Monday, December 18, 2006

camera crisis

okay, it's official. i've done lost my camera. yes, baby pictuers, puppy pictures, knitting pictures and all.

last time i saw i was *thinks* when my sister came home from the hospital, so around thanksgiving. it's almost been a month and i can't find it. but, i did find the freaking charger and the usb cable...

i'm hoping that i find it soon, but if anyone wants to donate to the "eca needs a camera" there's a lovely camera that's pretty cheapy AND donates a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer =) Fuji's Z3 in "breast cancer awarness pink" at best buy for $200...

yes i know "but eca, that's a lot of sock yarn i could buy with that... shoot, that's a lot of yarn period... that's like, 2 or 3 sweaters right there!"

my sister tells me to keep looking. my wallet tells me to keep looking and find my old 2mp camera

but we'll see.

oh, making awesome progress on the camisa. it's super quick! really super quick. i just hope alpaca doesn't drape. i was reading the swatching/blocking instructions off of knitty.com and that thing said to hang the swatch with a DPN threaded through it for weight, and check it again in a day or two.. .MAN! Why does swatching take forever!??!?! so yeah, i skipped the hanging processes, but i did wash it!

now i'm worried my fat gut won't fit into the damn thing! oh well. we shall see! i'm hoping to wear it for new years... wouldn't that be cool?

Friday, December 15, 2006

pick me up

okay... i needed a little boost because i haven't been in the best of moods lately...

so i went knitting shopping (pics to come later).

i purchased:
classic elite straight knitting needles (14" US 6)
bryspun straight knitting needles (14" US5) - I really wanted to try the DPNs but i was very unimpressed with the tip
brittany birch dpns (7" US2) - they make US1.5 and US2.5!!! how cool is that?!?!?

And i got some lorna's laces... i think I got tahoe??? but i'm not quite sure...

when i find my camera, charge the battery, and take the pictures off the card, I'll be sure to post come pictures.

As for the pattern of these lorna's... i'm not quite sure yet. my needle, yarn, and i will conference and get back to you!

Monday, December 11, 2006

blah! blah i say

okay so instead of working, i spend the past 30 minutes working on this blog... to which blogger said "if you don't like it you can switch back..."

and i don't see that switching option... anyways, i'm going to have to redo this.... blah blah I say!

ehhhh... maybe i should give up blogging and just do stalking?

i mean, i've unravelled so many projects and picked up others... unravelled those and redone others....

we'll see. it's not like i have time to do this b/c of school and all.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

February and April 07

Okay, so I went to buy.com because grumperina had a link on her blog to a book...

anyway... i kept on clicking on stuff like "lace style" by interweave... and others (like about 5 others) that were all due out in February and April of 07.

Funny how there was nothing in January or March, but hey... at least now I know to save my money.

=)

ps. i have updates on socks... i just need to find that damned charger for my camera
---end---

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

OMG! IT'S A BOY!!! (again!)

okay, i don't normally write about non knitting things... but...

my sister delivered! she was expected to go around december 19th i think???? but they took her off of whatever that medicine is that makes you not contract on sunday.

anyways, i was in the hospital all freaking day, almost fell asleep...

i watched the entire delivery and didn't get nearly sick or almost pass out like her first one...

i still think live birth is gross looking... but it's still amazing.

so that brings the count to 3 nephews and 1 niece from both my sisters!

yay for babies!

Monday, November 13, 2006

yay they're watching

hehehe - cookie and kristi read my blog

*giggles*

oh... i guess i have to post something too....

well here's the long and short of it all - DON'T SECOND GUESS THE PATTERN - especially when the maker (eunny) finds the hypotenuse of shoulders so that stripes line up perfectly when wearing it...

b/c anyone who uses algebra and geometry to make a pattern... well, i doubt they post mistakes.

so my heel - i second guessed it... i knitted the the back loop instead of knitting - and i did k1, s1 instead of s1 k1 --- but atleast i was smart enough to purl until end and slipping the last...

but yeah, i'll fix it on the next one.

ps progress picks to come

---end---

Saturday, November 04, 2006

socks socks socks... oh and progress oh and publicity?

yes i know... i took on the eunny jang - what was i thinking? well i was thinking roomie's coworker is a really nice guy. r's coworker is trying to invite us over for dinner - and for a non people person, that's a huge deal - so i wanted to give him a present. you know one artist to another...

it's in gems opan in the navy color from springwater fiber. i know i suck with the links right now , but i'm supposed to be doing other things.

the opal is sportweight and i DID NOT mod the pattern at all. i had called my red and asked for her opinion - and she just happened to be knitting a sock in sport weight for her dad who just happens to be the same shoe size... AND my buddy that i introduced her to happens to be the same shoe size and he graciously took measurements of his foot for her... which RED NEEDS TO EMAIL ME FOOT MEASUREMENTS =) hint hint... i love myself/red =)

but it is beautiful, surprisingly easy to follow. i'm starting to like charts.

remember elisha's jaywalker? well i ran out of yarn...well realized i was going to, ripped it out - oh and yes, the whole "knit the bottom in a solid color" thing didn't work... well b/c socks are in the round and not flat! so anyway... that got ripped out and became the rpm from knitty (although it's not mentioned in their archive, you actually have to google it... i don't understand why)

but this was the only picture that showed the colors well - the heel is different from what i'm used to. i like it. and i didn't try it on b/c her foot's longer than mine... i'm a size 6 and she's a 7.5-8. the toe was pointer than i'd hope, but i already grafted and i wasn't going to ungraft.

and yes...all you non believers, i casted on the 2nd sock for rpm.

okay so all you non believers... i did put down the 2nd rpm and casted on the pomatomus. *sigh* it was a tugging of the flowers roomie gave me (for no reason at all! you gotta love random gifting!) which happened to be the same colors as the yarn i got from kbrece on ebay. (i know i know links links)

the yarn is GORGEOUS and it does not pool in this pattern.

yes i know ... it took me how many socks to realize that things will pool depending on needle size, knitting round v flat, and pattern....

anyway... i love the colors. they're really fabulous. really really really fabulous. i can't wait to knit with the other skein i have...

oh and this is pretty cool - i'm still on the mailing list for the Nova KnitWits of Del Rey...and somehow one of the ladies has a photographer and/slash journalist coming to the knitting group next week to take pictures to MAYBE BE IN NOVA LIVING!!! how fantabulous is that?

and what's even better is that it's this coming tuesday and i maybe able to make it... b/c school will actually be slow! =)

it just makes me miss them and those - like red and g - who have left. there are a lot of new people - so maybe i'll make new friends????

it's always nice to find others who knit.

which reminds me, i love kristi of knitanon.com - she actually writes back and is really nice. she invited me to her spinning group =) too bad i live ... oh on the east coast and she lives on the west. b ut i love nice knitters...

i'm telling you - when i open my store, it's going to say "leave your egos behind" or something along those lines... and yes, i copywrite this!
hahhah

anyways ttyl!

---end---

Monday, October 23, 2006

oh dear - where have my jaywalkers gone

okay so my whole thing about knitting the top 1/2 of the sock in the varigrated and the bottom in solid...

well it was a nice though, but it won't work.
1. a sock is knit in the round so i'd have to cut the yarn after every row to reattach it
2. the sock is knit in the round so i'd have to knit 1/2 of the foot in varigated and the other 1/2 in solid

so... I RIPPED THE WHOLE DAMNED THING OUT!

and started the RPM pattern from knitty

it's a very lovely pattern - my first purls are loose while the 2nd and 3rd are tight.. so i have to adjust my guage or use a larger needle if it's to fit my friend.

but another unfortunate thing - the color pools a bit... but that's okay... it's a risk taken. and i'm not about to start another one!

so yes... pics to come later...2.5 of the 6 repeats for pattern rounds completed. so hopefully this will be a fast knit! i may have to go up a needles size to make it loser but it does have negativ ease!

anyways - picks to come.

---end---

Saturday, October 14, 2006

picture pages

okay - so here are pictures of some progress i've been making

first up is this lovely brown sheep company's wildfoote luxury sock yarn in color sy09 mums. this is one of the 3 colors that the roomie purchased for me while on vacation with his family. it's machine washable, but it says something about vinegar???


next we have a close up of the pattern. it's the yo cable from "sensational knitted socks," a lovely book. it's cast on 16 in figure 8, increase until 15 stitches per each needle. use four US2 needles. I'm using susan bates.













now the jaywalkers!

isn't it pretty? well i ran into a bit of a problem... i'm running out of yarn. the pattern calls for a 465oz skein, and i'm using a 440. on top of that i'm doing the "bigger" jaywalker pattern, so i'm going to assume that's going to take up more yarn.

solution: knit the heel, the gusset (that arch part), the bottom of the foot (and if i'm really running out, the toe) in a solid complimentary color. i was hoping to bring out the green, but it looks like i should do a blue or purple. exciting huh? hopefully it doesn't look like ass b/c that would really suck.

anyways, hope you enjoyed!

---end---

Friday, September 29, 2006

green gable blocked




so ummmm. yes... the blocking made the shit bigger... so i'm trying to block it small, is there such a thing?

it's lose it's yellow, and the bottom is really tight (they're not kidding when they say bind off loosely!

now i'm wondering, why something 14" across (comes out to be 28") is a good 2" loose on me???

I mean, i'm not getting SMALLER!

oh, the pants are like a men's large or something - so that's why it's clumpy around the bottom. i'm guessing i'll need to wear a camisole underneath b/c it's showing my white bra (but maybe a nude color bra will save it?)

i am blocking it 14" and going to re-steam and hope it shrinks...but yeah...

oh, and i'm blocking the 3rd swatch for the salina and the size in one swatch in the round that red told me about.

it would've been smart if i did 2 purl stitches at the end and the beginning of each needle so i could tell where the divide was =P oh well...

still not to sure if i'm happy about this sweater or not, don't let the smile fool you.

---end---

Monday, September 18, 2006

best roomie in town

so i had a week vaca from the roomie b/c roomie went on vaca for a week.

unfortunately school sucked and prevented me from enjoying too much of knitting. i did make progress on teh swatch for my mom's shirt. i did finish the swatch for salina on US 3's... but the best surprise of them all...

6 different skiens of sock yarn from brown sheep company. yes roomie bought me some. apparently roomies whole method for picking out yarn was "what wouldn't she pick for herself? i'll get her that!" my instant reaction upon hearing this was utter panic... omg will roomie get me fun fur? bright neons or metallics?!??! will roomie get me... ACRYLIC~?!??!?!!?

but nope... roomie got me, surprisingly, pretty colors. not the combinations i would have chosen, but that's the great thing about a gift. oh and roomie knew enough to ask about guage AND dye lots!

so yes, i have 3 different colors (2 skiens each) of brown sheep's wilde foot sock yarn. i think 2 are brilliant bouquet, 2 are mums and the other 2 are rag time???

oh and i went out and bought sensational knitted socks... great ideas... of course, i didn't read the blatant instructions that said "READ HOW TO USE THIS BOOK BEFORE USING THE BOOK"

so i casted on, ripped, casted on... ripped did some math.. casted on, ripped... did more math, and casted on again =)

haha yeha i know, but iw as so excited to use it!

oh and i went to michaels (no dpns!), uniquities (closed on sunday) and finally ac moore to pick up some 000, 00, 0 & 1 five set dpns (go figure) adn an extra sets of US 2 dpns by susan bates.

thanks to roomie, again, for suggesting i purchase more than 1 set of US 2s.

but yes... i'll let you knwo what my sock is when i finish. i think im ay need to adjust guage HAHAHAH, so it'll be the 50th time i'll rip, but we'll see. i htink my next thing will be to invest in differnt color nylon threads ro reinforcements of heels and toes!

until next time...

---end---

ps. i love purple mingren!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

the jaywalker grows

so as far as christmas shopping is concerned, i have a lot of people's items done except, well mostly my family.

these are my friend's sock. it's about 2" above the ankle right now, i was debating on whether or not to do any reduction for a slimmer fit aroudn the ankles, but i had to remind myself that these are not for me, they're for someone less. Maybe i can block the upper part to make it a little looser. she is taller than me...

i have started swatching the tulip for my mom. i tried the "loosely loop" method and that was just a crock of shit...

i was worried that if i swatched on my bamboo dpns, the guage would also be off b/c i'm planning on kitting it with my denise set. but, i gave in and did it red's way... where you use 3 different DPNS (in my case US 6, 7, and 8) and swatch each side.

The pattern is for 20sts/4" and the yarn gives 23sts/4" but i'm wondering how much the yarn will relax after bathing. I'm hoping that the US6 will work.

oh and i made the mistake of thinking, if i want less stitches go smaller HAHAHAH =) so there went 1/2 an hour of useless swatching!

but... we'll see how it goes.

oh the picture was taken on my camera phone which has a protective covering over the lense. so it's fuzzy! =P and i can't find the charger to my digicam. i know i know...

i'll clean my house one day!

---end---

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

new yarn

okay so i caved... well here's the story, well multipile stories. i've been on a hunt for teal/turquoise sock yarn, subtle solid. i've also stumbled across a seller (kbrece) in my ebay favorites that i didn't realize was there.

so i've been looking, found a colorway that i liked. I lost the bid even though i was frantically watching it every 2 seconds.

so yesterday, a new set of yarns ends around 520pm, which is when im driving home on my way to work.

so i bid $18 max on 2 yarns... figuring that 1 (the blue/green blend on the right) i was going to lose. the max bid was at 13.50 and i won it by 2 bucks... so i really didn't expect to win, i thought whoever was watching was going to out bid me and go for $20 or something.

the other bid, the blend of green, black, and blue was the one i initially wanted. so i figured, if i bid on both, then at least i should win one thing.

well i got 2 ahahhahah. so say hello to

purple green & deep blue green black


they are 440 yards of fingering weight 100% merino wool =)
shipping is $4.05 for up to 4 skiens, and both skiens were $15.50

so now we'll see how jacked up the colorways are (if they're confused varigrated or really varigrated) and if we'll make them as gifting socks.

reference: images taken from the auction pages of each individual yarn. please go to http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZkbrece if you wanna shop!

---end---

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

xmas shopping

okay, so i've been wondering what i'm going to do for people for xmas. as i stated before, there seems to be a big thing against receiving knitted socks.

so, i've started xmas shopping. when i see things that instantly remind me of certain people, i buy. yes i know it's early. and yes, i know i have an issue with giving gifts WAY early because I can't handle surprises... but oh well =)

that's how eca rolls beyotch!
/me giggles

the only problem is that i have absolutely no clue what i'm going to get family for christmas. i know what to get everyone else in the world, but not my family. how sad is that.

---end---

xmas shopping

okay, so i've been wondering what i'm going to do for people for xmas. as i stated before, there seems to be a big thing against receiving knitted socks.

so, i've started xmas shopping. when i see things that instantly remind me of certain people, i buy. yes i know it's early. and yes, i know i have an issue with giving gifts WAY early because I can't handle surprises... but oh well =)

that's how eca rolls beyotch!
/me giggles

the only problem is that i have absolutely no clue what i'm going to get family for christmas. i know what to get everyone else in the world, but not my family. how sad is that.

---end---

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

sock operation

so this is the story of my soc operation

   here we have the realization that i fucked up somewhere. so i unravelled the stitches between the YO, k2tog that i messed up on


   now comes the other realization that knitting on the same size needles was going to be very hard...


   and here i switched to size 0 because it was easier to work with. i do have a ladder, but hey, at least it's better than breaking the yarn b/c the sucker's so tight.


   and here we are close to the conclusion of the operation

now i must say the following:
1. the lighting sucks
2. the suck operation is SO MUCH BETTER than unravelling the sucker... USE SMALLER NEEDLES
3. heaven help you if you're doing a complicated lace pattern
4. i'm very close to actually purchasing a url...

---end---

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

no more secret pal 9

so i saw grumperina's button about "i'm my own pal" and naturally, i thought of secret pal.

Then i saw the origin of the button (click the button in the side bar to view). I like the concept of the whole thing.. .but the mandatory 60 spending... i really dislike that, i mean, gift giving should be gift giving. when the del ray group had an xmas exchange, we said $5 bucks. or was it 10? but still, it's manageable. and the $60 doesn't include time or posting to ship. so you could make a wonderful clapotis that costs more than $80 to make, but that's not good enough - well that's how it seemed to me in reading. so yeah. it's off my list now.

so anyway - b/c i have nothing to do, this is what i'm going to do...

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end and/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? yes. hahahah. that or a hand painted snob.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? Just a knitter at this point. (not edited)

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.). i DISLIKE smellies. I dislike flowery smells.

4. How long have you been knitting?ummm continuously... probably since 2005?

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, but it's private, I don't like people all up in my biz.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I don't like smelly stuff. i'm really picky about the smells. Typically I like lavendar and eucalyptus - but if it's made wrong I hate it. I do like clean fresh scents though.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, but anything too sweet hurts my teeth.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I paint. I would like to take up sewing since I've inherited my mom's sewing machine and table.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) ooooh... it's easier to say the artists: stan getz, ella fitzgerald, miles davis, fiona apple, mos def, floetry, jill scott, k-os, bjork, gypsy kings, amel lerruix (spelling), jaoa gilberto, bob dylan, marchoobea (spelling), the roots, rage against the machine, tribe called quest, black eyed peas, classical music...

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? my favorite color is blue (subtle, soft, muted). but i'm really begining to like green (not a puke color green where there's too much yellow in it). i'm starting to appreciate bright colors, but neons are totally not it. ummm purples, pinks, those are working well. reds are iffy - they have to be a really rich color red and not a crayola plasticy looking red. pastels and fall colors are gorgeous. if you look at my photo album a

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live with my roommate and my 2 chow chows. i lvoe finding chow chow stuff b/c you NEVER see those breed products anywhere.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) I want to work for my self. I want to retire young if I can't work for myself. I want to move away from DC to NY, WA, MA, IL, or CA.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Hmmm... varigrated... but GOOD varigrated. not the varigrated that can't make up it's mind on whether or not to be solid, striped, or varigrated. It's like a 3 in one abomination. For good varigrated please see brooklynhandspun.com for slightly striped but varigrated enough to not be stripe, please fee fearless fibers

my latest passion is subtle solids.... oh so dreamy.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I absolutely stay away from acrylic. Any wierd fibers like buffalo. I do have a desire for cashmere or just something soft... oh and the fancy fur type stuff... or the ladder looking stuff... with the obnoxious colors

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? hmmm... socks =) knitting socks with GOOD varigrated yarn

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? hahaha socks =) right now, socks. i'm in school and work, so this is somethign that i won't want to stab myself for not finishing

17. What are you knitting right now? See sidebar up update =)

18. What do you think about ponchos? Cute! but i'm small, so i'm picky about how stuff hangs on me. I mean, I can still fit into size 12 in the kid's section at Target, but someh

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circulars because I never have to worry about losing needles... straights are nice though. I'm usually a buyer of lantern moon straights b/c i'm a big alturist.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? no plastic. if it's wood, ebony, blonde (no rose wood or palm, i don't like the look of them) or bamboo. i do not mind addi's and have been wanting to try knit pick's new line.

21. Are you a sock knitter? Yep. (no change)

22. How did you learn to knit? Taught myself at first with books and a bad cd from jo-ann's. but i got a dvd from yarnbag.com and have been loving it ever since.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? ummm my karabella cowl neck sweater is still unfinished, so i guess a year or so?

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? animated character? i like anime, how about that =)

25. What is your favorite holiday? i don't have one. i really think they're just commercialized or have lost all well intended meanings. i only like them b/c i don't have to work during them.

26. Is there anything that you collect? yarn...patterns that i'll probably never get too, books... lots of books, mangas right now. school books if you count the fact i have no choice. anything snazzy chow chow related.

---end---

references:
secret pal 9 rules: http://secretpal9.blogspot.com/2006/08/rules.html

grump's link about secret pal 5: http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2005/05/favorite_bird.htm

wine and needles secret pal questions: http://wineandneedles.blogspot.com/2005/01/about-me-list-with-purpose-secret-pal.html
*not edited or no change = from wine and needle's blog

the knitter shall see

so, i'm assuming i've developed a really bad bad case of allergies. my eyes and nose are really dry. i can't wear contacts anymore and i can't breathe easily through my nose anymore. The latter has affected me and i've started breathing through my mouth even mroe, which has caused my throat to dry.

notice the trend here is DRY.

unfortunately, since i can not wear contacts anymore (good bye colored lenses that i wanted to try) i have to wear glasses full time. no, o2optix did not work. my eyes were blood shot w.in 30 minutes of wearing and yes, i put in rewetting drops ever 5 minutes.

and i can't get laser eye surgery b/c my eye sight hasn't stabled. so, glasses and perscription sunglasses.

this was purchased with polarized dark grey lenses. at first i was worried that the brown wouldn't go well with the dark gary, but the frames really are much darker than this image shows. the frames are a bit larger, but i like that in sunglasses. unfortuantely, because the lenses are polarized, they can't be thinned, so i'll look bug-eyed. hopefully the dark color of the lenses will counter act that.


yes, i realize that these are my current frames - but they're nice. i was hoping to find something green or blue, but why spend money on another frame? okay so it's mainly because i couldn't find something i like, but these are a nice pair. besides, i need to save money for more important things like my girls, christmas, and of course, yarn =) (notice i didn't say knitting supplies but specifically yarn).

i know, these aren't yarn pictures, but i'm at work. my camera battery is dying, so it may not survive the xfer, and i've just been too lazy to complete anything...

but i will leave you with this teaser, i completed a pair of socks. no only that, but i finished one sock in one day! amazing! i knwo i know... i'm working on finishing the bed socks again.

---end---

references:
http://eyeglasses.go-optic.com/store/eyeglasses/details.asp?id=18813
http://www.framesdirect.com/framesfp/Nine_West-tcogtj/r.html

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Christmas Knitting

Okay - so I've labored over what to do for Christmas/Holiday gift giving.

For knitters, it's easy... for non knitters, it's not so easy.

I made my then 6 month old nephew a sweater, which I've never seen him wear.
Last year I made a slew of scarves, a hat and some golf club covers...

This year I don't know what to do. I thought, "OOOOOOH socks! Who won't love a pair of hand knitted socks?"

Well apparently a lot of people wouldn't. :*(

So now I just don't know what to do. The only non-knitter that I know I'm going to make something for is my brother in law.

---end---

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

a new method of socks

i know i need to post pictures, I'll get to it... but i started to do a toe up sock pattern ! it look me about 3 different yarns and multiple times of ripping and swatching to figure out just what i wanted... but here it is disected..

pattern: first seen on grumperina, original pattern from craftoholic with math from universal toe up pattern from knitty
yarn: fearlessfibers.etsy.com, 100% merino wool in wisteria
needles: US 2 set of 5 dpns from skyrider
toe up method: figure 8 toe from knitty

modification:
1. toe up was not short row wrap
2. toe length was probably 2-3" long. i have long toes and since the pattern is somewhat lace, i wanted a good majority of the toes covered.
3. probably the heel will be a yo as opposed to a wrap. (see side bar)

thoughts about the new method - damn that's fast! and i LOVE how you can try them on. toe up sock and top down tops - gotta love them.

ps. all references to how-to's are located in the side bar under references. pictures to come soon!

---end---

Saturday, August 19, 2006

in the words of greg the bunny's count

a'ighit blah!

yes yes... so you wanna know why?

well, i f*ed up my salina... i did not swatch. i went to my lys and even the cashier was like "so you learned your lesson huh?" /me pouts

i also had to purchase (yes, i was forced to buy) more yarn because my swatch skien + tax did not equal $10. so, i bought sock yarn from cherry tree hill - dude talk about some tiny guage... i mean, they really mean fingering. but, it's a very nice soft yarn although not a subtle solid.

i personally prefer a thicker sock yarns, but everyone who handpaints is doing superwash... the fates are against me /me pouts again

so, i unravelled a new sock i'm trying (yes i know, my 3rd incomplete sock set) to use it on the cherry tree hill's burgundy superwash. (the sock is a SOMEWHAT lace patter and the varigrated yarn was detracting from the simple lace - too much going on).

so yeah... that sucked.

i'm thinking i'm going to move to the "speed demon" sized yarn (term from sweet georgia yarns) from now on... now, what to do with the 12 billion handpainteds i have... oh yeah, i should knit them /me rolls eyes

yeah i'm tired, i'm grumpy and instead of knitting like a maniac my first break from school - i'm ripping...

the salina
the orangina (wow that rhymed)
the new sock

and lord help me NOT to rip the cowl neck sweater i started 2 years ago...i'll just probably change that to dpns and take them off the circulars...

*deep breath*

this is going to be a short break filled with ripping...

---end---

Friday, August 18, 2006

executive decision...

okay... so i had a dream about yarn last night... okay yarn and patterns, i know i know, to a non knitter i'd sound crazy, but i swear i'm not.

anyway. the dream went like this.
orangina in takhai stacey charles' cotton classic ... RIP IT ... use it for knit and tonic's sizzle pattern
the ggh scarlett in wine that was ripped from a ribbed skirt from knitty ... USE IT ... for orangina

so i get into work, yeah i know i shouldn't have, i'll stay an extra hour today... and went straight to yarndex. i wrote out the yard/ball, stitches/4 inches, the total yardage i have in my stash/yarn type, the total yardage needed/pattern, and the stitches/4 inches for each pattern.

1. i have more than enough cotton classic for the sizzle (but i'm going to double check that)

2. i don't have enough scarlett for the orangina. i'm 76 yards short. since i like longer shirts, this isn't going to work. i'm going to have to get 2 new balls and pray that the colors are close enough. (i've already been burned by blue sky alpaca w. the same color number but VERY VERY different dye lot - but that's another story!)

3. i could forget the orangina... but only temporarily! and use the scarlett for a hat pattern that i bought from celia.etsy.com - although it's cotton, so how much give is there in that??? maybe i could do an odessa too... and give those away for christmas?

thoughts?

oh here's number 4.... i could make some dk weighted socks =) HAHAHAHHA

yeah, thoughts please?

---end---

oh yeah... and my photoalbum is about to drop me unless i order a print for my picture or buy membership. i have 4 freaking days... so, i'm hitting up my best friend, tim, to come save the day. *crosses fingers*

that's over 500 pictures and links that'll be lost! this weekend is going to be busy for me trying to salvage all of this stuff.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

look ma... i made a button

yes, i did...

look to the side bar under "me"

=)

---end---

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

I LOVE YOU KPIXIE

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

it is with great pleasure that i announce to you, world, that KPixie has not only agreed to special order me 8 skiens of Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport in Chocolate, but they're giving me a 15% DISCOUNT!!!!

*deep happy sigh* there is something right in the world...

so, i will be the proud mama/owner of chocolate shephard sport from lorna's laces...

i'm also tempted to asked them to special order me douglars fir (shown on the right) for the odessa hat by grumperina on mag knits. oh yeah, minus the beads (if you didn't get all that, it's okay b/c the link is here) but, should i keep spending? should i expect them to discount that special skien? but isn't the color beautiful? wouldn't the two look nice together?

and i dream on...

---end---

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

lorna's laces

okay, usually a substitute yarn means a few things
1. there's more yarn per the money meaning
2. it's cheaper or
3. you already have a stash
4. your picking a different material (so maybe up in price)

well meet chocolate from lorna's laces. it's 200 yards per skien at approximately $10/skien. 100% SUPERWASH wool with 6 sts/in (24sts/4 in).

I wrote kpixie asking if they do special order and offer discounts for bulk orders, i had to ask! i'm going to be buying 1600 yards, so that's pretty bulky =).

anyway, i saw this website which has a better color card since the pictures are much larger than lorna's website. so yeah... there are other colors i may consider... but, damnit, it's so expensive.

yes yes i know, stop looking for yarn.

references: yarn image is taken from yarn-store.com

---end---

not sure why i bother

but i'm on the hunt for yet more yarn... what? what is that? yes i know i just bought 1100 yards of 100% peruvian alpaca in a lovely olive green color that's dk weighted... yes i know i was supposed to use that for the somewhat cowl, but it's that g word.

guage it's haunting me. everything says gauge. now things are saying BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GUAGE, i tell you them g followers are getting pretty darn fanatical.

so now i'm worried that the weight of the yarn is SLIGHTLY thicker than the yarn they used. the feel of the sweater will be thicker/stiffer. how will it drape? (and that's another one of them haunting words)... you can't tell drape unless you knit the shit up and wash it...

so now, not only do you have to buy an extra skien to knit several different 5" (b/c the more the better and you need 1/2" for the garter stitched edged) swatches on various needles you have to WASH it before measuring it... so

1. pick your yarn (X)
2. pick your needles (a, b, c)
4. swatch x with a, b, and c
5. measure pre wash (all 3 of them)
6. wash (all 3 of them)
7. measure post wash (all 3 of them)
8. match the post wash guage to the finished guage they're telling you to have.
so if the yarn happens to relax after washing, then you need to knit tigheter b/c the washed swatch is how your guage will end up. so even though swatch C's prewash guage may be a match, swatch A's post wash guage may be the one you need....

SUCKY huh? hwat are you supposed to do? tag them before washing? BLAH

anyway, this is the one that's giving me trouble. i want this in dark dark brown. but, you need like 1600 yards (rounded up for swatchign purposes). try getting that under 40 bucks!

and yes, i mean soft yarn, not too much shedding, and hopefully non itch. and after hours of searching with red - NOTHING... it's become a mission. must find yarn

reference: image from vogue knitting Fall 2006

---end---

Saturday, August 12, 2006

knitting socks

i realized that i knot on circulars backwards... i didn't realize there was such a thing, but i discovered it when i went to lunch with red...

we both whipped out our socks and BAM... she was knitting with teh beginning closest to her, and i was knitting with the beginning furthest from me...

i didn't realize how much of a problem this was going to be. i've always knitting plain stockinette and lace as oppsoed to something that looks very different from the inside out.

anyways...

every time my pattern said knit, i had to purl. and DONT even get me started on the kitcher/graffting stick. that was a monstrocity. it basically looks the way it needs to ON THE INSIDE.

so yeah.

but the sock is done. i probably should block it a bit so it doesn't feel so cramped up in to toes?

so now... which sock to finish, jeanne's lace sock, or starting the 2nd one?

i'll probably finish jeanne's sock and give it to her when i see her on break (from school)???

oh yeah... and about hte hostility, i'm ready to be over it. it's really draining and just not good. red, thank you for your patience. i love you for it.

---end---

Friday, August 11, 2006

YARN IS HOME!!!

yay! all wonderful 10 skiens have foudn their way home... they weren't kidding when they said it would take up to 9 days... (it's taken 10 not including sunday and the 31st of july)... but it's okay b/c they're home now.

i've been debating whether or not to release my stash into the wild and just shelve them.... (ya know take them out of the plastic)...

i remember hearing on queer eye for the straight guy that you must immediately free your clothing from the plastic bags because the lack of oxygen kills the fiber...

so i'm wondering if the same is true about yarn? i guess i will look it up on snopes

this is the only thing i found... on google...

---end---

Thursday, August 10, 2006

lost yarn and love

hear yarnie yarnie yarnie original heading
yes it is tragic... but my 10 skiens of olive green 100% alpaca yarn are missing in the USPS system... either on a truck, on the wrong doorstep, or lost in a facility...

we are fortunate that the original owner is tracking the lost babies for me at the post office... what is it with them lately? everyone seems to be having problems?

but yes... please, let's all gather 'round and send some warm wishes and some yarn-hunting-home-finding vibes their way.

edit
i saw this in the profile of a friend of mine:
[x]Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot. - he does both

[x]Who calls back when you hang up on him. - we've worked out a deal (door signals)

[x]Wait for the boy who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats. - definately him

[x]Who holds your hand in front of his friends. - 99% of the time (except at work for some reason, but that's probably b/c i don't like it hahaha)

[x]Who thinks you're the prettiest when you have no makeup on. - definately him

[x]The one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you. - he does he does...

[x]The one who turns to his friends and says, 'That's her.' " - DEFINATELY him...

i'm lucky... thank you for loving me. thank you for it all.

*note: i know i never really talk about much other than knitting related things on here, so HIM is NOT alpaca, sheep, cashmere goat, yarn, notions, or an accessory =) just to clarify hehehe

---end---

knitting heinousness (spelling?)


^^ okay there is a picture there, just click the empty box... i'll republish it once my other program is running

just to be official and all - here's the permalink there's another picture of her ass in the air, but i thought i'd be nice and not post that.

um.... i just dont' know what to say... but EWWWW the very last thing I needed to see this morning was wendy's (from knit and tonic) boy underwear and cellulite... i mean god, at least have an ass... and even if the picture is blurry there's still cellulite! i mean, if you're going to take the time to edit people's comments on your blog, take the time to photoshop your damn legs. i mean, if your'e going to retake photos of you knitting b/c of "angles" get rid of the cellulite...

see, i normally visit this and 2 other blogs (red's and deliah's) in the am for morning inspiration... but omg... i think i want to throw up... gross...

i mean, i know women have stretch marks and cellulite and saggy boobs... but still. come on...



---end---

Sunday, August 06, 2006

blue sunday

okay, i did it again...

i read ANOTHER pattern incorrectly. i was feeling pretty damn upset, but i cam up with the bright idea of feeding a rip line through the knitting in the form of a much smaller 24" circular... so i ripped... then i realized... SOMEHOW, the ripping got tangled. the line i was ripping SOMEHOW ended up between stitched in the row i was ripping out. on top of that, i dropped my rip line a row 1/4 of the way towards the end. and... to make it worse, i fed the line through the left leg of the stitch, not the right, making all of my stitches backwards.

so, not only did i unravel 1/4 of the stitches to below where i was supposed to be, i had to flip 1/6 of the stitches while i tried to free my tangled yarn-to-ball. then i had to reknit the 1/4 of the stitches to get it back to where it was supposed to be... then i had to flip all 68 remaining stitches so i can knit them properly.

oh, how far did i have to go back? not nearly as far as the salina, but 2" - which, in the round, is a lot of hand cramping.

so, i'm just really pissed off/depressed/defeated. all my motivation... well the little i had left, is now gone. i want to retreat into a bottle of wine or a bubble bath.

---end---

Thursday, August 03, 2006

now i'm depressed

1. for personal reasons
2. for school reasons (not depressed just haven't found my groove...yet)
3.
god bathala i can't even say it...

i had to unravel 16.5" x 13" of knitting... DK knitting... yes yes, i had to unravel my salina... why? BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ THE DAMN PATTERN CORRECTLY....

and it's amazing how i talk myself into needing something that i don't (like my ring purchase earlier today), i seriously convinced myself that i kenw what the pattern meant. and no, don't even bother giving me the "but why didn't you just ask?" i didn't ask becuase i really thought i knew what the pattern was saying... ugh i don't even have the strength to keep writing...

---end---

not again

yes... i was week, i bought it. the largest disc is 1/2" in diameter.



---original post---

oh lord help me, i want go to shopping...

$26 for ring around the moon
$28 for silk wristlet
$32 for (knitting)bag

not including shipping for any of these items (3 + 2 + 6 respectively)= $96 FREAKING bucks...

DUDE... what's wrong with me?

i even get all sentimental/spiritual when i think about them... for example, the ring, i think "it's a symbol of continuity and self focus..." for the purse it's like a mission... why why why do i do that?

oh... and thank goodness for red's internet =) i makes me feel much better.

---end---

Thursday, July 27, 2006

banished from work!

okay, so you know how people take a smoke break, like ever 1/2 hour? i decided, since i'm working on salina from rowan vintage knits, to knit here and there.

and by here and there i mean:
-waiting for breakfast or lunch at the deli downstairs
-waiting for the printer or copier to print off 100 pages
-waiting for someone to give me back edits to a document...

well someone told my boss. i won't say someone "snitched" because i wasn't trying to hide it too much...but i have my (normally incorrect) theories on who said what. but again, it doesn't matter.

work is about perception. you look like you're busy if you're surfing online.
You look like you're busy if you walk around with a piece of paper in your hand and grumble to yourself (think george castanza from seinfeld). You look busy if you take a smoke break (at least i think)...

so, this knitter is now no longer allowed to bring knitting to work, yes that's right. it's not enough for me to NOT knit at work, I can't bring my materials with me period. I can't knit on the grounds of the building anywhere...

i know i know. you don't have to tell me.

...sneaking in a pick me up
my knit or die shirt (i know it's backwards, i took the picture in a mirror) and yet another picture of my sock yarn stash (oh dear how i want to nuzzle thee)



Tuesday, July 25, 2006

roller coaster, of yarn... roller coaster, woohoo hoo

okay so tell me why i don't plan... okay well i do plan, i had the full intention of buying rowan felted tweed, until i saw the $9/skein (which i need 6 for the sweater + 1 to swatch = $54). Then I found elsebeth lavold's silky wool for $7 (which i bought 6 = $42 w.out tax)... so i eagerly went in search of pictures, and found knitter's review had the same f*ing color! excitement abounds!!! *skipping* so the pictures are up on my knitting album.

anyways, i decide to READ the damn thing and sadness
1. it pills
2. it wears thin

but after talking to red and roomie ..
1. what doesn't pill (wool in general)
2. what doesn't wear thin with use (socks! elbows!)

oh and hilarity factor #2, there are two different vintage knit boosk... one by rowan (the one i'm talking about) and one by sarah dallas

hilarity factor #2, i actually want the sarah dallas book! but i didn't get it, i got the rowan one instead... so where we are talking about different patterns, different books, trying really hard to have a conversation about completely unmatching ... well everything!

---- original post ----

okay - so i'm trying to get a picture to post, but it's not working for some reason...

anyway, i went out and, on a lark, bought elsebeth lavold's silky wool - 6 skiens...(lord say it's enough) for the salina from vintage knits by rowan (see side bar for knitting photo album)

so, in thinking of red, who called me from a knitting store yesterday... my yarn-er in crime... i thought of this song as i impatiently waited for the yarn to post!

Adapted Chorus from Nelly Furtado's Man-Eater.... SING WITH ME NOW!!!!

Yarn-eater, make you feel yarn
Make you want yarn
Make you spend all for yarn

She's a yarn-eater,
make you buy yarn
make you knit yarn
Make you want to buy somemore

She's a yarn-eater, make you knit hard
Make you purl hard
Make you want to knit to guage

She's a yarn-eater
Make you feel yarn
Make you want yarn
Make you spend all for yarn

Wish you never ever met her at all!

---end---

Monday, July 24, 2006

quizilla - what color are you?







What Color Are You?




BLUES are motivated by INTIMACY, seek opportunities to genuinely connect with others, and need to be appreciated. They do everything with quality and are devoted and loyal friends and employers/employees. Whatever or whomever they commit to are their sole (and soul) focus. They love to serve and will give freely of themselves in order to nurture others lives.BLUES, however, do need to be understood. They have distinct preferences and occasionally the somewhat controlling (but always fair) personality of a confident leader. Their code of ethics is remarkably strong and they expect others to live honest, committed lives as well. They enjoy sharing meaningful moments in conversation as well as remembering special life events (i.e., birthdays and anniversaries). BLUES are dependable, thoughtful, nurturing, and can also be self-righteous, a bit worry-prone, and emotionally intense. They are like sainted pit-bulls who never let go of something once they are committed. When you deal with a BLUE, be sincere, make an effort to truly understand them, and truly appreciate them.
Take this quiz!








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Friday, July 21, 2006

pick me up...

take 2: red had good advice when she said, "you shoudlnt' post when you're upset." i had about 12 items on the crappy day listed, but cut it down to 5...

*sigh* i think i should sleep... anyway, here's the new post

---post---

okay, today was a pretty crappy day at work... on a personal note

1. i have a butt load of homework and a posting the professor wrote made me realize that paper i was brainstorming in my ehad was completely wrong

2. i found out my "art-ner" in crime is moving back home... to a land very very far away

3. i found out that my red's happy hour was today (well i should say i was reminded) and i couldn't go (b/c of work and school)

4. did i mention i have a paper to write?

5. cancelling brunch with old floormate because of working on sunday

so, i needed a little pick me up. i had mentioned fiber therapy (why did this one person think i was talking metamucil type of fiber when this person knows i knit?!??!?!)

when i got home i was greeted with my sockaholic purchase... and how cute is it that red's yarn was wrapped in plastic together and mine was wrapped in a separate bundle? it's like these yarns (FIBERS) were destined to be with us!

so here's my yarn stash... YES i know it's a grainy picture, but i put a protector on my camera phone lense - and it just so happens i put my fingers all over the sucker!... so yeah, protective cover + finger prints = grainy pictures but it makes ME happy and that's all that matters!



3 from fearlessfiber @ etsy
2 from celia @ etsy
2 from brooklynhandpunyarnsales @ blogspot
1 from g from nova knit wits
1 from two loops @ etsy / 1 from sunshine yarns @ etsy = can't tell which one is from which bc the colors are similar, but one of them is buried in the pile

---end---

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

and there's another one...


what is this chaos you say??? what is this skull and crossbones? no it's not pirates of the caribbean part 3 where knitters are pirates and fight with needles instead of swords...

it's a tshirt - yes that's right...

i gave in... bought the tshirt. it's from american apparel so i know i'll defintely fit in a small... because that's what my shirts on threadless are made from.

so there's another $16.50 (12 + shipping) down the knitting black hole... but, if i get this shirt in soon, maybe i can wear it friday at work? or sunday when i visit my old floor mate for brunch?

so what's next you say? what else am i going to drop money on? please, please, don't overwhelm me right now. i can't take the pressure.

it doesn't help that fellow gemini red is searching scouring ebay for alpaca or alpaca blends...

---end---

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

stop the insanity

omg omg omg there's so much i want to buy.... and bought....

okay, with what i bought...

say hello to sockaholic from fearless fiber @ etsy.... if you consider it the points of a star starting from the top it goes: me, red, me, me, red... yes, that's right, us yarn addicted folks have bought a bundle of sock yarn and split it. it should be here in two to three days... yes that's right, two to three days! excitement abounds...


this gem i found because red got a shirt (you'll be below) that was pretty hot...so i went looking and found this! i'm pretty much leaning towards the pink/black combo, but waiting to see the sizing measurements - etsy as well for 12


so this is a shirt similar to the one that red has (hers is blue t with green letter)... but i wrote in asking if this chick has any smalls. she has l and xl and i'm definately not that large! - another etsy buy for 20


this is a purse that's just gorgeous and i want it! hahahahha =) this is, of course, at etsy! it's 28, so i want to buy it.... but

i'm having brunch on sunday with ben at http://www.taqueriapoblano.com/menu.html - i haven't seen him in forever, so i should probably save money... but i really really want these *tears*

help! someone tell me what to do! the last 3 items would be 60... but i dont' get paid until the end of the month! ugh... food v. knitting! what's a girl to do?!?!?

---end---

TMB hat success

so, TMB love the hat! It's great and it's soft! TMB parent will be providing a picture of TMB in the hat soon...

which reminds me, i owe red pictures of gold strips... oi - since when did i become such a "yeah i'll get to it" type of person?

i have money and tempted to buy the sizzle i have money, but should i spend it? i guess i should knit a swatch with the yarn i have at home to see if it'll even work for the pattern...

how can i possibly think of other patterns when i've got like 5 projects needing completion?

oh and tell me WHY my roommate noticed that i only knit one sock and not the other? do i have a bunch of one sockers hanging around the house or something? maybe i'll make a clothes line hanging from my office ceiling (since the vents are on the floor) and hang all my socks so i don't loose them... all my single socks... *tears

---end---

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

ek gag!

or is it eek gad?

well whatever it is...
biking has been a challenge,
school has been a challenge
red just makes it all interesting with mitten designs when i'm in the middle of work =)

but, i felt like i was spinning out of control, but then I caught up on posting for school. now i have to read.

i'm on a mission to complete my paper asap so I can go to a party this saturday with my roomie and old floor mate.

but red, thank you.. thank you for helping me feel less insane!

oh, on the knitting update - orangina front has finished! the back portion can now begin!

---end---

Monday, July 10, 2006

my political view test results

okay - i have NO idea what any of this means, but my roommate says i'm evil ahahahahhaha gotta love these online tests they're so scientific *eye roll

oh the page said this about centrists "You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness. "

You are a

Social Liberal
(61% permissive)

and an...

Economic Moderate
(41% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Centrist




Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Sunday, July 09, 2006

quick post

i

h a t e

school

---end---

Saturday, July 08, 2006

knitting desires

it always happens that you desire things when you don't have money or just can't have them... well, here's my desire list...


<< this my friends, is the shell bag by lantern moon. it's for purchase at yarnmarket for $28.85

<< now this is another lantern moon beauty. it's called maya. and this is for pruchase at jimmybean's wool for $22










this gem is from all things heather, for purchase at kpixie for $21. it's knitted on size US3-5 and is what i like to call "speedy sock yarn" >>













<< this is from yarn botanica, pretty isn't it? it's got pretty neutral colors, but it's fingering... i'm very tempted to do socks with thicker yarn. but this is available at kpixie as well for $21

there are also a few bags from etsy that i like. the designer's name is angela liu - here are the links olive sakura tote for $75 and the matching wristlet for $27

yeah i know it's all so fucking expensive *sigh* but yeah... i want hehehehe

---end---

testing

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