Winter Knitty

Ice Queen
Quant
Tudora
Chevrolace Socks
Azure Socks
Jeanie
Modern Lace Henley

Previous Knitty Issues

This post is backdated just because it's meant to be a way for me to keep track of all the Knitty patterns I eventually would like to try. I will eventually go through Ravelry and add them to my queue

Fall 2007

Muir
Henry
Roam
Cherie Amor
Neiman
Mr Greenjeans
Foliage
Totally Autumn
Back to Basics Socks
Diamond Waffle Socks
Oblique
Juno Regina

Summer 2007

Tangerine Twist
'Vog On Socks
Sweetpea Socks
Unmentionables

Spring 2007

Carolyn
Isabella
Dashing
Queen of Cups Socks
Vanilla Spice
Victoriana

Winter 2006

Calorimetry
Legwarmer Socks
Emerald
Venezia
Brown Bag
Thermal

Fall 2006

Ivy
Lizard Ridge
Cable Net Socks
Intolerable Cruelty

Summer 2006

Fetching
Widdershins Sock
Universal Sock

Winter 2005

Pomatomus Socks
Starsky
Mrs Beeton
Thula Socks

Fall 2005

Pumpkins

Spring 2005

Soleil
Branching Out

Winter 2004

Tempting
Wine Cozy

Fall 2004

Cozy
Clapotis
Leaves
Leo

Summer 2004

Hush-hush

Spring 2004

Honeymoon Cami
Frill

Fall 2003

Sonnet

SAFF 2007 Pictures

SAFF 2007

This year we went with the intention of only doing shopping; there were no classes we really -had- to take, and because of work and such, we couldn't stay but for one day. So Jason, Brandon and I headed out early Saturday morning, cash in pockets with the decisions made that we would only spend what cash we had.

It was, as it had been last year, quite overwhelming. My first stop, of course, was Brooks Farm Yarns, where I purchased a couple of hanks of simply gorgeous 100% mohair. I eyed some of their other stuff, but wasn't really there for wool, and I'm still working on my sweater so didn't need to buy yarn for another.

I then headed up to another of the vendors I liked last year, Yarnsmiths, and found that they had branched out into sock yarns .. specifically specialty ones. I picked up three different types, two of which had a good bit of Cashmere in them, one of which that was mostly silk and some nylon, which should make some lovely socks. Then I stopped at the booth of the woman who we took a couple classes with last year, Melanie Koenig, and I picked up a couple of pairs of birch DPNs and also, after being convinced that I should try out the Denise interchangeables - which she had me do then and there, handing me some yarn and letting me walk off with them - I purchased the pink Denise set. Later on at other booths I found the larger cables for the pink Denise's, so now I'm all set with those, and also got some Lantern Moon ebony DPNs, and the Knit Cards set I've been eyeing for a while... just to have them.

The only other yarn I got was some angora, which I'm going to, along with the angora I bought last year from the same people, make some hand-warmers out of; and some alpaca, one skein from a pinto and it's been spun and plied so that it'll stripe perfectly, and a couple of skeins of some beautiful cream-colored Suri alpaca, from New Era Fiber, I'm probably going to make into a lace shawl.

The really -big- purchase of the day though was Jason's. He went ahead and purchased himself a Kromsky rigid heddle harp loom. It's a big purchase, but it's a beautiful loom, a lot nicer than the Ashfords, aesthetically, and since he already has a Kromsky wheel, it was only fitting. I'm a little frustrated, because the stand was the wrong size, so we'll have to send it back and get a replacement. But I'm sure that won't be a problem. It looks like it came from the manufacturer that way, so we may have to go to them directly .. dunno though. He also got enough gorgeous alpaca to make me a pretty beautiful shawl, once he feels confident with the loom and stuff, so I'm pretty excited about that.

My answers below...

Here's what the formatting means:

Bold = have already tried this
Italicized = Plan to try this
Unemphasized = Have no desire to try this

• Afghan
• I-cord
• Garter stitch
• Knitting with metal wire - I have the cutest pattern for candle holders .. just need time to try it!
• Shawl - *looks at her stash* So much yarn for shawls, so little time.
• Stockinette stitch
• Socks: top-down - I will. Next year, if not before then, I will cast on my first sock.
• Socks: toe-up - I will do this too.
• Knitting with camel yarn - And quiviut too!
• Mittens: Cuff-up
• Mittens: Tip-down - Someday, yes, though I don't even usually wear mittens.
• Hat - Monkey hats count, dammit!
• Knitting with silk - This gets both because I've knitted with silk blends, but not pure silk. Yet!
• Moebius band knitting - I do plan to try this, though it's all kinds of intimidating.
• Participating in a KAL - This gets both because I have both participated ( dishcloths ) and plan to do more. They're kinda fun!
• Sweater - Still working on. But I started, so I can count it!
• Drop stitch patterns
• Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - Need to find something to do with it, but I will .. and hopefully, mine won't melt!
• Slip stitch patterns - Looooove mosaic knitting!
• Knitting with banana fiber yarn - Jason got me some too .. can't wait!
• Domino knitting - Do huh? Though, I did find links. Looks like it's similar to mitered squares, but it's a little more complex. I smell a book I might want.
http://www.amazon.com/Domino-Knitting-Technique-Vivian-Hoxbro/dp/193149911X http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/domino_knitting.asp

• Twisted stitch patterns
• Knitting with bamboo yarn - Got the yarn, just need to knit the poncho before the little girl is too big!
• Two end knitting - Not to my … hey .. yes! I did this with my first Ball Band Dishcloth!
• Charity knitting
• Knitting with soy yarn - Yes please! And corn too!
• Cardigan
• Toy/doll clothing - Monkey Hats!
• Knitting with circular needles - Totally .. like all the time.
• Baby items - Only because I have a few actual friends that have them.
• Knitting with your own handspun - I won't say I plan this because I do not think I have the patience for spinning. But one never knows.
• Slippers - Someday. Probably felted, even.
• Graffiti knitting - I love the idea. I so want to, just to have done it.
• Continental knitting - I have totally tried. But my hands don't like it.
• Designing knitted garments - One day. I will design my own.
• Cable stitch patterns - Looooove cables.
• Lace patterns - Usually love lace. I need a better system for keeping track of where I am though.
• Publishing a knitting book - I have an idea in mind. Just need to see if I can implement it. Oh yeah, and learn to design my own patterns.
• Scarf - This gets both because I have done them, and plan to do many more. Nyah.
• Teaching a child to knit - Not unless I teach Savannah.
• American/English knitting - Wha?
• Knitting to make money - Yes please!
• Buttonholes
• Knitting with Alpaca - This gets both because I've knitted with blends, but not pure alpaca. Have some though!
• Knitting with Angora - I totally added this because it should be there! And I plan to, definitely!
• Fair Isle knitting - Someday. Probably in socks or mittens!
• Norwegian knitting - Isn't this Fair Isle?
• Dying with plant colors - This sounds -soooo- fun!
• Knitting items for a wedding - My sister and niece have to get married -someday-.
• Household items
• Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
• Olympic knitting
• Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
• Knitting with dpns
• Holiday-related knitting
• Teaching a male how to knit - Nyah. Even if Brandon has a girl card, I taught Jason!
• Bobbles - I'm sure they have a use.
• Knitting for a living - This would be a dream come true for me right now.
• Knitting with cotton - All the time. I always have at least one dishcloth on some needles somewhere.
• Knitting smocking - Eeew. Oh .. but wait .. pillows. This is a maybe.
• Dying yarn - Cannot wait to try this.
• Steeks - Scarey, but I'll try it. One day.
• Knitting art - I agree with B .. knitting is art!
• Fulling/felting - Love felting.
• Knitting with wool - Love wool.
• Textured knitting
• Kitchener BO - For socks, this is almost a necessary.
• Purses/bags - Of course!
• Knitting with beads - Several projects, in fact!
• Swatching - A necessary evil.
• Long Tail CO
• Entrelac - Scarey, but I so want to.
• Knitting and purling backwards - If this is twisting stitches? Yes. If not .. umm .. wha?
• Machine knitting - Like Brandon, it's cheating, but cheating I can get behind in some instances.
• Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn - Variegated yes. Self-striping eventually. Probably not self-patterning though.
• Stuffed toys - Bunnies!
• Knitting with cashmere - Mmm. Yes please. Even a blend will do me fine.
• Darning - Once I've made my own socks, definitely.
• Jewelry - I made a bracelet! Just need a clasp.
• Knitting with synthetic yarn - I learned on it!
• Writing a pattern - Goes along with the knitting a book. I want to .. but will I ever get that good?
• Gloves - Eventually, yes!
• Intarsia - Scarey, but I wanna do it!
• Knitting with linen - Talk about dishtowels!
• Knitting for preemies - Only in the case of charity knitting, but sure.
• Tubular CO - I'll try it, if nothing else.
• Freeform knitting - If this means that silly scrumbling thing, no thank you.
• Short rows - In socks, no doubt, if nowhere else.
• Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers - I even found the perfect fingerless mitt pattern. And these are different than fingerless gloves, B. Fingerless gloves have half-fingers.
• Pillows - Because one day, I'll have furniture that needs pillows.
• Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - Knitty.com rules!
• Rug
• Knitting on a loom - Weaving, yes. Using a knitting loom? No.
• Thrummed knitting - Another thing I had to look up, but it has potential.
http://fiberfreak.blogspot.com/2006/01/thrum-de-dum.html
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2004/09/15/mitten_what_mitten.html
• Knitting a gift - So many.
• Knitting for pets - Isis needs cat toys, after all!
• Shrug/bolero/poncho - I have at least a poncho in the works. And I need a shrug!
• Knitting with dog/cat hair - Interesting idea, but I don't have a dog/cat that I could get enough hair from in my lifetime.
• Hair accessories - I will try again with the knitted scrunchy.
• Knitting in public - All the time!

Soundtrack to my life.

Directions:
If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.

My Movie:

1. Opening credits: "In His Eyes" - Jeckyl and Hyde soundtrack
2. Waking up: "I'll Fly Away" - Alison Kraus, O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack
3. First day of school: "Jump Into the Fire: - Tripping Daisy, The Craft soundtrack
4. Fight song: 'Heffalumps & Woozles" - Classic Disney Volume 3
5. Breaking up: "Bitch" - Merideth Brooks
6. Happiness: "Bring Me To Life" - Evanescence
7. Life's okay: "You Oughta Know" - Alanis Morisette
8. Mental breakdown: "Malchik Gay" - T.A.T.U
9. Driving: "Sleep to Dream" - Fiona Apple
10. Flashback: "All I Really Want" - Alanis Morisette
11. Getting back together: "Heartbreaker" - Pat Benetar
12. Wedding song: "You Learn" - Alanis Morisette
13. Birth of first child: "Something So Beautiful" - Kyler England
14. Final battle scene: "Beauty Has Her Way" - Mummy Calls, Lost Boys soundtrack
15. Death scene: "The World Has Gone Insane" - Jeckyl & Hyde Soundtrack
16. Funeral song: "How Soon is Now" - T.A.T.U.
17. End credits: "Going Under" - Evanescence

Ann at Crossroad Knits asked us "Where is your knitting?".

My knitting is everywhere, though I try to keep it in some organized fashion. I'm not that good at the whole organized thing though, at least not in this case, mainly because I have more stuff than I have places to store my stuff. We're working on changing that though, with a new home possibly in the near future, but back to the knitting.


Here I show my knitting nook in its normal state. A mess. But at least I can sit in the chair now .. that's a huge improvement. Great natural light when I'm knitting during the day, and the overhead ceiling fan has natural light bulbs for when I'm watching tv with honey and Brandon.


This is the basket honey got me for christmas .. the one that made me cry when I opened it because it was filled with goodies, and just showed how well he knows me. It serves as a perfect knitting nook backet, because it can close, it doesn't take a lot of floor space, and is beautiful. Inside you can see the handles I finally got for my Promenade Bag, the finished back piece of my tunic sweater, and a bunch of other odds and ends that are awaiting me having time to knit them.


Also beside my chair is a bookcase, seen in the background, and a side table on which a basket of yarn sits. This basket is filled, mostly, with fun fur, so that whenever I get fed up with a projects .. it happens, y'know .. I can pick up needles and some fur and make up a quick hat. And they are quick indeed. :)


This is the newest addition to my knitting bags. I got this one at Walgreen's for $5, and also picked up an LED book light for $2.50 ... $7.50 for two excellent knitting accessories .. can't beat that. Inside here you can find the dishtowel I wove, the yarn and beads for my Heartstrings Cowl, the yarn and beads for my beaded scarf, and the string and beads for my knitted bracelet, as well as the just barely started front of my tunic sweater. This is the bag I carry around with me now, since it has lots of room.


Last but by far not least is the Candleflame Shawl I'm knitting for a friend. It's nowhere near complete, but it sits right now on my desk amongst the other yarn I've piled here for Project spectrum, mainly because I try to work on it while I'm working on schoolwork in my office.

That's where my knitting is. Where's yours?

KnitPicks Order Update

I've calmed down some .. okay, a lot, since I ranted about the shoddiness of KnitPicks' shipping system. But I have to show the rediculousness of the situation.

Carrier ID: 02081979197917509006 Manifest ID: 1939174 Status: Sortation Center Departure Est. in Home 02/06/2007 Date Time Description Location February 10, 2007 6:04 AM Sortation Center Departure NEW BERLIN, WI February 6, 2007 2:14 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA February 5, 2007 5:42 PM Sortation Center Departure SAN PABLO, CA February 3, 2007 1:16 PM Sortation Center Arrival SAN PABLO, CA February 3, 2007 3:45 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA February 1, 2007 1:20 PM Sortation Center Arrival CHARLOTTE, NC February 1, 2007 5:21 AM Sortation Center Departure GROVE CITY, OH January 31, 2007 8:34 PM Sortation Center Arrival GROVE CITY, OH

Above you will see the tracking information for my original package. Now see .. I live just outside of Charlotte, NC, so the fact that the foolish thing had made it now to Wisconsin just completely amuses me.

On 2/7/07 I finally, after getting a -very- unsatisfactory email back finally from a KnitPicks representative, I called and as soon as someone finally got to me I requested a supervisor. She handled me well in my distinctly irate state, and informed me that yes indeed something had gone wrong, as she could clearly see. Now, why the first person to handle my email couldn't see that I do not know. Oh wait, I do. She confused my order with another she was looking at .. as she told me in a follow-up email. *scoff*

Michelle, who was the supervisor I spoke with I beleive, assured me that another package would be shipped 2-nd day air the next day, and I would also receive a $10 credit for my trouble. Now .. my other issue with this is UPS' 2nd-Day Air doesn't in fact take two days if it starts out on a thursday or friday, since apparently they don't run trucks on Saturday, which is unsatisfactory to me, but that's something I can't blame KnitPicks for. I'll just start requesting they ship it another way, and if they won't I won't be ordering from them. Elann will be happy to take my money and ship to me any way I want I'm sure.

So now I have a second package on its way to me.

Your package is on time with a scheduled delivery date of 02/12/2007.
Tracking Number:	** *** *** **** *** *
Type:	Package
Status:	In Transit - On Time
Scheduled Delivery:	02/12/2007
Shipped to:	ROCK HILL, SC, US
Shipped or Billed on:	02/08/2007
Service Type:	2ND DAY AIR
Weight:	2.50 Lbs

Package Progress
Location	Date	Local Time	Description
GREENSBORO, NC, US	02/09/2007	12:42 P.M.	ARRIVAL SCAN
COLUMBUS, OH, US	02/09/2007	2:43 A.M.	DEPARTURE SCAN
COLUMBUS, OH, US	02/08/2007	9:49 P.M.	ORIGIN SCAN
US	02/08/2007	4:45 P.M.	BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

If it doesn't arrive Monday, I'll be taking it up with UPS this time, since I can't understand how "2nd-Day Air" can take 5 days to get to me.

I am about to raise high-holy-hell with Knitpicks. I ordered from them at the end of January. It was shipped like the following day, and according to their crappy-ass tracking system was supposed to be delivered today. I just checked the tracking again, and it's telling me now that the package is in freaking LA. Now, of course this cannot possibly have happened, because it shows it arriving in Charlotte on February 1, 2007 at 1:20 PM, and leaving from Los Angeles on February 3, 2007 3:45 AM. That's not at all possible .. unless FedEx .. who is apparently the carrier they're using .. has developed teleportation technology. So .. someone's had a screwup in their computer system .. and I have no friggen clue where my stuff is.

I -will- be calling them tomorrow. And I -won't- be ordering from them again. Elann has never given me trouble.

Fiber Femmes

Have you all heard of the Fiber Femmes? Surely you have. It's a little low-tech as far as the site layout, but I think that only makes it more charming. They were represented at SAFF I know, because one of them took pictures of my friend Larissa's shawl and it's on the site in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue of their newsletter

I've joined the webring, and it should be showing up in the sidebar now. They have a questionnaire in this issue, which I'm answering .. well .. just because.


Fiber Geek Questionnaire

1. Do you raise fiber, animals or plant, or are a fiber user only? If you raise animals/plants...what do you raise?
No, I don't, though I'd like to. I very nearly came home with an angora bunny from SAFF in fact, and the likelihood that I will this year is even greater.

2. What's your favorite fiber & why? Which fiber do you like the least & why?
I love the softness of alpaca, and if I could work with (also read as: afford) to work only with it I'd be a happy knitter. I guess if I had to choose a fiber I like least it'd be quivit, because it's just impossibly expensive, prohibitively so in fact.

3. What's your worst habit relating to your fiber?
Not using it enough? I have a bag full of yarn I bought at SAFF, none of which I've used except for that purchased for the sweater I'm trying to make. It's all just so incredibly pretty, I have a hard time actually using it!

4. In what ways does your fiber habit make you a better person?
I'm a lot calmer now. I tend to bouts of agressiveness, but knitting and weaving have given me something to soothe my nerves when I'm stressed from work and school, or just life.

5. How would your life be different if you had to give up fiber?
I'd have to go back to smoking. I don't think I could stand it now, not having something to knit, or weave, or even just to look pretty in a basket in my house.

6. What tools, yarns, books or gadgets can't you live without?
Bamboo needles. I love my bamboo needles. Though I'm also becoming very partial to the Destiny circulars I got for the holidays. I think I'd hate to have to go back to using aluminum. And the ball-winder .. and of course the walnut swift that goes with it. I don't know how I'd live without it, now that I'm a fiber snob and won't use synthetics if I can help it.

7. What was your first fiber project?
An obnoxiously long and wide scarf knitted in a beautiful blu colorway of Lion Brand Homespun. That's how I know that I can knit anything ... I made my first projects out of homespun, a feat I wouldn't wish on anyone now.

8. Do you have any fiber mentors? Who are they and why?
Of course! My friend who tought me to knit, Larissa. She is the one who inspired me to knit, and it's really been good for my creativity.

9. Are you a member of any guilds? If so, which one(s)?
No, sadly. There's not any in this area (that I know of!)

10. What's the most exciting fiber project you've undertaken?
My sweater, right now. It's exciting to be making something that I know I'm going to actually wear. Though, weaving the first scarf was really exciting too. And now that it's completed, I wear it -all- the time.

11. How many people have you mentored? In which fiber arts?
Just one - Brandon .. well, two, if you count my husband. Both of them are knitting 'students'. And it's really neat to have taught someone how to knit, and given themsomething to be excited about.

12. Do you consider fiber crafts to be functional or artistic?
It depends on what you make. Some things are more artistic than others. A simple garter stitch scarf is functional. But something a little ornate, like an Irish Hiking Scarf, or a woven one like I made for myself, is beautiful as well as functional.

13. What, mainly, do you make? Do you keep, or give away, most of your projects?
I think what I make most of is dishcloths to be perfectly honest. Though I'm starting to make a lot more involved projects. My sweater and the woven scarf (which I've yet to post about, I know!) are the first things I've made just for myself .. unless you count the monstronsity that is my forst ever knit scarf.

14. Are fiber crafts an avocation or vocation for you?
(Sad that I had to look both those words up .. but it was only to make sure I remembered which was which!) Fiber crafts are an avocation for me now. They'd have to be, because it takes me so long to finish any one project I'd never make any money. But I'd like for it to eventually become a vocation. I'd love to have a fiber shop, and teach knitting and weaving and such, and be able to knit for profit as well as pleasure.

15. How many people are you committed to being a mentor for in 2007?
Committed? Just the same as usual. I'd like to teach a couple of other friends to knit, but they live a ways away, and it's just not feasible.

It's Imbolc Night, and though I should be posting about FO's, I feel the need to join into the Silent Poetry Reading fun before the clock ticks to midnight.

I have done so on my non-knitting blog. Feel free to go read. :)

Tomorrow I have classwork to do, so I can get ahead of the game finally. Sunday is, among other things, Stay-In-Your-Pajamas-Day. And a Knitty-Gritty Marathon. And since Project Spectrum has begun, I plan to use Sunday as a day to work on starting my Heartstrings Cowl, and working on other projects as well. Though, I have weaving to do before we give up the looms.

Oh, and Queen Charlotte agrees with Punxatawney Phil and Sir Walter Wally; an early spring it will be.

We'll see.

I have so many blogs to read. I'm trying to get through a bunch tonight. You people just post too much!

In which she discovers a new obsession.

Jason bought Brandon and myself a gift certificate to the Local LYS for 1 weaving class and 1-week's rental of an Ashford Knitters Loom. The class, because he of course wanted to learn as well, was scheduled for his day off .. which so happened to be yesterday. Two great things in one week ... I'm spoiled, dontcha know!

So yesterday, after I worked my morning complete with surprise visit from my boss (who said my store looks great and I'm doing a great job) and Jason working the first half of the day (because the salesmen won't stop selling cars, the fools. I mean, what do they think this is, a car dealership or something?) we headed up to Pineville to The Yarn Shop. After some creative 3-point-parallel-parking (so dubbed by Brandon) I headed in, to find my beloved already there, and we got started.

I don't think it counts as cheating on one's yarn diet if one -had- to buy yarn for a class she already had planned, does it? Anyway, we all picked out our yarn, and I got myself some gorgeous Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a heathered forest green (6276 - Woodland Forest), and some Noro Silver Thaw in a beautiful green/purple/pink/grey combination. I used the alpaca, of course, for the warp, being as it's smooth and lends itself to such, and the Noro for the weft. And it's weaving beautifully. Jason picked a black/white combination of beautiful soft alpaca and I believe alpaca/silk, but don't hold me to it. And Brandon's weaving with a pair of Berroco Ultra Alpaca varieties - Light Grey (6206) and Prune Mix (6284). My scarf, being as it has a non-solid yarn, looks wholly different than theirs, but it's a nice difference for me.




So, I got a bit done before we even left the store .. which was three hours later. Brandon actually got to learn how to tie in after refilling the shuttle before we left .. Jason and I hadn't gotten to that point. We also learned how to fold the looms for travelling with them and off we went. We decided to go to dinner at Monsoon, a local Thai place we love, and as usual were not disappointed. After a brief trip to Brandon's momma's house to drop off the deep fryer they gave us which quit working somewhere around the third or fourth use, so she could have it replaced, we headed home for honey to finish his homework and then I stayed up after everyone had gone to bed, weaving. I got quite a bit done .. had to fill the shuttle twice while I watched NCIS.

Don't mind the tv in the background playing Rent. I'm a bit obsessed at the moment.

I forgot to post about my finished Red Scaf Projects scarves!

*yawn*

I'm -so- tired. And, why yes, it is 5:00am. And yes, I've been up already for hours, tossing, turning and flopping in the bed. And disturbing Isis. (Jason sleeps through anything, luckily!) Who granted was a sweet kitty and tried grooming me to help me get to sleep. It didn't work. I finally just roused myself, and came down to discover that the thing that had been on my mind all night was true, and I found my blue pattern/color-card binder. Yeah. I think that's what kept me up all night. Whee.

That and dreading going to Weight Watcher's this morning. And now I want to go even less, because all I want to do is friggen sleep. I'm annoyed now, growly and grumpy and not in the mood to deal with the yuppy moms at the meeting, and certainly not in the mood to deal with the too-cheerful new leader, Lucie. Who is Canadian. And I like her, normally. She knits, in fact. But today .. right now .. I don't want to deal.

Random knitting sidenote: I started my very first Mason Dixon Ballband washcloth, and I'm as hooked as everyone else. This knits so fast! I'm going to take ti back to bed with me as I wait for Jason to wake up so I can tell him I'm not going to the meeting because I need to friggen sleep. Oh yeah, and who else loves the fact that Knit Picks now lets you pay 70-cents less and download their patterns, rather than buying them and having to wait for the pattern?

In other non-knitting news, because I've no desire to try to post coherently about my knitting at this ungodly hour, we have not one but two delightful outings planned this week. First, Sunday we're going to see a production of Rent in Charlotte. Jason and I saw the show on Broadway and I loved it, so when I saw it was coming here I had to get tickets. And then on Tuesday we're going to a weaving class at the LYS we love to shop at, creatively named The Yarn Shop, by Rainy Day Creations. That's the whole name, yes. But the ladies are very sweet, and Jason got us all a lesson and we're going Tuesday. I'm so thrilled! I think the class includes rental of a loom too, which will be interesting. I may not get much knitting done!

One more side note: About the picture in the previous post; it's not snow, nor is it from the wintertime. I took that picture on our trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway last OCtober. The reason the trees are covered in ice is because of what's called a hoar frist, where moisture in the air/fog/clouds freezes on contact with the trees/grass/ground. Cool, isn't it?

I'm going back to bed now, aided by a little blue pill. (Tylenol Sleep - no painkiller, just sleep-aid. My hero!)

Ahh, winter ...

Elizabeth said that Kat asked people to post their backgrounds. Here's mine.

Guilty

Amy posted her guilty pleasure (Flicity) today, so I figure I can at the very least fess up on my own.


Angel.

Oh, how I loved Angel. Hated Buffy mind you, but I adored Angel ... and not -just- because David Boreanaz (holy shite I just typed that right without looking it up first!) is very nearly the hottest man on earth.

No, I liked it because of its campy, over-the-top-ness. I loved the cheesy dialogue, the predictable plotlines .. I loved it all.

At least now I get to watch David being all surly and sexy in Bones.



Ahem.

In other news, I finished scarf #2 for the Red Scarf Project. Me! She of the incomplete projects, finished not one but two whole scarves. And if I didn't have so much schoolwork I might just start a third. I might anyway .. maybe. I've another skein of the Italia eye-lash I used for the bias scarf, but I might keep that around. Valentine's Day's a-coming, and I might need it to make a gift instead

Right now, this moment, all I have on my needles is Candleflame, which I actually have a good amount of work done but it's still a very long way from completed, and my sweater, which I really want to finish. But I also want to make some fun-fur hats for Boston Children's Hospital.. I'm frustrated by my complete lack of useful circular needles right now though. All of mine are like 29", and that's just not feasible for making a hat in the round, and I don't have any DPN's higer than a 6. I guess I'll try that next, though I don't relish the thought of knitting fun-fur on 6's.

In which she discovers her cat is taking over the world.

Or at the very least, the World of Warcraft.

Normally, she's just talking with our friend Larissa's cat Canela, or likely as often with Chaos and Mayhem.


Blogger is, however, being pissy and not uploading my screenshots of Isis trying to take over, so before I let this get to me like everything else has been today (checks calendar to figure out if its about that time ...) I'm going to just say I'll add the picture later on and go to work or something.

In which she gets incredibly busy ..

.. and copies the trend of people styling their post titles after Friend's episode titles. :) But hey, it works!

Anyway, yeah. It has been busy here at Casa Tygher. And yes, admittedly, a lot of it is because of Wolrd of Warcraft, but I have been knitting. I've finished the second pattern repetition of my candleflame shawl, and it's really beginning to look like more than a bundle of yarn. I'm also getting close to done with my second red scarf .. which is good, because I only have another 5 days or so to mail them off.

My pretty candleflame shawl on my lovely Destiny circulars. Ahhhh.

Oh, the delight of reading a psychology textbook.

Classes started on Wednesday though, and that is what's been taking up the rest of my time. I'm taking 18 credit hours, and I'm determined to keep the 4.0 I earned last semester. But the classes are more difficult and more reading this time around, so it's taking a lot more time from my day. As I type this I'm skimming through my Psychology reading for a first go-round, and trying to figure out what I need to remember for the exam, which is due next Friday. I also need to finish my Spanish work for the first chapter .. that's due Sunday. But that's much easier than all this reading. I also have to read the first chapters for Amercan Government and State & Local Government .. and several stories for my English class. Whee!

Everyone should go check out the photos of Comet McNaught on Spaceweather.com. I didn't get a chance to see the comet because .. well .. we were busy and such, but the photos are simply amazing.

They changed the program .. new journals! Yay! And ooh, they're bigger!

Oh. We're back at Weight Watchers, and I'm back On Program. I gained 8 pounds in the two months we weren't going, but I managed at least to maintain last week. Good, since I didn't count a damn thing.

I leave you with an utterly adorable shot of Isis from yesterday.

Fair Warning

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - the much awaited expansion to the online game I play obsessively - releases today. I'm heading to work here in a little while, and I'll be picking up one copy of the collector's editions and two of the regular edition (for Brandon and Jason).

This will likely eat into some of my knitting time, at least for a little while. I promise not to vanish entirely, but there is much new fun-ness to explore, and I intend on exploring all I can.

I can report that I frogged the new Red Scarf .. the pattern wasn't working for me, and was annoying me. Right now I'm knitting it on the bias with drop stitches and it's going fast .. and I should have enough yarn to make at least one more scarf. Whether I'll have time to is another story, but I'll certain ly give it the old college try!

Not a Knitter

That is what my husband says .. he's not a knitter. Oh, he knows how to knit and all .. but he's not a knitter. But this is what my 'not a knitter' husband knit lastnight. Double-stranded Tahki New Tweed in colors 14 (black with purple and orange flecks) and 27 (purple/black multi with orange flecks).



And .. why yes, that -is- an advance copy of Open Season. A perk for working for the movie studios is occasionally they send us goodies. :)

In my own knitting news, I have completed my first Red Scarf. I so want to keep it for myself, as despite being acrylic it is snuggly and soft and warm, and longer than I am tall! I used a modification of the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, with only two cables instead of three because I wanted it to be nice and long and had limited yarn to work with. I think it looks lovely, don't you?




I'm now working on Red Scarf #2, which I will hopefully finish before January 25th so I can mail them off. I'm making this one out of Yarn Bee Italia - one of the many store-brand novelty yarns at Hobby Lobby, but admittedly one of my favorites. I'm using a pattern I found in a recent Knitter's magazine, one that makes it look almost like it's actually crocheted. It uses p4tog though, which is much more difficult than it needs to be. I'm managing though.





In that last photo .. you see the little skinny sticks, with butterflies on the end? Those are size 0000 needles. I need said needles for the bracelet kit my beloved got me for christmas. Yes, they are as tiny as they look, but I'm oddly excited to be knitting on them. :)

Working has, this week at least, taken over my blogging time. I haven't been able to keep up with the ones I read, nevermind the one I try to write in at least every couple of days. But the holiday season, for me and my employment, is over. My store is back in order, and looking pretty good I must say, and I can finally quit working 30-hour weeks in addition to being a house-wife. A homemaker. You know, those women that are purported to stay home and do nothing all day but magically the house stays neat and the dishes are done and laundry is kept up with and food is cooked? Yeah, that's me. 'Cept it doesn't all get done magically.

Anyway, I -have- been knitting. My first Red Scarf is nearly complete. I keep waffling about if I'm going to just use up the skein I'm using now, or stop the scarf as it is and send it. It's plenty long, but I think I don't want the extra yarn hanging around. I dunno. I also finished the back of my sweater, and started the front. And I'm knitting on my mystery shawl as well .. I've nearly finished a second pattern repeat, which I say is impressive since one repeat is 32-freaking-rows. I do intend on knitting some hats soon, but first things first, the scarves have to be mailed in two weeks. Then I can start the hats.

I do have to say thank you to Kristi for her post about how to use a nostepinne. I bought Jason one for Christmas, mainly because he likes the word, but neither he nor I know how to use one. Now we can try it out on one of his own handspun hanks of pretty yarn!

Here's an amusement for me while I wait for Burning Crusade to hurry up and release already. (I got to see the collectors edition as merch staff checked in todays shipment. One of them -will- be mine .. just as soon as Tuesday gets here. *sigh*)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Tania the Waspish of Frome Valley Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title