In the time that you are gone, I will sing a million songs...

In the time that I've been gone, I've been a knitting fool! For instance, here is my 3 skein, 1 colorway Charlotte's web shawl:



I'm not entirely sure if I like it though. I found the pattern to be a bit "meh" and the colorway, once knit up, has too much of a grape Kool-Aid feel to it. Too much purple. Not enough blue. We'll see if the lace, at least, improves upon blocking.



I also finished Dan's sock! But now I have to make the other one. I need to get more reinforcement stuff...



But check out what I got at Sheep and Wool:



That's 2 skeins, 500 yds each, 100% mohair, and really super super soft, but not really hairy. It doesn't look like most mohair I'm familair with. One skein is a red and the other is a blue/gold. I initially bought them to make the chevron scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, but now I don't know... still thinking...

I'm Here!

You know it's bad when the Secret Pal people are on your case to update and your knitting circle friends are leaving "where are you?!" messages for you.

So, my internet died for awhile there. This weekend, one of my plans is to update with a vengance. For instance, I cast on, knit and finished a Charlotte's Web shawl in the time I've been down. And finished one of Dan's socks. And the knitting bit of the Christmas stocking.

Also, I've been super-missing knitting and it's totally on my plan of things to do this weekend but 4 weeks ago, a friend and I finally got together after weeks of missed connections, then my parents came and I took them to Annapolis to see the boats, then I had to work, and then last weekend I kept puking so I stayed at home.

But this weekend! Stitch and Bitch (suck is So Fast So Sleazy!) Big update with pictures! Or stone me if I don't!

Secret Pal Questionnaire

Hello Mystery Secret Pal!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

My favorite would be Kid Silk Haze. I like wool. I don't like novelty stuff or acrylics that feel like plastic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Wine gift boxes.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for 7.5 years now. (I learned January 1999). I consider myself advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yep.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I like really clean scents, or florals. Or spicy scents. My favorite perfumes are White by GAP and Chanel No. 5. My favorite discontinued bath products are Ginger Lily anything by Body Shop and the World Piece bath ballistic by Lush.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I like all candy. Candy Candy Candy. But I have a weakness for Chocolate Covered Cherries.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Crochet. Beading. Anything that involves my hot glue gun. I don't spin. I tried and I really really suck.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like world music, modern folk, New Wave... I'm open to a lot. I can handle MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Dark blue and light pink. I wear and use a lot of earth tones. I'm not a big fan of yellow, as it makes me look jaundiced.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

1 husband. 2 gerbils.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes to all but the ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like sweaters.

13. What are you knitting right now?

A commissioned Christmas stocking.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

It depends on the yarn and the project. Generally, I like hardwood needles-- Brittany, Lantern Moon, Peace Fleece...

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Sadly, no.

17. How did you learn to knit?

I took a class in college. It's a long, cool story, but I've told it a lot on here.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?

Oldest UFO that I acutally plan on finishing is verging on 4 years

19. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, followed by Thanksgiving

20. Is there anything that you collect?

Hobbies. Books. Music. Bruises (I'm very very clumsy)

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm in love with the RYC collection and want more of their books. I also need more Zimmerman. I subscribe to:

Rowan
Rebecca
Interweave
Vogue
Knit.1
Knit Simple

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Not that I can think of off the top of my head.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. The ball of my foot is 9.25" and from heel to second toe (my longest toe) is 10". I wear an 8.5/9 shoe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

07/27!

In other news... I mailed out all the baby stuff. I taped up all the boxes and then realized I had forgotten to take pictures! D'oh. Ah well.

My parents come tomorrow. Next day sheep and wool!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I hung out with Kelle from Ann Arbor this weekend. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

I don't miss A2 that much, but I miss Knit A Round and the I miss my knitting group (not that my knitting group here isn't ace, but I miss the Michigan one too!)

So... I've been working on this Christmas stocking for the lady from my training program at work.

The basic construction is...
1. Ribbing
2. White band with name
3. Red band with Christmas trees
4. Green band with Santa Claus
5. Heel
6. That bit that's the top of the heel with birth year
7. Red stripe
8. Green toe

I have completed the red band with the christmas trees and just need to finish charting out Santa... so, all in all, making good progress

I want to make a sweater for my sister for her birthday at the end of the month that I saw in the last Rebecca... it takes a linen yarn and I'm going to see if I can scare up something good next weekend at the wool festival!

Also, this weekend, I crocheted me some jewelry. It turned out real purty. When my computer comes back (14 business days!!!!) then I'll put some pics up and hopefully start selling it.

Also, last night, I had a friend over and she missed the last train so I had to drive her back to Virginia...

Can I just say how much I HATE driving in Virginia? So confusing. It wasn't as bad as it could've been, because it turns out that she lives near to where Dan works, so I at least knew where I was, but there was an accident on 66 blocking all lanes of traffic, so how was I supposed to get home?! It was way too complicated.

Also, I have to be the ONLY person in the DC area that relaxes when she hits the Beltway. I love driving on the Beltway. Well lit and NOT CONFUSING.

Sweet....

So, on Monday night, I finished up all my blocking and seaming...

Tuesday night I worked late and then went out for a drink in Arlington

Last night I saw They Might Be Giants at 9:30 club and it was AWESOME

Tonight... I will take pictures, in the hopes that one day my computer works again and I can show you... and wrap everything up to take to the post office

Tomorrow.

And then I will knit up this stocking!!!!!

And read a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot.

GARGH!

I'm having massive power supply issues with my computer and therefore have no way to take pictures off my camera! :( Plus, I'll have to send my baby to the shop and tech support thinks they'll have to send it away... :(

Anyway... I have finished knitting my baby extravaganza, and just have a few more seams to sew up. There's been lots of seam sewing these past few days... I hate seam sewing.

Then, I'm going to start knitting a Christmas stocking for someone I'm in training with. I've figured out the pattern already. I just have to finish my yardage estimate so I can give her a price estimate.

My computer dying is really most aggrivating though...

In other news, I randomly ran into someone I went to church with growing up on the metro on Friday night after we thought the ballgame was going be rained out... and we hung out and it was fun. And there are stories from that night that I could tell you. And I will tell you if I see you and you ask me.

And then on Saturday I went to a house party with a bunch of people from the KATO institute. Because nothing's more fun than being a public employee in a room full of liberatarians. :) It was a good party though. Courtney makes a damn fine brownie.

But really? Anyone out there get Rowan and have it yet? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!

And Lynne!! We need to hang out at the fesitival!

Rowan? Maryland Sheep and Wool?

Do any of y'all subscribe to Rowan? I've been having some issues and I'm just wondering if anyone else in the US (that isn't a yarn shop) has recieved the spring issue yet. LET ME KNOW!!!

Also, who's going to Maryland Sheep and Wool? I am! With my mom!

La la la la la

Um... not a lot new happening here. Flickr is being annoying today. Still reading a gajillion things for work. BUT! I picked an adult book to read next Wednesday! I'll finally be reading a KTC book so woo!

Also, Emily tagged me a bazillion years ago and I never answered because I've been so distracted by life lately. Anway...

4 jobs I've had
1. Call centre Travel Agent
2. Health Food Store Cashier
3. Taco Stand Manager (complete with hair net and ice-cream scoop for the taco meat)
4. Costume Studio stitcher

4 movies that I can watch over and over
1. The BBC/Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice
2. Bridget Jones's Diary
3. Love Actually
4. The Big Lebowski

4 TV Shows that I never Miss:
1. West Wing
2. Family Guy
3. Daily Show
4. Law and Order (classic)

4 Places I've Lived
1. Appleton, WI
2. Grinnell, IA
3. Manchester, England
4. Nanjing, China

4 Places I've Gone on Holiday
1. Niagara Falls
2. Cheltenham, England
3. San Fransico
4. Arcadia National Park (Maine!)

4 Favorite Dishes
1. Lasagna
2. Peking Duck
3. Pesto-anything
4. Macaroni and Cheese

4 Websites I read Daily
1. Go Fug Yourself
2. Bookslut
3. Read Roger
4. A place where the Grinnell kids get together and bitch.

4 Places I'd Rather Be
1. Iowa
2. England
3. China
4. Not at work!

Where I went from there...

Hello! I exsist! I promise!

I haven't been doing much knitting lately, mainly reading for work.

Um... so this weekend we went to West Virginia. It's not China, but it was fun.



I took the waters at the spa, had a massage, got my nails done. But mainly hung out and read in front of the fire and ate a lot of s'mores.

And then I came home to this awesome package from my secret pal! Who has a name now! It's Meghan and you can read her blog here!



But that picture of goodness is the RYC Cafe book (yum!) 3 balls of DKsoft in a wonderful shade of dark blue. PLUS! a stuffed lamb that is so soft and cuddly and peppermint tea and some rose smelling bath confetti AND Cadbury eggs and Lindor truffles. Yum, yum and yummy yum. Plus, she's from Iowa, which we all know is the greatest state EVER. Seriously. Anyone who disses Iowa has clearly NEVER been there. It's awesome and I'd move back in a heartbeat.

Here're the stitch markers I made for my SP7.

Very Un-Hip

Eep! I totally forgot to mention the awesome CD that my secret pal got me too! (It was in my car!)



That's Wild Cool & Swingin: Ultra Lounge 5 and it is awesome.

I've been groovin' to it a lot this past week!

Hello World

So, I'm up and walking again and feeling a lot better. I went back to work on Monday. Things have been going... ok, even though I have enough restrictions that I can't do half my job (it's hard to "not bend" when you work in a children's section and half the shelving only comes up to your waist).

BUT

In one week and 11 hours, we were supposed to by flying off to Beijing. But the doctors have put the kebash on that. On one hand, I'm a bit relieved, because deep down I knew I'd be fairly miserable after that flight and then backpacking and spending a lot of times on long train rides... but... I was going to go back to China!!!!

But... here are some pictures of what I have been doing with my time.

First off, here's the package from my secret pal:



That's some empty chocolate wrappers (it was yummy!) a box of mac and cheese (yum yum yum) 2 balls of Crystal Palace's Kid Merino in the prettiest shade of pink, these really cool 3-D stickers of London-town, a box of Tazo Tea (when I was in college, I used to go to every reception and steal all the Tazo Tea bags at the end of the night), these AWESOME HANDMADE STITCH MARKERS and Scarf Style

And I thought it was so cool that she MADE THESE STITCH MARKERS and I thought, I wanna do that! So I got thisbook from the library (we just got it in) and learned how to make earrings, figuring stitch markers aren't that different. So tomorrow I'm off to the craft store to buy things like "jump rings" and "head pins".



I don't know if you can tell, but the ones on the far left have charms on them that are balls of yarn with knitting needles in them. V. cute!

Here's the blue sweater (baby suprise from Elizabeth Zimmerman's The Opinionated Knitter I was working on earlier, all nice and done (ok, it still needs buttons in to have its ends woven in)



And here's a little lesson in gauge, ok? I knit the blue one with Encore Worsted Weight, on a size 8 needle. The red is done in sock yarn on a size 1. There is no other difference. Same number of stitches and rows and everything, just different gauges...



One's for a preemie and one's for a 15 month old...

But look! The red one now has a matching bonnet!



It's the same pattern from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts I had been using in 2004 when the last batch of babies came, BUT with sock yarn instead of worsted weight!!!

Also, last Friday, Dan's cousin's family came with their 15 month old and I gave them the bonnet that I knit for them when she was BORN and it still fit! And she was the cutest thing ever! But I didn't think to grab my camera in my drugged out haze. But seriously? CUTE CUTE CUTE.

And here's one in the proper DK weight (and this is for one of Dan's other cousin's new baby), but still on the needles:



And here's a picture to compare all 3 gauges of this sweater:



And here's the back of a sweater I'm working on from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Little Cherubsfor the new baby's older sister.



And to spread the word, earlier this week, I got an email from one of my favorite record labels, Six Degrees that described a band as blending "the rhythms of 60's Cambodian pop - heavily influenced by American surf, rock and early psychedelic garage bands - with their own eclectic mix of American and international styles...There are echoes of Bollywood soundtracks, Ethiopian soul, American R&B, Cambodian funk, Spagetti Western and girl group angst in the mix, but the resulting concoction is all their own." and I thought, how can I NOT check that out? So I went to their website and it'll play their whole album for you and now I'm totally in love with Dengue Fever.

Hello!!!

Sorry I've been incommunicado lately!

First off, I want to give a shout out to terpsichore, who knit my Big Wool Mittens! As far as I'm aware, this is the first time someone's knit one of my patterns. I feel really cool and would do a dance if I could, which I can't (keep reading). But her mittens turned out really well! I really like her stripes! Check them out!

On Friday, I finished felting Market Squares.



Then I went to Knit and Stitch = Bliss in Bethesda. This is the FIRST TIME I've been to a yarn store since we moved. I bought buttons for the sweater's I'll talk about later.

On Saturday, I went to my friend Jonathan's Birthday party, which featured a Journey cover-band! Woot! And, the part of the crazy girl who doesn't know when to shut up? Totally played by me, as always.

And! Look, I finished my olympic project.



Also, Amy had an awesome Closing Ceremony party. Look what I won!



That's the Shaun White Flying Tomato gold medal! With a prize!



That's a really cool pattern for a fair-isle throw with the necessary Hemp 4 Knitting. Yarn. Very sweet.

The big news is that I've totally and utterly thrown out my back. While sitting at my computer. On Monday, my coworkers had to wheel me out to the car on my desk chair, screaming. Even after the ER pumped me full of muscle relaxers and narcotics, I was still in enough pain that they let me take the wheelchair home. On Tuesday morning, I passed out from either the pain or the percoset. Thursday morning, I woke up screaming in pain at 3am. Things ARE getting better though. I'm in physical therapy 2 times a week. I've been given a note to get me out of work "indefinetly". Today, I got out of bed unassisted. TWICE! This was awesome. I'm also now consistently going to the bathroom by myself. Yeah. That's how bad it's been.

But let's just talk abot how awesome Dan is. To get me on Monday (because I knew I couldn't drive) he had to take lots of public transport and a cab across DC to get me. I bit him on numerous occasions to keep myself from screaming in the emergency room. He let me chew up his wallet. He walked about the holding room we were in and gave the nurse the evil eye until she came back with a shot full of pain killer. He stayed home with me all day Tuesday and drove me all over. (Can I also give a shout-out to my doctor? I called at 9, explained the situation, saw her at 11. She got me a 1pm appointment with her favorite orthopedist. He saw me, ran across the hall to the physical therapy place and begged someone to see me ASAP and I saw them at 3. AWESOME). Dan has to go away on Sunday for business. He's been FREAKING OUT about leaving me home alone. But, on Wednesday he went to work for a few hours (and then came home to me saying "I have to go the bathroom, but I can't get up") Yesterday he went all afternoon and I was FINE. And after today's awesome smooth moves of getting out of bed ALL BY MYSELF, he went all day. I called him for something this afternoon and I could just hear the panic in his voice, thinking I was lying on the floor, wetting myself or something.

But seriously, to quote Jed Bartlett "So this is why they make you take vows". Even though I'm super-cute, helping me off the toilet isn't fun. (Plus, I am not super-thing. Hell, I'm not even thin.) Having me wake you up at all hours of the night because I need you to help move me or something is not cool. Having to use up your vacation time to take care of me, being totally helpless, is not fun but he hasn't complained at all. Not one bit. So super duper lovely.

But I've been knitting a lot and enjoying the Project Runway marathons.

It's baby-fest in my world. Lots of people popping out little bundles of joy. So... here is EZ's Baby Suprise Sweater. Yes, I swear this is a sweater. See?







It's for a preemie, so I didn't change the sweater, but knit it at a much smaller gauge, using sock yarn. Here is one for older brother (a one year old) knitting at a bigger gauge, per EZ's suggestion



I've also totally finished the blue sweater. And a bonnet for the red sweater. And a baby bootie. I just haven't been able to take photos, because, you know, the whole-not-being-able-t0-move thing.

ALSO! Yesterday, I got a most awesome package from my secret pal. (who is from Davenport! Iowa! I love Iowa!) It's really really awesome and most of the chocolate is already in my belly, but I'll cover it more indepth later (with all of it's cool contents) when I can get photos. Or have Dan take photos for me.

Lookie lookie!

Look what I did! I didn't have a lot of time, so this is just once through the wash, but already I can tell that felting in the new building is much better than in Michigan!!!!



It's pretty good now, but I want it a bit more sturdy, so probably once (maybe twice) more through. I was worried because I can only set one temp on my washer. Hot, Warm of Cold. None of this hot/cold stuff. BUT, when I checked on it during the rinse cycle? Ice cold water (I had set it to hot) so know I know my "hot" is really "hot/cold". Swank.

I would also totally do this bag again. But probably in one colorway of Kureyon. I think that would be pretty.

YAY!!!!!

Look waht I did today!!!



Today was a lazy day at home, as I got president's day off... I just hung around and watched TV and knit and knit and knit and knit and knit!

Yesterday, I had to drive Dan to the airport at a godawful hour of pre-dawn. And I was driving home at sunrise (ugh, I know) thinking of all the times I've driven home in sunrise and I came home and was walking into my building at 6am and thinking "I wonder if the doorman thinks that this is a walk of shame?"

Also, I need to give a shout out to HolyKnitter, who emailed me all excited about her new blog and for some reason, Outlook decided that her email was junk mail. Even though all of her other messages to me never are. WTF?! So, here is my shout out, my AoD sister! READ THE HOLYKNITTER!



Also, you should check out Trish's blog. Her market squares bag is looking swank! And! already felted! Gold for her! She asked what yarn I'm using and it's KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. It's working well and was DEAD CHEAP. All the yarn was under $20. Sa-weet!

I have one handle knit. The other is started. I think on Wednesday I'll start (I work tomorrow night and our laundry room as set hours, so I won't be able to then...) I haven't tried to felt in this building yet. We'll see what happens with this washer!!! I don't think I can have a hot/cold in the same cycle. Maybe I'll run 2 washers. One with hot and one with cold and then just switch between them, Thoughts?

Snow!

So, it turns out my camera wasn't FUBARed, I'm just stupid. Today was 60 degrees and all the lovely snow that made my weekend is now gone. But here is what I saw from my balcony when I woke up on Sunday morning.











And here is my Olympic Project... I'm 1/2 through the 5th tier. On the 7th tier, I start decreasing, so they'll get smaller. I feel I'm making good progress.

Olympics

So... of all the times for my camera to be completely FUBARed... it's now.

But! I got pretty pictures of the 8 inches of snow dumped on us! (But I can't get them OFF the camera. Sadly.) And now it's all white and wintery and positively lovely and driving to work in all of that on a sunny, cold day while listening to Jamesmade me ache for Iowa.

The market squares bag is going well. There is a starting band, 15 tiers, the straps, and the felting. I have done the band and am about 1/4 of the way through the fourth tier. Entralac is now my friend, as is KNITTING BACKWARDS. I feel super hard-core.

Yarn!

Woo-hoo! I was freaked out that it wouldn't happen, but my Olympic yarn came today. Yay!!!