choo choo knits

Arts and Crafts

2011-11-30T08:57:00.008-05:00

Ramona/CC recently went to a friends birthday party, held at the family's home, and the kids all did arts and crafts (butterfly and fairy themed), which I thought was a fantastic, and cost efficient way to celebrate. When discussing plans for her upcoming birthday, I suggested a holiday craft-themed party and she thought it was a great idea! Unfortunately, she couldn't invite the cast of hundreds she had for her party last year (gymnastics) but she confidently narrowed the guest list down to 7 friends...some old, some new...and we sent the invitations out!

Before proceeding with the party plans, I should mention that the invites did not get mailed without a hitch. I wrote out the Smurf invitations in pink marker, as instructed, and looked up the friends addresses the Monday before Thanksgiving. I purposely did NOT let CC seal them because I wanted to remind myself to put the return address labels and stamps on before mailing them the following morning. On Tuesday I woke a little early, grabbed the return labels and sealed them before I left the house. Once I got out of the subway I started toward my office before remembering to mail the envelopes. I pulled the stack from my bag, brought the mailbox handle down, placed them inside and released the bar only to, at the last second, realize I had not put the stamps on! [INSERT slow-motion, low-bellied sounding, "noooooooooo!" here] What could I do? It was out of my hands...literally. I emailed the mom's of the guests later that morning and they all got a kick out of my story. A few days later most of them wrote to say that the post office had delivered the invitations...without marking them "postage due". No wonder the USPS is low on funds! Anywhoodles...

The process of finding easy holiday craft ideas for a party of 8 six-year-olds. And here's some what we've come up with (these are other people's images...I'll be sure to post mine once the party is over):

Reindeer Head (I traced and cut out CC's hands - super cute and fun!)

Snowman ornaments (using sticky foam circles!)

And the piece de resistance...SNOW GLOBES! I'm still working on getting the jars prepared, but I have all the "ingredients" ready to go - these are going to be so cool! [Side note: In wanting to cover all my bases, I did another internet search for these yesterday and it looks like stupid Taylor Swift was featured in People magazine because she's making these for all her friends/family this season. Let it be known - I had the idea first - she stole it from me because it's so awesome.]

My evening agenda for this week:

Monday - go to Michaels and pick up remainder of supplies

Tuesday - begin prep of cut-outs (I did 117 in all!!) and put together goody bags w/ CC's help

Wednesday - go to grocery store and find perfect jars for snowglobes; bring them home, clean off labels and scuff inside of lids; cut more snowman circles

Thursday - glue ornaments to inside of jar lids (and hope they stick!)

Friday - bake a million and a half cupcakes (half chocolate, half vanilla, by request)

Saturday - clean house, ice cupcakes, install plastic sheeting all over dining room in preparation of sparkles/paint/glue + 6 yr olds!!, order pizza, greet kids, throw best party, say goodbye to kids, say hello to grandparents, get MC off to hockey for game, get grandparents in vehicles to travel to said game, see game, get home, collapse!

Maybe I'll get back to some knitting next week :o)

ISO: The World's Best Yellow

2011-11-03T11:06:00.004-04:00

For years, I've been obsessed with finding the perfect "yellow" yarn.

I came very close with The March Hare yarn I purchased at Rhinebeck back in 2009 (or 08?). I used it to make Kirsten Kapur's Snow Drops and Snap Peas shawl...which I love (and all of my friends want to steal).

Then I purchased some Shibui Knits sock yarn in Finch...so much brighter! I made Socktoberfest socks in 2010 and I want to live in them on all the cold days!

I've used...
Jamieson's Shetland in Goldenrod
Berroco's Comfort in Buttercup
Berroco's Pure Pima in Jojoba
Berroco's Vintage in Sunny
Knit Picks Gloss in Dandelion
Malabrigo's Worsted in Cadmium
and even purchased...
St Denis' Nordique in Honey Glaze

But I have a BIG project I need to work on and REALLY want a nice worsted weight in the PERFECT yellow. I thought of trying Cascade 220 (they have a great selection of shades) but I'm afraid the final feel of the sweater needs a little alpaca in it. So then I considered Berroco's Ultra Alpaca, but no one seems to sell the Masa color online. I guess I can start calling around to yarn shops but man, the effort!

Does anyone have any ideas, suggestions, recommendations?

You know I'm a nerd for the yellows...please help!

How to count sweaters? (yes, it's a question)

2011-11-02T14:20:00.004-04:00

As the end of 2011 fast approaches, my Ravelry project page reminds me that I did not, in fact, knit 20, or 22, or as many sweaters as my friends joked I might. I will have knit, approximately, 15 1/2

But wait...because maybe I've knit a few more...I'll let you judge how to count sweaters!

Sweaters for 2011 (mostly for me, unless otherwise noted, all Adult sized):

Aidez
Abi
Tashmoo (for MIL)
Washington Square
As yet unpublished sweater
Little Blue Sweater
Beatnik
Erin Cardigan (for Erin; CCK Design)
Gavotte
Beagle (for Ken)
As yet unpublished sweater
Owl sweater (CCK Design)
Ramona DRESS (CCK Design; counting this as 1.5 sweaters)
George Street
Nebula

Subtotal: 15.5

Sweaters for CC (kid sized):

Ana
Ramona Jr (short sleeves)
Ramona Jr (long sleeves)
Dagmar
Striped Princess Raglan (lengthened body and sleeves; count as .5)

Subtotal: 4.5

GRAND TOTAL: 19

So you see my dilemma. How to count sweaters? If I push myself to knit a 20th...would it REALLY count as a 20th?

And don't even get me started on shawls...Kirsten Kapur has converted me into a shawl junkie! Ha ha

Happy Knitting Y'all!

Friends and Knitters and The Beginning

2011-10-28T10:11:00.004-04:00

It's amazing how something you love can change your life.

When I learned to knit in the late 90s, my grandmother handed me a ball of Lion Brand yarn and a long pair of straight aluminum needles. Armed with these two tools, I learned how to knit and purl...well, I attempted to learn. In the two years that followed, I made a few scarves, and 3.5 sweaters. And then I put my needles down. For a long time.

As most know, I knit periodically through the years: a baby blanket, a scarf, anything square or rectangular; but never anything "more".

After my daughter was born, everything changed. When Ramona was 7 or 8 months old we took a trip to Martha's Vineyard to visit my in-laws and something inside me said "bring some knitting". I started scouring the internet and discovered Knitty, and some knitter/bloggers like Stefanie Japel, Carrieoke and *Nonnahs. I felt a sense of excitement and decided to not only knit the sweater for my wee baby, but to keep going...knitting garments THAT FIT and learned new techniques like...yikes...CABLING! This led to socks and shawls and sweaters (mostly for myself). And then there was Ravelry!

I remember my friend, Alyssa, sent me an email that said "you have to sign up for this website! there's a waiting list but it says the list goes fast and you may only have to wait a few days to get on!". I kind of thought "wait, what? A knitting website with a waiting list? For reals?" So I looked into it and it asked for a user email to get on the list...and I panicked! I didn't want to use my "regular" email address. Was I going to be asked to set up a user name? These were tough decisions to make. Seriously...HARD. DECISIONS.

Seeing as I was doing most of my knitting on the train, the handle "choochooknits" seemed like the right fit. Yeah, some folks still wonder what it means, but once they hear about my commute on the train, well, it all falls into place.

Jump ahead several years. After my family, knitting is probably the next most important thing in my life. And when I said "knitting" I truly mean: friends, fibers, projects, patterns, etc. Because knitting has come to mean SO much more than just the actual act of working up yarn. It, quite literally, winds though my day-to-day existence to become the fabric of my life. I look at my project page on Ravelry and think "oh, I knit that on the train with my old knitting group and accidentally broke a dpn that day" or "I remember Gab seeing that I hadn't sewn my armhole closed as I was getting to head off to Rhinebeck S&W". Oh the times we've had.

I've made friends, both near and far...and while there are a few I've never met IRL, I consider them to be some of my closest friends in the world. And through these friends, I've met more knitter/friends and have been blessed by their kindness and generosity...as though we had known each other forever.

As testament to the power of knitting and the bond of strangers-turned-friends, I'll end this post with a photo of The Rhinebeck 12 (minus Misa, who was taking the photo)...my newest group of FRIENDS. I love you all!

(L to R: Michelle, Gab, Yvonne, Angela, Shameka, Deb, Kim, me, Kirsten and Meganne; awww, Stephanie was missing too!)

What's in a name?

2011-10-19T12:42:00.003-04:00

I posted the following comment on twitter a few days ago:

Post Rhinebeck Sad: I miss calling people by their real first name and using screen name as last name. e.g. karen choochooknits

And this really got me to thinking about how much I kinda really love naming people in this fashion. Not only does it utilize the individual's REAL first name, but keeps them anonymous by using their chosen moniker (which usually indicates something about them) for their "last name".

Some examples...and a bunch others which need no further explanation:

Karen Choochooknits
LibLiz
Cathipink
MegFab
Misa Craftivore
YarnyOldKim
GabFab
Marie Bklynhandspun
Michelle Boringknitter
Andrea KnittingBicycle
Laura MyHouseKey
Caro Splityarn
Deb StitchyMcYarnpants
Kirsten ThroughTheLoops
Sarah NotScarlett
Chawne CauchyComplete
Carrieoke
Cathy Runnergirl713

Every single one of those names makes me smile to know their owner. Hooray for knitterly friends!

Rhinebeck Recap

2011-10-17T14:31:00.004-04:00

So, for those of us in the Northeast, and, to be honest, all over the country, the third weekend of October is generally treated as a holiday...no, not for that Columbus dude...for the holiest of holies...RHINEBECK SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL!!!

As most of you know, this was my first time staying the entire weekend - and gosh, what a blast it was!! The ever lovely Kim (yarnyoldkim) arranged for our house back in March (!!!) and it could not have been better for our large group. There was plenty of space for knitting and spinning...and finishing sweaters to be worn the next day! Oh, and don't forget the food...yum. While unable to partake in all things cheesy, the company of friends, old and new, certainly made the atmosphere perfect.

Our caravans of knitters all arrived on Friday night and a group of us went to a diner in Red Hook for dinner. While not exactly "homemade from scratch", it was a great time to chat with new friends and ease into the weekend festivities.

On Saturday we all headed off to the festival around 8:30, in time for the gates to open at 9am. Some of us, me included, flew off to find the Jennie the Potter booth, while others split off to go to Sanquine Gryphon. When the potter group was finished, some of us were snagged by Caro and Stitchy to "volunteer" to model handknits for a Cooperative Press book. What a great way to start the morning! Then it was off to go see what was happening at Sanguine Gryphon ourselves. HO-LEE-CAN-NOLI!!! The line to pay was already 30 (??) people long! Lucky for us, Misa (Craftivore) was already on line, which gave the rest of us an opportunity to peruse the yarn and then join her. While we were waiting, and waiting, and waiting, Ann Weaver walked by with her husband, Chris, and the rest of our 2 hour wait blew by like the breeze! Ann was able to sell some of her new book, White Whale Vol 1, and I didn't realize, until I was going to bed that evening, that she listed my name in the book as a Sample Knitter. Oh, hooray, that was cool!

After S.G. we wandered here and there, looking at vendors and eventually jumped on line for Artichokes at 11:15...which was perfect timing because when we finished eating, it was time for the Ravelry meet-up! And there were SO many folks to hug and meet IRL!! I saw Cathy, Chawne, Maryse, Pam, Ysolda, Danielle, Heather, Jaya, Elspeth, Stacy, Andrea and so on and so on. Everywhere I turned...friends! The hugs were abundant and the smiles were wide.

From there I wandered with Gab-Fab to the food building for a little R&R...which was just in time for the rain storm where many of our friends got soaked! For the next hour or so, the food demonstration area became our "home base" as folks (mainly me) came and went to do quick meet ups or get food. During this time I was able to meet LibLiz (zomg, I wanted to stick her in my pocket and bring her home with me) and Marie (Courtney, Lilly and Caroline too!!). It's so nice to see people who you've swapped with and spoken to and emailed with for years.

The rest of the day is kind of a blur - there was yarn, books, food, walking. Then crash and burn at the house! Seeing as I had been fighting a cold since the week before, my allergies caught up with me and I had full-on sneezes and runny nose - blerg. I opted to change out of my festival clothes and into my pj's - and decided to stay home and have a pb&j for dinner (instead of going out). In the end, about half of us stayed home to knit, spin and rest while the others went over to Fork in the Road for a yummy meal. Afterward, some others hung out at our house and, after much torture, I finally gave in and accepted a drop-spindle lesson from Kirsten! Yes, I've gotten a taste of the dark side!! It was another late night and we fell into bed around 11pm.

Alas, Sunday inevitably arrived and our happy group started packing to leave for a few more hours of wandering at the fairgrounds and our drives home (from heaven)! My family came up for the day and I met up with them around lunch time. We made the usual food vendor visits, played a few kiddie games, and even got hot chocolate for the ride home. I also purchased some fiber from Into The Whirled since Kirsten was nice enough to loan me one of her drop spindles. Yeah, she's a great enabler!

I napped for a few hours after I got back home and tried to get as much sleep as possible. It's now the end of the work day on Monday and I am, truly, running on empty. Some say we're Rhinebeckoholics who have Rhinebeck overdosed. But the truth of the matter is - when you're with the people you love doing the craft you love, there is no other way to feel afterward, except sad and tired from the natural high.

Here are my Rhinebeck designs...and a couple other goodies :o)

Rhinebeck!!!!!

2011-10-04T10:55:00.003-04:00

Yes, another annual email about Rhinebeck...my favorite event of the year!

This will be a year of Rhinebeck firsts...

For the first time, I'm staying the ENTIRE WEEKEND, not just making it a day trip with the family. I'm staying with an awesome group of knitters and am both nervous (new people) and excited (old friends) about it. I'm also planning on lots of fun and shenanigans (**coughKIMandYVONNEcough**) and being EXHAUSTED by the time Sunday rolls around.

For the first time, I'll be a SQUARE on the Rhinebeck BINGO board!!! Haven't heard of it or signed up...well Stitchy is running it and all the details can be found here!

For the first time, I'll be wearing TWO new sweaters at the festival...BOTH of my own design!!! Y'all remember Ramona, right? Well, picture her in Christmas Green! She's my current WIP so I don't have any pictures to share, but believe me...NOM! The other sweater is brand spanking new, is still blocking and I'm hoping to seam up the sleeves tonight or tomorrow. It's a comfy oversized sweater with some intarsia. The plan is to publish it this fall...just need to get it edited and photographed...hooray!

For the first time, something I knit will be published in a booklet, available for purchase at Rhinebeck! Ann Weaver is planning to release her newest booklet, "White Whale Vol 1" hot off the presses, while at the festival. If you see her - ask her about it!!! And make sure you ooh and ahh over the pretty rectangular shawl (orangy in color) - knit by yours truly

So is EVERYONE as excited as I am?!? Where are you staying? When will you be there? Pretty please, with sugar on top, say "hello" if you see me! I promise to deliver hugs and smiles :o)

I knit....

2011-09-12T13:03:00.004-04:00

...this (Ann Weaver)

...and this (Kirsten Kapur)

...and this (Nipper Knits...look for me under #3)

And I'm donating this... (making a shawl for a charity KAL contest)

And worked on these... (tech editing for TTL)

can't wait to show you everything (in person) soon!

Uber Bad Blogger

2011-09-08T10:07:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I've been WAY BAD at blogging lately...whoops!

I've been working on some pretty fantastic test and sample knits which will be published this fall - so keep your eyes peeled for my name popping up on other peoples blogs...hooray! One of these was published yesterday, but I'm somewhat ashamed to say I haven't yet finished mine. To my credit, I'm about 70% done, the pattern is easy to follow and I did the lace edge on the cast on edge...so, in theory, i did test it 100% :o) Check out Kirsten's new shawl design - you'll want to wrap yourself in one RIGHT AWAY! Also, bonus points for me since I'm using "inherited" yarn stash from (Brooklyn Handspun) Marie, by way of (Gleek) Stephanie!

Also, can we talk about Rhinebeck (canwecanwecanwe ohpleaseohpleaseohplease)? Ken's 7th (WOOL) anniversary sweater was finished on time and he's been wearing it with the miserable chilly rain weather we've been having - score one for me! He'll wear it to Rhinebeck - feel free to check out the sweater but not in a Faith Hill/Tim McGraw concert sort of way (although Ken would be flattered - ha ha). As for my Rhinebeck sweater plans, well, like last year, I'm sure I'll be knitting it the week/days/hours before - and possibly on the drive up with Kim and crew. I'm thinking of reknitting a dress I designed (top down) but that may be too ambitious? Ugh, decisions decisions!

Well, more pattern excitement as I'm able to announce...happy knitting everyone!

A Contest and Prizes (from me)!

2011-08-01T15:02:00.005-04:00

Do you need a little something to keep you warm in your chilly office? Have you been looking for a light-weight project to knit on those hot summer nights?

My good friend Kirsten Kapur is running a Summer Shawl KAL. With each shawl you compete during the contest, you will earn you a chance to win a prize. Loving her designs and wanting to support her, I've just made the following prize offer:

"Don't have time to make all the shawls in your Ravelry Queue? choochooknits has offered to knit one winner a TTL shawl, in a yarn/colorway to be determined after a brief consultation. This prize can be for you...or a gift for that special someone! Winner will select from TTL patterns currently available from the TTL online shop."

Check out the group and get knitting! There's a little under two months left - so you should be able to knit, oh, three or four shawls in that amount of time, right? Oh wait, that's ME - ha ha ha

Happy knitting all!

Flurries in July?

2011-07-26T11:24:00.003-04:00

Well - a FLURRY OF ACTIVITY at least!

I've been blessed with so many knitting opportunities this month...continuing into August, unless I'm as fast a knitter as my friends swear I am and finish them all this week...ha ha. And I have to admit, yes, I feel a small amount of guilt for not sitting down and writing up some of my own patterns...but i DO love being able to help other people realize their visions. Perhaps being a facilitator is my true calling? I'm OK with that!

Since a bunch of these projects are for publication (in some form or another) I'm unable to share pictures...but the work is with some fabulous friends and talented designers...so look out for an abundance of information as the Fall arrives.

So, whatchu been up to fellow knitters and lovers of fiber?

Organizing

2011-06-22T11:20:00.003-04:00

One of my recent projects at work-work involves going through OLD files and purging/sending for destruction.

In an attempt to bring this sense of organization into the rest of my life, I've been going through my stash, cleaning up old paperwork, putting things back where they belong (which is no easy task with a 5 yr old in the house), etc.

But hey, why stop there? I can organize my Ravelry project page too! Who knew? I set up a few folders, added a few tags, and viola!...organization everywhere! Pretty awesome...and EASY!

Check it out!

Remember me?

2011-06-21T11:08:00.003-04:00

Wow. Yowzas. Zoinks.

It's been WAY too long since I last blogged. And I'm sorry for that!

Work-work has been keeping me busy and I'm just never on the computer at home (well, hardly ever). If I could mobile-blog, that would make things easier. I'm sure there's a way...do you know?

My Ramona sweater was well received, in my opinion, considering the fact that most sales came from word of mouth...so THANK YOU for your support, fellow knitters!

I've just designed a cotton, open-front (no button) cardigan and am trying to work out the numbers to share with you! I made the prototype for a friend's birthday gift. Since she likes green, low maintenance clothes, and never buttons her cardigans...well, this design was a no brainer!

I'm still cranking away on my needles every train ride I get...and am looking for ways to knit wool, even in the summer months. For those keeping track, I'm on my 9th sweater of the year, and also knit three sweaters for CC...so does that count as another 1.5 sweaters towards my goal of 11 in 11? Or do I shoot for 12? Also, *some* friends of mine suggested I could probably knit 24 sweaters...but that wasn't the initial goal so maybe I'll do 24 in 12 instead? Hmmm. Maybe I could knit sweaters in other sizes and then raffle them off as a fundraiser...now that's an idea!

So how's everyone handling their transitional knitting from spring into summer? Anyone planning their Rhinebeck knits yet? I know I am! I'm blessed to be staying in a house with a group of awesome ladies for the first time ever! My hub and CC will come up on Sunday so they get their "fix" as well. But which spectacular sweaters will i knit/wear?

Ciao, my good friends. Happy knitting!

Ramona is released into the world! Hooray!

2011-03-14T11:29:00.004-04:00

At long last, my Ramona sweater pattern has been released and is available for purchase on Ravelry.

My sincerest thanks go to Kirsten Kapur for her guidance, patience and, above all, friendship while writing this pattern. I couldn't have done it without her! She's even blogged about it - squeeeeee!

Here are a few pictures to entice you...my version (Camel) is knit with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca; Kirsten's (milk chocolate) is knit with Stonehedge Fiber Mill's Shepherd's Wool. There are two hem options and the sweater is knit from the top down - try it on as you go!

Going and going and going...

2011-02-14T08:57:00.002-05:00

As a mom who has a full time job, and knits almost as a second "job", life can get pretty crazy sometimes. And the one thing that REALLY gets away from me is blogging...and I feel guilty about it. Believe me, I love to write...but it's one of those things that doesn't always make the priority list. Know what I mean?

Since we last caught up, so much knitting has happened!

In mid-January I attended Vogue Knitting Live in NYC. It was held at the Hilton two blocks from my office, how could I resist? On Friday afternoon I took a menswear design class with Josh Bennett (boy meets purl) and he was fabulous...full of life, inspiration, and knowledge! I organized a dinner for a group of AWESOME knitters afterward, and we all had a great time meeting each other and dining on nommy greek food. We wandered back to a bar at the Hilton later, and hung out and laughed some more. I stayed overnight with a good friend and we headed back to the Hilton on Saturday morning.

Not only did I take my time in the marketplace, but I signed up for a last minute Lace/Charting class with Tanis Gray. She was a delight to meet...even though she told me I was way beyond the class level :o) Later on I went back to the marketplace and ran into so many friends I've met at workshops and book signings: Joanna Johnson was at Knitty City signing her new book; I ran into Jill from VA, who I met at a Knit A GoGo event a few years ago; a woman I met at the Shirley Paden workshop at Sticks and Strings last fall; and the list goes on. I also met Erin (Minty), Ysolda, The Kelbourne Girls (Kate & Courtney), and Cirilia, Connie, Melissa W, Colleen, Deb, Amy and Kat for the first time; and saw Kirsten, Kim, and Caro again. Everyone was just so nice...which is what I love most about knitters!

To note, my designs for Decadent Fibers were well received and I can't wait to see projects popping up on Ravelry in the coming weeks!

I've continued to do some test knitting for Kirsten - and she just finished knitting my Ramona sweater pattern (I am SO blessed!!!). I'm ironing out the last of the sizing issues and hope to have it released in the next week or so. I think you're going to love it as much as we do!

On the needles right now...
- a sample scarf for Buffalo Gold of Kristin Omdahl's new pattern "I Do Diamonds"
- Frost Flowers and Leaves Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I started this last July and have a personal goal to finish it within a year. I'm getting toward the end of the major repeat section and there are a gazillion stitches - wish me luck on the final push!
- Colorwork mittens for a swap. No, I'm not generally a colorwork knitter - but I do like a challenge. Since they are a surprise for the recipient, I'll just say that my own ability has quickly surpassed my expectations. Ruth...you will not be disappointed :o)

That's all for now! Happy Valentine's Day to all...and Happy B'day to my amazing husband!!!

All my best,
Karen

Busy Knitting

2011-01-18T10:11:00.003-05:00

In the past week I've cranked out SO many projects...it's almost surreal!

Back in November (or October?) I signed up for a Funky Carolina handspun hat swap. With thanks to Kirsten, I was able to knit with some yarn she spun (because y'all know I don't dare take on another addiction!). I recalculated/rewrote my Falling Leaves hat pattern for worsted weight and the new version looks so cute in handspun! Like the original chunky version...it's free on Ravelry...check it out here

I also knit a second Lolly Go Round double-cowl using Decadent Fibers Creme Brulee (a mix of merino, silk and mohair). I'll be bringing it, and some printed patterns, to Vogue Live on Friday. Stop by the D.F. booth to see it...as well as two other patterns I designed for them.

Also, if you happen to see me at Vogue Live (I'll be there Friday afternoon and most of Saturday), please stop me and say hello! I'll have some discount cards that can be used through the end of the year...and many exciting patterns will be published...so hang onto it for future use.

In addition to the above knits, I also whipped up another Darth using Cascade 128 Superwash...and have a second one, in a different color, on my needles as I write. These two hats are for the friend of a friend...and need to be done by Thursday. First of all, if you've never used this yarn - you're missing out! It's soft and a real pleasure to work with. Second, and I know that I'm a little biased because, after all, it's my own pattern - but hot damn, this pattern works up SUPER fast!!!

A test knit (sekret for now) and another Lolly Go Round are on the menu for this week...and I hope to have them done in time to model on Friday and Saturday! Hooray!

How's your productivity been? Happy Knitting Tuesday to all!

Inspiration/Addiction/Obsession

2011-01-14T08:46:00.004-05:00

Last fall I took a day off from the hustle and bustle and drove down to Philly with Kirsten to visit our friend Andrea for lunch and some yarn shopping. Our first stop was Loop and we each picked up a couple skeins for quick projects and went on our merry way.

Only I haven't just gone on my merry way. I've obsessed. Often.

You see, there was a beautiful peony colored cowl that I have NOT been able to get out of my head. Once I got home that afternoon, I called Loop and asked about the pattern/yarn. Then I went online and *ooohed and ahhhed over it (and, if this entry were a pattern, I would say "rep from * to end" - ha ha).

Isn't it lovely?

It could be that I'm in love with the color...because I knit a hat using Quince & Co's Rosa Rugosa and everyone compliments me whenever I wear it. Or maybe it was the texture/fiber...so SO soft and luxe. In any event, I haven't forgotten...and am torn on what to DO about it? Do I just give in and order the pattern and yarn once and for all. Do I set a goal: If I knit X number of skeins from my stash I can place an order? Oh gosh, the decisions!

Any recent projects you've seen that you can't get out of your head?

happy knitting all!

Happy Holidays to All!

2010-12-12T16:48:00.001-05:00

O Mod Tannenbaum Christmas

Personalize your Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Productivity and Knitting

2010-11-12T08:34:00.006-05:00

A couple weeks ago I bought a small, passport sized, journal to keep my to-do list in order. No matter how many fancy electronics or apps I have at my disposal, I'm still a very orderly paper-list keeper. There's something about manually crossing an item off a list that is quite satisfying. Plus, I find that writing EVERYTHING in one place keeps me "in line" and productive...for the most part.

With that said, "blog" has been toward the top of the list but hasn't quite been accomplished. Of course it's a never ending item...but the constant reminder (and guilt of not having done it in a while) has finally gotten me here...hooray!

Knitting updates...there are PLENTY!

Hallett's Ledge:

My goal for Rhinebeck was to knit Elinor Brown's Hallett's Ledge cardigan in two weeks. Yep, two. When all was said and done you can look at it two ways - I either finished it in 12 days...OR it's still not finished. Let me explain. Picture this: the sweater body and sleeves are complete and sewed together. The sweater has been blocked. All I need to do, in two days is the button band. Simple, right? Ribbing and sewing on of buttons. Apparently, not so easy. The band knit up right quick. But the buttons I had, well, they were WAY too heavy. So on Friday night, with our trip to Rhinebeck looming, I was off to our local JoAnn Fabrics, sweater in hand, purchasing ribbon (for finishing and supporting) and buttons. Back home in front of the sewing machine, things took a turn for the worse. Frustrated. Deflated. Aggravated. Yep, I felt those emotions. But what to do? It was nearly 9:00pm and the next minutes would make or break me. Should I abandon the sweater and finish it AFTER Rhinebeck? Um, I didn't come this far for nothin! Do I seam rip the ribbon, frog the button band and start from scratch? Well, it seemed like a good idea. So there I was, trying to seam rip the ribbon OFF the button band. Do you know how difficult that can be? Seriously, what a pain in the butt. After 5 minutes of torture I had a moment of brilliance. Why not just CUT the button band off? I had plenty of yarn left over. Out came the sharpy-sharp scissors and chop chop chop - the button band was gone! Whoot whoot. But now what? It's now 9:45 and getting later by the minute. Would I really be one of those people who finish their sweater on the drive to Rhinebeck? Would I be pulling an all nighter? Now imagine you're me, sitting there with this beautiful sweater in front of you. A beautiful deep purple sweater full of cables. What do you do? Well, why not just seam the fronts and make it a pullover - if only temporarily? Why not, right? So that's just what i did. I seamed the fronts. I know, I know, it sounds SO insane! But it worked out ok - I promise. I also sorta promised myself that I would UNDO the seam and properly finish the sweater. Well, that hasn't been done and I've worn it a dozen times since. Maybe my Hallett's Ledge is just meant to be a pullover...just maybe.

Here are some Rhinebeck photos...you can decide for yourself :o)

with Andrea and Kirsten...

with Yvonne, Misa and Kim...

with Ann and Andrea...

Unfortunately, I also didn't see all my knitter friends/acquaintances - somehow I missed Stephen A (boo hiss), Caro, Mary Heather, and Jaya...to name a few. Next year my friends, next year!

Post Rhinebeck knitting...
- SEVERAL revised versions of my Falling Leaves Bulky Hat pattern (so far I've knit 5 hats and a matching cowl)
- A new hat pattern, inspired by Ken and Darth Vader (coming soon)
- A slouch hat (test knit for throughtheloops)
- Socktober socks (designed by throughtheloops, modified by me...since I'm SO out of sock mode these days)
- A hat for Ramona
- A new shawl pattern (test knitting)
- And tech editing my first "for money" pattern

More pics and more exciting news coming VERY soon (and I'm not just saying that, for reals this time - ha ha)

Until then - Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!

All that's missing is Alice in the Rabbit hole!

2010-10-19T15:03:00.004-04:00

Well, tomorrow is 10/20/10 - just had to get that random tidbit out of the way...whew!

So things have FINALLY started to settle down around here - and I thought you might a like a wee update, eh?

The wedding cake was a huge success (after a long tale of trials and tribulations...but I won't bore you with the details). Here are some photos for your pleasure...

In progress...

and Finished!

One of the bride and me...

And the cutting of the cake...

Before and after the wedding we were driving back and forth across the tri-state area to Martha's Vineyard for the annual fishing derby...here are some of my favorite shots...

Me in the car nice and cozy and knitting...Him on the beach, freezing and fishing

The Punk...

Ramona the Brave...

Up next - RHINEBECK!!!

Zoinks! It's October already?!?!

2010-10-05T11:46:00.003-04:00

Yep, so the big four oh has come and gone (thank goodness!) and we're already into October. For those who may not be aware, these couple of weeks have been THE craziest I've had for a while. I've tried to keep everything nice and laid back (as works best for me) but we're now at the pinnacle of everything - and it's TOO TOO much for me. Yep, I surrender. This weekend is Alyssa's wedding and I'm the cake maker/baker. There's a LOT more about the logistics of this cake and our plans - but I'll tell you all about that next Tuesday (or when the chaos is behind me/us). Trust me, you'll also wonder how I managed it all.

So, for the times when I can't possibly bake or make LOADS of buttercream icing, I've been knitting - to keep my sanity in check! And the train ride to/from work is about the only time I've been getting - bah humbug! At least I'm knitting a couple things that I love.

1. Hallett's Ledge by Elinor Brown. I started this without telling anyone. It was sort of an impulse and I'm using yarn from my stash - hooray! Basically, I REALLY wanted to make a new sweater for Rhinebeck and I'm hoping this is done in time. With a bunch of roadtrips in my future, this seemed like just the thing!

2. Surprise shawl. All I can say about this is that I'm taking my time and using softer than soft yarn. I think I probably started Hallett's Ledge to take mini-breaks from this because I need to concentrate on the little stitches :o)

3. Socktober Socks by Kirsten Kapur. So many people have raved about past Socktober KALs that I finally decided to join in. The first clue was posted on October 1st and one clue per week will be released for the rest of the month. I have not cast on - BUT I do have my yarn wound (thanks to Whitney sending it to me that way!) and am putting needles in my bag in case I get an opportunity to start in the coming days.

Well, that's all I can share for now. Look for pictures of the wedding cake and some knitting next week. Until then, say a prayer that I get everything accomplished! Boo-yah!

Peace and Happy Knitting!

Anti-Cardigan?

2010-09-21T08:19:00.003-04:00

I'm working on some sketches for the Shirley Paden workshop and most of my designs are pullovers. "Am I anti-cardi?" you ask. "Well, sort of", I say. "Why is that?" you reply. Plain and simple...I have bewbs. Yep, two of them. And they're THERE - no mistaking them. Ever.

I try to avoid button down shirts because I find if I buy them to "cover" (as it is), then the body portion seems overflowing with material. And while I'm tall and admit my size is ample, I'm not in the "tent" category (nor is that flattering on anyone).

When I see ladies with gaping button-bands, and know people are getting a peak of their undergarments, well, that isn't something I want to share with the world. So I avoid oxford shirts and cardigans - pullovers are safer for me.

But I LOVE some of the cardigans I've seen lately. And, to be honest, I adore my Tangled Yoke sweater - mostly because I customized the fit.

And yet, to design a cardigan? Tougher than tough for me. Would I actually wear it? Ugh, what to do?

Tell me, fellow knitters, do you have any issues with a certain type of design?

Allergies, Aging and Memories

2010-09-20T09:34:00.006-04:00

Last week was pretty difficult on me, physically speaking that is. Ever since having pneumonia in June, I've been meaning to get to a new allergist to proactively manage my allergies/bronchitis/etc. Lucky for me, there's a local doctor who has Saturday hours and I was able to get in this past weekend. The bad thing is that I wasn't allowed to take any antihistamines for 5 days prior to the appointment. And hey, I TOTALLY understand why - it just made me a miserable Karen for those 5 days! My eyes were gunky, my throat was itchy, my head ached, and I sneezed a gazillion times. Ah, yes, allergy season was in full force!

If you've been fortunate to never having visited an allergist, and I hope you haven't had to, you may not be familiar with the testing process. Essentially, your arms (sometimes shoulders) become a mine field of welts and, if you're allergic to what they test for, you'll wind up wanting to scratch your skin off for the 20 minutes it takes to wait for proper results.

All in all, I received 31 shots and found that yes, indeed, i'm SEVERELY allergic to dust (#21), grasses, summer pollens, and a variation of ragweed. My new regiment includes a higher dose antihistamine that Zyrtec, a nasal spray and an inhaler. Boy, I'm the life of the party now, eh? ha ha

On Saturday afternoon we helped my folks downsize my grandmother's apartment. Yes, of course there was dust...that I'm allergic to...doesn't that make sense? Anyway, sorting through some of her things brought back many memories of my childhood and I kind of wish my sister could have shared the day with us. My grandmother has traveled around the world and visited so many amazing places (i.e., China...during the first year they began allowing outsiders to visit) and her belongings reminded us of just how much she's done.

We went back to visit with her on Sunday and she was SO thrilled to see Ramona and equally excited that Ken was able to fix her cable/t.v. It's the little things that really make it all worth while sometimes.

In knitting news...I've been knitting like a fiend, as you can imagine. I'm finishing a sample sweater this week and prepping (doing "homework") for the Shirley Paden workshop next Sunday. Last night I made two different red velvet cake recipes as testers for Alyssa's wedding cake (Oct 9th). I have to sew in the ends of her super secret shawl and then have to start up a secret project and find time to (possibly) make my much talked about Rhinebeck sweater (Oct 16th). Where on earth does all the time go? I'm hoping that things get back to a more "normal" pace after Rhinebeck...but I doubt they will :o)

Happy knitting everyone!

There's NO way that 40 is the new 30, is there?

2010-09-14T14:31:00.002-04:00

So in a few short weeks I'll be (*gasp*) 40. Forty. The Big Four-O. Two score. Four decades. Old.

Alright, alright...some of you *might* be scratching your head saying "come on, you, forty? no way" - but yes, me, forty, way

Twenty was a blur. Thirty was FANTASTIC. But I'm a wee bit wary of 40...for no other reason but it seems like a big milestone. Instead of partying, I'm going out for a nice dinner with some friends and family. Instead of waking up with a hangover, I'm likely to wake up and do laundry. Is forty too responsible? Am I still young at heart? Is there anything "young" about me?

For those of you who read this blog and know me...yes, I'm a goofball and I AM indeed forever young in mind and spirit.

In other, non-age related happenings, we went to the NJ Sheep and Wool festival on Sunday. It was tons of fun (as you can see below)...and I was even able to meet Kirsten Kapur and her lovely daughters.

As far as knitting goes, I just finished a couple of samples for Kaleidoscope and have one more sweater to do this week. After that I have a couple of other test/sample projects lined up...and somewhere in between all that I have a wedding cake to make for Alyssa and a Rhinebeck sweater to start/finish! Whew...where does the time go.

Oh, right, and I'm FINALLY taking Shannon Okey's Tech Editing class - which I'm jumping out of my skin THRILLED about. Hooray for higher learning and knitting!

Updates

2010-09-10T11:55:00.003-04:00

Well, summer vacation is officially over and its back to the grind for everyone in my family. The Punk is thoroughly NOT enjoying school; Ramona is happy to be in the oldest group...excited for kindergarten next year (boo hoo hoo); and Hubby is back to answering emails at all times of the day.

In the knitting world...well...I'm KNITTING more than I can keep up with! I'm still sample making for Kaleidoscope Yarns and test knitting for a variety of designers. Makes me *almost* wish I could make it all a full time job. Alas, I'll continue to dream.

I published my Dora shawl pattern, although my test knitters are still working on it. I felt, after making another one myself, that I had the kinks worked out and could safely publish it, knowing errata can be posted as needed. I've listed it on Ravelry...please support a newbie designer if you have an extra $1.99 to spare :o)

I'm still trying to decide what to knit for Rhinebeck and have narrowed it down to a couple choices...stashed yarn playing a HUGE part of the process...since we all know I'm trying my darndest to bust it up!

And since I've been busy and lacking in the photo department...here are some recent uploads for you. Have a great weekend y'all!

guilty I visited a new yarn shop

2010-08-27T08:26:00.003-04:00

Ordinarily I buy my yarn from Jill at Kaleidoscope (i DO consider her my LYS even though she's 300 miles away!) or online, direct from yarn companies.

However, I'm working with a few fabulous ladies who are test knitting my Dora shawlette pattern and thought it might be worthwhile for me to do a KAL with them. Well, of course the stashed yarn I wanted to use has become discontinued (WHY do I buy yarn on sale all the time?!?!). So I did some research on newer yarns and was going to go with some Classic Elite in one of their sport weights. I looked up local yarn shops on Ravelry and found one open until 6:00pm - perfect for me!

During the years I've lived in the area, friends have had mixed reviews about Accent on Knits, in Morristown...and have called them, on occasion, to see if they carry emergency yarn (they didn't). The owners are a husband and wife team...and Barry was at the register when I entered the shop. I was honest "hi, I'm new to your shop, can you help point me in the right direction?" And he was very helpful, telling me how the store is organized (by color...first time I've seen that) and that they offer first time customers a 10% off discount (how very nice!).

It was, quite frankly, a little hard to orient myself with this "by color" business. I found a yarn I liked in the mauve section, but then couldn't find it in the green section. I kind of like the idea of "here's the type of yarn AND the colors we carry" all in one place.

In the end I bought a bunch of Cascade 220, some sportweight yarn for the shawl and an alpaca lace. While checking out I got to chatting with Barry about my knitting, my test knitting for designers, and how I wanted to tech edit more often, etc. He seemed interested in what I was telling him...more so than some other shops I've popped my head into from time to time. I learned that their dog, a boxer, often came to the shop and that, because of their small jaws, they had a hard time playing with tennis balls (and often bust them open quickly). Barry and his wife also welcome bringing your children along while you shop (he must have spied my family waiting out in the car!). A perfectly nice way to spend some time after work, wouldn't you say?

While I may not always shop at AOK, it's nice to know there's a good shop, just around the corner, in cases of emergency or instant gratification.

Knitting it Old School

2010-08-26T14:28:00.002-04:00

While I've not yet gotten my petoushy (as the kids say) to the book store to purchase Knitting It Old School, I've perused the patterns on Ravelry and drool more and more with each click.

I read what Caro had to say about naming one of the sweaters (WileyWahine), I then came across this article and understand why the gals love him so. Hooray for people who see value in the "little guys".

Smiling

2010-08-25T10:16:00.006-04:00

Back when I was wee youngster, I used to listen to underground college radio and longed to be a punk rock girl. Alas, being "different" was not easy in my high school, nor was the punk wardrobe something practical for my parents who handed down the majority of my clothes to my sister.

So I TAPED songs on my cassettes and listening to them on my Walkman the next day. I still have those tapes. They may be dust covered and inaudible, but they are a part of my history and i refuse to get rid of them.

On one of the tapes is a full comedy routine by the ever awesome Emo Philips. Periodically, my memory plays back this routine and makes me smile. He's not particularly funny, as he is odd and freakish, but that's what I still love about him.

In talking with my friend Erin about emo hipsters, I, obviously, wondered: What ever happened to Emo Phillips? Is he still alive? Is he still performing? Well, a quick google search later and I was watching a video clip from 1987, reciting, verbatim, the routine as he spoke. And I found myself smiling. Those glimmers of happiness from our youth...those sometimes awkward teen years...those bits of time when we felt a connection to something greater than ourselves and felt, momentarily, "understood"...that's what Emo Phillips does for me. And I'm smiling.

Yep, he's an odd duck...but here's the clip (check out: Golden Gate Bridge)if you've got a few moments to spare for a walk down memory lane.

Enjoy!

New Patterns

2010-08-23T09:29:00.005-04:00

Test knitting for so many folks has reminded me that I have a few patterns I'd like to self-publish...and so I'm working on them this month come hell or high water!

The first is a basic shawl/wrap pattern - available for free, and originally designed for kaleidoscope yarns to be included in their Tilli Tomas shawl packs earlier this year - named "Passion Flower". This is a quick knit...perfect for holiday gifting. Check out my Ravelry page to download the pattern

The second pattern is one that I'm half way through writing up - and gosh am i glad i took SO many notes when I designed it last year! Dora is a shawlette...although I'm sure it can be made into a full-size shawl if you used a larger needle (perhaps I'll test it that way before publication!). I've gotten such a positive response since I posted the shell page on Ravelry...how can I put off writing it up any longer!?! Here's a photo/teaser...

So what's everyone else up to?

Happy knitting!

no yarn, i said NO yarn (how about notions?)

2010-08-19T10:53:00.006-04:00

Gosh, I think I've mentioned it before...but Office Space is one of my favorite movies ever [slowly mouthing 'miiiiicheal bollllllton'] ha ha

So I'm on this yarn diet. But you know, you're knitting and you ONLY need this "one thing" at the LYS which turns into "well the yarn was SUCH a low price, how could I pass it up?" Yeah, I'm SO there right now!

But I figure, I've got yarn, plenty of yarn. And I've got patterns too, of course. However, if I can get SUPER inspired by a new pattern, or part of a pattern, that will HELP me use up some of the yarn, it's ok to "invest" in new patterns, right? [gosh, i hope you're nodding with me right now]

And despite my moment of weakness when I purchased yarn to make test knits...at least those purchases had PURPOSE and were used up right away (for the most part). Who knows, those test knits could end up as gifts - BONUS! My latest "investments" have been a couple new Addi Turbo Lace needles from Kaleidoscope (hey Jill!) and some brass stitch markers from knitpicks. Useful things. Things that will spend years helping me with my craft.

All in all, I think I'm doing pretty good. I haven't gone cold turkey...and I haven't gone on a binge...just laying low somewhere in between. Keeping the status quo. How about you?

Insomnia, Busy and Knitting (of course)

2010-08-18T09:31:00.006-04:00

Last night, at 11:00pm, I was sucked into watching some random Housewives show which was taking place in NYC during Fashion Week. At least I think it was a Housewives show. But they kept talking about LA...and there was very little wife to wife drama/conflict. So who knows, it could have been something else. In any case, I stayed up WAY too late watching something with no added value. Shame on me. Especially because I had gotten up at 4:45am to be at the office by 7:00 and had worked ten hours. I guess I was past the point of exhausted and had caught my second wind. Once I turned the tv off I laid there, listening to the fan and crickets, petting Peanut letting my brain wander. That's the worst part...really. The mental to-do list starts to take shape and it leads into anxiety and panic. Seeing as I thought yesterday was Wednesday probably didn't help either.

Today I was back up at 6am and the routine of the weekday...but desperately looking forward to the weekend and, possibly, a nap! Gosh, I do love naps....they're the bees knees.

On the knitting front I'm cranking along with the wedding shawl and am now praying that I don't run out of yarn! That'll teach me, right? I kept going with the body reps to make it bigger - and I thought I would have PLENTY left to do the edging. Hmmm, keep your fingers crossed - I'll know by tonight whether or not Knit Picks will be getting another order from choochooknits tomorrow morning - ha ha

Also, have you seen this hat yet? ZOMG...cute and comfy! I'll let you know when Kirsten releases the pattern. Oh, and just a tip - you MUST try the new Quince Osprey yarn - nommy nom nom!

Happy knitting until next time!

Friday the 13th WINNER!!!

2010-08-13T11:54:00.006-04:00

In the spirit of making things right on a day where superstitious folks seem to think things go wrong, I drew the winner of my "for no other reason but to randomly have a contest" at 13:00 and the lucky knitter is...[insert cliche drum roll here]...WHITNEY!!!

Funny story: *just* after I used the random number generator to pick a winner, I received an email from her about a comment I made on her blog! Must be fate, right? ha ha

Congrats Whit!

And thanks to everyone who has commented/participated over the last few weeks. I'll probably have another September and/or Rhinebeck give-away - so stay tuned for things to come!

Anniversary

2010-08-12T14:45:00.002-04:00

Today is my work anniversary - FOURTEEN YEARS - say wha?!?!

In honor of this accomplishment, they've inundated me with work and I'll probably be here late making OT.

Go team!

Keeping it simple, for an extra entry in my surprise give-away (which ends tomorrow at 1:oopm), what's the next "anniversary" in your life? Can be anything...dating, marriage, work, knitting!

Mods and Routines

2010-08-11T09:22:00.006-04:00

Well, I have a secret to share. I changed patterns for the mystery wedding shawl. I also changed yarn. I also, started from scratch and put the original project in a time out :o)

Why? Well, I was never quite sure I would have enough of the original yarn to finish the project. Since its a discontinued KP yarn and I couldn't convince anyone on Ravelry to part with theirs, I had to make some tough decisions. To be fair, the yarn was bare and I can understand why dye-hard knitters (get it, DYE, ha ha) would have a hard time selling/trading it. The yarn is quite nice - some combination of alpaca, wool and *maybe* silk?

So the new project is SUPER TOP SECRET - well, besides that I just told you - oops

In other news, my routine is OFF this week. My "other half" (at work) is away for two weeks in Ireland and the UK...so sad. So my hours are off. My bosses are throwing me curve balls. Her bosses are asking questions I need to research. Worst of all...I'm forgetting to take my vitamin every day! I know, I know, it's a little thing, but it's "our" thing that we do after lunch. Centrum. Women's. She even made me put the bottle on my desk so I would remember. And I'm not. Ugh. How will I survive the next week and a half if this is what it's like on the third day? ha ha. I love and miss her - that's why she's a friend and co-worker, in that order. Hope she's having the best. time. ever!

So, today, in honor of routines, tell me one thing that throws you off if you don't have/do it every day? Coffee? Vitamins? Showering (ewww)?

Happy crafting!

Overlapping Laces and Art History

2010-08-10T08:25:00.005-04:00

I've been knitting a bunch of lace/shawl projects these last few months. A LOT of lace/shawl projects actually. I'm almost considering joining the 10 in 10 shawl group on Ravelry. But since it wasn't really my intention...for it to be a challenge...and just sort of became my calling, well, I'm not sure that would be fair (esp since it would be more along the lines of 10 in 10 in 6 months). Geez.

The problem I've run into recently is that with all these laces, my brain sometimes wanders off and I start working the LAST lace pattern, instead of the current one...whoops! I've done it a couple times, and while I only ever mis-knit a dozen stitches or so, it's funny that the patterns have stuck in my mind like that.

My friend Sue said that I have a "good hand" for lace knitting - and I'm thankful for her insight since she's been knitting for a long time. However, I never KNEW I was a lace knitter until I started doing it more and more. I suppose I resisted it. I suppose I thought it tedious (which it can sometimes be). Or maybe it was the practice makes perfect factor - I never "practiced" until now.

In the end, I really believe it's all part of the process of become a better knitter, just like when I took studio classes for my art history degree. As one of two art history majors at my college, my school frowned upon my enrollment in studio classes until I explained to a panel of professors that my degree and expertise RELIED upon the knowledge gained in painting, scuplture, printmaking, etc. Why, they asked. Simply put: The better I understand the process, the more appreciation I have for the art and the more in depth I can explain the complexities and importance of the piece. Take away the process and you're left with a very diminished understanding...one of text and pictures...not something you've rolled up your sleeves and dug into! Needless to say, the Professors gave me a free pass to enroll in any and all college classes I wanted from studios to histories. They fought other departments to get me into specialized classes. They supported my thesis AND showed my paintings in the student shows. I was a better student because I embraced two worlds before others. Just as I continue to learn in my knitting.

Today's contest entry question (only a few days left - make your comments now!): what, about your craft, would you like to learn/conquer next?

Happy knitting!

Weekend knitting, reading and more

2010-08-09T09:29:00.003-04:00

On Friday night I was able to finish knitting another test shawl for the lovely Kirsten Kapur. After some blocking, it was ready for a photoshoot on Saturday afternoon - don't you just love it?!

and here's me...modeling it as a scarf...

In between projects I've been working on the lace shawl for Alyssa...again, it's super top secret so I can't share more info/photos right now...sorry

I also (finally) started reading the Wally Lamb book, "The Hour I First Believed" on Saturday. He's been one of my favorite author's since "She's Come Undone" was published in 1996. I'm still in the early chapters, but the book is beautifully written, as always.

We also went to the Children's Day evening parade and concert in Mt Tabor with Yarny Old Kim and some friends of ours. The kids got more candy than we know what to do with - and Ramona showed off her mad dancing skills at the concert (the band played 60s/70s Dead-style music). I'll post some photos/video once I get them off the camera - too funny!

Yesterday was more mellow (at last!) and ended with a solo visit with my parents and grandma.

The Punk comes back from his fishing vacation tomorrow (at last!) and will be home with us for the rest of the summer (i think). It's so weird to have him away for so long - he's probably grown another inch!

Well, that's it for now - happy knitting everyone!

Today's contest entry question (easy peesy): What are you crafting/knitting these days?

The Importance of Being Rhinebeck

2010-08-04T10:44:00.008-04:00

Rhinebeck.

Once more I say...Rhinebeck.

Rhinebeck.

To SO many folks in the NorthEast Rhinebeck is MUCH more than a place where famous political families have weddings. It's more than a quaint town in the mountains. It's the weekend of all Fall weekends - it's THE SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL!!!

And it's TWO short months away. Actually, 10 weeks...but who's counting? EVERYONE in the knitting/fiber community...that's who!!!

What will we wear? Something old? Something new? What's in our stash? What's on our wish list to buy!? Who will we see? What will we eat? The list goes on and on.

This year, I'm determined, time permitting, to knit the piece de resistance of my collection. But there are SO many options out there - as well as designs that are lingering in my mind! I'm reminded of wearing my Owls sweater with Yarny Old Kim last year. I recall Emily's beautiful brown cabled sweater. And running into Elspeth and Ann with their plethura of knitwear.

And then I came across this photo, taken at last year's festival...How gorgeous!

I scoured Ravelry...not to make it...but to learn more about. I spent countless hours searching endless options...Noro, Sweater, Cardigan. Rhinebeck, Cables. Nada! Who makes such a beautiful sweater and doesn't post it all over Ravelry? Goodness.

Regardless, I'm trying to figure out what I'll make, and when I'll have time to knit it. Decisions, decisions!

For a bonus entry in my mini-contest, tell me what you're wearing to Rhinebeck (or what you would wear, in case you're not going).

Happy decision making!

Fated Yarn and a Mini Contest of sorts!

2010-08-03T12:14:00.004-04:00

In July 2009 I purchased some yarn at Sticks and Strings in Scarsdale, NY on my way to a company outing. One was a green with yellow and turquoise tweed; the other was a golden yellow. They were fingering weight. But they were SUPER on sale and I "had to" have them. So, ever since that fateful day a year ago, they've enhanced my stash, nothing more, nothing less.

Until yesterday. A friend of mine sent me a test pattern and said "use fingering weight"...and use two colors. When I got home I paid my old friend, "Stash", a visit and said "ok, let's see what you've got for me today". Sure enough, I opened a bin and spotted the above mentioned yarns. I pulled out a couple other skeins to lay them out and compare color combos. But, as fate would have it, the green tweed and yellow gold were MEANT for this project - believe me, when I show you pictures in a week or so, you're TOTALLY going to agree with me. Even The Punk agreed that the colors were good for the pattern - guess my knitting is really rubbing off on him after all this time!

How about y'all? Any fated yarn use of late? And why not...let's make it a yarn contest...just because! Tell me your best fated yarn story and I'll pick a winner on/about August 13th - we'll MAKE it a lucky day! Winner will let me know their fave color du jour and I'll send them something nommy!

Happy knitting my friends!

Yes, I was a beginner knitter once upon a time

2010-07-28T08:11:00.003-04:00

I'm knitting a dress for Ramona with some old Caron yarn that's, seriously, been in my stash since, oh, I dunno, 2004. Granted, 6 years in my yarn stash is NOT the "oldest" yarn, but I've certainly learned a lot about texture, drape, content, ply, etc since then. And, for the record, it's NOT a bad yarn at all - I just prefer different fibers for my own garments these days.

With all that said, back in 2006 I had started making a cardigan/coat for Ramona with Simply Soft. And when I say "started" I mean I knit up the back, fronts and one sleeve...and even sewed them together and started the front button band on one side. These days, I would have just finished that sucker up in a heartbeat. Back then, well, that's another story. I'm not sure I even put it up on Ravelry - that's how long it's sat in the UFO bin.

So when I went to work on the current dress, I pulled a partially used skein of S.S. out of the bin and started knitting. When that ran out, I started a new skein (after all, I apparently needed SEVERAL skeins of Mint Blue - ha ha). But when I got to the armhole split (as I've been working in the round), I didn't want to start another new skein to make the sleeve caps so I said "reuse and recycle" and grabbed the old cardi and started taking it apart (since it would now be way too small for Ramona if I finished it). This gave me a chance to see how I used to seam and finish - and boy...it was B-A-D! Yikes! It was nice to see that I've learned new and "right" ways to finish garments (mostly thanks to Jill at Kaleidoscope Yarns).

I certainly won't regret not finishing that old cardi, but I will remember where I've been and where I'm going...and that's always important on this journey we call life. We DO live and learn (or knit and learn as the case may be).

Have a great day!

The "What Is/Are..." Stage and Curatio

2010-07-26T08:19:00.007-04:00

It's official. Ramona has entered the "what is/are..." stage of childhood. After a recent visit with my niece who is in the "Why" stage...I wondered when Ramona would start. Sure enough...only a week later!

"Mommy, what is that word?"

"Mommy, what are we buying at the store?"

"Mommy, what are you and daddy spelling?" - which was my favorite because that's what parents of four year olds do - we start to spell EVERYTHING! Inquiring minds want to know!

In fact, hubby and I have even started to go so far as spelling series of words and including the word "space" in between them...ha! It's classic parenthood - and we did it with The Punk...even when he was six or seven...so spelling is the name of the game for a few years.

In the knitting realm, I finished Kirsten Kapur's new shawl design, Curatio, over the weekend. It's still in test stages...but look for it to be published in the next couple of weeks. Isn't it lovely?!

On the heels of finishing, the ribbing I took for my sizable stash last week, and wanting a day or so break from lace knitting/reading, I decided to whip up a quick dress for Ramona. The pattern is from Berroco's new booklet, "Berroco Remix". I'm using some *old* Caron yarn that I've had for years. It's a nice turquoise blue and the color always looks nice on her. The pattern, Simo, calls for an attached scarf...which, if I add, I was thinking of making in a tangerine color - and would make the pockets out of the same - a little contrast and pop. Whadda ya think?

Once I finish the dress, which probably won't take more than another day or two, I'll get back to knitting Alyssa's wedding shawl - hooray!

Happy Knitting and Happy Monday!

I'm on a "diet" of sorts

2010-07-23T09:26:00.004-04:00

The furnace at Chez ChooChooKnits started to die sometime toward the end of the winter months (thankfully). We had our trusty plumber come over and install our new kitchen sink back in May and had him take a look at the furnace...just in case it could be saved. No such luck. After 30 some-odd years, the old gal was finished. The good thing was that it's now SUMMER - and no one cares about heating their homes. So when hubby spoke to the plumber he said "if there's anything you can do, when you have down time, we're willing to work with you on having the new one installed". Brian, the plumber, finally called us last Friday and said "since it's so hot, why don't we work on your furnace next week?" On Sunday night, Hub and The Punk, moved shelves in the basement so the old furnace was easier to take out. This exercise in organizing required my shelves and bins of yarn to be relocated. It also required Hub and TP to SEE how much yarn I have...YIKES McGIKES! Well, when TP came to me and said "Dad and I got you some new bins...how much BLUE yarn do you need?", I knew the gig was up! **To note: the blue yarn in question was a LARGE gift from Dora, gifted to her from Trudie, before the later moved to VA, and the former moved to CA. So, you see, it wasn't PURCHASED yarn - it was gifted - and free yarn is the best kind!

Anyway, i'm determined to start knitting ONLY from my stash. Yes, yes, i've said it before - and i made a really good dent last time - but this time i need to make a couple of sweaters and/or a blanket and that will clean things right up - esp if i use the BLUE yarn for TP sweater - that'll teach him to tease his mom! ha ha

So i'm on a yarn diet. And I've decided to make it an across the board "spending diet". This means I'm IMMEDIATELY deleting any and every "sale" email when it arrives. I have plenty of clothes, thank you Banana, Gap, Old Navy, Talbots, etc. Lord knows I don't need more shoes. And I certainly don't need more yarn - so I'm sorry to my fave yarn shops (for now)! I WILL read more blogs and Knitting Daily because it will remind me of patterns I can knit with my huge stash of yarn :o) And I'll continue to go through my queue on ravelry, and my books and magazines for ideas when I ask 'what's next?'

However, if any of y'all would like to purchase some yarn from my stash, I'm happy to say that I'm likely to part ways with most of it - after all, we now need to PAY for the new furnace - ah, the vicious cycle :o)

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting one and all!

Proud and Crafty and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (???)

2010-07-22T12:29:00.004-04:00

I'm so blessed to have friends who are crafty - they are an everyday inspiration!

Go check out my friend Susan's blog - and then her new etsy store...how cute is her stuff (*swoon*)

Next up - my friend Stacey is selling her awesome felt flower pins on Etsy - perfect for everyone!

And while we're at it, I have to mention that Kirsten has been knitting up a storm of new patterns lately - yowza! And Stefanie has been quilting...probably more than she's admitting to us!

But how does Joseph Gordon-Levitt tie in to all of this??? Well, here in the Big Apple they're shooting a movie on 52nd and 53rd Streets...AND in the lobby of our building - running through by the Starbucks (of course, product placement). Anyway, my co-worker, Erin, LUVS her some JGL - for cereals. So when she learned they were in the lobby I said "just go already" - and off she went. It's been quite an exciting day to say the least. With all her drooling over JGL, something I clearly don't understand...he's the KID from 3rd Rock From the Sun for Pete's sake...I told her that I don't ever want to hear another word about my mom-crush on Zac Efron, yes yes, High School Musical and 17 Again...but have you seen the promo picks of Charlie St Cloud....purrrrrrrrrrrr

Have a great day folks - and stay crafty!

Un-knitting

2010-07-21T13:46:00.002-04:00

As you know, I've been knitting the secret (pattern) shawl for Alyssa's wedding in October. While I've knit some lace before, it's not my favorite thing - all the counting, all the YOs, all the room for mistakes - ha ha. But through the repetition of the pattern and watching the project become something amazing, I've truly found a new appreciation for both lace, and my level of skill knitting it.

But with all that comes an error (or two). There were times when I un-knit an entire row, more than once. There were times when I meticulously identified each stitch of the prior row to make sure it was, in fact, correct, before even attempting to re-knit the next row. The process is both frustrating AND rewarding (oh, and don't forget time-consuming!).

The best part, aside from making a shawl with love for a friend, is that it prepared me for test-knitting another (smaller) shawl for another friend. I've been using fingering and lace weight yarns for almost a month and they've really made me happy - who knew! Also, the drape of each of these shawls is divine...and neither one has been blocked yet so I can only imagine the fine details they will reveal when they're done.

Hooray for the knitting process. It's so nice to learn with each project and pattern.

Have a fantastic day!

360 cups and more

2010-07-08T07:07:00.003-04:00

360 Cups

My new year's resolution for 2009 had been to brew and bring my own coffee on the train every morning...instead of buying from the bagel guy and using a styrofoam cup. Well a year and a half later...give or take some vacation days...I figure I've not used 360 cups so far...and that's just for commuting. Of course, on the weekends we also brew our own and use mugs or glasses...depending on hot or iced coffee preference. Occasionally we find ourselves at Dunkin Donuts or the bagel store but for now I'm happy knowing that I've cut my landfill contribution by at least 360 cups and counting. Bottoms up!

The Job

My job is generally not very glamorous. I sit, mostly, behind a computer and manage the business lives of my bosses...herding cats might sometimes be easier...but this is the path I chose and I've been with my company almost 14 years...which counts for something these days, right? Well, occasionally people don't understand the "extra efforts" I put forward...and sometimes I'm married to that "people" who, despite my comments of "overtime pay", can't fathom what I'm about to tell you.

One of my bosses, a Partner at our firm, has been in South Africa for the World Cup (*jealous much?*). Well, we started working on this trip back in October of last year - and everything was easy peasy lemon squeezy. Until a few months ago when there was trouble with his ticket. Then his return plans changed. Then I got a headache (ha ha). Then he flew to Cape Town. Then he had tons of fun. Then he attempted to start home...yesterday. Well the Cape Town to LHR flight was significantly delayed...which meant he would miss his connection to ORD...which meant that I had to scramble BIG time to make executive decisions about spending money vs time vs losing my brain (and, remember, I'm still jacked up on drugs from being ill - SO much fun!). Well, I stayed late yesterday, continued to monitor his flights on the train ride home, and into the evening hours. If he followed my "new" plan, it would all be ok. Problem is, in our business we get inundated with emails at ALL hours of the day. How would I insure that he saw the emails he needed to once he landed in London? I turned to my very understanding husband (*cough*snicker*) and said "I think I may need to call B at 2:30am". The eyebrows crinkled, the mouth moved and said "what?". He followed with "don't you have 'people' for that?" Um, people? Yes, I have people...their names are Me and Me. So at 2:30am I woke in a blur and stumbled downstairs to quietly call my boss. Voicemail. Doh. Try again. A couple of "foreign" rings...and voicemail again. Ugh. Mind now racing. What to do? He is a grown man and can certainly take care of himself...but I needed to know he was headed in the right direction. I stood, bleary, in the kitchen for a few more moments. A new email came through (thank goodness for advanced technology!). He *just* landed...was reading my emails...was still going to try and make his original connection...what about his bag...he would call me from Chicago. But what about my decisions? Were they the right ones? Self doubt kicked in. I started back up to bed...deflated. I replied "Apologies for inconvenience, I made the best decisions I could based on the information we had". Back under the covers...phone on vibrate in case he called...brain still racing. A few minutes go by...the phone is ringing. Yes, he's trying to get on original flight but line is long. Doesn't have his bag...will have to track it down. I think I said "good luck". By now I've been "awake" for 20 minutes or so...just past the point of falling back to sleep easily. You know that point...where your body is in shock, kind of shaking like it's high on caffeine, and your stomach starts talking to you saying "hey, is it time for breakfast already?". Yeah, that was me. Another few minutes go by and I get another email. Considering the fact that this boss rarely personally acknowledges my hard work, I thought it worth including his actual words...for posterity:

"You ended up making the right call. The UA flight was not held and I missed it. The AA flight is better in terms of getting me in earlier. UA is trying to transfer my bag. Thanks for all your help. I know it was a difficult situation and you made good decisions and went the extra mile - including getting up in the middle of the night to check on me."

SUCCESS!

There were more emails with more updates - but this is an email for the record books. At the end of it all I barely slept more than 4 hrs last night and woke up late...can't imagine why. I completely forgot to pick up my knitting bag when I was walking out the door, and I think I might have spied some quizzical looks from train regulars when "The Girl Who Always Knits" was not, in fact, knitting. This thought made me smile.

Well, I'm off more more concentrated doses of coffee and to continue tracking down a boss and his belongings.

Not so glamorous...but definitely story-worthy none the less.

Have a great day!

Getting better

2010-07-07T08:40:00.003-04:00

I like to think that I'm more invincible that I really am...but sometimes I just have to submit to defeat. Since I like to think that I've matured a bit in my 30s (ha ha), I don't like to necessarily tell people when I'm sick - which, as you know, it seems I've been quite a bit this year. Tis true.

Over the past couple weeks, I've had walking pneumonia (which is confirmed to be gone) and now a bad bronchial infection (second round of meds) - all due, I believe, to my worsening allergies. When I'm feeling better (when will that be???) I will march myself off to a new allergist and see what can be done to prevent my bi-annual bronchitis (now more like 3 - 4 times) once and for all. I'm tired of battling this. I'm tired of drugs and doctors and copayments and, quite literally, feeling like a bump on a log.

With the current round of meds I can honestly say that "better" is within sight - hooray! Yes, I'm still working...but taking it easy as best I can. It also helped that we had a long weekend for the 4th - so that I didn't have to use another sick day (yikes!).

The one good thing about being housebound for three days was that I got to knit in between naps (and in an air conditioned house). I started Alyssa's Mystery Wedding Shawl - yippie! Steph (gleek) generously gave me 4 skeins of KP Bare (I think it's Peruvian wool - lace weight) in January - and I chose it because Alyssa will be able to dye it...if she wants...after her October wedding. So far, the pattern I chose is going along nicely...although I know I'm jinxing myself for not yet putting in a lifeline (did I learn nothing from the Lotus Blossom Shawl last year!?!!). On my to-do list for this evening...lifeline...do not pass the starting marker, do not collect $200 (although the extra cash *would* be nice - ha ha).

The bonus to knitting the shawl is that its nice to have blocks of time to work on it. With the current stitch count, I can get about 3 or 4 rows done per train ride. With our NE temps in the 100s yesterday, my train broke down on the way home and I was able to get about 6 rows done - SCORE! So even though it was a bummer to have to sit on a train that kept losing power and a/c, at least I had sunlight and something to do (besides grumble, like the other passengers!). This breakdown also meant that we eventually debarked and were picked up by another train - which happened to be my "old train" with Sue and Patty on board - hooray! I haven't seen them for a couple months (has it been that long, really? wow) and it was nice to catch up on this and that...esp to see what they're knitting too! I love my knitter friends.

Well, that's my update for today - just trying to stay cool in this crazy heat. ConEd has issued statements that office blinds should be closed and HVAC systems should be kept at 76 degrees. Which is all fine by me - as it's a bit cool here and I have my lovely Savannah sweater (knit last month with Miss Babs Yowza) to keep me comfy.

Happy knitting y'all!
kc

I'm Back - ZWOWWY!

2010-07-01T09:07:00.005-04:00

Well, yes, it's been a long time...thanks for the reminder :o)

Getting right down to it...I've spent a lot less time online in my "free time" and more time with my family (hooray!). It's not that I don't enjoy spending time with everyone...but things have been busy and some things needed to be put on the back burner. I'm sure you understand my prioritization, right?

Turns out the flu I thought I had in March was really Fifths Disease - and just about everyone in my, my sister's, and our close friend's family got it. Terrible thing, really...glad its behind us.

I've been knitting up a storm from personal items to sample knitting to test knitting - I love being part of this community you guys...so thanks for your support!

I'm also *gasp* reading again - say what?! Yes, reading AND knitting. At. The. Same. Time. Crazypants! I started back with "Outlander" because, well, all y'all were reading it (or so it seemed). Now I'm reading "The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud". Yes, it's a super fast read - and yes, it's coming out as a movie in late July. Oh, and, yes, funny you should mention, but my boy Zac Efron is in it. Oh come on, don't judge...I could have a much worse mom-crush in the scheme of things.

In recent knitting news...we went down to Chester a couple weekends ago to meet Joanna Johnson at Why Knot Knit. She was signing copies of her sweet book "Phoebe's Sweater"...which I encourage you all to buy (and knit). Ramona LOVES her Phoebe (which I finished last night) and has a whole wardrobe planned for her (I'll finish the dress tonight). Check out Ramona on Joanna's blog!

Well, friends, I promise to be around a bit more - especially since I love catching up with everyone. Enjoy your 4th of July weekends and happy knitting!

kc

The Good

2010-03-08T11:40:00.004-05:00

While I've been fighting some minor bacterial/viral infections (and the flu) these past few weeks there is certainly some good to exclaim!

1. Andrea the Great sent me some girl scout cookies...and they are DELICIOUS! *mwah*
2. My friend Patty and her beau, Joe, are getting married at the Hotel Coronado today - CONGRATS to them!
3. I finished my dress design and am writing it for publication (in some form as yet to be determined)
4. I've slept more than Rip Van Winkle
5. I'm thankful for all my friends and their unwavering support as of late!
6. I have a fantastic husband and family...who have been taking care of me (and letting me sleep)
7. I'm using up lots of old stashed yarn and finishing WIPs - hooray for no new yarn purchases!
8. Life is good no matter what!

So how about y'all...got good news to share? :o)

Friends

2010-02-19T13:30:00.003-05:00

I'm not ordinarily a sappy person when it comes to chain emails that have been around the world and back and celebrate a "Holiday" which may or may not actually exist. But a co-worker forwarded the below "poem" to some of our crew today. Which is actually quite timely considering some of the difficult decisions I've had to make lately.

"Sisters"

Life is too short to wake up with regrets

So love the people who treat you right

Love the ones who don't just because you can

Believe everything happens for a reason

If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands

If it changes your life, let it

Kiss slowly

Forgive quickly

God never said life would be easy

He just promised it would be worth it

I find that I maintain friendships in different ways for different reasons. And that a friend isn't just someone who is in your life due to geographic proximity - but someone who you are fundamentally close to.

Thanks to all my readers and girlfriends...some of whom are....Dora, Cathi, Stacey, Kim, Fran, Mai, Ann, Elspeth, Shannon, Laura, Jill, Emily S, Stephanie P, Tina, Patty, Jennifer T, Sally, Stefanie J, Jen, Andrea, Carrie, Mimi, Alyssa, Erin and the list goes on!

Happy Friday y'all!

Happy Knit Year!

2010-01-19T14:04:00.002-05:00

I've been knitting. A lot. I mean, seriously, A LOT!

Currently, I'm helping a good friend work on some samples which will be revealed later this year...so I can't share that with you just yet.

In the meantime, let's take a look at what I was able to finish in time for the holidays...and beyond!

My mom's LBI Sweater - designed by me! As luck had it, Ramona was sick on Christmas so my mom did NOT have to receive a partially finished sweater...and I say "partially" finished because I was well on my way when I realized I would run out of light blue yarn. I placed an order sometime around Dec. 20th and received the new yarn on Dec 30th. I was able to finish the sweater before we saw my folks on Jan 2nd - hooray!

I also finished my neighbor's THIRTY (30!!!) year old sweater. I've gotten so many complements from Raveler's - one lady even believes she may have knit this one too! She's looking back through her stuff and will send me photos - pretty awesome.

Jill was kind enough to include me in her latest kit quest with Tilli Tomas. I was sent a list of "rules", 5 different yarns, and sent on my way. I designed and knit this in three days (approx 20 hours). Whew - talk about a whirlwind weekend of knitting!

I also knit this sexy little number for the shop (yes, it's Noro!)...

I also made this cute little slug for my in-laws. They love it - Karen FTW!

Ramona wanted a scarf - which I happily knit - but won't pose for a photo in it - so that's for another day! In the meantime, I made T-Rexes for she and Matt...

Lastly, I designed and published patterns for my Chester Mittens and Cowl. The cowl is a free pattern on Ravelry (after some debate). The mittens are for sale at the low price of $1.99! Let me know what you think...

Well, glad to have my first post up for the Knit Year - hope all is well with you until next time!

Ho-Ho-Home Stretch

2009-12-16T11:40:00.002-05:00

So my holiday knitting is *thisclose* to being complete. Granted, I did have to ax one project completely...but there's always Mother's Day or a birthday or a "Just Because" around the corner so the only one who knows it didn't get finished is me (and now you).

I'm still fussing over my neighbor's 30 yr old sweater - it needs a button band...and an icord (actually a single crochet chain - who does that??)...but I don't think a button band is appropriate for an already busy sweater so I'm thinking hook/eye clasps instead. We'll see. It's my MUST DO this weekend.

Also, I want to finish the T-Rexes (how do you pluralize that???) for the kids. The body of one is done and took a nano-second to knit...so I'm thinking they won't take long. Because Matthew isn't spending Christmas with us this year I'm planning to have them finished for his return on Dec 29th - plenty of time, right?

Since I finished the mystery scarf for my mom last night I brought the "ruffle" scarf on the train with me today...in case I can finish it in time for an extra gift...I wonder who the lucky recipient might be?

How about everyone else? Are you ready for the final crunch? Is all your shopping done?

And...Is it January yet? tee hee

Know why kids are awesome?

2009-12-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Last night Hubbins made a comment to Ramona and me that he wasn't feeling great. So Ramona asked me "Why doesn't Daddy feel good?" Not knowing exactly why myself I said "Daddy's tummy is upset". To which she replied...."Mommy, that's so silly. Daddy's tummy can't cry".

Ahhh childhood...you are so innocent! Thank you for making me laugh and smile (and sometimes cry).

Test Knit Released!

2009-12-13T18:02:00.004-05:00

Ann Weaver just released her new sock pattern...check her out on Ravelry!

Here are some photos of the first sock...don't you just love it!!?!

Mascara, knitters and an everything bagel CAN fix some things

2009-12-09T09:08:00.006-05:00

Without going into a lot of personal detail (this is a knitting blog after all)...things have been fairly emotional and hectic for me lately. In fact, they've been so topsy turvy that my "routine" life has been far from "normal". My eyes are a little puffy as proof.

This morning, after receiving the school delay call, hearing the town plows beeping half the morning and trudging through the snowy/rainy haze to the train, I fell into my seat exhausted, yet again. It's as though I can't shake the "funk" or cloud above me. And that's not "me".

So, while putting my makeup on I decided today would be a good day for some eye-brightening mascara. Score 1 for me. Then, after the last stop before NYC, I spied a fellow knitter working on a scarf (???) using some fluffy grey wool. Score 2. And finally, after arriving at work and getting a Board meeting started, I ate a delicious toasted everything bagel with a smidgen of cream cheese. Score 3.

It's amazing how some *little*itty*bitty* things can make you feel better.

Happy hump day y'all!

Preview of Ann's new sock pattern

2009-12-03T07:52:00.001-05:00

December? Really? Holy ZOMG!

2009-12-02T14:44:00.004-05:00

Ok, November 30th came and went. December 1st is kind of blurry. But December SECOND?!?! Holy ZOMG! Where does the time go?

I think the practicality of my handmade gift list is maybe not so practical after all!

Anyone else in the boat with me? Jump onboard we're ready to set sail!

WOW Thanksgiving - Thank you for being past tense!

2009-11-30T08:14:00.005-05:00

Well, Thanksgiving weekend was crazy and calm and healthy and achy - what a rollercoaster!

We ended up not having the holiday at our home at all - hey, who am I to complain about not cleaning all those dishes? My in-laws cooked a standing rib roast and a small turkey breast (for me since I can't eat red meat) and some side dishes and we brought additional side dishes to their home. Afterward we went to my folks place for dessert. My sister and her family were up from VA and we were able to convince my grandmother to come out for a little while. It was nice to see everyone all in one day!

We kind of took it easy on Friday...and only ventured out for bagels in the morning. Who needs traffic and shopping crowds anyway? Not me!

On Saturday one of my cousin's hosted my dad's side of the family at her home: 4 families of 4 and our respective parents - 20 people in all! The kids all had someone "their own age" so Matthew didn't feel like he had to babysit the little kids for a change. I brought along my tripod and remote...this turned out pretty good considering how many smiles we had to get at one time!

On Sunday I wasn't feeling so great and focused on finishing a couple of projects I've had in the pipeline (sorry, that's the Investment Banking side of me coming through!) for a while.

I finished up the Beagle scarf I was making for my friend and co-worker as a surprise holiday present. As the story goes, he often spies Alyssa and I looking at our current WIPs and usually asks "Hey, is that the scarf you're making me?" or says "Gee, that color doesn't really match my coat." Won't he be surprised when I hold up the scarf, he makes a comment, and I actually give it to him! Priceless.

Seeing as I had finished one thing...why not make it two in one day? I dragged out the sewing machine and sat down at the dining room table to pin (and re-pin and re-pin and re-pin) the zipper into Ken's unfinished sweater. Darn him making me learn how to sew a zipper into a hand knit! Anyway, after some fiddling with the machine and a couple passes through it...ta-da...it's done!

I also worked on a SUPER DUPER REALLY SECRET project - but, obviously, I can't blog more than than right now. Look for photos on/about December 19th!

Lastly, Ann, the creative genius behind Weaver Knits will be publishing a new (and FREE) Recession Pattern in the coming weeks. I am honored to be test knitting for her - and happy that I can knit using yarn from my stash - hooray for bustin' it up! I'll post some preview pics as soon as I can!

Happy Knitting all!

Weighted Stitches

2009-11-24T12:34:00.004-05:00

There's been a lot on my mind lately...some of which has been written here, most of which has not.

What I thought about last night, while starting ANOTHER holiday present, is that our emotions , our states-of-minds, are sometimes knit into every stitch of a project. To expand, the project becomes a part of us due to external (physical and emotional) influences that occur while we are making it.

Prime example, I will always remember that I started my daughter's first sweater while we were visiting my in-laws on Martha's Vineyard in 2006. Those stitches, and that sweater, were my first steps back into (obsessive) knitting. I will always keep that sweater because it is evidence of my (lack of) skill at the time and reminds me of how far I've come in three short years. Those stitches have become a part of my history.

I am now making a scarf for my mom and while knitting it last night I was thinking of a friend of mine who is going through some tough times. I am happy that the scarf will be a part of mine AND my mom's life because my mom is a good "keeper". It saddens me that any friend is pained, but to know there is an outlet for me to think and create, well, that's quite a joy.

Know what I mean?

Just call me "Lysol Lungs"

2009-11-20T09:50:00.003-05:00

My co-worker is still out (thankfully) and is believed to have the flu (swine or otherwise) for certain. She's not allowed back to work until Monday (at the earliest).

Another co-worker, who does not sit in our vicinity, called out sick today. She thinks it's just a cold...fingers crossed it's nothing more serious.

Several other co-workers are in various stages of coughing, sneezing, hacking, miserable, etc.

Just call me Lysol Lungs...because all I do, every day, when I get to work is spray peoples desks down. Lovely.

In my knitting I've been working on holiday gifts and finally received the zippers for Ken's cardigan. I *may* try to attempt it this weekend - but I'll do a combo of hand basting and then machine sewing so I need to borrow-back my MIL's machine (alas, I am still functioning machine-less).

Keep thinking positive and HEALTHY thoughts - and happy knitting!

An actual knitting request! (and a quick project)

2009-11-19T08:10:00.006-05:00

I usually knit things for my family without asking them what they would like...mostly because I don't want to hear "oh, that's alright, you don't have to make me something". I think most have a pair of socks (or two), and a scarf or a hat or mittens. I like making practical gifts more than anything.

A few years ago I made my Mom a lacy scarf with some Lorna's Laces. Purples and greens = lovely. It was my first "big" lace project as well as my first blocking one. Needless to say, I learned A LOT from it.

Last night I was talking to my Mom about Swine Flu, because, you know, it's a fun conversation to have before Thanksgiving with family. My Mom brought up Christmas gift ideas for her and my Dad. The last thing she asked was for a handmade scarf. I said "Of course...but do you want a warm scarf or a fashion scarf?" "I'm not sure. Maybe something long that wraps around like all the stores are showing." Hmmm, I'm not a big store shopper these days so I said "A scarf or a cowl, because cowl's are very popular these days." She said "A scarf." "What color? Do you want it to match a coat or some clothes?" "Oh, well, I guess I hadn't thought about that. Can I get back to you?" "Sure - just let me know."

I have to say - this is EXCITING! It's like my Mom is pseudo-commissioning me to make a scarf for her - yippie! As thoughts of stitches and lengths and yarns are rushing through my head I'm thinking of almost making her a cowl and scarf set - so she can always pull the cowl on for really cold days (can go up over her nose and face - she DOES get cold) and wrap the scarf around for extra toasty-ness. And on "warmer" days, or for fashion, she can wrap it around her neck willy-nilly. Right?

On another note, since my co-worker is still waiting for her h1n1 test results to come back, our family is running under the assumption that I am a carrier (go me!) and are treating me like I have the plague. I get it...really. Precautions are precautions are precautions. One sick person in a house is better than two sick adults AND two sick kids. Can dogs get it? Hmmm. Sorry Peanut, no more kisses for you until I'm in the clear - boo hiss.

But *just in case* all is good and we get the sign of approval that swine flu is not in our future, we have Thanksgiving at Ramona's school tonight. Part of the fun of this gathering is that they send home paper headbands, paper feathers, beads and string for us to make Indian headdresses for the festivities. It's a great time for families to sit and craft together - right up my alley! Unfortunately, they only sent home two headbands this year (Ramona and her friends make theirs in school). So I let K & M use the materials, Ramona strung up a necklace and I sat down with some brown, orange and green yarns. This is the result...

What do you think? Does it say "Thanksgiving" or "Autumn" or "Blobs of color"?

Swine Flu

2009-11-18T11:52:00.004-05:00

This morning a close co-worker got sent home after she went to her doctor. She's been hacking/coughing at the office for several days, was out sick several days last week, and, this morning, was running a fever and was tested for h1n1.

While she is one of my favorite peeps, I'm fairly frustrated that she: a) didn't go to the dr last week; b) brought her germy-germs to the office to share with us (and possibly our families); and c) repeat the last two.

And while I might ordinarily appreciate "staying home sick" for its potential of quiet knitting time at home, I know that if I, or any of my family members, do get h1n1, the last thing I'll be doing is knitting. Which kinda stinks because I do have quite a bit of holiday knitting underway. And Thanksgiving is approaching...and family get-togethers...ugh!

So I'm spraying any and every surface with Lysol and keeping my thoughts positive. It may, or may not, help that I am already on antibiotics to deal with an ear infection (diagnosed on Monday) in case it's something other than h1n1. But what about my backaches...is that because I slept wrong or a symptom of things to come?

Ok, no more paranoia - back to work (and more knitting!)

Have a healthy day!

Kitchener...a Friend?

2009-11-17T08:12:00.002-05:00

I'm in the middle of holiday gift knitting. Seriously. In. The. Middle. I have about 3 or 4 things that I'm rotating because of their process. DPNs for the kids gifts. Large needles for a hat. Straights for a *gasp* scarf (more on that later). A sweater/vest/something for someone/me?

Last night I was working on the first of the "kids gifts". I had to kitchener. Kitchener and I have never been friends...try as I may to make the relationship work. I am patient. I am kind. I read everything five times before I even attempt it. Yet, somewhere between my brain and hands, something gets lost in translation. But last night...EUREKA! After doing *something* wrong and having it look wonky, a specific *something* that I could VISUALIZE this time - I FINALLY figured it out - something clicked. I can't explain what I was doing wrong - or even might do wrong again - but I *saw* kitchener. Granted, I've *seen* it PLENTY of times before - but this time, by George, I think I've got it. Hooray!

As for the aforementioned scarf. What is it about scarves that has such a negative connotation these days? Scarves are only for beginners? Real knitters make cowls? I guess we learn how to knit by making a scarf so it seems so elementary when we set out to make one later. This will be my second scarf in a month - the first being for charity (Red Scarf Project) and the second for a co-worker who, every time he sees my knitting, asks "Is that a scarf for me?" Well, this time the answer will be different - but hopefully a surprise. I'm making the Beagle Scarf from Norah Gaughan's Men's booklet - it's a 4 row repeat that I *finally* picked up once you get a couple inches into it. The edges don't curl (love that!) and there's enough mix in the pattern that it's not boring to knit (for 60").

Who else is in the Holiday Knitting Bog with me? Ain't it a blast? ha ha

Happy Knitting Y'all!

Do you know how much knitters rock?

2009-11-10T08:11:00.005-05:00

Okay, that's a silly question to actually ask a bunch of knitters...BUT...do you know how much knitters rock?

Let me tell you.

This morning (actually, a mere 1/2 hour ago) I was knitting peacefully on the train when a lovely gal approached me and said "Are you Choo Choo Knits?" Giggling, I said "Why yes I am". And that's how I met GabFab...a friend of the lovely YarnyOldKim (who is NOT old by any stretch of the imagination). Gabrielle went on to tell me that she got on in Summit and spied me knitting and could tell, just from a brief glimpse of my profile, who I was from Kim's pics on flickr. I love Flickr; I love Ravelry; but most of all I LOVE KNITTERS!

I was going to compare Ravelry to a dating website. You can find people who have similar tastes in patterns/yarns or knitters by location or by additional interests (tv shows, sports, motherhood). The thing that's SO much better than a dating website - there's absolutely NO pressure to friend anyone or follow up with a phone call or go on a second date. You can comment on a total stranger's new sweater and you never have to chat again - no strings (pun intended) attached. In fact, just knowing that someone else is a knitter somehow gives me automatic peace of mind when I "meet" them - for example, I can think: "they are not a mass murderer with needles"..."they are a knitter and I DO have something to talk to them about".

If everyone knit would the world be a nicer place? It's friendly. It's calming. It's fun and challenging and inviting. Granted, it can also be daunting to learn a new technique or process - but hey, life is full of challenges...and if we don't try them how do we evolve?

Gabrielle and I parted ways once we arrived at Penn Station - but I do hope to see her again someday when our paths (or trains as the case was) cross. I walked to the E train with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Meeting her really was a great pick me up since I've been feeling so melancholy of late (time change, too many social engagements, etc.)

So how much do knitters rock? A whole HELLUVA LOT!

Now go get out there and meet some more - it'll do your mind some good!

Until next time...happy knitting y'all.

Tempting Cozy Knits

2009-11-05T08:48:00.006-05:00

When I first started back to work after my maternity leave I found that, with an infant, washable clothes were the way to go. Comfort was also a large factor since my body wasn't "back in shape" yet. Having received a J. Jill catalog, I decided to go to one of their stores and found some versatile, WASHABLE, wrinkle-free and affordable pieces. While I still wear some of the pants I bought (let's face it...we all have "those" days), I stopped shopping at J. Jill a few years ago.

But then the front cover of their catalog had this...

Hello...FOUR gorgeous knits in one picture? And this isn't a knitting magazine? I was in love!

With a little research I found FREE patterns for similar items...and have been adding them to my queue on Ravelry.

How about this Beret knit by Nonnahs*, designed by Natalie Larson

Or this v-neck cabled sweater by Jordana Paige

Gloves to keep your fingers warm by Julie Mueller

Or this fabulous Scarf by Lion Brand

It's amazing that knitters can always make something for themselves...rather than spend exorbident amounts of money...and feel a sense of accomplishment of "hey, I made this!" at the end. Granted, there is the cost of the yarn, but I'm sure we've got something hidden away in our stashes that would work...or how about having a Yarn Trade party with your friends - something "new" for everyone that way?

Until next time...happy knitting

Page 5

2009-10-29T10:30:00.003-04:00

As many of you know, you can "Friend" people on Ravelry. Friends you know. Friends you would like to know. Friends who knit pretty things. Friends who are interesting. Friends who Friend you. There are always lots of Friends to be had.

I have 6 pages of Friends. Many of which I met through Flickr and met in person at Rhinebeck (hooray for FRIENDS!).

The funny thing about some of these Friends...is that the ones I look up the most are on Page 5. What's important about Page 5? Well, when Ravelry pulls up your Friend page there are quick links to pages 1, 2, 3, 4...and then 6. To access page 5 you have to go to 4 or 6 and hit next or back respectively. OR you can go to the Hop button and drop down to 5. Page 5 requires some extra attention...high maintenance Friends? Just joking - they all rock it!

Some of my page 5-ers worth mention (in alpha order):
Saomai
Shutterhoney
Skrillaknits
Smariek
SpaceCase
Spindsey
Stefanie
StitchBitch23
ThereWillBeSnacks

Handknits a plenty...but now what?

2009-10-28T11:12:00.008-04:00

Once upon a time all knitters were "beginners". We first learned knitting, purling, casting on and binding off. We made large wobbly rectangles and called them scarves. We made potholders for everyone we knew! And through patient practice we learned how to control our tension, test our gauge, work with different needle sizes and read patterns. We became honest to goodness KNITTERS!

As you know by now, I learned to knit back in the mid-90s. In the first year I made a couple basic items and even graduated to SWEATERS (possibly 3 or 4). But then I battled carpal tunnel - a combo of knitting TOO tight (beginners mark) and using the computer at work in a way that did not agree with me (THANK YOU, HUMAN SCALE, for helping me - love them - highly recommend).

When my family was heading to Martha's Vineyard in August 2006 I decided to bring some yarn and needles and make my daughter, then 9 months old, a sweater. After all, what else is there to do when everyone else is out fishing? Little did I know that I would knit every single day thereafter. Ok, not EVERY day...but pretty close.

In the past 3 years I've learned SO much about patterns, sizing, designing and adjusting fit. In 2008 I started making samples for a LYS and test knitting for some designers I've met along the way. I've traveled near and far for my craft. I've gone out of my way to find yarn shops while on vacation...instead of a souvenir t-shirt, I buy yarn. I've knit for charity. I've enhanced my stash (ten fold?) and I've tried to help others with questions and techniques. I am a happy and fulfilled knitter.

There are still a couple of tricky things I'd like to learn: steeking for one. Yikes it scares me a bit. But I'll get there...I have a pattern, I have the yarn, I just need the "free" time (the biggest challenge) and courage to conquer it once and for all.

What's really eating at me this week is: Now what do I do with ALL the things I knit? I have Knitty's Bobbilicious sitting at the bottom of a storage tub. I wore it every Fall weekend possible in 2006. But I've moved on to more practical sweaters - things I can wear on an every day basis...and mostly to work. Do I frog it and make something else in it's place? Is that what you do? Do you say, "We had our good times, but I'm someone different so lets make you into something different too?". Then there's my beloved Capecho that was knit with no attention to gauge (clearly) and which I made several modifications to along the way. It sits. In a bin. Lonely. Last one to note is my turquoise vest. I admit, I knit this when I was fresh back on the knitting scene. I'll also admit, like an addict, that I knit the top portion of this wrong...all the knit stitches were through the back loop because I had forgotten the right way and was too lazy to REFRESH MY MEMORY. Dumb. End result: I wore this vest once, maybe twice, and I hate it. It reminds me of my idiocy. It reminds me that I made something less than perfect. Should I keep it as a reminder - or frog it and move on.

What do y'all do? Has anyone else found themselves at a similar crossroads?

Secret project...revealed!

2009-10-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

You may recall that I was test knitting some Lorna's Laces yarn and a secret pattern back in July/August. Well, the big reveal is here!

Stefanie is such an awesome woman, mom, knitter, person, friend...I was thrilled to be involved in such a great children's pattern

Well, Friday didn't come soon enough

2009-10-23T08:46:00.011-04:00

An enormously looooooooong week full of exhausting days and nights and I'm sooooooo thrilled it's Friday that I'm putting lots of exxxxxxxtra letters in my wooooooords (ha ha)

On Sunday hubbins and I cleaned the house from top to bottom as best we could because my sister and her kids were going to be visiting us the following afternoon. Nothing like visits from family to get your house clean! By the time we went to bed our home was a dream...how long would it last?

With a family visit my plan was to work 4 hours on Monday and take a half vacation day to be home around 2:00pm. But on Monday morning there was something wrong with the Amtrak lines running in and out of of Penn Station. And our train sat and sat and sat some more. Lucky for me that I signed up for transit alerts on my blackberry because they, at least, provided information that the conductors did not. We continued to sit. By the time we got to Penn (8:40 - an hour late) I had to make a decision...to work or not to work. If I went to the office I wouldn't have been able to stay 4 hours without disrupting the Master Plan for the afternoon. So I made the call to head back home. I took a delayed 8:50 train and was home around 10:00. Peanut was delighted to see me and but a little confused as to why I was there. She curled up on the couch and settled in for a cozy nap. I, on the other hand, got down to business and cranked away for a couple hours doing work. Ken came home around 1:00 and we ate lunch while he worked on his laptop. It was kinda cute. My sister and her kids came over later than expected but we all had a wonderful visit...and another exhausting day came to a close.

Back to work on Tuesday and I hit the ground running. By the time I got off the train that afternoon, I felt a spasm in the left side of my back. When I got up to go to bed, I could barely straighten up. I slept with my heating pad...which seemed to help...but had an awful nights sleep. I dreamt that I was in some snowy place and was tired and just wanted to go to bed. As I was falling asleep in my dream it was time to get up. And then it was...

Wednesday. Brought more of the same rushing around, organizing, and exhaustion. A woman I met on Ravelry had invited me to her knitting group a while ago. Because it was summer and we were heading on vacation I missed the early September dates. I missed the earlier October dates due to our Vineyard trip. So I vowed I would go but needed a bit of reassurance from Ken that he would not complain to me about it later. He's supportive...but he also likes to instill guilt on occasion. So I changed into some jeans, grabbed my bag and off I went. What a GREAT group of ladies. I'm not sure how often I'll get to go, but I would love to see some of them again. Ran to B&N afterward to get the new IK Holiday issue. Cashier said "Gee, that's a lot for a magazine" - thanks guy. Went home and Ken rewound Glee so I could watch it from the beginning. Gawd do I love that show! The inner dork in me hearts it so much. However, another night of heading to bed after 10:00pm.

Wee-hours of Thursday found me jolted up in bed listening to the following...
"Matt, what are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"Matt, what were you doing downstairs?"
"Um"
"Matt, are you ok?"
"I don't know what I was doing"
"Okay, just go back to bed"

Matthew is a sleepwalker. This isn't the first time it's happened, but it's the most disturbing because he actually left his room, moved the gate at the top of the stairs which keeps the dog from going down during the night and getting into trouble, was downstairs doing who knows what, and came back upstairs, moved the gate again, woke Ken and then had the above conversation. It kinda freaks me out. More than a little bit. When I went downstairs to leave for work the kitchen lights were all on. We still don't know what he was doing.

Having slept with the heating pad on my back again, I woke up from a bad nights sleep and had a headache. Is it my allergies? Did the heating pad break up a bunch of toxins in my body causing the headache? Was it just a culmination of everything? Who knows...off to work on Thursday.

Our friends from VT are in NJ and came over for dinner last night. Around 6:00 Matt tells me that he volunteered to bring cupcakes in to school for a mini-going away party for their substitute Math teacher who has been with them for several weeks while the regular teacher was getting medical treatment. At least he told me at 6, instead of 8:30 like the last time. So I'm organizing the muffin trays and Ken said "Oh, I need to bring cupcakes to work tomorrow" and I look at him, more like glare, and say "Really? What's going on at your office?" "Well, it's Friday and Friday's are good days for cupcakes and I haven't been laid off this week so that's a good reason." Seriously, this is my family. So 50 cupcakes and a couple hours later...I'm more exhausted and haven't been able to relax (per my internal plan) or knit and am slightly grumpy. The grumpiness caused a wee argument with Ken and in a moment of anger (it's not easy being a step-parent sometimes) I tossed my knitting bag on the dining room floor. After talking through the issues, we went to bed around 10, again.

Woke up this morning and HALLELUJAH it's FRIDAY! Except the week wouldn't be complete if I just said TGIF, right?

Alarm clock failed...possibly a user error...internal alarm was kind enough to go off while I still had plenty of time to get ready. Getting ready to leave for train, forget I left my coffee mug in said knitting bag from yesterday...oh crap, did i also have a little coffee left in it??? Picked up bag, no puddles...phew, lucked out. Washed mug, refilled with new and off I went. Followed morning routine...get regular seat, take off coat, open bag, get makeup, apply makeup, check emails, wonder if there's anything to panic about, all good, move on to knitting time. Reached in the bag and felt my BRAND NEW IK Holiday issue...and cried a little. There had been coffee in the mug. It had leaked. My IK is now soaked with coffee. Its depressing. I try to peal the front page away from the next one and a big hole appears. I can't think. My brain is officially toast. I'm SO done with the week. I move on. My NG Men's Sweaters booklet is also damaged - though certainly not as bad. My Lady February printed pattern is trash. My sweater, on the bright side, is completely dry. But it's washable so I kinda wish it had been soaked instead of the printed materials. I pulled out the sweater and knit more of the 1x1 collar ribbing. I just kept knitting. A conductor comes on the IC and delivers an incoherent message. A couple minutes go by and my bag vibrates...a new message has come through. Sure enough...NJ Transit delays of 15 - 20 minutes! Lovely. Turns out that there was a person walking on the tracks so the trains ran single file or some nonsense. I decided to take a moment and reevaluate the magazine. Slowly and carefully, I separated each page from the last until I had a pile of fluffed up and moist edges. I felt a pang of hope emerge. I slipped it back into my bag and it's now laid out on my desk drying out with some TLC.

Arriving 15 minutes late wasn't so bad but I didn't have time to stop and get a DnD coffee (my occasional Friday treat). The best co-worker in the world emailed me while she was on her way and asked what she could get me at DnD- she's such a good friend she can read my mind! I am gleefully drinking my large French Vanilla lite and sweet and my optimism has sprung up out of the shadows.

More importantly...tomorrow is Saturday and I can sleep late for the first time in WEEKS (that is, unless it doesn't rain, in which case we have to get Matthew up to be at the school by 6:30am so he can go to his track meet). Please PRAY FOR RAIN!!!

Rhinebeck Withdrawal!

2009-10-19T11:41:00.002-04:00

Two days later and Rhinebeck withdrawal is setting in. OMG how great was it to see everyone?!?! Forget the yarn...ok, well I bought two skeins, a mug that I had coveted since last year and two pins...but seeing all my Flickr/Ravelry friends was just out of this world!

Not to mention being/feeling stalked the entire time - but that's what I get for running a contest called "where in the festival is choo choo knits?"! All the winner's were fabulous - sorry I didn't get photos with everyone - and please, the gal I kept running into...PM me when you get a chance!

Here are some photos to reminisce...

Less than 24 hours....then RHINEBECK!!!

2009-10-16T11:00:00.001-04:00

Howdy all! The prize bags are filled to the brim with goodies galore - SUPER THANKS TO STEFANIE JAPEL AND KALEIDOSCOPE YARNS!!!

If you haven't signed up for my Rhinebeck contest yet...get a move on!

I'll post pix over the weekend - pray for sunshine and not rain/snow!

See you there!

Time?

2009-09-30T08:39:00.003-04:00

Where does the time go? Seriously? I feel like I've got a list of things to knit - and not just stashed yarn that MIGHT turn into something - but a list of things I HAVE TO knit for people ASAP.

First up is the sweater I'm finishing for my neighbor, Louise. When Ken and I moved into our home 4 years ago and Louise found out I knit, she mentioned a "bea-u-tif-ul" sweater she had never finished. Every now and then I would show her my WIPs and she would, once again, tell me of her unfinished sweater. Over this past summer, her mom stopped by one afternoon and said "Louise tells me you knit and I was wondering if you can help me with something". Turns out it was Louise's mom who had been knitting the sweater and she was wondering if I could help her finish it as a surprise for Louise. Of course I said yes and a few days later found the sweater hidden on our front porch. Here's where it starts to get interesting. The pattern, as I was told, is from an old Better Housekeeping-type magazine that is no longer published. My guesstimate dates it to the 70s or early 80s (at best). The "cream" yarn is probably an acrylic and I was given the working yarn and an extra ball, with no ball bands. The back and two fronts were knit as separate pieces and the arms were knit flat from the cuff to underarm. All the pieces were then joined on a circular needle to continue for the yoke. The work stopped three rows after the joining. Because the sweater sat so long in storage, the safety pins that were clipped to it (denoting what each piece was) began to oxidize and caused the yarn to turn a light brown-tea color. However, the unused ball is probably still closer to the original state, so when I use them together the difference will be obvious...and there's no getting around this. I've been reseaching dying acrylic...which is not easy...and am entertaining the idea of letting the whole sweater soak in a "tea bath" for a day or two. I hate to detract from the original sweater - but I would be remiss to not make it the best I could. After charting the lace/bobble pattern I ripped back to the original join, corrected the stitch count and have gotten 5" done of the yoke. It's a slow process. Mainly because bobbles and I are NOT the best of friends. I've finished the working yarn that was attached and have started using the last ball. I hope I don't run out of yarn because then I'll have a bigger dilemma on my hands than just correcting the color. At this point I probably have 6 hours of work left for a Christmas deadline.

Next on the list is a cardi for Ken. I've started it. The back piece is done and I've started the fronts (or was it the sleeves) as two at a time. This is really a quick knit from the Norah Gaughan Men's booklet - but it's also been easy for me to set aside to work on samples and test knits BECAUSE it's for my husband. Oh, and I've also lingered because it will require a zipper which I: a) don't have yet; and b) have never attempted. Hooray for new and scary techinques!

Lastly, I told the kids I would knit them dinosaurs when I bought the pattern back in July. JULY! I have the yarn - they each got to pick their own ball of Noro - but I can't muster the energy to knit on dpns or knit "little" things. Too many ends to sew in and sew together. I'm bad with knitted toys that way. They are a quick and fun knit with a great end result...but the process, well, not so much.

I'm currently working on yet ANOTHER baby blanket (my 5th or 6th this year?) for a co-workers adopted grandson. She's really a great lady and her son and his wife deserve a handknit. But my heart isn't as into it as I would like so I've just been knitting it on the train. It'll be done by the weekend, no doubt, but eh is the best I can say.

Well that's it for me...just a reminder to sign up for the Rhinebeck Giveaway Contest (you can win via Twitter or cell phone now!) if you haven't already!

Happy Knitting!

UPDATE FOR RHINEBECK CONTEST

2009-09-28T11:21:00.003-04:00

Since so many wonderful folks are not on Twitter I have decided to open the contest up cell phone users too! All you have to do is enter your phone number in the Comments section of the form and I'll send you a text message if you're one of the names drawn that hour! Easy as pie...but not quite as tasty!

Oh, and here's a fun posting on my latest sample for Kaleidoscope - love them!

Getting there...

2009-09-24T08:41:00.009-04:00

I've gotten such a great response from everyone in the knitting community about my Rhinebeck contest and while my website isn't exactly "ready" for every day use...you can start signing up for the contest - hooray! Blog readers are the first to know...so spread the word!

choochooknits.com

I'm still looking for notions to include in the prize bags (especially buttons or pins!). If you know of anyone, please have them contact me asap.

Also - I have a yarn company on board who will donate either a Worsted or Fingering weight - but would love to include another vendor to donate the other. Know of anyone who might be interested and has a fabulous product line and would like some exposure? Please send them my way!

Thanks again for all of your continued support!

Rhinebeck Give Away!

2009-09-21T10:12:00.005-04:00

I've gotten a little further along in my Rhinebeck project and am working on additional sponsors (the current line up is still being kept a secret a little while longer). If you're part of the knitting community and would like some exposure, I promise this contest is for you!

What I'm looking for (donations of at least 4...or more...since there will be 4 BIG prizes and some "runner's up" prizes each hour)

notions...anyone who makes custom stitch markers, or buttons
needles
misc (t-shirts, bags, etc)

What I already have:

Patterns and swag from a Designer
Shawl pattern
Gift cards and swag from yarn shop/online retailer

I will gladly pay for shipping of these items - please let me know if you or a friend would be interested (pm me at choochooknits at hotmail dot com)

Thanks everyone!

Rodeo Round-Up

2009-09-18T09:05:00.008-04:00

Well folks there's been a lot going on at choo choo knits so I'm wrasselin' up a run-down for y'all!

I've been test knitting some patterns for Stefanie Japel (Glampyre) over the past month or so. The first two were children's patterns using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted...let me just say, this yarn is absolutely delicious...seriously, get me a scoop, stick it on a cone, and I want to eat it! And did I mention its MACHINE WASHABLE??? Such a plus when it comes to knitting for kids. I believe the pattern is off at the tech editor for finally approval and should be available in the coming week or two. I'll also be test knitting an adult version of a child's sweater (no info yet) so stay tuned for more info!

I am also sample knitting Seneca from the new Jared Flood booklet using Classic Elite's Lush (50% Angora / 50% Wool). If your budget doesn't allow angora I'm thinking a great substitute would be the new Vintage Wool from Berroco (which is soft and washable!). This sweater is on the intermediate level so you'll have your challenge with the cabling and yoke section. Stay tuned for final photos.

The "Dora" shawl pattern is coming along great and should be ready by mid-October (the latest). The combination of lace, construction, and design make this the perfect gift knit! I used Frog Tree Alpaca Sportweight for the original but will use some stashed Ultra Alpaca Fine (Berroco) for a secret holiday gift - shhh :o)

Other patterns that will be published soon are "Japel's Wings" (top down raglan combining leave motif and fitted elements using a worsted weight yarn) and "Scarsdale" (a cabled summer sweater with simple elements using a dk weight yarn).

Also in the works...I'm proud to annouce...a NEW WEBSITE! Details coming this fall...stay tuned!

I'm also working on an event for Rhinebeck which is expected to be a unique and exciting (and FUN) project!

Hope all is well with you and your knitting - drop me a line so we can catch-up properly!

Happy Knitting until next time!

A great day!

2009-08-25T15:15:00.006-04:00

I must must must must must tell you that I am blushing over Stefanie Japels' blog posting today. I am privileged to have such an accolade bestowed upon me. Thanks Stefanie!

KADHD?

2009-07-12T08:06:00.003-04:00

One look at my Ravelry projects page lately and you might think "Has she gone mad? How many WIPs are on her needles right now?"

Yes, I think I have KADHD - Knitting Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.

Well, either it's KADHD or RFS (Restless Finger Syndrome).

OR............it's that my brain is SO excited about the many projects I want to make/finish/start/dream/wear/gift that it can't pick JUST ONE...so I'm rotating between them.

Case in point, I'm making up two samples for the shop so I spent a couple train rides working on the baby sweater during the week. I finished the back yesterday morning. Then, during the day, while we were in the car running errands, I worked on my Bateau sweater since it was St st in the round - can't screw that up too badly. For a short period of the afternoon, while trying to keep Ramona inside and COOL, I swatched for the fingerless mitts - Kollage yarn is SO soft and great to work with btw. Then, last night when we were watching the NASCAR race, I knit the right front of the baby sweater and started the third ball of the Bateau sweater.

It's safe to say that I'm not bored of any of them - I'm just spreading my time between them - and, somehow, they all seem to be going faster...is that possible???

Well, it's another gorgeous day here in NJ so I'll probably sit outside and drink my coffee and knit a bit while Hubbin's works his garden/green-thumb and Ramona does her thing...which is whatever mischief the day brings!

Look what we reeled in...

2009-06-22T14:41:00.003-04:00

I know a bunch of y'all don't flickr so I'm posting this over here in blogger land as well! Two cute kids, fo' sho!

We had a great Father's day celebration at our home - my sister, her hubby and their kids all flew in from Kansas and NC; my parents and my grandmother were there; as well as my in-laws. The weather held out (AFTER we had cleaned the house from top to bottom) so we were able to stay outside the entire afternoon. The kids were in heaven running around the yard, blowing bubbles, drinking obscene amounts of juice, eating everything they could grab when the parents weren't watching, and filling our yard with giggles galore! What a blessing it was to spend the day together!

Baby Blogging Steps (and NO, I'm not preggers!)

2009-06-15T08:31:00.003-04:00

This is for Dora and Adam and Trudy - whom I love VERY much (and who have now guilted me back into blogging...baby steps my friends!)

Alyssa and I spent Saturday up in Danbury with Dora and her knitting friends! What can I say except we had a FABULOUS time - and I, for one, will miss Trudy SO SO SO much! As you'll recall, Dora is my SWS (Sock Wars Sister) and I just love her to pieces! Thanks for a lovely (albeit rainy/muggy) day!

1 minute and 9 seconds - take THAT senor velociraptor!

2009-06-12T15:34:00.002-04:00

1 minute, 9 seconds

Alrighty...I've got some pride to share

2009-06-05T13:22:00.003-04:00

My little-sis just received an Educator of the Year award from the Army. Here's the article...

I'm still around...here and there...but you can, of course, find me DAILY on flickr

In other news I found out that I had strep late last week (I had been starting to feel pretty miserable) and while it's a week later on MORE antibiotics (long story) I'm still not 100%...but definitely on the mend - hooray!

It's a rainy day (again) here in NYC and I'm SO ready for the weekend...NASCAR at Pocono Raceway on Sunday - yippie, I loves me some racin' boys!

So how are all of you doin'?

Happy Easter Everyone!

2009-04-12T19:25:00.001-04:00

I'm not changing my shoes...you can't make me

2009-03-30T13:47:00.003-04:00

Today is a Monday. I could end this post there because I know you would understand.

It's a Monday and I'm achy for a multitude of reasons. And I didn't feel like wearing clothes that "fit properly" today...so I'm wearing brown pants that are "full" and an orange sweater (which I actually like - and got on sale for something crazy like $2.99 at Banana Republic a couple years back). I'm pretty sure that I picked up black shoes from my dark bedroom this morning but realized one was brown when I was on the train...and QUICKLY (you don't know how quickly) looked to make sure the other foot also had a brown shoe on it. I have the same pair of shoes in two colors, obviously. Whew....both brown.

And since there's a graveyard shift at the office today I decided, unanimously with my other selves, that I will not change my shoes today and you can't make me. Brown pants and brown shoes is defaulting to a match...no matter if the shoes are more chocolate and the pants are more heathered. Take that fashionistas!

No pictures...because I simply don't want to hear the laughter...ha ha ha

Seriously...I'm smiling!

How's all with y'all?

Why yes...yes it is me!

2009-03-25T13:47:00.005-04:00

Hello fellow bloggers...I am back...and I apologize...has anyone been sucked into Flickr like me? I saw Jeannine poke her head in...I'm wondering who is next!!!

So what's new with me in knitting land? And where has March gone?!?!

The month started with a great day of new friends and knitting at Dora's house which Alyssa and I were privledged to attend! Dora, you may recall from prior posts, is my long-lost-sister (in spirit) and we "met" via Sock Wars 3. The War, and most of it's participants, were dreadful. But from the ashes rose a great friendship. Here's a photo of us...so cute!

While at this mini-retreat Alyssa and I worked on our Lady Eleanor KAL For Two. I, however, questioned the sizing of mine? Was it too small? Would it be "wrappy" enough? How much yarn, in the end, would I need to make it everything I dreamed? Well, I frogged it the following day and restarted. Another day or two down the pike I decided that the second try was WAY too large. Urgh. Frogged again. Does anyone know what a pain it is to frog single ply silk? Let me just say, it's not fun. Attempt #3 seems to be the charm...although now I'm questioning if it's STILL too "wide". I ordered more yarn so I will have 2000 yarns invested when all is said and done. Egads! I'm halfway done and into the 3rd "ball" (at 500 yards it seems hardly a ball but more like a brick!). It's also, unfortunately, slightly too large to lug back and forth on the train. So it's slightly on hiatus for now...please pester me about it so it doesn't go into permanent hibernation!!!

Other recent knitting:

Textured Shrug from Stefanie Japel's new book GlamKnits

Finished Tangled Yoke - see above photo with Dora...I wear this Cardigan A LOT!!!

Two 13" x 13" squares for the kyarns.com blanket

Because of the whole can't-carry-on-the-train issue with the L.E. I decided to start my mom's Flower Child sweater for Mother's Day. I'm making it with Knit Picks Cot-Lin in a similar green/sage color as the pattern photo. I haven't worked with the yarn before but so far it's been working up nicely. I have no photos to share of it as yet...bummer.

Instead...I'll leave you with this goofy photo mosaic I made for my 365 Project!

Peek a boo...I've been Flickr-ing...a LOT

2009-03-17T18:51:00.003-04:00

Ok, I've been cheating on my blogging with Flickr. My bad. But it's been SO much fun!

I promise to blog more soon - honest to betsy!

How are you?!?!

Cause they're whose clues? Blue's Clues!

2009-02-27T08:35:00.003-05:00

For some reason I woke up with this song in my head - yes, Blue's Clues...weird!

It's been a super busy week at work and I am totally exhausted - so TGIF!!!

On the knitting front I finished my white pinwheel blanket on Wednesday evening - it looks great (photos to come over the weekend). I knit it in a sport weight on US8s. I LOVE the drape - esp because I usually like a tighter fabric on most projects. So this one got me thinking outside the box - hooray!

The funny thing about this blanket is that I worked late on Tuesday night and was able to meet up with my old knitting group on the train. Marybeth saw the blanket and asked what I was making. I told her and she laughed. My friend Patty, who later joined us, was also making the SAME blanket, ALSO in white! OMG, we had a good laugh. Right before Patty and I got off the train I put my blanket on my head...it looked like a giant shower cap or chefs hat. Patty put her's on as well and we were laughing quite hard. Sue took a photo - and if I can get her to send it to me (come on Sue!!!) I'll share it - you'll crack up, I swear!

I started my first charity square on the train today - and got about 2.5" done - whoot whoot! I'm hoping to get a few of these done over the weekend - hooray!

In sad yarn news, the shop in our lobby is having a 50% off sale (which is actually great news for Alyssa and me) but I asked one of the nicer ladies if they were going out of business and she said "we prefer to say 'closing our doors'". It's really sad - they've been there for 22 years! If you have any thoughts on yarns you like and want me to look for you...just drop me a line! Yarn for the stash at 50% off - how can you pass that up?

Well - back to work - too busy for words right now!

Happy knitting friends!

Eleven, Twelve, One, Two, Three, Four...

2009-02-24T08:02:00.002-05:00

I know most folks don't get routine knitting time each day like I do because I take the train. So maybe this doesn't apply to anyone else but weird ol' me...

Do you find yourself counting even after you've stopped knitting?

I know this happens to me a lot at night when I'm walking home. If I'm working on a pattern that's in sets of 12s...well then I'm counting my steps in twelves...*twelve steps down the stairs, repeat from *, turn right, go through tunnel, go up stairs, two three four, cross parking lot, eleven twelve one, cross street, etc.

Usually it wears off before I get home - mostly due to the cold weather reminding me of how stinking cold and windy it's been lately.

Please tell me I'm not alone :o)

Happy Knitting Tuesday!

Since when...

2009-02-23T09:22:00.004-05:00

...do I hold my working yarn like this?

I noticed this change started happening a few weeks back...but it wasn't consistent, and didn't feel "wrong" so I didn't stop.

But it JUST happens. No rhyme or reason. I'll be knitting happily along and viola...there it goes again!

This morning I noticed it on the train and quickly took a picture.

Hmmmm...

*Note: I'm knitting a pinwheel baby blanket for Evelyn. So far I'm up to 460 stitches...and on my 3rd ball of yarn. I'm thinking I'll get to 500sts and see where that leaves me. Has anyone ever done one of these? Any thoughts as to size/stitches? I'm thinking of working a couple rows in pink...to further bust the stash!

I took these photos for my 365 on Saturday. I figured out how to combine them in one shot...so excited when I learn new things! The really cool thing is that my grandmother made that sweater for me approx 20 years ago and I recently found it in one of my sweater bins. The colors might not be stylish (they weren't 20 years ago in fact) but it's cozy and reminds me of my Grandma who taught me how to knit.

Fuggetaboutit Friday

2009-02-20T13:13:00.021-05:00

The week is finally over and it kicked my butt all over the place. Let's see how it happened, shall we?

Monday - Tangled Yoke (part one)

As you know, I was battleing it out with the sewing machine on Monday trying to get the ribbon sewn into the Tangled Yoke. Score - Original Singer: 1; Me: 0. I tied up the score using my MIL's machine later that night. I even stayed up late to pick up the stitches and knit the buttonhole band. Whew...to bed around 11:00pm

Tuesday - Tangled Yoke (part deux)

Woke up ready to tackle sewing on the buttons on the train ride into work. I even put my makeup on at the station before the train arrived so I didn't waste a minute of the hour ahead. I started sewing the buttons one one by one. Unfortunately something was a little off where the yolk meets in the front. I made it work as best as possible. No one will really know besides me (and now you if you're reading this, doh). I'm sewing, I'm sewing...button 3, 4, 5, 6...two more to go...7, 8...wait a minute, shouldn't I be done already...9...i'm out of buttons and still have the bottom/last one to sew. HO-LEE-MACARONI...I made too many button holes. Seriously? Are you kidding? I couldn't tell you how I did it if I tried. Was I up too late (yes)? Did I lay out EIGHT holes (yes!)? Then what on earth happened? Oh well. I got to work and wore it anway - and everyone loved it - especially Erin because her favorite color is green!

Wednesday - Commuting/Classic Penn Station/New York

Wednesday morning started off like this...

...just me and my coffee in the wee morning hours! Until...duh duh duhn...my train broke down! Luckily we were partially in a station...so we didn't need to wait for another train to come push us, etc. The bad part was that they kept announcing "We have a mechanical problem, the engineer is working on it" for about 20 minutes until they said "This train is out of service. Please detrain (yes, they use that word!) in an orderly fashion. Another train will be here in a few minutes and you can take that to Penn Station." So a thousand people are now trying to get off the train, a double decker no less, and the platforms are filling up. The train comes. Too many people. I decide to wait (something I learned to do more easily when I was pregnant). The next train will come on a completely different platform so we all shuffle down some stairs, through a tunnel and back up the other side. Turns out that the train coming in is the one my old knitting group takes - so at least I find them and catch up on what's new in everyone's lives. End result: I was one hour late to work. Urgh.

At the end of the day I run across two crazy New Yorker things:

Woman w handouts saying: Sin will steal your soul in heaven
Response: commuters laughing
Overhead PA system tip to passengers: Don't be CELLfish when talking on your cell phone. Please be considerate of other passengers.

I realize on the way home that I've left my travel mug on my desk...of course...because that's my day/week.

Hubbins had scheduled a massage appointment for me since I've had a knot in my back for a couple weeks and keep feeling like something REALLY bad is going to happen. The massage is good, the steam shower is awesome, and I return home feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Thursday - One more day!!!

At 6:30 Hubbins says to me "Are you not going to work today?" to which I bolt out of bed and jump into the shower. I guess the massage really knocked those toxins around in my system and I completely ignored (and shut off) my alarm clock! Great!

Seeing as I left my travel mug at work on Wednesday, I grabbed a thermos from the cabinet and headed to the station. While standing on the platform I decide to take a sip. I screw off the "cup", press the button on the top, and try to take a sip from what appears to be the opening. WRONG! Instead of going in my mouth, a whole bunch of coffee pours down the front of my jacket (which I just washed on Monday) and onto the bottoms of my pant legs. I should have just gone back to bed right there and then.

I ran out of pink yarn for the baby blanket part way through the train ride into the city. So I started Sally's Neck Warmer using Tilli Tomas Flurries in a georgeous "burnt orange" color. It's just so niiiiiiiice.

Casey is one of the things that make everything less stressful at the end of my day...can you wonder why? Here she is with her Mardi Gras mask...let's get ready to par-tay!

The "mess" behind her is a painting on her easel - she did not paint on our dining room walls as one friend asked

Friday - Crowded House

I woke up on time, got my regular seat on the train and things were looking good!

But the subway was SO crowded because there was a police investigation at 4th Street. Should I really have expected the week to end any different? Really? Luckily I'm a pro at where to stand on the platform and was right at the doors when they opened. Here's my self-portrait for the day...I wish you could feel the over-crowding, pushing, shoving and attitude better.

I did finish Sally's Neck Warmer - I have to take a picture still - and it looks really great on her!

It's almost quittin' time and I'm so glad to be heading home! I also got a note from Jill that she received the Noro sweater and she loves it - I'm hoping to see some modeling photos from her soon (hint hint).

I've got no big weekend plans - except to catch up on my sleep and figure out my next project - hooray!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Happy Knitting Y'all!

Another case of the Monday's? (Part 1)

2009-02-17T08:18:00.011-05:00

If you've ever seen the movie "Office Space" you'll know what I mean by the title of this post(and btw...one of my favorite movies ever!)

Do we really get "cases" of Monday's? Nah. But sometimes it just seems like "one of those days"...so when it happens on a Monday, the start to our work week, the easiest explanation is to blame it on Monday. Poor Monday.

But this week a good portion of corporate America had off on Monday...so my Tuesday is a Monday that started on Monday and therefore all blame defaults to it. To be fair, this case of the Monday's/Tuesday's started many years ago.

When I was a little girl both my mother and grandmother sewed because, let's face it, who didn't sew in the 70s. The 70s were all about sewing and matching blue gingham outfits...at least in my small world. My mom even made my sister and me matching Mickey Mouse print dresses for our trip to Disney one year. Those were the days.

So all my life I've sewed on my mom's Singer. I mostly made Halloween costumes and clothes (I vaguely remember making some M.C. Hammer-style pants, red of course, to wear to a Cure concert...with a hand painted t-shirt that my friend Donna and I made in her mom's dining room...Robert Smith never looked so happy as the way I portrayed him). I digress...

The point is...I knew I would always own a sewing machine. Approximately 10 years ago, my grandmother moved from her home to an independent living facility. Since she was downsizing she gave me her machine, complete with table/cabinet. It was an honor to receive such a nostalgic piece of my childhood. The hours my grandmother and I spent on that machine whenever I would visit...I could start listing project after project...it was heaven.

I brought the machine in for a tune up and was kind of disappointed when they said it would take a few weeks. I patiently waited and picked it up as soon as it was ready. Mind you, I had nothing in mind to sew...but the mere thought that I COULD sew...well, that was something. Of course the best laid plans fell to the wayside and I didn't make anything for quite some time. By the time I did want to make something, I realized the bobbin threading wasn't working properly no matter what I tried. I should have brought it back in for servicing right away...but I didn't. Bad Karen. Some more time went by and I tried the machine again. I used an old piece of felt and everything worked great! I moved on to the actual project and it all fell apart...the bottom bobbin was misbehaving. I was SO upset. I closed the table up again and it sat like that for years.

My tangled yoke was the deal breaker. I knew I wanted to reinforce the button band with ribbon but was afraid the machine would pull one of its notorious stunts. I took every precaution. I knit an extra swatch. I carefully examined the machine and the bobbin threading. I tested on the swatch AND some old felt. The old gal seemed to be working!

Until yesterday afternoon. Hubbins and Ramona were happily watching Sponge Bob and I snuck away to the basement to tackle the button band once and for all. I retested on felt. I moved my chair around until I was comfortable. I brought the needle down into the ribbon and through the yarn, dropped the foot and pressed the peddle to the metal.

About5 inches along I could tell disaster had struck. I pulled the sweater out and lo and behold, SNAGGING all along the underside. I could have cried. I pulled my seam ripper from my notions pouch and started taking out the mess of thread. I got some more felt and the knitted swatch and tested on them again. No problem. Ok, maybe it was a human error. Let's try again. This time the machine seemed to be fine...got to about 9 inches...let's just take a teensy weensy peek...NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Yes, full of "clumping". Fighting back the tears and restraining myself from screaming, I took the sweater and went upstairs, leaving the monster machine in the dark to think about what it had done! Hubbins immediately knew something was wrong. I said "It's either the machine or me...and it might be time for a new machine!" My brain raced...Did I still have the President's Day coupons for AC Moore? How late were they open? How much does a new machine even cost? My head hurt. Bad.

Hubbins to the rescue! "Do you want me to call my mom so you can borrow hers?" OMG - his mom has a machine? How did I never know this?!?! "Yes, please, call her, now, please, thank you, what year is it?" came spilling across my lips. "I dunno. My grandmother bought it for her so it's not that old". [**Hubbins' paternal grandmother was an awesome awesome lady - she passed away several years before I entered the picture so we never met...BUT she had a yarn stash the family tells stories about and she was quite crafty. They say she would have LOVED me like it's no body's business...and I know I would have loved her back].

So Hubbins the Great hopped in the car and drove over to his parents house (1/2 mile away). I sat patiently at the dining room table re-pinning the ribbon in place. A swear a white burst of light shone from behind him when he got back home - hooray for Hubbins and Nana!

I quickly set up the machine, wound a bobbin and prayed. I don't even think I tested on anything...I mean...how much worse could it get? I carefully started sewing and immediately knew things were looking up. I stopped about 6 inches in and the stitching was perfect! I kept going all the way to the end and snipped the thread. Can I have a Hallelujah and an Amen.

...stay tuned for the second installment of this story tomorrow...

Here's a photo of me wearing it at work...just so you know there's a happy ending!

Hooray!

2009-02-16T09:01:00.002-05:00

Hooray...the Noro Cardi was finished on Friday night and shipped off to Jill on Saturday morning. By my estimations she should receive it on Tuesday (tomorrow). I also sent the Cabled Cape (whew, glad I finally "got it right"). I also made a twisty scarf (with some mods) over the weekend and am busy working on the first of a million baby blankets I am making this year. Here are some weekend pictures (more stories to follow tomorrow!).

Rollin' rollin' rollin'...keep the Noro goin'...rawhide!

2009-02-12T11:03:00.003-05:00

Hubbins was feeling better last night so I spent some more time seaming the Noro Cardi - hooray! I also opted to try seaming on the train this morning - which is usually something I avoid because it's easier to spread out a sweater and concentrate at home in a stationary location

That being said, I've got the second sleeve and pockets left to do...and, of course, more loose ends!

Here's a peek...

And here's my SP for the day...I know, thrilling, right?

Way too far in advance!

2009-02-11T13:45:00.013-05:00

I always have a zillion ideas floating through my head when it comes to blogging. I even write a lot of them down when I'm nowhere near a computer. Here are a few that struck my fancy today:

Mother's Day. (Yep, Mother's Day, seriously)

I know it's still four months away but I'd really like to make my mom a sweater this year and so I've got to start planning. I haven't made her a sweater in a VERY long time...since my beginner knitter days...and I just know in my heart that she'll love and wear a new one if I make it. But picking the right design and the right yarn is the hard part. Her hair is a dark-reddish-brown so she's very selective when it comes to color. Maybe something in the purple family. And ideally I would love to design something for her. You can see where my brain gets in a tizzy, right? And I'll admit, I was looking at what a FABULOUS job Jeannine did in making her Violette le duc that I'm contemplating making it for my mom (seams be damned!).

Charity Knitting

I know we're all happily knitting this, that and the other thing...who us? But Kaleidoscope Yarns is sponsoring this great charity "event" and I wanted to pass along the good word. A 13" by 13" square will take you what...a couple hours (???) to knit? I know I'm going to do my part! And as a bonus, if you want to help, but don't have any Encore worsted weight yarn, I will send you a skein if you send me the square upon completion. I'll make sure you get the credit in the long run and a shot at winning a prize. Please email me for more info! :o)

Noro Cardi

I'm in the middle of seaming the Noro Cardi and it's coming along SO nicely. Here's a "before" photo of the back and sleeves...

and a close up of one of the sleeves during blocking...don't you just love the colors?!?!

SUPER DUPER WARM Neck Cozy

Since it's really hard to seam the Cardi on the train, I whipped this Luxe Neck Warmer up over the past two days. I used Tilli Tomas Mogul and it's really quite fabulous.

Note #1: it's quite warm in NYC today...of course...so I don't know if I'll wear it home this evening...go figure!
Note #2: this is also my Self Portrait for today - note how tired I look...(read next bit)

Calm before the storm

So Ramona the Brave had a fever late last week and couldn't go to school. Hubbins woke up Monday with a fever and the doctor told him he has the flu. He is currently holed up at home under layers of blankets and stashed away in the basement with gallons of water and a bottle of lysol!

However, last weekend we had a break in the weather and a break between illnesses...and everyone was happy...see for yourself :o)

Knitting, A New York Minute and Thee

2009-02-06T10:29:00.015-05:00

Knitting

The Noro Cardi is knitting up great. I'm wrapping up the sleeves this afternoon and will get to the Right Front tonight...and will start blocking the sleeves and back so I can start sewing together tomorrow night (fingers crossed). Then I have to do the edge ribbing - possibly on Sunday - so finished pics will be posted next week!

Here are some progress shots...

The left front (blocking) and the back (in progress)

Close up of pocket on left front

Sleeves (of course, two at a time)

New York Minute

While on the subway Wednesday afternoon, in a New York minute, I saw...

A spectacularly grey haired woman wearing the coolest Edith Head glasses

A mod girl with short black bangs wearing a bright green coat over a yellow shirt...she was just adorable!

An older balding man wearing ALL WHITE...a short sleeved polo shirt, SHORTS, socks and his wisps of hair...ALL WHITE (except for his Yarmulke, which was black)

A homeless man, wearing all black, sleeping while standing up against a wall

Self portraits

I recently joined a self-portrait group on Flickr called "365 days, the knitterly and crafty types"

To be honest, I haven't taken a photo EVERY day - but I have been trying. Here are the most recent:

February 6, 2009
Location: at the office
Time: early morning, 8:00-ish

February 5, 2009
Location: on the train with the sun glaring in my eyes
Time: afternoon, around 4:20pm

Happy Knitting everyone! And TGIF!

Weird dream...with a knitting twist!

2009-02-03T11:29:00.006-05:00

I had the strangest dream last night.

I was at a Frederic Fekkai salon...but not the one in Manhattan. I was getting a pedicure...but I've only gotten one twice in my life so that was weird. And the technician wasn't doing anything but painting my toe nails - so it wasn't really a pedicure. She was giving me a "sample pack" of polishes that had 12 colors and was going to use a dark metallic blue - which was kind of cool. But when I looked at my toes they were a pale pink color. All of a sudden I was sitting on a brown suede couch (still at the Salon) and Hubbins was there trying to pay the lady. Next to me was Stefanie Japel...she was telling me that she contacted the salon about getting an appointment and they picked her up in a private jet to get there - no charge. I said to her "Oh yeah, they do that for people all the time" - obviously a dream! Hubbins and I left the salon and we were in a huge hotel but then I was in a room packing to leave and my sister was there telling me I had plenty of time and whatever I couldn't carry she would return to me in the mail. I have no idea what city we were in, where my husband went, or why my sister and Stefanie were there. My alarm clock went off and I jumped out of bed...still thinking I would be late for something!

What does it all mean? And what was I knitting?!?! Was this caused by the mysterious earthquake (read previous post below)? Did it happen because I'm in dire need of sleep lately?

My SECOND earthquake...and in another unlikely location!

2009-02-03T08:12:00.002-05:00

Today's breaking news...An earthquake occured approximately 3 miles from my house! Here's the link to it: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/it_sounded_like_an_explosion.html

They even mention our town...Morris Plains! It's just crazy!

We went to bed right around the time that the quake happened...but I can't say I noticed anything unusual. I've been quite exhausted the past few days (since I had bronchitis last week actually) so I'm sure that's why I was oblivious to it. My friend Sally sent me a text message when she saw it on the 11 o'clock news...so she was my first notification when I woke up this morning.

And you read correctly...this was my 2nd earthquake. Back in 2002 I was up in Shelburne, VT visiting Liz and Mike and I woke up suddenly that morning thinking a plane was flying too closely overhead or that a load of laundry was off balance - notice I said I had woken up suddenly. So there I lay, frozen in bed, covers up to my nose listening to Kahlua and Chip barking, everyone else jumping out of bed wondering what was happening. But I stayed in bed - what was I thinking? I think the quake lasted for a good 30 seconds, it had a magnitude of 5.1 - and it seemed to last an eternity! Here's a news account...http://www.seismo-watch.com/EQS/AB/2002/020420.NY/020420.NY.html

In knitting news...which is much less exciting I suppose...

I didn't finish the Tangled Yoke last night. I think I'm a little afraid of my sewing machine and putting the ribbon on the button band. I said "afraid of my sewing machine" not because I don't know how to sew...but because the last time I used it I had some trouble with the bobbin catching. You see, it's my grandmother's old Singer and even though I had it serviced and "tuned up" it's just not quite right...which makes me kind of sad because I was SO excited when she gave it to me. I will probably have to test knit on something else - an old swatch or fabric - before putting my sweater through the feeder. Ah well...soon enough!

In the meantime I'm back working on the Noro Cardi...finished one of the fronts and decided to work on the back - because I like having something bigger to work on while I'm commuting - especially on a snowy day where delays might be expected...better to have too much knitting than not enough, right?

Have a quake-free day!

Knit Wits and Tidbits

2009-02-02T08:47:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was our knitting groups Secret Santa party at Patty's house...the holidays continue! We had a wonderful time and it was so AWESOME to see everyone again because, for me at least, the times I see everyone are few and far between due to my work/train schedule being so different than everyone elses. I felt honored to still be included in the fun!

Yeman was my Santa and she gave me some beautiful Patternworks Bretton yarn in an eggplant color. I have a project in mind...but I have to finish up a couple other things first - it's SO tempting to want to start on something right away though! Thanks Yeman.

Little Miss Casey came to the party with me and was much more social than last year - she even let Mara tickle and chase her...something she screamed about a year ago! Mara was so kind to give Casey a new backpack and stuffed Snowman...thanks again!

Over the weekend I worked, diligently, on the Tangled Yoke. Row 11 of the chart was my enemy. Not only did I have to backtrack on the first half (found a mistake about half way through it) but I got most of the way through the second half and had to back track all the way back to the beginning. Anyone who has knit this sweater knows all about the halves. All in all I figure Row 11 must have taken me a couple hours to knit. As it now stands, I've finished all but the Buttonhole band on the right side and need to sew the buttons and ribbon onto the left side and it will be done. I've already finished all the ends and underarms etc and it looks like it will fit quiet nicely - hooray! Here are some photos I took on my blackberry last night as a preview...

Last weeks contest winner is...Dora!!! You've won a knitting calendar that I will get into the mail to you this week...esp since January is already behind us (WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!?!?!)

This week's knitting goals:

Finish Tangled Yoke
Work on Noro Cardigan
Determine baby blanket patterns for March and May babies

Happy Knitting everyone!

Loss of a Hero

2009-01-27T14:08:00.004-05:00

I am so saddened by the news that John Updike died today. He is one of my favorite American writers - his Rabbit series is what inspired me to start writing my own novel.

John...thanks for the words!

The Case of the Square Shoulder Cape (SSC for short)

2009-01-26T21:19:00.006-05:00

Ok - seriously - before I sew in the ends again, please help me with determining if the "after" is better than the "before"...I think this is one of those situations where I'm "too close" the project at hand...isn't that always the way?

Before... (several shots from the various tries)

Version 1

Version 2 (after surgery #1)

After...(current)

To end on a high note...Ramona the Smiley (say cheese!)

So much for finishing the UFOs first!

2009-01-26T10:08:00.002-05:00

When I last wrote I truly had every intention of finishing the green sweater before I started anything else. Why didn't you warn me I couldn't stick to it? seriously

Here are some photos of what I've been up to...

Geode - finished last week

Jasper - Hubbins Hat - it turned out awesome!

Noro Cardigan #3 - started yesterday so I don't have any actual project photos yet...but here's the yarn!

Berroco Metallic Sox - I wound this into two balls...because it was begging me to (and I couldn't take the torment any longer - ha ha)

And the moment you've all been waiting for...

Tangled Yoke - here's a shot of the sleeves - I made it through the wilderness...some how I made it through...

Pro. Cras. Tin. A. Tion. (and a surprise give away)

2009-01-23T12:22:00.004-05:00

(singing to the tune of Anticipation by Carly Simon)...Procrastination, pro-cras-tin-a-a-tion, is making me late, is keeping me wai, ai, ai, ai, ai-ting

So I've been working on my Tangled Yoke sweater for eons...or so it seems. The pattern sat in my queue for a while. I purchased the kelly green yarn in September or October of 2008 and cast-on October 28th (according to my Ravelry notes). And I love the fact that it's knit in the round - cause seamless is really the way to go!

But the weekend after casting-on I went to Stefanie Japel's workshop...and HAD to work on my design and sweater. And then I HAD to finish the Tahki Cape. And then I got sidetracked and HAD to knit a Santa pillow, a couple hats, a sweater for Nana, and a Geode sweater for me.

But now all that's left at the top of my Ravelry projects page is the Tangled Yoke - stuck at 40% complete. Poor tangled yoke.

In trying to pinpoint my procrastination with this sweater I realized it's not that pattern is bad, or that I don't like the yarn. It's the rows and rows of garter ribbing - it's like you never really get into second gear and progress is painstakingly slow.

But this week, after the Geode sweater was finished, I made a concerted effort NOT to wind any more yarn...and not to look at my queue for what's next...and not to gush over the beautiful box of yarn I had just received from Kaleidoscope.

No, my friends, this kelly green sweater is not going away that easily! I picked up the sleeves (being done 2 at a time) and am busily knitting away and half way through the 8" of garter ribbing - hooray! And I know that once the arms are joined to the body/yoke it will be smooth sailing (at least until I get tangled in the cables - ha ha).

Ah, tangled yoke...why couldn't the knit fairies just come at night and finish you for me so I didn't feel so guilty :o)

And now for a little Friday give away! Let me know a project that you were in love with...and why, despite your best intentions, it sat in your UFO's so long! I will randomly select a winner next week and send you a prize! Hooray, we love prizes!

Happy Friday y'all!