greatest" by Cat Power and "Gardenia" by Mandy Moore as if I just went through the worst breakup of my life. That couldn't be further from the truth ... this week alone should have a lot of good times. Firstly, it shouldn't hit 90 degrees. That automatically makes me happy to wake up. I'm on a six-day vacation as of Thursday. There's talk of a double date Thursday night with Lauren and her boyfriend (who will be visiting from Jersey!). I'm planning a trip to the Outer Banks or, at the least, Sandbridge, for some quality beach time. I'm going to SnB on Monday. Lots of good things ahead, no?

Speaking of SnB ... I made a ton of progress on WIPS this weekend. I rented three movies - "Jesus is Magic" (a Sarah Silverman comedy show), "Little Children" (very good) and "Perfume" (weird and creep-tastic), so I had a lot of time to work on projects. I knitted about 6" on my ribbed scarf and I'm just about done with Lori and JJ's blanket! Looks like I might need to add a new UFO goal to my list for this coming weekend.

Cross your fingers I will have enough iron to give blood tomorrow! And cross your fingers I wake up early to break in my new running shoes while it's still in the 70s.

OK, it's time to go to sleep. Before 1 a.m. on a work night ... unbelievable!

weekend goals

So I'm off tomorrow and Saturday, and next Thursday through Tuesday. By the end of all that lovely free time, I hope to accomplish:

1. at least one trip to the beach. I've gone only about three times all summer. This is unacceptable. I might work this into a little road trip to the Outer Banks.
2. finishing Lori and JJ's blanket. I'm almost there:


3. finishing my scarf of many colors. I'm not quite as far, but with a week off, I can accomplish anything.

4. making my roomie, who has mono, some chicken noodle soup.
5. casting on a sock, especially because I can take it to SnB where all the sock-knitting wonder women can straighten me out when I mess up!

my first SnB

Yep that's right! I went to my first Stitch and Bitch last night. I went to Barnes and Nobles and knitted away with four ladies. They were very fun and very funny and I hope I can make it out there again (even though my work schedule makes it difficult). It is always really nice to go talk about nerdy yarny things with people who want to hear about it, instead of my dear roommate Lauren (who probably thinks I'm crazy for having so much yarn) and my dear boyfriend (who at least pretends to pay attention).

After last night's inspiration (two of them were making gorgeous socks with Koigu and Panda Cotton), I placed my first order at the Loopy Ewe - I got some Claudia's Hand Painted to eventually make socks for my mom (in the Steelers colorway!) I'm thinking they will be a Christmas present. I've been coveting that yarn forever, and I don't want it to disappear and I regret not buying it. I also got some Panda Cotton in Picnic - it's pretty reasonable for sock yarn, and Tasha (one of the SnBers) was knitting a pretty lacy pattern with some green Panda Cotton last night.

I think I need to state for the record that as of 2:35 p.m. July 31, 2007, I am on a yarn diet once again. I've been on a spree since the Fourth of July sale at Ewe Knit. I have the incentive of saving money for a trip to Charleston with Josh. We will have been dating for a year(!) come September, and I really should set yarn money aside for the B&B I booked. Plus, wouldn't it be fun to break the yarn diet in Charleston?? =)

Oh! And here are some project pictures so this post isn't completely bare. JJ and Lori's blanket is more than halfway done:



And here is the not-so-secret knitting project:



I am in love with this colorway. I stop every few rows to admire it, which isn't helping my speed, but ... it's just so darn pretty!

what I've been up to

1. Working out like a fiend. I am on a good streak, doing 45-60 minutes of cardio a day, aiming for five days a week. It is no matter that it's barely a weeklong trend. My pants are already a wee bit looser, and that is all that matters to me. I didn't get to go today, because ...

2. My car is spiffed up (well, its oil system and tires are. I did my yearly inspection a week before things probably get hairy for inspectors (they're up at the end of the month), thinking I'd save time in the long run. Well, no. I showed up for my 11 a.m. appointment and was promptly told that everyone was going to lunch and that "it would be a while." Well, OK, I tell them I have to leave by 3 p.m. The car people tell me this is dicey. I forsee myself going to work, dressed in workout clothes with floofy hair. Josh picks me up and takes me to a nearby Subway for lunch (I played it smart with a turkey sub with sweet onion sauce). I had plenty of stuff to work on, because ...

3. I cast on a new scarf. It is gorgeous fall colors:




I also took Lori and JJ's blanket (which is about halfway done!) and I was tickled at what happened. One of the auto place's employees, this big burly youngish (that is, my age) guy stopped as he passed by the lounge and was complimenting it and asked me about it. He said with a big grin, "Man, I always wanted to learn how to do that!" I think he said women in his family always knitted but that he wanted to learn, too. I told him he shouldn't give up. Really neat. And a really old man told me his grandma made him embroider when he was younger. =)

4. I made my first YouTube video. I'm very proud of the fact that it's been viewed 29 times.

The universe works in mysterious ways.

My last post talked about how I am unable to buy myself more than one thing at a time. Well, without going into much detail, I very quickly got over that speed bump. My iPod might arrive today (Thanks to Josh ... he is the best!) and I am very excited to swoon over it and upload songs to it and create the perfect playlists.

Last night I pulled out a couple of CDs I haven't listened to in about a year: the mix CD I pulled together after my semester in England, and a CD my then-friend Matt made that my roommates and I listened to compulsively during my senior year of college. I can still see one of my roommates dancing around with him, singing "Hotel Yorba" by the White Stripes. (I realize this was two and a half years ago, so I shouldn't be reminiscing as if I'm about to expire or something.) But it's funny how music can conjure up those things.

I think I'm almost over this bug I caught from Josh. I'm forcing myself to go to the gym today because I haven't been there in a week and a half (yikes!). Granted, I've been dogsitting and have been feeling pretty crappy, but still. Admitting that in a public forum is even more incentive, y'know? Then I plan on spending my day off watching my newly purchased movies (True Lies, Benny & Joon and Four Weddings & a Funeral) and crocheting.

So, the blanket that's a house-warming gift for my friends the dog owners? It's progressing nicely, eight rows in. (Pattern is Soft Waves from "200 Ripple Stitches" - very easy to memorize, and very pretty. I can't wait for a whole pattern repeat - I'm doing six rows of blue, then gold.)


It's morphing into a housewarming gift tinged with sadness. My friend's father died unexpectedly today. They're on vacation, and now they're making their way to South Dakota to the funeral.

I'm not good at knowing the right thing to say ... I tend to talk too fast, or I say something dumb, and then I say something even dumber in my attempt to gloss over the first dumb thing I said. Sometimes I think the only thing I know how to do in a somewhat proper manner is crochet. So I'll be thinking about her papa with every stitch.

July 7 wrap - FO

I finished the July 7 wrap! I am coveting this multi-color Cotton with Rayon Ribbon yarn from Blue Heron. There's a teeny bit leftover - I might be able to knit a wee scarf from it, but it's doubtful. Here is a close-up of the burnt copper colorway:

And the whole she-bang:


It kind of reminds me of a Clapotis, something I would love to knit. I wish I had more excuses to wear large wraps - it's warm here a lot of the year. I think if I lived in Europe, I could totally pull it off.

What's next? I just started a small throw for the people I'm dog-sitting for. It's navy and will have some yellow accent stripes, matching the color scheme in their apartment. (I'm happy to report that this morning's visit went much better than yesterday's.)

finally got a yarn winder!

I just paid my rent and my car insurance ... so why not do a little online shopping?

I finally bought myself a yarn ball winder! I found an online coupon for 40 percent off a single item, so I saved about $13 on my order. I don't have a swift yet, and I don't know how long I can put off the $50+ purchase. I'm hopeful I can use a back of a chair or enlist help from Lauren or Josh in the meantime.

But yay! I can wind my own yarn (in 4-8 business days, that is).

The July 7 wrap is almost done:


I've got, oh, maybe one and a half more color go-throughs, and then it should be long enough. I'm nowhere near running out of yarn, thank goodness.

I'm itching to start something new - specifically, a blanket for Lori and JJ, who moved in together on Sunday. A bunch of us helped them move. It was really hot out, but fun. I saw the colors in their apartment, so I got some honey gold and navy blue yarn for a throw.

I got my Ravelry invite. Needless to say, I'm mesmerized. Being the obsessive-compulsive person I am, I am so happy I have recently started to be good about cataloging my yarns on Flickr. (And now I must rephotograph all my other yarns ... hmm...) Tonight, though, I'm pretty tired. So it will wait for another time.

What else have I been up to?
I got sunburned at the Outer Banks. I'm peeling on my chest and foreheat. Yeowch. Other than the sunburn, it was a nice, relaxing time. Pictures are here.
I've made substantial progress on the July 7 Wrap (it is about four feet longer than it is in this picture):


I showed it to its recipient today, who is a big fan. And I feel so assured about making it in time that I didn't work on it at all today. No, I went to the gym (25 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes racquetball), went to work, and came home to play on Ravelry. Now I should get going, because I had a take-home assignment from work I've put off a day now.

weekend review

This has been a really good weekend.

It all started with Friday - although it was unbearably, miserably stickily (is that even a word?) hot out, my friends and I walked from work to Town Point Park to see the Parade of Sail. Easily one of the coolest things I've ever done. I've been on a tall ship before but this was my first time to see a bunch with their sails up/out (I'm not up with my sailing lingo, sorry). We even saw people hanging from the masts, a-way up high!




It wore me down. I spent the rest of the day watching Sex and the City and working on the white ripple baby blanket. Lovely and lazy.

Saturday, I celebrated Knit in Public Day with sassenach! We met up at one of my favorite yarn stores (I bought my first pair of circulars!) and headed to Barnes and Noble. It was so much fun to talk yarny things! I made a ton of progress on the baby blanket and finished it at my cousin's dance recital later that day. Some friends came over after they finished up at work, and we played Wii forever. Before Stephanie arrived, Bethany and I decided to make a Mii for her - it is seriously paper dolls for twentysomethings. I also started a new baby blanket, with Moda Dea Cherish that I hope makes a lovely blanket, also in the Golden Glow pattern from Jan Eaton's ripple masterpiece. I love that pattern.

Today Josh and I saw "Knocked Up." I loved it! Super, super funny, and it featured a ton of my favorites from "Freaks & Geeks." Now I'm off to defrost some hamburger buns and figure out how to roast some potatoes with the burgs. =)

Let it be stated for the record

1. I hate traffic. Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic so people can peek at a fender bender irks me to no end.
2. I hate traffic on Interstate 264, the direct route to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There's a lot of heavy traffic at the junction with Interstate 64 ...
3. ... especially during tourist season. Which starts this weekend.


So why am I hopping onto I-264 on Memorial Day?
Ewe Knit Kits is having a huge yarn sale. I'm in no need of any yarn, but I'm arming myself with my list of knitting needle sizes and handy guides in case the urge strikes me. Which I'm sure it will. Come on now.

whew

I'm feeling inspired. I started training for a new duty at work tonight, and it was intimidating but very fun. I thrive on responsibilities, and this is a big one, but I am up for the challenge.

Aaaaaand my Yarn Pirate sock yarn in Daisy arrived a few days ago:

It is so gorgeous. I covet the Pretty Pirate yarn at her special-order sale going on right now, but I really can't be spending $26 a skein on any more yarn. I'm saving Daisy for once I get better at socks ... I found a relatively easy crocheted sock pattern online, so I'm hoping to take that up on my "weekend," which starts Thursday, with my green and blue Sockotta.

And I discovered this Flickr group - it is absolutely gorgeous. It looked oddly familiar, though. That's because I picked up that magazine (Spring 2006 issue of Interweave Crochet) last September when I was at Knitting Addiction in the Outer Banks. Score! So the Babette blanket is on my to-do list, for sure.

As for life outside of work and crochet? Eh. I'll keep busy with yarn, racquetball, Wii (I'm inching toward becoming a tennis pro) and long dog walks and hope the other facets of my life shape up soon.

Oh yeah ...
Exercise Hourlong walk with Gracie. We have had a string of gorgeous days lately - mid-70s, sunny. I love it.

It's been an uneventful week ... I finished the baby boy blanket and have moved on to the baby girl blanket. I'm happy with both. Photos TK when I'm not lazy.

I'm making spinach pitas for dinner tonight. I feel the makings of a migraine coming on, though - the kind where my eyes and even my follicles hurt. I haven't had any caffeine today, so that could be exacerbating it.

On the good news front, my mom got the go-ahead to take the radiation pill today, and her thyroid is on its way to destroying itself. She just has to avoid small children and babies (and people in general, but especially little ones) for a few days. It was kind of unfortunate that right after taking the pill, she had to walk past a bunch of kids on her way out of the hospital, though. She can be around people again by the time I get there next Saturday, though.

Oh yeah ... I'm taking a trip to S.C. (possibly for the last time, if they move) next weekend. A wee short one, but I don't mind. I'm looking forward to our day trip to Asheville.

an update of sorts

I've tried to avoid my computer at home the past few days. Work has been intense, and my weekend was cut short to work some overtime in light of the news this week. It's been the kind of week where, at 12:30 a.m., I got in my car and drove home in silence - no radio, no phone calls - just to decompress.

Yesterday was my day off, and I wanted it to be a happy one. So I took Gracie for a nice run/walk in the gloomy weather (luckily it didn't rain on us). I had to buy yarn for yet another co-worker who wants me to make a baby blanket - actually, she wants two. Whee! I visited a yarn shop I hadn't been to yet, and I'm glad I went. All yarn was 40 percent off. I found some supersoft Plymouth DK in a nice baby variegated colorway.


I went to AC Moore, where I bought some double-pointed needles for eventual sockmaking and some white Caron Simply Soft to pair with the Plymouth DK. And I got some blue and green Simply Soft for the other blanket. Perfect. I bought some gorgeous sock yarn at The Hook and I, too.


I came home and crocheted all night and watched the Metaphor-Off on The Colbert Report, among other delicious television programs. Here's my progress on the first blanket:


Happy Friday.

dangerous ...

I just discovered that you can buy Hobby Lobby's yarn online through Crafts Etc. There are no Hobby Lobbies around here - I might visit the one near my parents' house in Greenville twice a year. They have great mohair-lacey type yarn for scarves that have sold well at the Joy Fund craft sale at work. I will have to put together an order sometime soon (when I've decided I've been back on my yarn diet long enough, that is).

I got my new basketweave baby blanket started tonight. It's coming together quickly. I like how this Bernat Softee Baby is, well, soft.

sick sick sick

I am sick again. It's even worse than before my trip to Ohio (which was very fun, by the way ... I just haven't felt the need to blog about it). My ears are clogged, my throat is scratchy, my voice is mannish (especially in the morning), and worst of all, my nose will not stop running. It makes sleeping very difficult - I want to tilt my head up to breath easier, but then my nose runs. So I need to find a perfect balance. It's tricky. Now my nose is raw and I've gone through about 39042 tissues.

I figured I'd try an outing to the grocery store and AC Moore as a test-run for work tonight. I felt delirious on the interstate heading there and came home exhausted, but at least I had food and some yummy yarn (at right). I took a really nice almost-two-hours-long nap from which I woke about 40 minutes ago, but I could go back to bed right now. Being sick is horrible, but at least you have an excuse to sleep all the time.

and away we go

I'm headed to The Ohio State University for the weekend to visit my brother. He's turning 22 on Sunday, which I've just remembered happens to be Easter. Perhaps I should cook an Easter dinner, but I'll worry about that when I get back.

I'm flying through Detroit, so I hope I don't get caught in a snowy nexus that Lauren did a few months back. At least there will be a Chili's there if I get desperate. Otherwise, I've got no less than three crochet projects to keep me busy.