Super Sockpal!

I received my sockpal socks today! They are wonderful!



Pattern: Curvy Lace Socks
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton

My socks were knit by the lovely Kris. I read that she was very anxious about the finished product, and what I would think of it, but I love them! Thank you so much! They are so soft, and if it wasn't 100 degrees here, I would never take them off!

Kris also included the lovely pattern cards from the Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits. What a cute idea these notecards are! And I will (of course) keep some for myself! Such a nice surprise!

I was trying to decide if I wanted to do something like this again, and this has made up my mind. I worried about my socks, but I know that just receiving something handmade is worth all the effort (and worrying) I put into my socks!

I have to admit, that I thought I had "figured out" who was making my socks - someone was making cotton socks in some of my favorite colors, and while those turned out to be beautiful socks, I love the surprise of these! I think next time I will make no specifications, so as to not stress out my pal (sorry Kris!) and to get more of a surprise.

Again, I luuuuuuuurrrrrrrvvvvvvvveeeeeeee my socks! I'll try to get a modeled shot tomorrow!

Trying to fight the urge to cast on for a pair for myself (well, another pair.....)

Fall? Cleaning

Today DH and I cleaned. Now, for those of you who aren't lucky enough to really "know" me - I'm not a cleaner. Don't get me wrong - I hate messes, and I love the feeling that comes with being organized and seeing the actual surfaces of furniture. But, say there are a few days worth of dishes in the sink. Eh. I'll get to them. When they overflow the sink I usually take care of them. (we have no working dishwasher - human or machine!).

So I washed them today and then started scrubbing the sink. DH says "use the soft scrub stuff - it'll take care of that." Where this mysterious product came from, I know not. But it lives under my sink. I got it out. I squirted it inot the sink. Wow. That's just about all I could say was Wow. My sink wasn't this clean when we bought the house! It's a miracle! I'd take a picture, but there are already dirty dishes in it.

We also cleaned the counters, the stove and straightened the rest of the house.

Finally, DH made me chairs (and my made I mean put together!) to go with my table I put together yesterday. See, we were in Target Thursday night and I walked past this table and chair set that was on clearance for $20 - something from their collection of "back to school" items. I've been looking for a cheap plastic folding table to put my sewing machine on so that it doesn't live on the dining room table (and we can actually dine on that table!) but couldn't find one in my budget. Hello, $20? Totally in my budget. DH resisted the purchase, asking where I was going to put it - making some rude remarks about not being able to resist anything on sale, you know.....



It's perfect. It fits in front of the built in bookcase in our study/craft room/guest room perfectly (right next to my desk). The yarn "hampers" fit perfectly underneath it and DH installed that little shelving unit on the wall (we used 1/2 for the pantry over a year ago and this one had been in the garage unused). I've got one shelf for each craft - knitting, sewing, beading and cross-stitch/embroidery. Oh, and the boxes of fabric fit under the table too. The cord to the sewing machine just reaches the plug and I can push it out of the way to do beading. What more could a girl ask for? (Besides a craft room full of nothing but crafts!)

I also worked on inventoring my kiddie books - I only did one box (of 4) and have 212 already. Yikes.

Oh, Knitting? You want the knitting? Well, I am through the second skein of yarn on Clappy and through 12 of the straight row repeats. DH is winding the third skein for me, so no knitting on that until it is wound. I cast on for the second half of I Do tonight, and will probably have it done by early next week. It moves along so quickly! (Knock wood)

I'm a little concerned though. Today it was over 100 degrees. Yes, you read that right. Yes it is mid September. 100 degrees. Again tomorrow (aren't we excited). If it keeps up like this she will pass out from heatstroke if she wears a wool shrug. So do I go ahead and give it to her anyway, knowing she won't be able to wear it (without dying), or find some other use for it? I think she might just wear it as an "everyday" shrug, so I'm thinking I'll give it to her with the idea that it will get worn at some point, even if not at the wedding.

I also organized all the knitting projects into the cute bag/holder/thing that mom gave me for my birthday. Now they all live (in their plastic bags) next to the couch (instead of strewn across the coffee table).

I finished the bookbookbook2 today. It's lovely. I laughed, I cried, I loved it. Now I have to wait until March for bookbookbook3!

Not-So Heavy Metal

First - let me calm all of your fears from last night - I wasn't really drunk, just slightly intoxicated. I had a very difficult week, one I don't wish to recant here as I'm trying to forget about it. (See mom, I'm not an alcoholic!)

Now, on to the knitting!

Mom opened her birthday present yesterday, so I can show you part of the contents.



Aren't they cute? She loves her doggie, and blue is her favorite color (at least, the color of half of her wardrobe! Love you mom!), hence the blue beads. I hope they fit her current project needles.

Aside: Any tips for taking better pictures of small bead items? I just can't seem to get the camera to focus on something that small. I'll work on it.....

I sent my socks out the same day, so I'm hoping my pal will have them soon. Then I can finally show you the secret project!

Two languishing knitting projects have had a renissance this week with one simple modification. I switched my Ruffles Scarf and my Ankle Sock from bamboo needles to metal needles. Wow. All of a sudden these knits are flying along. Something about the cotton yarn and the bamboo = bad combination. I was very reluctant to work on these because it took so damn long to get the stitches from one needle to the next. Now I'm zipping along. Although I could possibly go insane looking for progress on that scarf. It's going to take FOREVER.

Speaking of the scarf, I joined the Scarf Style Knit-a-Long. I'm not much of a joiner, but I thought this might be a good way to "meet" other knitters and I'm already making the project. I've always been a bit jealous of those who see a new pattern and immediately cast on for it and join the knit-a-long. If I did this I'd have 50 projects on my needles.

Speaking of projects, there may have been a new one started (I know, I know!) today. But no pictures = no proof. :)

A few days ago skein was my word of the day from Wordsmith. I had a little chuckle - as if I need this defined for me! Ha!

Finally, I've got to run. You see a few days ago DH ordered me this. It arrived last night and he brought it home. Must go finish reading it now. It's wonderful (as I would expect!).

Take me drunk, I'm home

And even more profunditity. (No, not profanity) It's been a rough week. My tequilla and I are going to bed now. I promise more excitement tomorrow. Only if the dogs stop barking at the neighbors.........

100!!!

Welcome to the 100th post! I can't believe I made it this far......

Lots of excitement here....

First a lovely FO photo:



The sockpal socks look so much better washed and "blocked" (as much as you can block superwash wool). They are much softer and still pretty. They went in the mail today along with the super secret project, some extra yarn and a postcard DH selected of Fort Worth.

Also mailed today was mommie's birthday gift - you'll have to wait for pictures though, since I wouldn't want her to see it before she gets it! (Haha - thought you were going to see it early.....never!)

Did a bit of beading last night - I'll show you what tomorrow. It's very pretty.

I know I had a great deal more to say when I sat down to write this, but then one of my peeps called (Jen - Jess is alive!) and I got distracted.

Didja know that the Lobby of Hobby has their knitting books, needles and notions 1/2 off this week? Can you believe that I went there and purchased NOTHING! DH couldn't believe it either.

Hmmmm, shouldn't this post be full of the reflection of the 100th load of crap, er, blogging goodness.......hmmmmmm

OK, must go watch some O.C. (almost done with season 2 - then I can start watching new episodes!) and knit. I have to say that all this "teaching" stuff is really cutting into my knitting time. But boy howdy it's fun.

Cupcakes anyone?

cupcake hat
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Here it is, the finished cupcake hat.
Details:
Pattern: Cupcake Hat from Chile Con Yarne.
Yarn: Knitpicks Merino Style in Strawberry, Petal and Crocus.
Needles: Clover Bamboo Sz 7 DPN's
Started: Wednesday September 7.
Finished: Friday September 9 (except for pom pom - added Sunday).

Knitty Gritty: Great pattern - very cute, super easy. The only trouble I had was with the "nubbles." I've never done any kind of bobble, so this was challenging, mostly because I didn't quite understand the pattern, but I figured it out. You knit into the stitch, pull your yarn out and put it back on the left needle (like you're casting on). Then put your right needle into that stitch you just made and repeat until you have five total stitches (including your original). Then BO 4 stitches so that the first original stitch is on the right needle.
I was confused here, I thought you had to BO all four stitches at once, but nope - one at a time. They do have a tendency to "hide" when you knit the next row (they move to the back), but you can pull them forward.

You can see a modeled shot here. Cute, yes?

Wendy posted today about multiple projects. I have to have multiple projects, or I think I would go crazy. I don't know how some people only have one or two projects going at the same time. I think I'd get so sick of them that I wouldn't want to knit. This way I have choice for my knitting ADD. I also read more than one book at the same time - I'm guessing the two are realated.

Fancy Yarn

Well, that's what Target calls it. And I'm really not a "fancy" yarn person. I'm using some fun fur for the cat bed, and I really think that it's why I don't want to work on it - I don't like knitting with it. However, I was sucked in by this Target yarn. It just looks so much like fall, and I'm aching for fall here (since temps this week should be in the 92-95 degree range). I think it will make a pretty fun scarf, and if I don't like it, I'm sure I can gift it to one of DD's teachers.



The real question I have is: what size needles to use? Any tips?

I finally saw the Knitty Gritty Sock episode. I watched once back in January, long before I was ready to attempt socks, and forgot much of it. I tried TiVoing it several times, but they had their signals crossed, and even though the TiVo said it was the sock episode, it was the Knitting for the Home episode. Anyway, after much of this, I finally sucessfully watched it yesterday. And boy was I disappointed. I was surprised to see that I already knew how to do everything they were talking about (but it did make me feel good about my knitting abilities!). I've noticed that while I really enjoyed watching this show when I was first learning, now it seems a little cheesy to me. Hopefully they'll have new episodes sometime soon and they will be aimed at more intermediate/advanced knitters.

We watched Diamonds are Forever tonight. DH is appalled that I have only seen one James Bond moive (the one with Halle Berry which he says doesn't count), so I agreed to watch them. I wasn't really impressed by this one, but he said it's his least favorite Connery Bond one.

Finished cupcake hat photos tomorrow!

Harmony

So there is a 99% finished cupcake hat sitting on my coffee table, but due to my lack of foresight during my visit to JoAnn's today, I do not have a pompon maker, so the cupcake has no topper. Hopefully tomorrow.

Watched History of the World: Part 1 today and DH was amused at the "lady of the night" who was out of wool, and knitting air.

Spent some time knitting the Clappy tonight - so refreshing to return to an UFO that I love! I need to finish up "I Do," but I'll work on it next week (maybe).

I was sort of planning to go to the DFW Knit Out and Crochet today, but did not want to drive to Dallas all by myself. However, now I'm stuck with the Charity scarf I was knitting to take with me, and no place to donate it to. Any ideas?

There may also have been a visit to Target for cat litter, in which I ended up forgetting the cat litter and buying yarn. I'm so weak......I guess it's a good thing DH didn't want to run errands with me today! But yarn! At Target! More about that when I have a picture to show you. For tonight, you get to see my baby (Miles) who took a wee little rest on the couch with the kitty (who until recently couldn't stand him). Aren't they cute?

Guess What?

Cupcake Hat
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Why do the pictures not look blurry until they're uploaded? I swear, this one did not look blurry on the camera. Damn.

Anyway, on to the knitting - It's too bad the caption totally gives away the "surprise" knitting for today (I know y'all were on the edge of your seats!). Yes, it's the cupcake hat.

So, this made 13! (gasp) projects on the needles, but I needed something quick and easy. And the yarn had just come in that lovely knitpicks box. Love you knitpicks. I'm using the Merino Style. Soooooooooo soft. Can't wait to make something for myself with this goodness. I think it is perfect for little baby heads too.

This is just the "cup" portion of the cupcake. I'm using "Petal" for the "cake" part - more progress has been made since the photo-op earlier this evening. (More would have been made if USA hadn't taken away my L&O: SVU for the damn tennis! When is it over? Hating the tennis.)

I had a bit of trouble figuring out the "nubble" portion of the pattern, but I solidered on, and resoved it with only minor cursing.

There has been more knitting this week, but it is the rest of the supersecret sockpal knitting, so I can't show you. But soon! I'm thinking I'll mail the socks early next week (Hey, Alison said we could!!), but I need to wash them first - tomorrow. And I need one more goodie for the package. Fun to surprise someone!

And I totally forgot until I read on someone else's blog (sorry, I forget who) that I get socks too! Woo Hoo!

I've been meaning to give props to one of my favorite online shops (no, not knitpicks). It's Yarnies.com. Cher, the owner, is super nice, readily communicates with you via the email, has extremely reasonable shipping rates, and is speedy. All great traits. With the last tiny bit of the birthday money, I ordered the Flower Basket and Leaf Lace shawls.

I love how Fibertrends presents their patterns. (Perhaps this is naive, since I haven't purchased individual patterns before). I like that they come with a real photo, in a sleeve protector and on heavy weight paper. Worth the $$ for this kind of quality.

Speaking of patterns, the new fall Knitty and Mag Knits are up. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with the Mag Knits - the only thing I'm leaning toward is Picovoli, which I was wanting to make in it's first incarnation (Tivoli) for a while anyway. But I am excited that they will have new patterns up every month - something to look forward to!

I'm glad that I like the patterns in Knitty. I was a bit disappointed with the "man" issue, mostly because I couldn't see myself making ANY of those things for my man. I really like Samus and have some lovely orange Cotton-Ease that I might try it in. I love the orange.....This would be my first attempt at cables - I think it'd be a good starter project, but heck, I can always be wrong.

I also really like Josephine, but considering my current finished object rate, this would take me YEARS (and probably cost a fortune!). I'm thinking that Flora would make a cute gift for someone, and I like Falling Leaves 'cause I'm in a sock phase right now.

OK, must drag myself off to cut out teddy bears, color and make a "person." The work of an (almost) Kindergarten teacher is never done.

You know we're halfway there

Half of "I Do"
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

After much frantic knitting yesterday, the first half of "I Do" is finished. I told myself that if I got this finished, I could work on other projects this week, since I have a few weeks to have the whole thing done.

I had some confusion about the splitting for the back, but the tutorial at the "I Do" KAL helped. I recommend it (as long as they keep the blog up).

I have to admit, that I'm a little bit sick of the pattern though. It is predictable and easy, but BORING! And with an 18 row repeat, it never seems to end. The flat pattern did seem to work up more quickly, but that could just be that you seemed to start over every 9 rows instead of 18. We'll see how the second half goes.

In other knitting news, the ankle sock got ripped back to the cuff yesterday. I just wasn't happy at all with the giant hole, and, in an effort to avoid ladders, I was working the next two stitches off of the next needle as I went around (does that make sense?), but I was getting random loose stitches and it made the sock look yucky. So it got ripped. And I'm just past the heel now. The hole isn't there - I think what happened is that that was where the heel met back up with the "foot" of the sock after the short rows, and that was where I had joined the second color, so even though I'd done 3 rounds in green before starting the heel, it still wasn't tight enough. I added two more rows pre-heel, and all seems to be right with the world.

I did end up with eight extra stitches on one side of the heel though.......I just K2tog every round until I was back down to 52 stitches, but weird! Where did they come from? I didn't increase any? And does it matter that 8 was the number of stitches left unworked as I did the heel? But why were they all on one side of the heel? And will this matter in the long run? I'm hoping not, but we'll see. I'll keep trucking on.

Any hints for how to make the purl side of the heel look better in short row heels? The first time I purled through the front, and while it did leave a small stitch on the outside, I didn't think it so bad. This time I purled through the back, and I have tiny little holes around each stitch. Yuck. Really don't want to rip the ankle sock back any more, but I just might not be able to live with it.

I may or may not have cast on for a new project tonight......I'm not saying.....

PS - Does anyone know how to respond to comments with blogger? I can't email people directly back after they leave a comment, and I really don't want to have to go to each person's blogger profile. Any hints? I *heart* comments!

Movie night

Knitting has been sparse this week, as I adjust to the new "job." I promise new pictures in the next few days.

Last night, in an effort to appease DH, we went to see The Constant Gardener. The ankle sock went along. DH said "If you wanted to knit, we could have stayed at home." Nice, huh? But I did knit during the movie, my first KIP movie experience. It all went very well, even though I had fears of huge mistakes.

The movie was great - very powerful, and made me very upset about our government - but I'm trying to keep politics out of the knitting. I highly recommend it.

Tonight, during knitting time, I watched "Finding Neverland." It was very good - I like the way they tied the "real" story of the boys and J.M. Barrie to the creation of "Peter Pan." It was beautifully shot and Johnny Depp was great - of course.

Off to bed with my sinus headache -oh how I hate the allergies......

Holey Moley

Tons of excitement around these here parts. Stayed up way too late last night going through the knitting books/mags marking "yes" "maybe" and "gift" with delightful Post-it flags.

Today I added to the WIPs list on the sidebar there - and I miscounted yesterday. I have 10!! objects on the needles. One is not pictured in the sidebar b/c it is super-duper top secret. It is a second, special gift for my Sockpal, and if I say what it is it will be pretty obvious to the lovely knitter it is intended for (who knows if she even reads my blog, but I don't want to chance it). I'll post pictures of it after she has received her package. :) Surprises are fun!

Received another lovely package in the mail today - yarn from Knitpicks for the delightfully cute Cupcake hat - Merino style in Blush, Strawberry and light yellow (Lemon?). It is v. soft, though the strawberry seems too orange. But DH thinks it looks fine, and it's for his friend's kiddo anyway. I also slipped one tiny little "end of the birthday gift $$" item in the shopping cart - Lucinda Guy's new book. It is delightful! I love the cute illustrations (the teacher in me) and the stuffed toys. Some of the items are a bit intimidating b/c of all the colorwork involved (and I've not advanced beyond striping), but it's a goal for next year. And now I can make my cute nephew a stuffed dog for xmas to go with his dinosaur.

If you want this book, I recommend you buy it from Knitpicks. Amazon said they could not get it when I was trying to order it from them (buttheads), plus it is 32% off at Knitpicks! You only have to buy $15 more to get free shipping!

Also in my Knitpicks package was yarn for DH's felted hat, and a sample ball of the new fingering weight yarn, Palette. I was hoping to use this for the Union Square Market Pullover from Fall IK, but it is a bit scratchy (not that I really expected any differently - it's 100% wool). I think I'll swatch it up for kicks and see how it knits up, and if a cold bath helps out. I ordered "Apricot" and I'm thinking of using "Blush" for the trim, if it knits up nicely. Another thing to add to the list!

OK, the "real" point of the post today (and the title) is this:

A GIANT hole in my ankle sock (does the word ankle look misspelled to anyone else after they look at it a lot?). First, let me say I am loving the pattern, I am loving the short row heel (my first one!), but I am not loving the GIANT hole it left on one side of the ankle. I cannot figure out why the hole appeared. I did not drop a stitch, the crazy fiber eating (only completed objects, and so far no personal knitting) border collie did not get hold of it. It's just there. GIANT. I'm hoping I can kind of fix it, but I'm really not sure how. Is this common in short row heels? GIANT holes? Anybody?

Did I mention that the hole is GIANT? Just checking. Did I mention that I can stick my finger into it? Just checking. GIANT.

GIANT. HOLE. love sock. hate hole. need solution. GIANT.

~~~~~~~~
I apologize for the blurry pictures lately. Don't look blurry until I upload them to the computer. And ineveitably, by then it's dark outside, or I'm too lazy to retake the photo. I'll work on it.

Doldrums

So the summer blahs have finally gotten to me. Last night, I came home, read blogs, posted, ate dinner, and DID NOT KNIT. Is something wrong with me? Did my fingers fall off? No, I just didn't want to work on any of my current WIPs. And there are no less than 9!! on the needles right now (I know they're not all on the sidebar - I'm working on it!).

It's just too damn hot to knit with wool, which are most of the projects. (And DH has been home for two nights in a row, and I can't have TV control when he is home. Must work on knitting area for bedroom - where the other TV lives).

I did receive a package today from Overstock.com - Vogue Knitting Socks and Socks Two. I have to give props to Overstock - they are making a concerted effort to have their prices lower than Amazon's - though their $1 shipping is ending as we speak.

I think I'm off to peruse the knitting books - if you can't carry all of your knitting books to the living room in one trip, do you have too many?

Hmmmm, maybe I want to knit on the clappy.......

I Do

I Do
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Lace doesn't make for the best car knitting. Especially if your spouse thinks you should be making conversation with him.

This is all I managed to accomplish all weekend, though in my defense I did not knit on the return trip, and I kept putting it down yesterday as it was too hot to knit with wool/wool-blends.

I did manage a few rounds on the pinwheel baby blanket in the dark Friday night, and started and ripped the Ruffles scarf. I think I've figured out wrap and turn, but I'll probably work on I Do tonight.

Anybody want to keep DD for me for 50 minutes after school so I don't have to pay the Y hundreds of dollars to keep her for less than 5 hours/week?

Last Picture Show

No, not the end of photos. A detour on our trip. For years, we have been driving through Wichita Falls, TX on our way to CO (or on our way to the bike ride) and every time, we pass the turn off for Archer City. Home of novelist Larry McMurtry, and his four building bookstore, I've always wanted to go. This time, we made it.

Archer City is also where The Last Picture Show was shot. The theater is still standing.



We stayed with Jen's dad in Olney, TX. Olney is the home of the "One Arm Dove Hunt." Seriously. And they take it seriously, as you can see.



Is it just me, or does the guy on the left look like his arm is tucked into his shirt?

~~~~~~~~~~

A shout out to Wendy for answering my question. Thanks!

Knitting content to return tomorrow. BTW, I tried to start "Ruffles" from Scarf Style, and I'm not sure I'm understanding the "wrap and turn" part. Any helpful hints?

Home again, home again, jiggedty jig

We survived the weekend. DH did this. I did, well, I slept. And knit. But in my defense, I have done the ride before, but lack of bike time this year made me not want to kill myself.

But we arrived home to some very glad to see us puppies, and TWO packages! One from my good friend Lea, a late birthday gift (her birthday is the day before mine!), full of cute goodies - drink charms, bracelets, notepads. Cute!

And one from the lovely folks at Amazon. Since two of my birthday gifts were duplicates, and one I just didn't like as much as I thought I would, I had DH return them. And then, with refund $$ and birthday $$ in hand, I ordered. This is batch one: A Gathering of Lace (which I love, and has a great mixture of lace projects), Folk Socks (which has some really nice patterns as well), Socks, Socks, Socks (which has some blech patterns, and others I really like), 50 Baby Bootees to Knit (which is SO cute), and Vintage Knits (mostly stuff I like).
I also bought Adorable Knits for Tots w/ my Michael's 40% off coupon. So cute!

I have to get busy for all these babies coming into my life!

Trip pictures tomorrow!

Friday FO

light and lacy shawl
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

The "Light and Lacy" Shawl has been finished and blocked.

Details:
Pattern - From the Knit Knack Kit - Light and Lacy Shawl.
Yarn: Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair in Purple (I lost the ball band....sorry)
Needles: Susan Bates US 8's Circulars
Started: June 18
Finished: August 25 (with LOTS of time not working on it.
Comments: Really small. I did end up with a bit of yarn left over, but I had no idea how far I could make it until I ran out, so at one point I just did the last bit of the pattern and cast off. It did get bigger with blocking, but is WAY too small for an adult. And I don't like purple. So, 1 x-mas gift done, only 5, 678 left! (BTW, it will be for DD)

This was my first "real" blocked object. I did block my blanket square, but it was real little. I did it on the bed, a la the Harlot. The puppy decided that the tomato pincushion was a dog toy.....hmmm. I hope he didn't eat any pins while I was out drinking last night!

Must go pack for Wichita Falls......pack the knitting of course, who cares what I wear all weekend?

Tunes

I'm very jealous. A few days ago Rachael posted news of an upcoming bluegrass fest. I tell DH the list of performers - he says "When is it?" I say "first weekend in October - we could go for our anniversary" ..... he drops the bomb - My BIL and SIL (I call her that 'cause she is family, they've been together for longer than we have - life just keeps getting in the way of a wedding) are getting married that weekend. Drat.
So instead we're going to see The Decemberists next month. Woot!

Oh, and how excited am I that the lovely folks at the Netflix brought this to my house yesterday! Now, the real question is, can I get through 7 dics of this before Season 3 starts September 8?

Tour de Provision Topographique du Conte

Or
LYS Tour (apologies to all for my French. It's been awhile).

So yesterday my friend/long-lost twin/fellow knitter Jen and I headed out to our favorite LYS Simpatico Yarns in Bedford. While they don't have a huge selection, they are very nice and my DH braved the yarn to buy me a GC for the BDay. Had to spend it, right?
En route, I remembered that they are closed on Monday :(. We reevaluated, discussed the option of Hobby Lobby/Michaels/JoAnn's, but she really wanted to get "real" yarn for the next project. We didn't want to drive to Plano, so against my better judgement we headed for Yarn Heaven.

WARNING - If you don't want to hear a LYS horror story, stop reading now.

When I called DH to let him know of the change in plans, he said "oh, your *favorite* (insert sarcasm here) place.

Let me back up - a few months ago Jen and I visited here. I wasn't terribly impressed. The yarns didn't seem to be arranged in any sort of fashion, there was A LOT of "fun" yarns, and many of the items on display looked like they might be older than I was. I wasn't really impressed with the service also, and the prices seemed kind of high. Also, they practice "minimum purchase" rules - you must spend $25 to use your credit card. This is against Visa/MC's rules (and after yesterday, I'm thinking of being a tattle tale).

I then read many reviews of the store, I found that my sentiments were not off base. And, I found out that my kiddo is NOT WELCOME even though she is learning to knit! Why would I shop somewhere that doesn't allow kids to follow their creativity?

So. We go. They've rearranged things. It seems easier to shop (though not cheaper!). We're not really helped, but in their defense, we did say we were browsing. Jen goes to check out (I can't buy the one skein of Lorna's I wanted, as I didn't have cash ($25 rule) - their loss, things go downhill. It takes FOREVER for the employee to get the system up and running. Then she can't find the "number" on the yarn to enter it (I assume so they can take it out of inventory). Then she rings up 5 needles (instead of 4) all at the same price (although they were all different). When Jen points this out, she says "Oh, the 5 is for the yarn." Jen has to show her that there are 2 fives. Then they don't take AmEx. Then they can't get her card to swipe, so she took it as a sign and we left. With nothing.

Also, while we were there, an elderly woman came in looking for help finding a pattern for a shrug/bolero. She kept trying to describe the item, and all the employee did was hand her "Wrap Style" and her binder of patterns. The woman kept trying to explain what she wanted, and the employee said "Yeah, those are popular. You might look in a magazine." So. Helpful. Then she went right back to mopping, only half listening as the woman kept trying to explain. Eventually she left too. Empty handed.

We got outside and Jen said "We're never coming here again." I agree.

I hate to bash a place that sells me crack, er fiber, but I feel like y'all should know before you go!

However, I am happy to say that we had a much better experience later. We tried to visit Jenningstreet yarns in FW (no website), but the door was locked and the sign said "back at 10." But it was 1. So we headed to Cabbage Rose.

I've been here a few times, but never bought anything. They had a little bit of yarn, mostly Noro and other items out of my price range. But they've changed. The knitting section is now quite a bit larger, and hopefully will continue to grow as they apparently just bought the space next door. They carry all the Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Noro, Adrienne Vittadini, some Mission Falls, Classic Elite, Sidar and Regia. They have a lot more needles and notions (all noticeably cheaper than Yarn Hell and some even cheaper than Joann's!). They also carry the Rowan and Noro and Debbie Bliss books/mags (and they have a bunch on sale right now! Rowan for $5! Run!). They didn't seem to have an employee that was "in charge" of the knitting area, but all were very friendly and helpful (and I LOVE their fabric. Makes me drool). I'm hoping that they continue to expand (esp. b/c this store is VERY close to my house), and keep their prices so good.

So, what did I buy? Only this. But how cute?! Found at Michael's (waiting for Yarn Hell to open) for $1/each.

Stick a Fork in me

Sockapal2za socks
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

I'm Done!

Look - it's a bird, it's a plane, it's finished socks!

Specs:
Sockapal2za socks
Pattern: Mine, but used some measurements from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns (which I LOVE!).

I CO 72 st and ribbed the leg and top of the foot.
Needles: 5 Susan Bates DPN's in Sz 1
Yarn: Sock it to me Collection - Colori in Harlequin colorway from Elann. Just about 1 1/2 skeins.

Details - I did a shorter leg length - I don't personally like a long one. I also continued the ribbing down a little farther than "normal" on the toe. I have to say that I think this is the best kitchenered toe I've ever done. It actually looks like it does in the books! My cast on edge is a little looser on one sock than the other, but not too noticable, I think.

I would show you an "action" photo, but they are too small for me and I don't want to stretch them out. I REALLY hope they fit my pal - I followed her shoe/foot size measurements, but they do seem small. DD thinks they look funny 'cause the foot is longer than the leg.

These socks were a bit of a trial. And I can't figure out why the striping on the leg is not the same on both socks - I guess a difference in the skeins. But it looks pretty close.

I have one more little thing to do for my pal, and I want to wash the socks, and then they will (patiently) await September 15, when they move to their new home in ........ .

Not much other knitting has been completed due the sock-finishing-frenzy. But there may have been a LYS jaunt/tour today. More on that tomorrow.

Oh, and my left ring fingertip is numb, I think from holding the needles during the toe decreases last night. Anyone else experience this problem? Solutions?

And we're off to Wichita Falls this weekend - anyone know of a LYS there?

It's my party and I'll drink if I want to

Happy Birthday to us!
We had a wonderful time at the party last night. We have amazing friends (some of whom couldn't be there and we missed you!) who spoil us rotten.

We hauled it in this year. I'm excited to say, that among the awesome gift cards, we also got The O.C. (OK, this one is really for ME!), The Daily Show Indecision 2004 featuring an alternate ending - Kerry wins! and Bride & Prejudice (which is SO good - rent it today if you haven't seen it!).

We also got The New Pornographers, Flyin' Shoes on vinyl, and Mississippi John Hurt on vinyl (those last two are really for DH).

There were burgers and dogs, lots of chips and general snackies, margaritas (yum!) and DH made two kinds of cake - flourless chocolate and carrot. SO good.

Too bad that we have to wait another year to celebrate.......

Leapin' Lizards

Words that you never want to hear: "Jenn, there's a lizard in my room."
First thought - How would you know? You can't SEE THE FLOOR in your room. But I put down the knitting and follow her down the hall.
Second thought - It's just a gecko. Ha Ha. She points under her art table, and I see nothing. I move one of the piles of clothes, and something runs (OK, I admit it, I jumped. It startled me!). I clear the area so it has nothing to run behind and find a box. As I'm trying to put the box on top of it, it runs into her closet.
How I wish I had a picture of this closet. It is very small, but CRAP is EVERYWHERE. I start throwing clothes, shoes, misc junk out of the closet and finally find the lizard. I get him trapped in the box (after two failed attempts during which I managed to pick him up by the leg - ouch) and carry him outside. I turn the box over on the ground, and he won't get out! I manage to shake him free and he just sits there. Hmmmmm, blog photo? Sure!



Isn't he cute? He was about 3 inches, and was missing his tail. He is a Fence Lizard, and you can read more about him here.

Must clean the house now to prepare for the PARTY!
I'm sure silly photos will be forthcoming.
Oh, and there has been knitting, but nothing of note. Yet.

What do you do when there's nothing to do?

John Glick Blanket Square
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Or, "Do I have a big Djibouti to you?"

DH and I were playing Oxford Dilemma last night, and one of the words he had to spell was "Djibouti." When he asked me to use it in a sentence, this is what he got. Haha. We watched Word Wars on Tuesday, and this has led to a fascination with all things word related. We played Scrabble (or Scramble as DD likes to call it) on Wednesday afternoon. He's very disappointed that the only way to get the "official" tournament dictionary is through the National Scrabble Assocation (and yes, you have to be a member).

We haven't sunk to the level of some people though! :)

Oh yeah, knitting. Well, from my lovely, er, washed out photo (even with no flash and in DAYLIGHT) you can see that I'm doing my thang for the John Glick Memorial Blanket. I wasn't going to make anything, 'cause, ya know, I have no skilz, but when I read Annie's desperate post I felt like I had to help out (and get over my fear of actually, sort of, well, designing something BY MYSELF). So I got out my lovely Harmony Guide to Knitting (that, sadly is OOP) and looked at pictures. I made a gauge swatch and determined that with sz 7 needles I needed about 48 stitches. The pattern I chose was in multiples of seven, five times seven is 35, with six garter stitch stiches on each side, that makes 47! Close enough! See, my seventh grade pre-algebra teacher was wrong! I CAN do maths!

Apart from one minor incident when I decided that two rows of the border needed to be stockinette instead of garter stitch (10 rows after I had passed them - hey, that's what ya get when you knit and play Scrabble~), and I couldn't fix it, so it got ripped. I did stay up until 1 am because I was just sooooooo close to finishing it. It will go off in the lovely mail tomorrow. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Specs: John Glick Blanket Square
Pattern: me - central "motif" is the "Vertical Zigzag Moss Stitch with a six stitch wide garter stitch border (ten rows bottom, eight top - i was running close to 8 inches)
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Bluebonnet
Needles: Sz 7 Susan Bates circs
Started and Finished on Wednesday August 17.

I also started I Do for my future SIL. I had to move up to Sz 8's to get gauge, and I was using 4 DPN's, but with all the yo's and K2tog, I was not doing well straddling the needles. So I am on a hunt for a sz 8 16" circ (none of my craft stores have one, and my LYS is 30 min away. I'll probably end up ordering one). So it has been frogged and is waiting patiently to be re-started. It was going well so far, I hadn't had any trouble, but I was about to start the decreases. We'll see. I'll keep ya posted.

So, this was day four of "I have no job." Of course, I have plenty of housework (and knitting and reading!), and the DD to get to and from school everyday. But I'm wondering what y'all do when you have a free day. And housework and knitting don't count. Of course you do those things. Anything special?

Oh, and I absolutely CANNOT wait to make one of these fish blankets. I luuuuuuurve them. Luckily, I came across a FREE online pattern for them (since the magazine is long OOP and HTF). It is here.

I want one of these too. But modified to be more like Colleen's. Isn't it lurverly?

BW haul, take one

BW haul, take one
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Am I lucky or just greedy? This photo seems like a bit too much, and we're only through 3 days of BW. Yikes.

Today, from DD, 25 Bags to Knit, which I'm not sure I'll be keeping. It has two basic patterns and each of the bags seems to be a variation on these. I'd rather have a sock book.
From momma: a knitting stand that has cute puppies and kittens on it and that little pink bag at the top. Cute.
From DH: Knit Scarves and The Vogue Knitting Companion book.

It is two other special people's birthdays today: my cat, and my old man (dog). Both were adopted on my birthday (2 years apart), so we sort of celebrate for them too, as we don't know when they were actually born.

What? Actual knitting content? You want some? Well, you'd think, that with all this time off, I'd have finished all those projects by now. Haha. But I am off to seam up a wee little mousie and stuff it with catnip for someone.....

Birthday Week, Day Two

Wow, I love these original titles......

I was hoping to have a completed "that which shall not be named," but sadly, it is not completed. Maybe tomorrow!

And, I was hoping to have pictures of the BW stash (thus far), but it is raining and dark outside. Maybe tomorrow!

Here's what I hauled today: A subscription to my favorite magazine (right now!) from DH! So excited! It will come in the mail! I will get the special "subscriber only" patterns! Woo Hoo!!

From my Brother and SIL: Another addition to my collection.(My family only likes these movies a little bit. Really, just a smidge. We are only known to quote them on rare, er, daily occasions.) (DH is pissed, as he also got this for me, but I get to exchange it for something else!)

And, from mom. Boy does she spoil me. Sometimes, you DO get what you ask for (even when you really think, hell, I'll just put this on the list. She won't pay retail for it when she might be able to get it at the sale next year!). Isn't it pretty? And yes, I got it in that lovely brown. It is GREAT. it has an adjustable strap, three "outside" pockets that are under the flap, and two inside pockets, a hard bottom, and a back zippered pocket. I LOVE IT. My old messenger bag was looking pretty bad, and had only one small inner pocket. This can fit my laptop (for those few occasions it acutally goes out of the house these days), and has room for a WIP. I absolutely cannot wait to venture out tomorrow with my new bag!

Birthday Week, Day One

So some background. DH and I have birthdays back to back (8/16 and 8/17) and we always kind of felt like our birthday was lost in the others. We only had one family birthday dinner, only one "out to eat" birthday dinner, and sometimes exchanged gifts at the same time. To combat this, we decided this year that we would have birthday week.
Birthday week begins today, Sunday, with family dinner, and ends Saturday with a big party at our house. To keep the excitement going, we get to open one present every day from each other, and those from others as we see them, and on Saturday.
Because I know y'all care, I'll share the riches with you each day.
Today, from my FIL - $25. Hmmmmm, which knitting book/yarn to buy?
From my SIL and BIL (for both of us) a big George Foreman Grill (which, frankly, we might exchange)
From my MIL (and it's a great haul b/c DH picked out everything): This which I already have and will be exchanged for this(probably). I also got this which I've been wanting. I loved the first one. I had to pry this out of my BIL's hands when we left. I also got this which I am excited to read, and will probably start tomorrow. And finally, the piece de resistance, this which is one part joke, and one part actually enjoyable. The band is made up of members of this band who wrote this song which DH and I quite enjoy.

And, from DH, who indulges my whims and general weirdness, tickets to see the one and only. One for me and one for my MIL (who also has a soft spot for him, and unlike me, has gotten to see him before!). Words cannot describe how excited I am to get to see him (and sing along, of course!). Now to find a spangly shirt to wear......

Rant

Okey Dokey. I've avoided it all summer. I've even written it down a few times and decided that it's just not blog material. But I can't take it anymore. And, since today was my last day (HURRAH!), here ya go.

Retail Rant:

First, let me preface this by saying that I FIRMLY believe that EVERYONE should have to work in some sort of retail/service/food establishment for at least six months, early in their life/work, so that they understand HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE.

Rules of Retail Etiquette (sp?):
1. Treat "the help" like you would like to be treated. If you are rude to me, don't be surprised when I don't bend over backward to help you.
2. Remember, we are here to provide you a service, not to wipe your ass. We cannot read your mind, change policies, etc at our whim. Don't ask.
3. If I say "It's store policy" don't ask me why. I didn't create the rules. My job is to enforce them (if need be) and follow them. Period. I cannot change something for you. You are not special. And don't you understand that if I make an exception for you, I have to make that exception for the person behind you who just heard you get away with something?
4. It is not MY fault if we do not have something in stock. Please do not take it out on me. See Number 1 and 2 for further clarification.
5. Please, please, please respect the other customers in the store. DO NOT walk up to the cash register as I am helping another customer and butt in and ask a question. It is NOT YOUR TURN. I know you would be quick to complain if someone did it to you, so please, don't do it to someone else. Find another employee to harass, or wait until I am finished with the customer in front of me.
6. When it is your turn at the cash register, please be ready to check out. Taking five minutes to decide if you want an item while others are waiting is RUDE. So is taking five mintues to find your money/credit card/checkbook. Be prepared.
7. DO NOT be offended when I ask to see your ID when paying by check. It is REQUIRED. Additionally, do not YELL at me when I ask to see your ID when you pay with an UNSIGNED credit card. Hell, it was our store's policy to ask EVERYONE for their ID if they were paying by credit card. We're trying to keep YOU safe. And, to the particularly bi**hy customer last week, it IS NOT illegal to ASK for your ID. So back off.
8. DO NOT tell me how to do my job. Would you like it if I came to your house and criticized how you raised your kids? Who works here? Who do you think knows more about where items are shelved, you or me? And I don't care if you don't agree with our placement of an item. I'm just here to tell you where to find it.
9. Try to find an item first. God gave you a brain. When you had a kid did you ask the doctor where it's butt was? No, you LOOKED FOR IT. I am happy to help if you have made a good faith effort. But walking in the door and asking where a section is that is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU is just LAZY.
10. Finally, do not assume that just because I am working at said establishment I am somehow beneath you. You know nothing about me. You assume that I am some dimwit who can't find their own butt to wipe, instead of someone who has worked retail for TEN years, who has a vast knowledge of what they are selling, and, to top that all off, is about to finish not one, but TWO master's degrees. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rant over. No exciting knitting content today. Trying desperately to finsh DH's socks before Birthday Week begins tomorrow. More on that later.

Haircuts and Humpdays

DD's Knitting Picture
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Ahhh, how nice it feels to have all that hair off of my neck! DD and I went in for our "back to school" cuts today - hers is about 6 inches shorter (and very cute) and I just got a trim.

Having trouble facing the idea of work today....

Could not get excited about knitting last night. Tried to work on DH's sock while watching "Twin Peaks" Season One (from the netflix), but could not get interested in either. (I never saw Twin Peaks in its first incarnation b/c the parentals didn't allow us to watch such things. People have been telling me to watch it for years. It's just not my bag baby.)

So I cleaned the house instead. At 11 pm. Because, as DH put it today "You're a woman. You're nuts." Thanks, dear.

I did find and organize some of my loose patterns and clean up the yarn stash (some new additions hadn't gotten properly stored).

On Sunday, during the finishing spree, I finished reading "Relic." It was quite enjoyable. Now I am faced with a difficult decision - continuting reading "Middlemarch" or start something new......hmmmmm. Need something portable to read at work tonight too.......

Oh, I almost forgot. DD drew this picture for me sometime last week. Those large green sticks are the knitting needles and the blue blob is the knitting. She put it in that little frame that I gave her a few years ago. It now lives on my desk. The back of the picture says "sticht."

Fighting the urge to start new project.....

How the hell is is only Tuesday?

Tuesday: It's the new Monday, only worse because you had to work yesterday!

I had to work today. At 9 am. After getting home from work last night at 11 pm. And going to bed at 1 am. And answering the doorbell at 6:45 am. I'm tired. And it's only Tuesday.

My day was pretty sh**ty. Long. Tired. Annoying boss. Fight with DH on the telephone (in which he proceeds to tell me - after I tell him that I cannot talk - people who need my attention in front of me - that we have no electricity. No internets. No phone. No lights. And, of course, no AC. Why do we have no electricity? Well, hell, he doesn't know. And did he call to report the outage? Of course not. We have electricity now, thank God). And just as I am only 7 short minutes from going home I hear news about a co-worker's baby (who had been in the ICU for over a week) that makes me sad and angry and I almost started to cry right there in front of him. It's really too horrible to talk about.

However, the Harlot's day was pretty bad too.

Perhaps we should just skip Tuesday next week? Oh, no, not next week. 'Cause it's my BIRTHDAY! Maybe the week after that.

The finishing line, part 2

Sophie post-felting
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Sophie joins us for this post, her insides stuffed with towels, so she can keep her lovely shape. Isn't she lovely (cue Miss America music here.....)? She may actually force me to have a monogamous relationship with a bag (for a few days at least).

Specs:
Pattern: Sophie
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist - 1 1/2 skeins
Needles: Sz 10 1/2 Clover Bamboo Circs and Sz 10 1/2 Brittany DPNs.
Started: Friday July 22
Finished: Sunday August 7

I think Sophie is lovely. She is my first felted project (I don't consider the LB purse as a felted project, since it didn't felt), and I am in love. Someone else is in love too....

DH went to get Sophie from the washing machine (I was in the middle of a row!) and when I went to see what was taking so long, he was fondling (!) her in the garage (where the lovely instruments of laundry live). He hid her from me until he got closer and I just couldn't believe my eyes! It's magic, the felting!
His words: "It doesn't even look knitted!" (Is this a bad thing, or a good thing?) "Can you felt a hat?" "I want a felted hat, it's so cool!"

I tried to tell him that I could teach him to knit and he could make his own hat, but I think that my cries fell on deaf ears. He has chosen the colors for his hat and I think it may be a surprise Christmas gift.

Have I won him over to the dark side yet?

(BTW, I have to say that I am totally impressed with the Knitpicks yarn. Two items finished, and lovely! I can hardly wait to try out my lovely sock yarn and laceweight yarn. And they have all these new yarns to try too!)

The finishing line

Fiery Bolero
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

So, today brought the arrival of not one, but TWO finished objects! Yippee!

First to be finished was the lovely Fiery Bolero, seen here with the dress it is planning to be worn with on Friday.

Specs:
Pattern: Fiery Bolero by Debbie Bliss - Summer '05 IK
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine in Blush
Needles: Clover Bamboo Circs - Sz 3 for edging, Susan Bates Circs - Sz 5 for body.
Started: July 29
Finished: August 7
Mods: none

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this yarn. It is sooooooooo soft. And pretty pink. It did "shed" a bit, but nothing major. I only ended up using 4 1/2 skeins, not the six the pattern called for. The extra yarn will be used to make this for some friends who are adopting a little girl from China later this year. DH really wants a cute hat for her, and when I found this pattern, we couldn't resist. I am going to sub yellow for the brown in the pattern and add some duplicate stitches for sprinkles.

I liked this pattern - it was fairly easy to follow and I liked that I only had a little seaming to do. I'd love to try to modify the pattern into more of a sweater, but I'm not sure I'm that good yet! I'd settle for long sleeves and having it come down a bit further, which may be doable. We'll see. I have plenty on my "what to knit" list.

Sophie is finished too, but I'm saving her photo op for tomorrow - hey, I have to spread out the blog fodder here!

Boring

Not much going on in this neck of the woods. Sophie saw a little action Wednesday night due to an error in the short-rowing of the bolero - I couldn't watch "Hitch" and pay attention to the yarn at the same time. So sue me.
She now has all of her rows done and bound off, and has 1/2 of one handle. (Love the I-cord - first time for it. Lovely)

Only 2 rows to go and the ribbing for the neck/front portion of the bolero will be done (and the binding off of 270 stitches!) Then have to rib the back and sleeves. Really wanted this to be a one week knit, but babysitting for the nephews two days kinda put a kink in my plans (that and all the ripping).

So, for lack of any other excitement, I leave you this. Amazing how accurate these things are sometimes.


You are Dishcloth Cotton.

Say hello to Sophie

Sophie
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

This is Sophie - and she is feeling neglected. She only needs 10 rows and a handle and she is ready for the washing machine. Sadly, Sophie has been resigned to the basket to wait her turn.

Because we're all bolero all the time baby!

The bolero is finished minus the ribbing and that is going well so far. I've never done sort rows before, so I'm a bit nervous about all that business.

The "hug shrug" got itself frogged a few days ago - I just didn't like the yarn (LB Chenille) I was using for it. It may get swapped over at Knitty.

Oh, and that which shall not be named may or may not have its picture over on the sidebar. Warning: looking directly at the picture may cause the knitting to spontaneously combust.

I'm Knitting as Fast as I Can

Bolero back
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Finally, a picture!

Here is the fiery bolero back reclining in the non-sunshine this morning. This picture does not do justice to the pinkness of the yarn. Since the photo op, I have knitted rapidly on the left front of the blob. However, I have done all of the increasing, and I'm 1/2" short of what the pattern says. I guess I'll just work in st st until it is long enough - I certainly don't want to be cutting off the blood flow to my arm. Bad bad thing.

Had a scary moment a little while ago when Cassidy (crazy Border Collie) caught her tags (on her collar) between two of the boards on the deck. How she got stuck I don't know, but I couldn't unstick the collar. I had to unclip it to free her and in the deck it remains. Perhaps DH can remove it in the daylight.

All of a sudden I feel under pressure to complete certain projects by certain deadlines - and it's not even Christmas yet! Here I was feeling all confident - making my "what to knit" list two weeks ago, starting to plan the yarn purchases for the Christmas gifts - and now I have the bolero to finish, a gift for my soon-to-be SIL, two baby gifts, oh, and that which shall not be named. Yikes.

Day off tomorrow. May venture to House of Crack for some fibery purchases. I'd really like to find a flattering skirt pattern to make my own skirts - it is a pain in the ass to find one that fits well. Any suggestions?

Think Pink

I'm doing it! Racing for the finish line, that is! I cast on last night for the Fiery Bolero (from IK Summer 05) when my replacement copy arrived in the mail! I'm using Knit Picks Shine in Blush. It is very pink and pretty!

It's funny to me this new love for pink I have. I have several pink t-shirts, pink Chucks, a pink purse....it's taking over!

On Sunday, while I was knitting with Jen (she wanted to learn to knit socks!), she commented "I hate that I'm wearing a pink shirt, carrying a pink bag and knitting with pink yarn." But hey, she matched!

DH and I went on a bike ride this morning. I have set a personal goal for myself, and if I reach it I get this. Isn't it pretty?

ADD Knitter

So.....

"That which shall not be named" (the sock) may or may not have been restarted, and may or may not be knitting up pretty and may or may not be completely without pattern/direction/sense (and it may or may not fit!). Don't want to say too much here as to not anger the knitting goddess.

In other news.....

During the few days of hell, I mean, last week/weekend, I started a new project. Hey, I had to have some distraction from "that which shall not be named." It's this.
I'm using this in the "mist" color. I looooooooooove it! The yarn is so pretty and much softer than I expected. I'm not done yet because all other knitting has been put aside for "that which shall not be named."

In other avoidance news - ALL of the WIPs saw some action in the last few days. Wow. Even the cat bed - as DH noted "that thing hasn't been worked on for a year!" OK, so not THAT long. But I get his point.

It has been determined that I have fabulous taste. See? Everyone knows that great minds think alike. I'm in the cool club now baby!

Logistics.....

I have a fancy schmancy dinner to go to two weeks from tomorrow. Have to be dressed up, DH is wearing his suit...what to wear, right? I have a lovely black strapless dress from the Gap that I bought as my "leaving the wedding" outfit last year. It actually fits (due to built in bra!), but it is pretty simple. I'm thinking that the Fiery Bolero from the summer IK in the lovely pink Knitpicks shine I purchased just for it might be the answer. Two problems: 1) Two weeks from tomorrow..... 2) My summer IK has gone AWOL. Thankfully a replacement is en route thanks to a lovely Knitty swaper. But not here yet.
Can I make it by Friday August 12? Perhaps "that which shall not be named" could take a mini break.....

Socks suck

Dear Sock Pal,
Hi! How are you? Things here in Texas are fine - some nice rain today, lower temperatures, very nice. We have had NO INTERNET (DSL) and NO PHONE SERVICE for about 36 hours - but hey, who needs to check their emails/blogs/etc constantly? Not me. No. And in that nice rain this morning, yeah, that messed up the dish, so no TV either.

So I settle in for a nice day of knitting, listening to the rain (and the whines of "I'm bored), maybe reading (books, not blogs!)....things quickly deteroriate.

First, some back story. I started on your socks the day we got home from vacation (July 17). I had taken all my sock books and patterns with me to chose a worthy candidate. This was a very difficult decision - I was using a multi-colored yarn, so this affected my pattern choice. I decided on the Unst pattern from Knitting on the Road. I cast on, started motoring along, and after I passed the cuff, decided that I didn't like the way the color lined up on the pattern. So I decided no, not the pattern for me.

So I decided on Broadripple - spent much time getting gauge (as I did for the first pattern), and then knitted away. Sadly, when I tried on the sock after a few rows, as I feared, it was much too big. And I didn't like the way the colors were lining up (again).

So, I reverted to the original pattern I was going to use. I had avoided this pattern for two reasons: 1) Cable cast on - don't know how to do this, but I decided to learn. 2) Toe up - never done a sock this way, but I can learn. Had to get gauge again (hmm, will I learn to a)write this down or b) remember it?). I cast on. The cable cast on - easy peasy. The dividing the stitches onto the different needles and trying to create the "tube" - cause for much cursing.....and ripping.

More pattern searching. Settled on the Straight Laced pattern from Knit Socks. Had to get gauge AGAIN. (hating myself now) Cast on - chugging along. Didn't like the way the colors lined up. Ripped it out.

Fast forward to today:

Found pattern from Nicola. Seemed easier than first chevron pattern. HAD TO GET GAUGE AGAIN. Cast on - oooppps, too big. Went down a needle size - looked better - oooooohhhhhhh look at the way the colors are lining up - pretty.....me likey. Start the "pattern" portion of our program. Didn't like the way the colors lined up. Ripped back to the cuff - decided to just st st the sock - the color would be the "pattern." Uh oh. In st st the cool color line up didn't work. Damn it. Hate the sock.

Rip all the way out. Going to go generic - 2x2 ribbing. That's it. No fanciness. Cast on (Screw Gauge). Stitches get twisted. Take it as a sign. Rip it out. Put it aside.

Lessons learned: 1) WRITE DOWN YOUR GAUGE FOR EACH SIZE OF NEEDLES TRIED
2)Next year I'm using solid colored yarn.

So, in conclusion, I'm just under a wee bit of stress/pressure/house arrest due to the sock and its impending deadline (really, Alison meant September 15, 2006, right?) Hmmm, you might have socks by then - if they haven't taken me off to the funny farm.

Oh yeah, there is "lit" in the title of this blog

There may or may not have been new projects started over the weekend. Hmmmm, but no pictures today so no evidence!

Let's talk about books instead. I finished Harry within 24 hours of buying it last weekend. I won't reveal anything, not even my feelings, as to not spoil it for anyone. All I'll say is that Book 7 should be really long, and REALLY good.

I just finished reading my trashy mystery novel. As Alison noted yesterday, it is a little weak - but hey, it's escapist reading, and there's knitting! I have to say it held my attention much better than either this or this, the latter of which I only got through six pages of. The Macomber books are fairly cheesy, but I thought the first one was much better than the "sequel."

On vacation I read The Historian. My friend Jen (who is almost like my double in terms of reading, knitting, and general life taste) didn't like it - thought it too long winded and somewhat poorly written. But I enjoyed the story - I makes me want to go back and really read Dracula.

I vow to finish Middlemarch, and get started on Wives and Daughters (for KTC) and Don Q (for K1R2). I've also got this in the stack, which I have heard good things about, so I'm excited to start it.

Now that I've put y'all to sleep........Sock Pal update tomorrow! I promise!

Help

I need a new bag - one that can handle both my knitting and my "life." It needs to be big, but not too big. It needs to have pockets. Handles to fit over my shoulder.

I saw a beautiful bag last night at work - it was a sturdy looking rectangle, two outside end pockets, inner small pockets and **best of all*** it was divided inside by an inner zipper pocket. This is what I really want - something to keept the knitting out of the life crap.

I know Nine West made one similar to that within the last year, but to save my life I CANNOT FIND IT anywhere on the internets. I also cannot find this bag that I saw (it was black and white, either floral or toile, canvas/fabric with a checked lining).

I am slowly going mad.

I'll take any suggestions y'all have - I. MUST. HAVE. NEW. BAG.

In which the sock shows off

Sock takes a hike
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

So. You've been waiting for it. All week. And here it is. The requisite sock/vacation picture.

The sock here is feeling the spray from Adams Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a very easy hike (.3 miles) with a very rewarding finish. Much nicer than the earlier hike to Cascade Falls, which, I hate to say, were a bit disappointing. A much longer hike, and not so much falls as rapids.

So yes, the sock went hiking. In fact, the sock was knitted upon while hiking. Yes. While hiking. Thus, DH decided that my new American Indian nickname is "Hikes while knitting." I can live with that. NOTE: If the hike is at all strenuous (as Cascade Falls sometimes was) you will begin to sweat. The sock does not like this and will stick to your fingers. This is a good time to take a break. (So you can knit more, right?)

Because you all care:
This is where we stayed. Just outside of this town. Beautiful place. Nice town. Lovely weather. Easy access to loads of hiking, biking, etc. Also right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. There was a river just behind our cabin (where the puppy spent part of every day fetching his water toy).

Ahhhh, to be back on vacation.

Cleanliness is next to Yarniness

Pinwheel
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Lots of excitement here at Chez Jenn (w/apolgies to the Harlot. Last night, in a desperate search for the missing library card (crisis!!) the study got cleaned.

The study is also where the yarn lives, so the yarn enjoyed this experience.

The knitting books have grown enough to need their own space (and in our house of books, that is a big accomplishment!), which they duly received.

The KIR (knitter-in-residence) also organized the current WIP's (all into a delightful basket), as well as the PWFC (projects waiting for completion - this includes DH's first sock, the bottome of the kitty bed and the back of the stripey cardi). She also (finally) put all of her notions into the ladybug. And, she inventoried all of the needles. She has a lot more than she thought she did. Yikes. However, she doesn't have quite as many as some people do.

She was shocked to discover both a floor and a couch hiding the in the study, they have been missing for many moons. She even (wait for it........) bought colored file folders and organized each aspect of Chez Jenn into its own folder/color.

It really is quite shocking.

****************************************

But the knitting, that's what y'all care about, right?

This (very shady) picture shows us the lovely pinwheel blankie. It is a gift for a fall baby (sorry Laura!) boy.

As those of you who have attempted the PBB know, the casting on was quite a curse filled occasion. But I survived, and was knitting merrily along....when disaster struck. Not one, but TWO mistakes! So I begin ripping back, out come the stitches, out comes the row marker.....oops. No idea where the circle starts now. PBB gets frogged.
But, being a good little knitter (and not a quitter - look I made a rhyme!) I cast right back on. I actually think the second cast on was more difficult than the first. But all is well now in PBB land. This has become the "knit while reading at lunch" project, as it is fairly simple (except when you forget to YO. I'm just saying is all....I wouldn't know anything about that....).

I am currently somewhere in the midst of Heidi's fifth and sixth circles of hell.

Onward, ye PBB knitters!

All the cool kids are doing it

Clappy
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

Yes. You're correct. I've become "one of them." When they jump off the bridge, I'll be there (although I might be late~). I've done it. I'm knitting this.

And I love it.

The pattern is easy, memorable, and gives me just enough to want to pay attention to it.

I've dropped four stitches so far, and can't wait to get off the computer and head for more. Sooooo pretty. (But already a little warm on my lap - c'mon, its almost 100 here every day!)

I'm using this which is a delight to knit with. My only complaint is that the colors are not very true in their photograph. And they failed to mention the LARGE amount of brown in the yarn. But it is pretty, so I'm not complaining too much.

Can resist no longer. Must go knit.

Home

Steg
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

We made it. We're home.
Vacation was nice - Colorado, cabin on the river, campfires (smores!), etc.

But it's nice to be home.

There was much eating, card playing, board gaming, reading, and oh, yeah, knitting.

Mom made a dog sweater, when she gets home I'll have her send me a picture so you can see it. She even used DPN's and everything! She's a pro now.

I worked on a few projects, but the first one I started (and finished the same day) was Stegs.

The pattern is very easy to follow. You end up with quite a few pieces before you seam.
Stegs did have to wait until we got home to be stuffed and sewn (I forgot to take the stuffing with me). Here he is reclining on the deck (only for a minute though, too hot to stay outside for long!)

What ya wanna know:
Pattern: Courtsey of xtreme-knitting.

Yarn: Red Heart Sport in Paddy Green - less than 1/2 one skein.

Needles: Size 6 Clover Flex Bamboo.

Started: Monday July 11, Finished same day. Seamed and stuffed Tuesday July 19.

Love, love, love this pattern. Will be making many more of these (esp. since I have over 1 1/2 skeins of yarn left!). Clear directions, and lots of cuteness!

More tomorrow, more pictures, and the sock takes a hike~

Copycat

Copycat
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

So, here it is - NOT the finished stripey cardi, but another sweater I have in my closet. I found this shortly after starting the stripey cardi, and thought "Huh. Why am I making something I already have?" In fact, my cardi (not knitted) is closer to the "actual" colors of the pattern (I subbed purple for one of the greens in the pattern). But this cardi has buttons, mine won't. This cardi is 3/4 sleeves, mine will be long sleeved. See, very different!

I'm frantically trying to pack (OK, not so frantically, I'm mostly done). And worry about the puppy who has well, stomach trouble, who is supposed to be going on the trip with us. I'm praying he's not sick, that this is just something he ate.
Before I forget....Does anyone know how to email back people who leave comments on blogger? I cannot figure it out, and it is driving me nuts. I appreciate y'all and don't want you to think I'm ignoring you.

On to the serious matter at hand. I purchased two skeins of this from here during their "firecracker sale" on Saturday. I have enough yardage to make the perfect pie shawl from Weekend Knitting. I also have the pink merino laceweight, and the two laceweight skeins from Knitpicks.
I want to make the perfect pie shawl, perhaps Kiri, and something out of Folk Shawls. But what to use for which project? One of the skeins from Knitpicks is varigated, so that affects my decision. Can't decide. Must decide so I can take something on the trip. Hate decisions. Ideas? Advice? More choices?

Another (partial) FO!

DH first sock
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

So, DH's first sock got kitchenered on Monday night - here it is in all of it's "it's about to rain so it's dark outside and this is the best picture mama can take" glory. And, best part, it fits perfectly!

The pattern is from here.

I am a big fan - all I had to do was measure his circumference (of the foot, c'mon, minds out of the gutter!) and viola! Perfectly fitting sock! I have to admit, I was a little nervous to start decreasing for the toe without having him try it on, but I decided it was worth a shot. And it's perfection, have I mentioned that?

He love love loves it, and is impatiently waiting for the second (although it is too damn hot here to even consider wearing socks, especially wool socks).

I am a big fan of the book now. It is so simple to use, and I love that they give you different gauge choices - nice to not force yourself into a corner!

I cast on for the first stripey cardi sleeve yesterday, again with the good knitter behavior (where is that second sock?).

Yesterday was a delightful mail day - new EW, grocery store coupons (I know I'm a nerd, get over it), a knitpicks catalog(!), and bestbestbest part - a 40% coupon for the NEW house of crack, ur, um, Super Joann's.

Three words for house of crack. Oh. My. God. They have everything. It is better than Hobby Lobby and Michael's combined. Wow. They have almost an entire aisle for needles and notions! (Sure, 90% of the yarn appears to be fun fur, but if I don't have to order these things, I might get more done (or just buy more stuff!)).

So, might take a quick jaunt by there today. They have a TON of the fabric I like for my bags, and a great selection of knitting books (I see great hope for the 40% off mailers that sometimes went unused!)

OK, this is a novel. Stopping now. More tomorrow, including a realization about why I might like the stripey cardi even more.

Back to what I was saying...

stripey cardi back
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

OK, sorry for the abrupt ending to yesterday's post. Had to run, couldn't be helped. So here is more knitty Jenn goodenss (as I am distinguished by my co-workers, as there are more than one Jenn/Jennifer at work)
This lovely photo is courtsey of our lovely FINISHED stripey cardi back. I am very pleased with it, and the good knitter that I am, I wove in the ends after binding off the shoulders, so I wouldn't have to do all the ends at once. It took me a while, but it looks much more finished with that done, and I don't have to dread it anymore.

In other news: I tried reading Knitting: A Novel. Couldn't get past the fifth page. Just didn't care for it.

I've finished Never Let me Go but have yet to join the discussion on Knit One Read Two 'cause I'm a bad knitter. Maybe today or tomorrow.

OK, must start packing as we leave for nine days on Friday. More knitterly goodness tomorrow!

Good Knitter, Bad Knitter

Knitpicks stash enhancement
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.

So, I'm still alive. Got very busy last week, and was too lazy to post. So here's a quick "goings-on" post before hot dog eating begins.

I finally posted that picture of the Knitpicks stash enhancement. I got two skeins of color your own in sock weight, four balls of the 100% wool for some felted project - I think it's too blue for me though, six skeins of shine for the Debbie Bliss bolero from Summer IK, Two skeins of the wool for the bag (pink), one skein of shimmer lace weight in "happy dance" (and it does make me do a happy dance!) for a lace project TBD - must order more though, and one skein of the laceweight (blue) for another TBD lace project (must order more of this as well).
Oh, company's here, must run. More tomorrow!