Mangyle...my arch nemesis!

Mangyle, why do you hate me so? What have I ever done to you? I don't deserve to be taunted yet that doesn't stop you. Just when I get comfortable reading your chart and knitting with 3 different colors (only 3 colors...but 8 bobbins!), you screw with me by tangling and undoing my neatly wound homemade bobbins. You cause a level of frustration that makes me want to throw you across the room in aggrevation. You continue with these antics because you know that I will not give up on you. You know that I want nothing more than to conquer you. You laugh at the thought, but it will happen. I want you to submit!

Progress!

I have been making progress on my 2 WIPs this week but color work....I'm not so sure about it! Any tips? I haven't done very much of it and I'm afraid. So far, I don't feel like I'm very good. The color-work portion seems to be lumpy and tight in comparison to the stockinette body. Ick. I don't know how to fix this. Is this normal? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

As far my socks (sock) goes, I'm almost done with the foot of the first sock and will be forced to turn the heel. Ahhh...a lot of scariness with my projects lately. I have very specific instructions on how to make a basic heel, so I think I've got it under control for now...you'll probably hear me whine about in the next day or two ;-).

I have to say, I don't know why anyone wouldn't knit a sock toe up. It's awesome to be able to try it on as I go. I guess knitting a sock cuff down is like knitting a bottom up sweater. I always feel like I'm taking a gamble when I do that because it's hard to gauge fit when you can't actually try the piece on.

As I knit on the Mangyle and the sock, I daydream about swatching for my February Lady Sweater or my Central Park Hoodie. I'm not even exagerating when I say dream-- I'm literally dreaming that I'm winding my skeins of yarn to begin swatching. I know, I'm totally crazy! Oh well, I'm just selfish and want to knit sweaters for myself! I'm the only one who truly appreciates my knitted FOs. Well, that might not be totally true but I can appreciate all the hard work and time that goes into knitting them.

Good enough to wear!
So, last night, while watching True Blood, I decided to cut the bound off stitch edge of my Hey, Teach! I re-bound off with needles that were a couple sizes larger than what I used to knit the project and it seems to have fixed the problem. This morning I sewed on the buttons, with little reinforcement buttons on the back of the button band to anchor them down. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out!
I also started my very first pair of socks! I used the Magic Cast On with the Magic Loop method to start. I'm following Fleegle's Toe Up Sock pattern. Finally have a use for that lone skein of KPPPM that I had in my stash forever. Of course I had to buy a second skein to knit a complete pair. Hopefully, I don't get too bored and actually finish!

"Hey, Teach, how do I fix my tight neckline?"

I finished my Hey, Teach! yesterday morning. Once I completed the finishing, I tried my new sweater on and, to my dismay, the neckline was bound off much too tightly. Oh man....and I wove in all the ends so well that I can't find the end to rip the bound off edge back to re-do it. What to do, what to do....

I was thinking that I'd just snip a few of the stitches on the bound off edge and try to rip from there. Does that sound like a good idea? Any suggestions? Help! Once I'm happy with the neckline, I'll pick out buttons and sew them on.

I knit Hey, Teach! out of Knit Picks Shine Worsted. I've never knit a garment with this yarn before. I've noticed that it sheds a lot so I'm thinking that it will probably pill quite a bit. I'm wondering how it will wear shape-wise. Will it stretch out and loss it's shape? What's your experience?

My next project is Mangyle. I've cast on and knit a few inches of the back. The main color is black and the two contrasting colors are cream and gray. I've never knit a sweater this larger. I hope it doesn't take me forever. I'm just itching to start my February Lady Sweater!

I'm in the home stretch!


Almost done with Hey, Teach! I just need to finish up the second sleeve, attach them to the body of the sweater and add the trim. Yay!

I decided to make 3/4 sleeves instead of the pattern's short sleeves, seeing how it's Fall already. I used the modification found here to do so. Thanks stashnstitch for doing all the math! I'm about half way through the second sleeve at this point and hope to finish it today on my lunch break. Then maybe, just maybe I'll get to the finishing tonight. We'll see how far I get today.

I'd really like to finish because a) I want to wear it, b) there are projects in queue that I'm dreaming about! I'm speaking literally here....dreaming about! Is this normal? Does this happen to anyone else? Do I just not have enough of a life to warrant dreaming of something other than knitting? Well at least I'm not dreaming of shooting up heroin or something equally disgusting.

What are you knitting? What are you dreaming of knitting? Let's have a little contest to make me feel more "normal." Leave me a comment and tell me both what you're working on and what you're longing to work on. There's a prize for the winner! Go!

Buffalo's short for Alpaca...

Ok, well not exactly. I was in Buffalo, NY for a wedding this past weekend and couldn't resist visiting a few yarn shops. I got a couple of recommendations from the Buffalo Ravelry group: Have Ewe Any Wool and Knitting Karma. I really enjoyed my tine spent at Have Ewe Any Wool. It was a neat shop full of ladies talking about Ravelry! They had beautiful yarns and....an alpaca. I kid you not!

The shop had an event where a local farm visited bring along their yarns spun from their alpaca's fleeces. It was very lovely! And then there was an alpaca. Yes, an alpaca. He was a little skiddish but he allowed us to pet him a bit. He was adorable!


After my fun with farm animals, we headed over to Knitting Karma down the road. I was less impressed with their product selection but the women there friendly and very willing to help. Not to mention, they had animals too--2 green macaws! Buffalo LYSs are obviously animal-friendly!

Then the last stop was to Elmwood Yarns. Sadly, they are closed on Sundays so I didn't get to check them out. Sad day!

Today I had to see a hand specialist for elbow and wrist pain that I've been experiencing for the last month or so. On my way back to the office I decided to stop at A Good Yarn. I picked up a skein of Koigu PPPM. The colorway is close to the that of a skein that I already have in my stash so I figured that I'd try a pair of fraternal socks! Imagine that-- I was never interested in socks. We'll see.

I also picked up 3 skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in New Age Teal. Was able to find a dye lot that I already had 2 skeins of so I was very pleased! I plan on using this stash for the February Lady Sweater. Just another project in my endless queue!

Look What I Got!

It's a needle gauge pendant! The needle sizes are laser inscribed on the back! You can get your very own at Debra's Garden. I placed my order on Friday and it arrived yesterday! I ordered the Khaki/platinum color. I really wanted the sterling silver version of this unique multi-tasker but, alas, I do not have the means at the moment...This version will do!

I meant to put in on this morning but I was running late, as usual, and forgot! Darn it. Still knitting Hey, Teach! Haven't been too into it because I kept screwing up the lace on the back panel and needing to tink back and re-knit said rows. If only I would use a life line-- I'd be able to save a lot of time by safely ripping those rows out. Sigh.

I NEED frequent breaks to reward myself...

It's true. What I don't understand is why I need these breaks when I'm doing something that I enjoy/love. Make a little progress...take a break, make a little more progress...take a break. It's not like I'm doing anything productive during my breaks. It's like I have ADD and just can't keep focused for periods of time longer than 15 minutes. I don't get it.

I started Hey, Teach! from Knitty's Summer '08 issue. I loved it when it was released as one of the surprise projects. Usually I wait with bated breath for the surprises to be released and then get sort of disappointed when they arrive. It's not because I don't like the surprise projects per se, it's more like they just aren't spectacular, surprise-worthy projects. If they were release within the regular issue I might even really, really like them...know what I mean?

Anyways, I digress...I really liked Hey, Teach! the moment I laid eyes on it. Then Ravelry, of course, has pushed me over the edge. I checked out the 11 or so pages of FOs and decided that this project was to be CO as soon as I finished up my current projects.

Everyone raved on how this was such a fast knit so I was totally sold at this point. After I CO and knitting the first 8" of St st in no time flat, I agreed that this was a fast knit. Then I got to the lace portion.

Charts have always boggled my mind. I don't understand the concept of the "repeat the section in the red box" part of the instructions. Finally I get it know. It took me several tries, tinking back several times here and there, before I had any success with the lace pattern. This lead to numerous breaks! Though I understand why I needed these breaks.

I feel like if I had really put my mind to it I could have accomplished so much more on this project but, alas, I did not. Not to mention that having a horrible cold doesn't help productivity. Sneezing a million times, having to blow my nose even more and the constant need for nasal spray all really cut into the time allotted to knit!

Hopefully, I'll make a good dent in this project this week.

Isn't she cute?

She's been sent to NY for my mom to gift away!

Oh, Baby!

Before I started another garment for myself I thought that I'd knit a baby sweater for one of my mom's coworkers. I promised awhile ago but life got so busy that it just didn't happen. The baby has actually already been born (3 weeks ago!) so I really wanted to knit this one up quickly so I can get it to NY for my mom to give.

I decided to knit the Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater. I cast on Friday night and started actually knitting on Saturday. I'm almost done! One more sleeve! I'm knitting this sweater in Red Heart Ltd. Designer Sport in Blush Rose. It's turning out to be really cute.

Disclaimer: I'm really not into babies. As a matter of fact, I don't really like them-- they freak me out. But their clothing...freaking adorable, not to mention total instant gratification projects.

Blocking, pulling, stretching, and more blocking!

That's what I did to my Hexacomb Cardi and it seems to have worked! I got the sleeves blocked and then last night I sewed them into the armholes. There was a little finagling but it worked out for the most part.

As predicted, I don't love this sweater. It's ok, but at least it's finished and I can move on to something bigger and better. Of littler...

Last night I began swatching for a baby sweater for one of my mother's coworkers. Hopeully I van finish that fast and move onto something for me! I know, what a selfish bitch I am!!!

Guess what? I don't care.

Do You See What I See?

What's wrong with this picture? Mmmmmmm....do the set in sleeves look like they'll fit in the armhole? Don't think so! The sleeve caps are much too small. WTF!?

I've been working on this f'ing cardi all summer and when it's finally time to put the pieces together they don't even fit not to mention that it's at least a size too big. I'm blocking the sleeves right now in hopes that I can get a couple of inches out of those bitches so I don't feel like I've wasted the entire summer's knitting on a frogged project! Cross your fingers for me please.

So irritating....

Oh well. I'd like to start Hey, Teach! from this Summer's Knitty.com. I'm thinking of using my supply of Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Grass for this one. Gotta swatch-- we'll see.

It's Been Awhile...

and I didn't even realize it!!! I feel like I just posted. The summer has really flown by. I feel like though I was really, really busy I didn't get to do anything for me. I've been busy for 7 out of the the 8 weekends doing family, obligatory stuff. Not that I even mind but I'm exhausted and I haven't accomplished nearly enough for myself. Selfish, huh!?

I'm still working on my Hexacomb Cardi. Before I seamed the shoulders, I tried it on and it was too big so I ripped back a bit and then did a three-needle bind off. Hopefully that helps a bit. Now I'm working on the first sleeve.
I bet it's going to be too big on me...but it's not like anything I knit for myself turns out the way I envisioned it anyway. What a waste of knitting time....I don't get it. My gauge swatch was even a bit on the small side yet the sweater itself is loose. This always happens to me! Well, I'm going to finish it and if it doesn't fit me I will find someone that it does!

There's so much that I want to knit and I hate wasting time on pieces that don't fit or look nice on me.

Tattoo Review

So the summer's got me thinkin'...I see all these scantily-clad boys and girls bopping around my neighborhood showing off their body art...and I want more ink. I've got the itch and now I want to scratch it. Only problem is that my artist is booking out until November. So much for instant gratification!

So to make myself feel better, I'm going to celebrate the art that I DO have! Here it goes:

The top center piece was my first (Oct 1998-9?). I found the image in a Mehndi henna design book. I held onto it for long enough that I figured I was ready to put it on my body permanently. It was done by Tattoo George of The Portsmouth Tattoo shop in Portsmouth NH.

Then a few years later (Sept 2001 & Jan 2002?), I felt like I was ready to add to it! I had a roommate that had recently graduated from RISD and was a fabulous artist. He and I came up with the concept and the rough sketch of the larger piece to go below my first.I met with Fat Ram of Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo in Jamaica Plain, MA to finalize the sketch and we completed the tattoo in two sessions.

Then the shoulder idea came along. I came upon some plum flowers and peonies in a Chinese brush painting book that I had forever and all of a sudden the idea was born. Through some research I found that I like Japanese cherry blossoms better and went to see Darlene Dibona at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo (April 2006). I get tons of compliments on this piece.

My maternal grandfather passed away March 2007. It was a horrible time for me. The thought of that night still brings tears to my eyes. I've never been much for memorial tattoos but I for some reason I really needed to do it. My Pop was an amazing man who lived 30 years with heart disease. He was a strong yet sensitive person who played an important role in my life. I wanted to have something that would always remind me of the good times. I chose a (healthy!) anatomical heart image to be tattooed on the inside of my right wrist by Justin, also at Fat Ram's (see my loyalty to local business!) in August 2007. He did an amazing job with the detail of this tiny piece. When people see it they think that it's weird but I love it for many reasons and always will.

Here's a bit of a funny Christmas present from my best friend! We've been trying to do things together for the last few year fro Christmas rather that exchange presents. It's so much more practical and less to travel home with!We chose a protection symbol-- the seven-pointed star and we both got the same image tattooed. I got mine on the inside of my left wrist and she got hers on her left hip. We had them done at Stingray Body Art and Tattoos by Ray (Dec 2007). Not only did he do a lousy job and totally overcharge us, he was the most unfriendly, impersonal artist that I've ever met. I've had thoughts of going back and having it touched up but he did a shit job the first time so I'm not sure if he'd do much better with a second go around. I guess you win some, you lose some...unfortunately it's a visible piece.

The Vitruvian Man, one of my favorite Leonardo DaVinci sketches ever! The original resides in Venice, Italy but is only shown on special occasions. Being that I've worked, in one way or another, in the health care field for the last ~15 years, this image has always been prevalent in my life. So I decided that it was something that I want on my body. Again, it's the work of Justin at Fat Ram's (Jan 2008). It's not straight up black-- he muddied up the black with brown to achieve the actual tones of the original. I love it. Hurt like a bastard but I love it!

Then my latest (May 2008) is my lovely Day of the Dead Skull done by Dee at Great Southern Tattoo in Alexandria Va. She whipped up her own rendition of a dia de los muertos skull with my input. It's over the Achilles' tendon on my left ankle. I've gotten mixed reactions to this one. Some think it's lovely and actually know what it is, and some think it's hideous. Oh well. I love it!

So that's all for now...I'm sure that there will be more to come. It's addicting.

Rest

I had a very restful weekend, finally. I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off so I really needed the rest. But resting doesn't give me a lot of content to blog about!

I did knit a little. I'm still working on my Hexacomb Cardi. I just finished the first 8" or so. I'm up to the point of separating the front and back. To tell ya the truth, I want to be wearing this sweater and not knitting it at this point. But I will keep on keepin' and finish this cardi.

I don't know what is next up in my project queue. I kind of like this but will I be done with it in time to actually wear it before the Fall rolls around? I have a great charcoal color for it but I'm not sure. We'll see.

Bridal shower, pole dancing and margaritas-- in that order!

Rebecca's bridal shower went very well on Saturday. Unbeknown to Rebecca, I volunteered to meet a friend of Rebecca's at the airport whom I'd never met. I totally made a bright pink sign with her name on it so she could find me easily, not to mention that I thought I was being funny. Since I was picking up the surprise out-of-town guest from Logan and her flight was delayed, we ended up getting to up to Salem, NH after Rebecca already arrived. That was a bummer but she was really surprised to see her friend Edith from Chicago walk in with me!

I pretty much missed all the delicious food I'd help select due to my tardiness but what I did get to shove in my mouth was pretty tasty. I thought that the cake was ugly as sin but reports show that it tasted better than it looked, thankfully. Looks like the bride to be liked it-- that's really all that matters!

If you notice in the picture above, there's a lovely flower arrangement behind the hideous cake. This pic doesn't do the arrangement justice. Jamie found these gorgeous watering cans to use as centerpieces and Rebecca's mom, Ellen, actually arranged the flowers. She did a beautiful job. I'm telling you, it looked as if a professional did the arrangements-- gorgeous.

Now it's safe to show the shower favors and the finished garter! The favors were filled with one of Bec's favorites-- conversation hearts. The garter turned out nicely and I just loved the Swarvoski crystal in the center of the bow. Of course when she opened my present, she had to point out to everyone that I made the garter and the stole...embarrassing (blush).

So her "something blue" in now covered with the garter, along with a funny pair of blue boy-short undies that say "Newlyweds" given by Jamie. Her "something borrowed" will be Jamie's veil, her "something new" will be her dress, and her "something old" will be my great grandmother's wedding band.
If there was a "something handmade" she'd be all set-- tenfold! I'm really happy that I could do this stuff for her. She's so excited about the wedding and I'm glad that I can help make it really special.

After the shower and some bridal party/family time, we headed back to town to take a pole dancing class. It was hysterical. Don't tell anyone but I'd definitely take the class again (shhh). Unfortunately, all pics taken were with my friend's camera so I don't have anything to post....maybe that's a good thing!

After our hour-long class were were famished and grabbed a bite at the Cactus Club. Margaritas and empanadas....yummy way to end a long, hot day!

NYC, take 2

I'm exhausted. I'm clearly getting too old to party into the wee hours of the morning. I was all over the city (NYC), for the second weekend in a row, for my best friend's bachelorette party. We had a great time. It was a blast to get all dolled up, have Martini's and Manicures at The Beauty Bar, dinner at Agave, and hit up some bars with my ladies. My body is not used to being out or even up at 4am these days not to mention the amount of alcohol consumed! Guess I'm not getting any younger.

Not much creativity going on this weekend with all the debauchery I engaged in. Though creative thoughts were plentiful. I made Rebecca pick out the materials for the garter ("something blue") that I'm making her at M & J Trimming. I could have spent hours in that place but it wasn't my party! I pinned out the lace, elastic and ribbon last night. Just need to sew it together and tack on a bow. Doesn't look like much so far. Pics to come after it's assembly!

I've made a bit of progress on my Hexicomb Cardigan. I like the knitting the hexigons-- it's easy but interesting enough at the same time. Can't wait to be able to wear it!


I also worked on Rebecca's shower favors for next weekend but I'm not going to show them until after the event...I don't know if she reads regularly, but I'm not taking any chances!

Done
Trip to NYC, done.

Wisp, done.

Hexacomb Cardi cast on, done.

Me wearing my tailored Ravelry tee, priceless.

Revenge...well, sorta, kinda

Ravelry betrayed me and sold out of the tee I wanted so desperately before I even knew that it was being sold. I swear that I dreamt about it the week before seeing it in the Ravelry Mini-Mart. Oh well. I was bitter for awhile and then decided to use all my negativity for the good of myself (not selfish at all, right!?)!!! I ordered the version of the tee I would have died for in a plus-size (1X). I knew that it would be too big but I was ready with my Singer to rectify the situation! I took in the sleeves and the sides to match my own measurement and, viola!, I now have a Ravelry tee that fits yet still exhibits how bitter I am! So take that Ravelry!!!!

So Wisp is almost done. No progress pics but she should be done shortly and I'll post pre and post blocking pictures for all to see. Most ikely I'll finish it over the long weekend and block it sometime next week.

I'm in the process of casting on for IK's Spring issue's Hexacomb Cardigan. I have half the stitches cast on at this point and just can't wait to get into the actual knitting. I loves this sweater from the moment that I saw it in the Spring issue. Actually there were quite a few pattern that I loved in the particular issue of IK, more so than most. I'm going to make this little cardi monochromatic rather than with a contrasting edging. I'm using Lion Brand Cottonease in Taupe. I figure it'll match a lot of my summer sundresses and cover my shoulder tattoo at work-- multi-functional!

Well, I'm off tonight to NYC for the long weekend. Can't wait to see the fireworks tomorrow from the FDR! Happy 4th to all.